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Sushma Punuru, EVP, Chief Data Officer, Global Payments

[…] business needs. Today, at Global Payments, Sushma evaluates every initiative through an outcomes-first lens. Her leadership emphasizes translating data and AI investments into measurable commercial impact, ensuring technology serves as a catalyst for transformation. As a data and AI leader, which traits and skills do you think matter most, and which of those […]

Sandeep Mahajan, Director, Data Science, Walmart

[…] of operations, data, and people to deliver AI and analytics that change how work gets done at scale. His career has been shaped by the belief that technology only creates value when it is grounded in real workflows and adopted on the front line. Sandeep began his career in large-scale operations and supply chains, […]

Richard Leaton, Vice President – Data, Analytics, and AI, Novelis

[…] and agentic AI adoption, and established governance and ethical AI frameworks at scale. At Novelis, Richard focuses on unifying master data, modernizing governance, bridging IT and operational technology, and driving measurable productivity improvements across manufacturing, finance, and supply chain. Richard’s leadership reflects a practical, business-first approach, grounded in the belief that data and AI […]

Richard Floyd, Chief Data & AI Officer, City National Bank

[…] Richard has built and scaled teams that promote data-centric cultures and embed evidence-based decision-making into everyday business processes. He places strong emphasis on data literacy and aligning technology initiatives with business outcomes, ensuring that data capabilities translate into measurable value. Richard’s perspective is rooted in the belief that data serves as a guiding compass—helping […]

Meenal Iyer, VP, Data, Surveymonkey

[…] as the GET framework (Growth, Effectiveness, and Trust) for evaluating AI initiatives. In addition to her leadership role, Meenal is an active advisor and mentor within the data and technology ecosystem. She advises venture capital firms investing in data and AI tools and serves on advisory boards for several emerging companies. She also mentors aspiring data professionals and […]

Meaghan Ferrigno, Senior Vice President, CFO & CDAO, Destination Canada

[…] leader. Meaghan Ferrigno is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Destination Canada, where she operates at the intersection of strategy, finance, technology, and performance. Her career has not followed a traditional or linear “data” path. Instead, it has evolved through roles with direct accountability for results, trade-offs, and […]

Joshua Paul Nafman, VP, Data, Diageo

[…] advertising executions on nytimes.com. Seeing millions of users actively engage with a technically and visually sophisticated digital experience sparked his long-term fascination with the intersection of creativity, technology, and scale. He then moved brand-side, spending the next decade at Pepsi, KIND, and Hello Products. There, his focus shifted from traditional TV advertising to digital, […]

John Rogers, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Cotality

[…] clinical trial software for a global pharmaceutical company, and even taken delivery of new Boeing 777 aircraft in Seattle. Across these varied roles, John has focused on how data, technology, and deep industry expertise can work together to deliver meaningful change. He believes the most effective solutions combine strong technical capability with domain knowledge to create systems that […]

Dr Paul Pallath, Chief Data & AI Officer, GoFundMe

[…] technical skills) you would give to an aspiring data or AI leader aiming for the C-suite? “My non-traditional advice is to stop treating AI transformation as a technology program. At this point, it’s clear AI can work. What determines success is whether you can redesign the people-and-process system around it. “Most organizations fail because they try to fit AI […]

Chris Gifford, Chief Data Officer, American Express

[…] can do, what they cannot do, and why strong foundations matter. Helping senior leaders understand that AI depends on disciplined data practices is often what enables sustained progress. The most effective data leaders serve as translators between technical teams and business leaders, building shared understanding and trust. That trust ultimately unlocks far more value than technology alone.”

Bryce Macher, VP, AI Engineering, FanDuel

[…] technical skills) you would give to an aspiring data or AI leader aiming for the C-suite? “I have learned that real leverage comes from both people and technology being at the cause of decisions, not at the effect of them. “Many aspiring data and AI leaders focus on producing better analyses, models, or dashboards. […]

Bhagyesh Phanse, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Starbucks Coffee Company

Bhagyesh Phanse is Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Starbucks Coffee Company, where he leads global data strategy and advanced AI development to drive customer engagement, operational efficiency, and business growth. With more than 18 years of experience, Bhagyesh has built his career transforming data and analytics capabilities within large, customer-focused organizations. Bhagyesh began his […]

Ash Dhupar, Chief AI & Data Officer, Honeywell Aerospace

[…] stepping into organizations where ambition outpaced the supporting data and AI foundations. Ash has worked across a diverse set of industries, including aerospace and defense, semiconductors, healthcare, technology, retail, and media. Through these experiences, Ash developed an early perspective that advanced analytics initiatives fail when treated as technical upgrades rather than broader operating model […]

Anu Bedi, VP Measurement, Insights, Data and Analytics, LinkedIn

[…] efforts to modernize how marketing performance is measured, understood, and activated through data and AI. Her career has been shaped at the intersection of marketing, data, and technology, with a consistent focus on turning complexity into clear, actionable insights. Anu began her career in analytics and insights, developing a strong belief that data only […]
The End of AI Theatrics – What Data and AI Leaders Must Prove in 2026

The End of AI Theatrics – What Data and AI Leaders Must Prove in 2026

[…] of day-to-day adoption. Put simply, many businesses are too invested to ignore AI but are not yet mature enough to depend on it fully. Hybrid tech is the norm The technology stack itself reflects this tension. AI is now widespread across enterprise environments, but there is little sign of consensus as most organisations are not betting on a […]
Illustrative. 3D honeycomb pattern with some hexagons lit up

How to Scale Agentic AI: Top Five Priorities for Data and AI Leaders

[…] deployment cycles. Scaling agentic AI without redesigning roles, accountability and skill development risks slowing adoption regardless of technical performance. A shift in operating model, not just technology Agentic AI introduces new operating assumptions. It requires lifecycle governance, engineering depth, cost discipline and deliberate workforce adaptation. The organisations that succeed will not be those […]

Steph Bell, Director of Analytics, Sainsbury’s

Steph Bell is Director of Analytics at Sainsbury’s, leading a multidisciplinary team of analysts, data scientists and visualisation specialists at the centre of one of the UK’s largest retail groups. Her remit spans Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat, and Tu, where analytics underpins decisions that shape the experience of millions of customers each day. Steph began her career in analytics […]

Maddie Amos, Head of Data Governance, The Crown Estate

Maddie Amos is Head of Data Governance at The Crown Estate and a member of its data leadership team, where she helps shape strategy, governance and engagement across a historic yet evolving organisation. Recognised in the 2025 DataIQ Future Leaders List, she is known for combining strategic intent with practical delivery as The Crown Estate strengthens its […]

Luca Piccolo, Data Transformation Manager, Intact Insurance

Luca Piccolo is Data Transformation Manager at Intact Insurance, part of Intact Financial Group, where he works within the Data and AI transformation function to embed new technologies and ways of working into the fabric of the organisation. He was shortlisted, alongside his team, for New Ways of Working with Data (Europe) at the DataIQ Awards, reflecting […]
Challenges to Agentic AI Adoption

Agentic AI: The Six Biggest Deployment Challenges

[…] Where initiatives progress, leaders tie them to visible, costly problems and model value conservatively rather than promising transformational ROI. 5. Culture and skills are slowing adoption more than technology The challenge of adoption is often underestimated. Fear of job loss, mistrust of opaque systems and low decision literacy all limit uptake. In some cases, usage plateaus even when AI tools […]