Business success in the digital age relies heavily on a company’s ability to quickly develop and deploy innovative software applications. While traditional relational databases have long been the backbone of data-driven applications, their rigid structure is increasingly seen as a hindrance in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape. Document databases, which use JSON-like documents instead of rows and columns, have emerged as a more flexible and intuitive solution for developers, allowing for easier data modeling and faster application development. MongoDB, a prominent document-based NoSQL database, addresses many limitations of relational databases, offering scalability and a data model that aligns more naturally with modern coding practices. This shift from relational to document databases reflects a broader trend towards tools that enhance developer efficiency and support the creation of applications that meet high user expectations. MongoDB's leadership transition, with Chirantan “CJ” Desai set to succeed Dev Ittycheria as CEO in November 2025, aims to guide the company through its next growth phase, capitalizing on the increasing demand for data-intensive applications and the rise of artificial intelligence.