This session explores the critical intersection of data management and artificial intelligence.
Dara Meath, Build-A-Bear’s CTO, opens the discussion by emphasizing the company’s commitment to global learning and data-driven opportunities. The panel features two highly accomplished leaders: Maureen Butler, VP of Lean and Data Transformation at GE Aerospace, who brings over 25 years of experience in business transformation and enterprise data management (EDM); and Anju Gupta, VP of Data Science and Analytics at Northwestern Mutual, a seasoned AI expert who has navigated the industry through pivotal shifts from classical machine learning to generative AI.
Together, they discuss why a solid data foundation is not just an IT requirement, but the primary fuel for trustworthy and effective AI.
Key Takeaways
- Data as the Foundation: AI success is impossible without high-quality data. Approximately 75% of a data scientist’s time is often spent cleaning and harmonizing data; effective EDM reduces this “waste” and accelerates value.
- The Four Pillars of Transformation: Successful organizational change relies on the synergy between People, Process, Data, and Platform.
- Executive Sponsorship & Business Ownership: Data management should be treated as a business imperative, not an IT project. Tying data quality to financial metrics like working capital, revenue growth, and risk mitigation is essential for gaining executive buy-in.
- The Shift to Generative AI: GenAI has moved AI from “boardroom conversations to dinner table conversations.” It has revolutionized the handling of unstructured data (which makes up 80% of corporate data), enabling better sentiment analysis and search capabilities (RAG).
- Ethics and Privacy: As AI matures, companies must establish robust data ethics principles and work closely with Chief Privacy Officers to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and ensure unbiased models.
- Culture of Learning: Building a “data-literate” culture requires continuous training, storytelling, and simplified communication to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders.
The session concludes with a strong call to action for data leaders: Keep the ball rolling by making data a business need. By fostering a culture of resilience and continuous learning, and by positioning data management under business leadership (like a COO or CFO) while maintaining a tight partnership with IT, organizations can truly transform into AI-ready enterprises.
Featured Speakers
- Maureen Butler: VP of Lean and Data Transformation, GE Aerospace
- Anju Gupta: Vice President of Data Science and Analytics, Northwestern Mutual
Moderator
- Maria Villar: Former Global Vice President at SAP (Data Management Expert & Coach)
Duration
- 59 minutes