Data, AI and NFL! Cynthia Frelund to Headline HIKE2’s Innovation Summit 2026

Excitement for the 2026 NFL Draft is swirling through Pittsburgh, and HIKE2 is leading the charge with the announcement of the NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund as the keynote speaker for the Innovation Summit 2026.

Frelund, the first-ever, on-air predictive analytics expert for the NFL Network, operates at the intersection of data, artificial intelligence and human judgement – helping teams make high-stakes decisions where performance, adaptability and timing matter most. Her presentation, “Predicting the Win: What the NFL Draft Teaches Us About Data, AI and the Next Era of Work,” will offer a powerful and timely lens on how analytics is reshaping not only professional sports but also the future of work across every industry.

Frelund’s keynote will explore the challenges of working in an era of constant disruption. She will examine where teams (on the field and in the enterprise) succeed or fail when adopting new technology, how predictive models are developed and refined, and why outcomes (not just the tools to get there) must remain the guiding force.

“Cynthia is a dynamic analytics leader who makes the casual NFL viewer feel closer to the game on a weekly basis,” says Amanda Wodzenski, Principal & Founder of HIKE2. “Just like Cynthia uses analytics to evaluate players, business leaders can lean on data-driven insights to adapt to change, make better decisions and much more. We are eagerly looking forward to learning more from Cynthia at the Innovation Summit next month.”

Frelund appears on a variety of NFL Network shows and platforms, including “NFL GameDay Morning,” “NFL Fantasy Live” and “NFL GameDay View.” She joined the NFL from ESPN, where she was a predictive analytics analyst for two years. Previously, she also served as a business development manager for Disney ABC Television Group and a finance analyst for the NFL.

Innovation Summit 2026, HIKE2’s marquee annual event, will be held March 25-26 at Bakery Square. In addition to Frelund’s keynote, attendees also will have a front-row seat for other talks that showcase AI-enabled workflows in action, as well as take part in breakouts, panels and engaging sessions centered on practical AI use cases.

A complete list of speakers and panelists for Innovation Summit 2026 will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the two-day Summit are $250 and are available at hike2.com.com/events/innovation-summit-2026. Tickets also will be available for purchase each morning throughout the Summit.To learn more about Innovation Summit 2026 and HIKE2, please visit hike2.com.