Kash Mehdi is an experienced Growth Ops and Strategy Leader with a proven track record in driving revenue growth and leading Go-To-Market strategies across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. He has successfully contributed to three major enterprise software companies, securing significant wins and market share. As the Founder of the CDO Masterclass and CDO Academy programs, Kash has been recognized for his thought leadership, earning a spot on the 2024 DataIQ Data and AI Leader Award shortlist. He played a pivotal role in launching DataGalaxy in the U.S., securing its first double-digit customers and driving seven-figure net new business.
Previously, Kash led Informatica’s expansion into the Data Governance space, generating $40 million in annual recurring revenue and $84 million in total contract value in four years. At Collibra, he played an integral role in the company’s growth from a startup to a $5 billion valuation, managing a $56 million portfolio and driving 25% renewal growth. With deep expertise in data and AI governance, privacy, and digital transformation, Kash continues to influence the industry, contributing thought leadership to platforms like Data Stash by Kash, Medium and CDO Magazine.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Kash shared insights into the key opportunities and challenges facing the enterprise software industry today, the secret mantra behind his success, personal hobbies and interests, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Kash. What drives your passion for growth ops and strategy, and how do you stay current with industry trends?
My passion for Growth Operations and Strategy comes from the unique opportunity to engage with data and AI leaders across industries—Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Retail, Healthcare, Higher Education, Manufacturing, Government, and Technology. This exposure allows me to see firsthand the challenges organizations face in unlocking the full value of their data assets.
By working closely with these leaders, I gain a deep appreciation for their immense responsibilities—whether it’s enhancing customer experience, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, GDPR, CCPA, ESG), improving data accessibility for analytics and product development, or advancing workforce data and AI literacy to maintain a competitive edge.
To stay current with industry trends, I focus on continuous learning, research, and community engagement. I actively listen to the challenges faced by data and AI teams, analyze root causes through conversations with industry leaders, and assess the real-world impact of data and AI on business outcomes. Additionally, I believe in giving back to the community through education.
In my career, I’ve consciously created learning platforms such as the CDO Masterclass (founded in 2022 at DataGalaxy) and the CDO Academy (founded in 2020 at Informatica) to foster safe learning environments for data leaders at all levels. These initiatives have certified hundreds of data and AI leaders across 30+ countries, providing them with best practices and insights from Fortune Global 500 companies and innovative organizations driving data-driven transformation.
Through live interactions, hands-on experience, and ongoing engagement with the global data community, I continuously refine my expertise, ensuring that I stay ahead of industry shifts while empowering others on their data and AI journeys.
What do you love the most about your current role?
What I love most about my role is the constant exposure to leading organizations and data & AI leaders across industries. I get to learn about unique challenges in the data and AI space while applying my expertise to drive real impact—helping organizations enhance customer experience, advance self-service analytics, improve workforce literacy, and stay compliant with evolving regulations.
Beyond thought leadership, I take pride in driving tangible business growth. I helped launch DataGalaxy in the U.S., secure its first double-digit customers, and achieve 7-figure revenue in new business. I also enjoy fostering a culture of continuous learning internally—empowering teams across marketing, customer experience, and sales to be more effective in their roles.
Ultimately, my passion lies in advancing data and AI governance worldwide—empowering professionals globally and positioning DataGalaxy as the enterprise standard for data governance across industries.
What do you think are the most significant opportunities and challenges facing the enterprise software industry today?
The enterprise software industry faces significant challenges and opportunities, particularly in delivering real value, usability, and adoption for data workers.
Key Challenges:
- Driving Real Adoption & Usability – Many organizations investing in data and AI governance technologies struggle with adoption due to poor user experience. Non-technical users often find these tools complex, making it difficult to integrate them into daily workflows.
- Data Accessibility & Trust – Data is increasingly scattered across multiple IT architectures, making it harder for analytics teams to find, trust, and use data effectively. This impacts critical business decisions, such as optimizing supply chains, improving customer experience, ensuring compliance, and preventing security breaches.
- Balancing Innovation with Practicality – While emerging technologies like OpenAI and DeepSeek drive innovation, fundamental challenges remain in data accessibility, usability, security, and compliance. Organizations need software solutions that enhance productivity without increasing complexity.
Key Opportunities:
- Seamless Integration & Deployment – Enterprise software must integrate easily with existing technology ecosystems without requiring a “rip and replace” approach. Mapping solutions to an organization’s value chain is critical.
- Clear Playbooks & Learning Forums – Companies need well-defined playbooks to help users maximize software capabilities, along with peer-learning forums where professionals can share best practices and challenges.
- Executive Sponsorship & Change Management – Successful software adoption isn’t just about technology—it requires strong executive support and change management strategies to empower data and AI teams.
Ultimately, software alone isn’t the answer—it’s a tool. Just as a carpenter isn’t great because of their hammer, they also can’t be great without one. True success comes from a concerted effort across executives, data leaders, and frontline data workers to implement and adapt these solutions effectively.
How do you approach leadership and management, and what qualities do you think are essential for effective leadership?
Effective leadership requires a foundation of empathy, transparency, and strategic storytelling. One of the biggest challenges in leadership—especially in data and AI—is connecting technical challenges with real business outcomes.
My Approach to Leadership & Management:
- Empathy & Transparency – Leadership isn’t just about driving results; it’s about understanding the motivations, challenges, and concerns of teams and stakeholders. Transparency builds trust, and trust fuels collaboration.
- Storytelling & Business Alignment – A leader must be able to connect the dots between problems, solutions, and value impact. For example, a large insurance company I worked with struggled with customer experience because their agents weren’t prioritizing certain products. The root cause? A lack of clarity in compensation metrics, leading agents to favor products with more predictable earnings. This disconnect between data, business goals, and frontline execution directly impacted customer satisfaction.
