{"id":6754,"date":"2025-09-19T12:46:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T12:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/standout\/?p=6754"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:34:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:34:41","slug":"data-strategy-ai-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/standout\/data-strategy-ai-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Data strategy for AI success: Winning the race against time"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1559140963143{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1559216895048{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;bottom-to-top&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Want to champion AI? Start with your data<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>How can you win the race against time to mine your companies\u2019 data resources and translate them into higher efficiency and productivity?<\/p>\n<p>That is one of the defining challenges facing executives as they seek to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business growth. While AI promises to transform industries, its power ultimately depends on <strong>the quality of the data that fuels it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cData is the gasoline of artificial intelligence,\u201d explains IESE Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/faculty-research\/faculty\/luis-ferrandiz\/\"><strong>Luis Ferr\u00e1ndiz<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cIf you incorporate into your algorithms data that isn\u2019t good enough, the outputs won\u2019t be good enough either.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Why data quality matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Investments in digital tools will fall short if the underlying information is inconsistent, incomplete, or poorly structured.<\/p>\n<p>When AI models are trained on flawed data, <strong>the resulting decisions are fundamentally compromised<\/strong>. That\u2019s why your company must not only review the quality of its existing data sets but also examine the robustness of the processes it uses to collect and administer information.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHigh-quality, consistent, and well-governed data is the essential foundation for building reliable and scalable AI models that can deliver real business value,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ainhoa-alonso-9202775\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ainhoa Alonso<\/strong><\/a>, an IESE Executive MBA holder who is now Chief Data and AI Officer at PagoNxt, a payments firm.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Five steps to put your data plan on track<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Here are some steps that managers like you can take to align your organization with a strong data strategy:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Create a data-driven culture<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Cultivating a corporate culture that recognizes the importance of reliable data is critically important, says Ferr\u00e1ndiz. That means making sure <strong>data is accessible on a company-wide basis<\/strong> and making sure employees are properly incentivized to use it. Only then can firms plan investments with confidence and take the bold decisions needed to execute a long-term digital strategy.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Educate and empower staff<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Companies need to move beyond pilots and <strong>embed AI into business processes and work practices<\/strong>, according to a team including IESE Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/faculty-research\/faculty\/evgeny-kaganer\/\"><strong>Evgeny K\u00e1ganer <\/strong><\/a>at MIT\u2019s Center for Information Systems Research. Creating AI-ready teams means providing opportunities and resources for reskilling. Breaking down silos between departments and ensuring data sources are seamlessly linked is also key.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Deploy the right systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Take care to put in place the right modular, interoperable platforms and data ecosystems to enable a <strong>free flow of intelligence across the organization<\/strong>, urges K\u00e1ganer. Choosing the right architecture is a strategic decision that will shape the flow and reliability of data.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Establish consistent definitions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Make sure to put in place and maintain a common semantic framework that <strong>standardizes data definitions across all business units<\/strong>, says Alonso of PagoNxt. This will enable consistency, interoperability, and a shared understanding of key business and operational concepts across the company.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Strengthen data governance and quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Reinforce the data governance framework to guarantee accuracy, lineage, and trust in the information that powers decision-making and AI models, says Alonso. Governance and ownership of data administration should be in the hands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/standout\/role-chief-ai-officer-caio\/\"><strong>Chief Data Officer<\/strong><\/a>, with a clear mandate to implement rules and oversee levels of access, urges Ferr\u00e1ndiz.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><strong>From strategy to competitive advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>For business leaders, the data challenge is both technical and cultural. Winning organizations will be those that invest in robust processes, empower employees to value data, and act decisively before competitors outpace them.<\/p>\n<p>In today\u2019s environment, where AI is reshaping competitive advantage, the question is not whether to act, but <strong>how quickly you can turn your company\u2019s data into a catalyst for productivity and growth.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hungry to know more about the AI transformation, or prepare to take your career to the next stage? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/focused\/artificial-intelligence\/\"><strong>IESE\u2019s Artificial Intelligence for Executives focused program<\/strong><\/a>, held at our Munich, Madrid, New York and Barcelona campuses, will help you sharpen your skills and learn how to become a more effective leader in the age of AI.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1559140963143{margin-top: 0px 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