Looking Back on Champions Academy Chicago: A Full Day of Innovation, Insights, and AI in Action 🇺🇸✨
Earlier this month, we hosted a special in-person edition of Pipefy Champions Academy in Chicago, and even two weeks later, we’re still feeling the energy from that day. From meaningful conversations to real-world AI demos and powerful customer stories, it was a full and inspiring experience for everyone involved.
The event was built around a simple idea: give people space to connect, learn from each other, and explore how intelligent automation is shaping the future of work. Instead of focusing on features, we focused on outcomes. We talked about what it really looks like to apply AI in everyday operations, and what kind of impact that can have across teams and industries.
Here’s a recap of the day and what made it such a standout moment for the community.
☕ Breakfast and Hands-On Activities
We kicked things off with a casual breakfast and some light hands-on activities to get everyone talking. Right from the start, there was a strong sense of community in the room. People were eager to connect, share their experiences, and dive into the challenges they’re working to solve.
The morning set the tone for a day full of open conversations. Through simple prompts and group interactions, attendees started thinking critically about their workflows and how automation could help them scale with more confidence and clarity.
💡 Live Demos and Lunch Break
After breakfast, we moved into live demos that brought Pipefy AI to life. We showed how AI agents can support key workflows like HR onboarding, financial approvals, and employee service requests. These weren’t high-level ideas. They were grounded in everyday processes that attendees could relate to.
People asked practical questions and engaged directly with the team running the demos. It was exciting to see use cases that sparked ideas in real time. When we broke for lunch, the conversations kept flowing. The lunch break felt more like an extension of the sessions, with customers connecting over common goals and strategies.
🔮 The Future of Workflow Automation
In the afternoon, we shifted the focus to the bigger picture. This session explored where workflow automation is going and what organizations should be thinking about as they adopt more AI-powered solutions. We talked about emerging trends, evolving roles, and what it means to build a truly adaptive and scalable operation.
It was a chance to reflect on not just what we can automate today, but how to prepare for what’s coming next. Attendees shared perspectives from different industries, which led to some really thoughtful discussion around change management, innovation, and long-term strategy.
🚀 New Pipefy Releases
Next, we shared some of the newest product updates from the Pipefy roadmap. These releases are designed to give users more flexibility, intelligence, and speed when building automations. From usability improvements to smarter logic options, the updates reflect what we’ve learned from our most active users.
This session also opened space for feedback. Attendees asked great questions and offered insights based on their own experiences, which will help guide how we continue to build.
📈 Customer Success Story: Accounts Payable at Henry Schein One
One of the most inspiring moments came from Aubrey Saunders at Henry Schein One, who walked us through how her team manages the entire accounts payable process with Pipefy. She shared how automation helped them bring consistency, visibility, and control to a complex workflow, and how they continue to evolve it as the business grows.
Aubrey’s session was honest, practical, and deeply relevant to many others in the room. It highlighted how finance teams can be champions of innovation, and how the right setup can turn a manual process into a strategic advantage.
🛠️ Center of Excellence Story: Citizen Development at RGA
Later in the afternoon, we heard from Scott Luke and Michael Ariston at Reinsurance Group of America (RGA). They shared how their IT team supports a model of citizen development through their Center of Excellence. This means empowering business users to build and manage solutions on their own, while still aligning with best practices and governance.
Their story was a powerful example of decentralized innovation. It showed how organizations can scale automation by trusting teams with the right tools and support, and how this model is already driving impact across RGA.
🥂 Dinner and Networking at Chicago Cut Steakhouse
To wrap up the day, we headed to Chicago Cut Steakhouse for dinner and conversation. After a packed agenda, this was a moment to slow down, connect more personally, and reflect on everything we’d experienced. It was a fitting end to a day that was all about connection, innovation, and shared momentum.
Final Thoughts
Champions Academy in Chicago reminded us what’s possible when a community comes together to exchange ideas and push the boundaries of what's next.It was about showing up with curiosity, with real stories, and with a shared belief that work can be smarter, faster, and more human when we put the right systems in place.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their perspectives, and helped make the day what it was. If you missed this one, we hope to see you at a future edition.
Until then, feel free to drop your thoughts below or reach out with questions. We’re always happy to keep the conversation going.
