Strategic AI Leadership Through Data

AI innovation is a leadership mandate, not a tools contest. The organizations that win align data strategy, architecture, and culture to a clear business thesis for AI. This book shows executives and managers how to turn data into an engine for innovation: selecting high-value use cases, building trustworthy systems, and creating operating models that scale.

Inside, you will find practical playbooks, frameworks, checklists, decision trees, and case studies covering data strategy and architecture, governance and ethics, MLOps and model lifecycle, GenAI productization, risk and compliance, workforce and operating-model design, ESG integration, and execution patterns in both mature and emerging markets. Each chapter translates complex concepts into board-ready choices and day-one actions.

By the end, you will be able to define an AI vision tied to measurable outcomes, prioritize and fund a roadmap, institute responsible governance, stand up cloud-native platforms, and move from pilots to enterprise platforms with confidence. You will know how to measure ROI, manage risk, and lead cross-functional change, building a durable advantage through strategic AI leadership.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
● Design enterprise data strategies that unlock repeatable AI innovation.
● Translate business goals into prioritized, fundable AI use cases.
● Formulate a data strategy aligning AI objectives with a scalable architecture.
● Drive organizational excellence using collaboration and AI ROI frameworks.
● Build governance, ethics, and risk controls for responsible AI.
● Stand up cloud-native, secure platforms for GenAI and ML.
● Establish MLOps pipelines for training, deployment, and monitoring.
● Lead cross-functional teams, incentives, and culture for AI adoption.
● Scale pilots to platforms using reusable features and patterns.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
This book is designed for executives, business leaders, and product/technology owners responsible for turning data into AI-enabled innovation. Ideal for C-suite, IT managers, and data strategists seeking practical leadership frameworks to align strategy, governance, and MLOps, no deep coding required to scale responsible, ROI-driven AI across functions and industries.

1. AI Renaissance in Business Innovation
2. Understanding the AI-First Mindset
3. Data Literacy for Leaders
4. Crafting Data Strategy Aligned with AI Goals
5. Data Governance, Ethics and Quality
6. Driving Organizational Excellence in AI Leadership
7. Navigating the Rise of Generative AI
8. Building AI-resilient Organizations
9. AI and Workforce Transformation
10. Challenges in Scaling AI
11. AI-driven Sustainability and ESG Goals
12. AI in Emerging Markets and Global Development
13. Leading into Future of AI-driven Transformation

Puspanjali Sarma is a technology leader with more than fifteen years of experience across data engineering, AI/ML, data science, and analytics. She specializes in architecting AI-driven solutions, scaling intelligent systems, and leading high-performing teams to deliver digital transformation for Fortune 500 enterprises and global startups.

At ServiceNow, where she serves as senior manager – data and AI (Platform and solutions), Puspanjali leads AI platform innovations that combine ML, generative AI, and modern data engineering to build products that improve enterprise efficiency, reliability, and scale.

Her background spans engineering leadership, consulting, solution architecture, and pre-sales. She is known for building and mentoring cross-functional data science and engineering teams, raising the technical bar, and delivering resilient, production-grade solutions.

Recognition and impact: named an AIM “40 Under 40 Data Scientist” for advancing practical, responsible AI adoption. She has developed and championed scalable AI frameworks across BFSI, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.

Committed to ecosystem development, she mentors with WEHUB and Women in AI and Big Data, and writes about ethical AI and inclusive team building. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and contributes through speaking engagements, practitioner research, and community initiatives.

Puspanjali holds a B.Tech in computer science and an MS with a concentration in AI/ML, and completed the Women’s Leadership Programme at ISB Executive Education.