Panel Discussion: OSPOs at Scale: Doing More... Ashley W, Karolyn M, Natali V, Paulette A, Rashida T
Join us at the premier vendor-neutral open source conference, where developers and technologists come together to collaborate, share knowledge, and explore the latest innovations and advancements in open source technology. Learn more at https://events.linuxfoundation.org/
Panel Discussion: OSPOs at Scale: Doing More With Less in 2026 - Ashley Wolf, GitHub; Karolyn Maynard, Comcast; Natali Vlatko, Cisco; Paulette Avolio, Ford; Rashida Toliver, Violane LLC
Open Source Program Offices are maturing. What started as license compliance and governance functions have evolved into strategic enablers of security, AI adoption, developer productivity, and ecosystem engagement. At the same time, budgets are tighter and expectations are higher.
In this moderated panel, OSPO leaders from Ford, GEICO, Comcast, Cisco and GitHub will discuss how modern OSPOs are scaling impact. We’ll explore practical approaches to automation, policy design, internal enablement, and cross-functional alignment. We’ll share how OSPOs are using metrics to demonstrate value, navigating AI-era contribution models, and leveraging communities like the TODO Group to accelerate learning.
Attendees will leave with concrete examples of how enterprise OSPOs are evolving beyond compliance, how to prioritize when resources are constrained, and how to build influence across engineering, security, and leadership teams.
Whether you're starting an OSPO or leading a mature one, this session offers candid lessons from practitioners operating at scale.
The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux and collaborative software development. Founded in 2000, the organization sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and promotes, protects and advances the L...