- Communication & Change Management – Strong leadership means keeping teams aligned, ensuring that everyone understands their role in achieving business success, and creating a common language for collaboration.
- Leading with Data & Adaptability – Decisions should be data-driven, and leaders must be open to feedback and willing to adapt as business needs evolve. Constant alignment with business stakeholders ensures that data initiatives drive real value rather than becoming technical silos.
Ultimately, great leadership is about bridging the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that people, processes, and technology are working toward a shared vision.
Congratulations on being nominated for the Data and AI Leader of the Year – Influencer Award. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success.
I am truly honored to be recognized as the Data and AI Leader of the Year – Influencer by DataIQ. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the incredible data and AI community, my team at DataGalaxy, and the many leaders who have believed in my vision for thought leadership and education in data and AI.
- The secret mantra behind my success is simple: creating value for the people I serve. I’ve always believed in empowering data professionals by building learning platforms and fostering knowledge-sharing communities. This belief led me to create initiatives like:
CDO Masterclass (founded in 2022 at DataGalaxy) and CDO Academy (founded in 2020 at Informatica) – These programs have certified hundreds of data and AI leaders across 30+ countries, helping them gain best practices from Fortune Global 500 companies and innovative organizations driving data-driven transformation. - Thought Leadership Contributions – I actively share insights through platforms like Data Stash by Kash (which I helped create and has gained over 3,700+ active readers), blogs on Medium, CDO Magazine, and other forums that serve as self-serve knowledge hubs for data professionals.
What makes this recognition truly special is that it comes from the data and AI community itself—leaders who have personally benefited from these initiatives and have continuously supported this mission. Their trust and engagement fuel my passion to keep pushing the boundaries of data and AI leadership.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
I am incredibly grateful to the founders and leaders who took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to witness entrepreneurial spirit, business growth urgency, and leadership excellence up close. Some of my greatest lessons have come from observing their work ethic, relentless dedication, and strategic thinking in scaling businesses.
A special thanks to:
- DataGalaxy – Co-founders Lazhar Sellami & Sebastien Thomas and Chief Evangelist Laurent Dresse for their trust and support in expanding DataGalaxy’s presence and success.
- Informatica – Jitesh Ghai (Chief Product Officer), Eric Salava (SVP of Sales), Mauricio Ramirez (Enterprise Sales Leader), Ewan Henderson (SVP North America Sales), Emilio Valdes (SVP EMEA-LATAM Sales), Brendan Steffani (VP of Strategic Sales), Vineet Walia (Chief Strategy Officer), Ansa Shekharan (Chief Customer Success Officer), and Amit Walia (CEO), whose leadership shaped my perspective on driving business impact.
- Collibra – Co-founders Stijn Christiaens & Felix Van De Maele, Philip Carty (Chief Revenue Officer) for their visionary leadership.
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock – Dr. John R Talburt, Dr. Elizabeth Pierce
- University of Arkansas for Medical Science – Dr. Umit Topaloglu, Dr. Mathias Brochhausen
I’m sure there are many more leaders who have contributed to my journey, and I’m truly thankful for the collective wisdom, mentorship, and opportunities they have provided. Their influence has been instrumental in shaping my approach to growth, leadership, and business strategy.
What are some of your passions outside of work? What do you like to do in your time off?
Staying fit, healthy, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle are my top priorities outside of work. I enjoy reading, writing thought leadership content, and sharing my learnings from real-world experiences to contribute to the broader data and AI community.
I also love going on long walks, spending quality time with family, and mentoring aspiring professionals in the space. Teaching is another passion of mine—I currently serve as a guest lecturer at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where I teach graduate-level courses on data governance.
Additionally, I actively participate in data meetups and public speaking engagements, where I get to connect with new people, exchange ideas, and stay engaged with the latest industry trends.
Which technology are you investing in now to prepare for the future?
I am currently investing in data and AI governance technologies, such as DataGalaxy, to ensure we’re well-prepared for the future of the data landscape. Additionally, I’m focusing on continuous learning and development through platforms like LinkedIn Learning and industry reports from leaders such as Gartner, Forrester, and BARC. I also engage with specialized communities like the Gartner Peer Community and DAMA International.
A significant portion of my investment is in acquiring knowledge—whether it’s through books on data and AI governance, studying case studies from Fortune Global 500 companies, or exploring generative AI technologies. I’m also deeply committed to building educational forums, like the CDO Masterclass, to cultivate a culture of learning for professionals impacted by data and AI across industries worldwide.
What is your biggest goal? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
In the next five years, my goal is to be closely engaged with customers and data/AI leaders, taking on executive-level roles focused on driving revenue and contributing to business growth. I don’t focus on specific titles, as I believe what truly matters is the opportunity to learn directly from customers while helping achieve revenue objectives. Additionally, I aspire to be recognized as a leading voice and thought leader in the data and AI space, continuing to make an impact through innovative Thought leadership contributions and fostering collaboration across industries.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in growth ops and strategy?
Starting in Growth Operations and Strategy requires strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and a willingness to embrace feedback at every stage of your career. Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and challenge you to think beyond the status quo. I recommend focusing on upskilling in soft skills, especially writing, to capture and reflect on your learnings. Take time to understand the day-to-day responsibilities of the roles you’re aiming for and map out a plan for continuous learning. Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something, and always be open to perspectives from others, regardless of their title. Emotional intelligence is key—learn to see the world through others’ eyes. Be bold, put yourself out there, and embrace criticism and feedback, as it will help you grow into the best version of yourself.