In a world where the data and AI landscape is in constant flux, few figures have stood as steadfast and influential as Randy Bean. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Randy has carved a singular path as a pioneering voice on the strategic role of data and artificial intelligence within modern enterprise. His combination of intellectual rigor, practical insight, and relentless advocacy for data leadership make him a defining candidate for the DataIQ Lifetime Achievement Award.
A legacy of leadership and influence
Randy’s impact can be measured in years and depth. As the founder and CEO of NewVantage Partners (NVP), he built a firm dedicated to advising Fortune 1000 organizations on the business leadership of data and AI, long before the discipline reached today’s boardroom prominence. Under his leadership, NVP became synonymous with executive-level insight into the data strategies of some of the world’s most influential firms. Its eventual acquisition by global consultancy Wavestone in 2021 reflects the lasting value and reputation the firm and Randy earned in the industry.
He has been listed as a top influencer in the DataIQ 100 for 2023 and 2024, demonstrating the vast impact his work and insights have on the wider industry. More than a leader of firms, Randy has become a shaper of thinking. His bestselling book Fail Fast, Learn Faster distilled decades of real-world leadership lessons into a pragmatic guide for those navigating the disruptive potential of big data and AI. Meanwhile, his prolific writing (more than 135 articles for Forbes, 35 for MIT Sloan Management Review, 20 for Harvard Business Review, and 25 for The Wall Street Journal) has made him a go-to commentator on the evolving role of data and AI in business and society.
What sets Randy apart from other leaders is his persistent realism. He has long recognized that the true challenge of data and AI adoption is not technical, but cultural and organizational. His voice has remained grounded in the business imperative: making data and AI work for enterprise outcomes, revenue growth, operational efficiency, and customer value, while building the trust and guardrails essential to long-term success.
As generative AI accelerates disruption, Randy continues to warn against hype and superficial strategies. He urges leaders to focus on real use cases, measurable productivity gains, and the development of talent and safeguards that will define responsible adoption.
Since 2012, Bean has spearheaded the Data and AI Executive Leadership Survey, which has become a vital annual benchmark for data leaders. He brings peers together in critical conversation, whether as the moderator of panels or hosting roundtable series.
His current role as a senior advisor to numerous organizations confirms his enduring relevance and influence in the highest tiers of data leadership.
Randy’s contributions are long-standing and foundational. He has elevated the discipline of data and AI leadership from operational concern to strategic imperative, always with clarity, humility, and a deep understanding of what it takes to lead in times of transformation. His work continues to shape the path for tomorrow’s data leaders, highlighting the case for awarding him the DataIQ Lifetime Achievement Award.
