The Chief Data Officer (CDO) role is recognized as one of the most challenging in the business world, with a limited timeframe to prove its value, and the first 90 days being crucial for establishing credibility. Johnathan Tate, CDO at Bridgestone Americas and former leader at Walmart, Nike, and Deloitte, emphasizes starting with trust rather than immediate project implementation. His approach involves listening to stakeholders, understanding challenges, and delivering quick, tangible wins to build credibility and support for long-term strategies. Tate advocates a shift from a technologist's mindset to that of a business strategist, focusing on outcomes tied to key performance indicators rather than theoretical returns on investment. As business intelligence (BI) evolves, CDOs must guide their organizations in using AI for routine reporting while developing narrative-rich dashboards for executive decision-making. Tate advises CDOs to lead with empathy, connect projects to measurable value, stay engaged with the business, and take early actions to build lasting influence.