Strategy First: Empowering the Business to Lead in the AI Era

In the AI era, businesses are increasingly taking the lead in driving innovation, with a focus on enabling rapid experimentation and reducing reliance on IT for data access and management. Through a conversation between Adrian Estala from Starburst and Raja Palaniswamy from MUFG, it is highlighted that organizations succeed by creating environments where business teams can safely and quickly experiment with AI, using trusted and governed data. This shift involves implementing a framework that includes federated data access, a business-facing semantic layer, and the development of logical data products, which collectively enhance data literacy and self-sufficiency among business users. MUFG's transition from centralized data consolidation to enabling business-aligned data products exemplifies this approach, emphasizing the importance of data literacy as a multiplier for technology adoption. The strategy underscores that experimentation is a crucial advantage, allowing businesses to learn quickly and innovate without the delays inherent in traditional IT-driven data processes.