Kalyani Sekar
Chief Data Officer, SVP, AI & Data
Verizon
As the Chief Data and AI Officer, Kalyani Sekar is at the forefront of leveraging the power of data and AI to drive innovation and excellence across the enterprise. Her focus is on delivering best-in-class communications and technology solutions through responsible deployment of AI to drive growth and improve employee and customer experience.
Kalyani holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and brings deep expertise in technology strategy, building resilient and scalable solutions, and process excellence. Her domain knowledge spans the constantly broadening communication technology space.
Outside of work, she is an avid traveler, with a love for exploring new destinations and a deep appreciation for Indian classical music.
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Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
Before stepping into my current role, I served as Vice President of Data Engineering and Industrialization. My journey with Verizon, however, began in 2002 when I joined as an architect. Since then, I have taken on various leadership roles across portfolios, including serving as Managing Director of Verizon India, where I had the opportunity to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the company’s operations in diverse markets.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
My guiding principle is to ‘listen and lead’. Whether it’s customers, employees or stakeholders, actively listening to them and genuinely understanding their needs, concerns and feedback helps me make informed and effective decisions aligned with the people it serves.
What is the greatest challenge data leaders face today, and how are you addressing it?
The challenge in my role is navigating the constant influx of new priorities. I address this by staying focused on a few key objectives and consistently aligning efforts with our overarching goal. Another challenge is ensuring data availability with the right quality. If the data isn’t right, nothing else will work.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CDAO?
In my view, capability and collaboration are two critical factors for success. To drive outcomes, building capability is essential, but collaboration is key to take it to the finish line.
How do you measure success as a leader?
Success as a leader is measured by several key factors:
- First, building capabilities and delivery of value are critical indicators, reflecting how well the team delivers results and builds scalable & reusable capabilities over time.
- Second, building strong relationships with business/technology partners and being recognized as a trusted ally are vital for long-term success.
- Third, employee engagement and satisfaction are essential metrics, as they indicate a healthy and motivated workforce.
- Finally, success is also defined by the team’s ability to innovate and adapt in a dynamic environment, ensuring continued relevance and competitive advantage.
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