Vanguard’s annual unlimITed conference is a multi-day event which brings thousands of crew together to hear from a curated and wide range of motivating speakers. Alongside keynotes from across technology, academia, and financial services, our own crew took the stage to highlight AI innovation and inspire reimagination of products, processes, and experiences.

The presentations reinforced that innovation is about more than technology—it’s about learning, listening, collaborating, and inspiring new ways of thinking. Together, these experiences challenged attendees to reimagine what’s possible and explore ideas that can drive meaningful change.

Digital twins: From concept to reality

This year’s event featured thought-provoking conversations about innovation, collaboration, and the future of AI at Vanguard. One standout session was about building the future of GenAI-augmented insights through “digital twins,” presented by Jes K., Ph.D., Ryan K., and Peter B., Ph.D.

The team introduced the concept at an internal hackathon last year and returned this year to showcase how they transformed the idea into a real-world capability.

The presentation explored how AI-powered “digital twins” can help teams better understand client needs by testing ideas, exploring different scenarios, and uncovering insights before solutions are brought to life. By combining human expertise with AI-driven capabilities, the session highlighted new ways teams can create more thoughtful and personalized client experiences.

“When you use machines to augment what humans do—not just replace them—you can get that proximity, and you can get richer experiences that design for all the diversity of the client experiences we’re creating for.”

—Jes K., Ph.D., Head of Client Research, Personal Wealth

Innovation powered by collaboration

Throughout the event, each presentation reflected a common goal: using innovation to create better outcomes for investors. That connection between technology, collaboration, and purpose was a recurring theme throughout the event.

For presenters Robert S., Qian H., and Cesar O., the experience provided an opportunity not only to share innovative work but also to learn from others tackling similar challenges.

“I really enjoyed my unlimITed experience. The crew was amazing and they worked so hard to make it easy for us to focus on the content and delivery of our presentation. They really worked to ensure that we were set up for success. The content of the entire program was really valuable, and the topics were pertinent to how the crew at Vanguard conduct their work and achieve Vanguard’s goals.”

–Robert S., Senior Manager, Financial Crimes Compliance

“unlimITed was a tremendous experience. The opportunity to share the success of our recent project with Vanguard team members was awesome! I met many people and had the opportunity for a rich exchange of ideas. I genuinely look forward to next year’s unlimITed and hope to participate for years to come.”

–Qian H., Data Scientist, Information Technology

“What makes unlimITed so valuable is its role as a unifying forum: bringing together teams to share ideas, showcase progress, and align on the most exciting initiatives in a more structured way.”

–Cesar O., Head of Quantitative Equity, Investment Management Group

Innovation in action

The sessions themselves reflected the broad range of innovation taking place across Vanguard. Robert and Qian presented a session that explored how a risk-based AI approach can help identify potential elder financial exploitation earlier and better protect investors.

Cesar and fellow presenter Dawer J. led a session that highlighted how Vanguard is combining human expertise and AI to support investment decisions and deliver better outcomes for investors.

“The level of preparation, the quality of the platform, and the professionalism of the experience clearly reflect Vanguard’s strong commitment in this space. I experienced this firsthand; both through the opportunity to present our work on AI-driven stock picking, the Vanguard Way, and through engaging with other talented crew exploring a wide range of approaches to better serve our investors.”

–Cesar O., Head of Quantitative Equity, Investment Management

For many crew, unlimITed is more than an opportunity to present innovative work. It’s a chance to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and see firsthand how collaboration and curiosity drive Vanguard forward. Months after the event, those conversations and their impact continue to resonate.