At a time when AI innovation, regulation, and rising expectations are reshaping how data is managed and governed, enterprise leaders need a trusted space to speak candidly, test ideas, and learn from one another. That’s exactly what more than 30 data analytics, governance, and data management executives found in Chicago at the 2025 Enterprise Data Strategy Practitioner Summit.
Hosted by the Enterprise Data Strategy, this invitation-only gathering brought together senior data leaders from the world’s largest companies for two days of unfiltered conversations, practical strategies, and peer-driven solutions to the toughest challenges in corporate data strategy.
Here’s a look at the moments that sparked the most insight and why this community continues to be an essential resource for leaders.
Actionable Case Studies
We explored six confidential case studies led by senior data leaders. In these 20-minute sessions with Q&A, peers shared unfiltered successes and setbacks:
- Driving data literacy in a rapidly evolving landscape – led by Renee Langeness at Principal Financial
- Accelerating data value with a modern data fabric – led by Yash Chandaka at The Clorox Company
- Transforming data strategy while driving AI & business innovation – led by Chris Moss at Bose
- Building a scalable data & analytics strategy – led by Karthik Josyula at Kohler
- Unlocking AI’s full potential: Strategic selection, governance, and real-world impact – led by Joe DosSantos at Workday
- Future-proofing data governance – led by Marc Hunt at Chick-fil-A
Practitioner-led Workshops
- Mastering metadata and data lineage for governance and trust – led by Rachel Smith at McKesson
- Designing data team operating models for business impact – led by Brian Wheeler at Liberty Mutual Investments
- Master data management: Building a single source of truth – led by Flavia Saldanha at Fifth Third Bank
- Proactively managing data quality at scale – led by Mahmood Mohammed at Takeda
Member-led Panel: Cutting Through the AI Hype — What’s Real and What’s Not?
AI is everywhere, but not every promise is being realized. Leaders dove into practical AI applications, the limitations of current technology, and how to avoid the pitfalls of overhyping AI in data-driven organizations. The conversation featured Enterprise Data Strategy Board members:
- Nickolaus Lachman, SVP, Head of AI & Automation Valley at National Bank
- Sanjay Rohira, Global Head of Data, Model & AI Governance at Vanguard
Peer Advisory Roundtables
Unlike traditional conference formats with pre-set agendas, these dynamic, interactive discussions were shaped entirely by attendees.
Participants suggested the topics they cared about most, voted in real time, and joined the conversations that resonated with their current challenges. This peer-driven format ensured every roundtable was timely, relevant, and rooted in the real-world experiences of data leaders. Here are some of the topics members unpacked:
- Unstructured data strategy through the data lifecycle: how are others approaching it?
- Data as a product: defining ownership and measuring success
- AI for structured data: How to build a semantic layer that works across platforms
- The measurable value of data governance
- How to explain (simply) why AI needs a strong data foundation
- Future data teams: new roles and skills needed
- Defining roles and responsibilities for data owners, stewards, custodians, and product managers
- AI governance: strategy for monitoring AI solutions and ensuring inventory completeness
Join the Conversation
The best on-site discussions will grow into in-depth community conversations in the coming weeks and months as we dig deeper into these challenges together.
For data leaders seeking this level of strategic peer exchange, the Enterprise Data Strategy Board offers year-round access to the same caliber of conversation and problem-solving.
This is your community — built to solve real-time challenges and provide strategies, frameworks, and solutions to your top challenges.
