This blog post summarizes key insights and lessons shared by the main track speakers at the CDOIQ Nordic Symposium 2025. It explores foundational data governance practices, processes, models, and activities, while addressing common challenges and the role of analytics in effective governance. The post highlights how a data-driven journey can enhance organizational performance and product quality, supported by real-world case studies that demonstrate the value of governance frameworks. Additionally, it offers an overview of career pathways in data governance and leadership, providing guidance for professionals navigating this evolving field.

The Evolution of Data Leadership

John Bottega is the President of the EDM Council, a global trade association dedicated to advancing best practices in data and analytics. His deep involvement with the Council began in 2005 as an industry contributor from Citibank, followed by his tenure as Chairman from 2007 to 2014. In 2017, he became Chief Executive, bringing decades of experience in data governance, quality, and strategy. Widely recognized as a thought leader in enterprise data management, Bottega has played a pivotal role in shaping industry standards.

In his keynote presentation, Bottega reflected on his personal journey and the evolution of the data management landscape. He traced his early contributions at the CDOIQ symposium to his current leadership role, spotlighting how collaboration has accelerated progress in data practices. Central to his message was the growing impact of artificial intelligence, which he tied directly to the integrity of data. He described the Chief Data Officer’s role maturing through four distinct phases, now centered around ethics, return on investment (ROI), and governance powered by AI. With tools like DCAM and CDMC, Bottega illustrated a future guided by structured frameworks and moral responsibility.

Bottega’s presentation delivered critical lessons for today’s data professionals. He stressed that trustworthy AI begins with high-quality data, and that ethical standards, transparency, and disciplined governance are essential. As the role of the Chief Data Officer continues to evolve, professionals must embrace emerging technologies while maintaining a strong foundation in responsible data management. Above all, industry-wide collaboration and lifelong learning are key to thriving in the rapidly advancing field of data and AI.

Using Digital & Marketing Analytics Data as a Live Monitor of the Market

Steen Rasmussen is the Co-Founder and Director of Data Innovation at IIH Nordic, a leading digital agency in Denmark. With deep expertise in digital strategy, he plays a pivotal role in helping companies use data to drive smarter marketing and operational decisions. As part of the Customer Partnership & Growth team at IIH Nordic, Rasmussen focuses on aligning analytics with business objectives, bringing a strong emphasis on practical innovation and real-world applications.

In his presentation at CDOIQ Nordic 2025, Rasmussen explored the transformative potential of real-time online data as a strategic guide in today’s dynamic digital landscape. He introduced the “four dimensions” of online data—behavioral patterns, intent signals, context relevance, and temporal dynamics—to challenge traditional ways of interpreting customer behavior. One especially compelling idea was leveraging public digital signals, such as job postings and tech stacks, to track competitor strategy in real time. He also advocated for clean room integration and decision-making through intuitive dashboards, making complex data simpler and more actionable.

From Rasmussen’s talk, data professionals can draw several key lessons. First, real-time digital data can empower businesses to shift from reactive choices to predictive strategy. Second, understanding customer behavior through nuanced signals enables self-segmentation and competitive insight. And finally, ensuring the accessibility and integrity of data is crucial for unlocking its full strategic value in the market.

AI Adoption and Governance in Practice

Veera Siivonen, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Saidot, leads strategy and partnerships for AI governance solutions, drawing on two decades of experience in digital transformation across media and healthcare. She is joined by Fredric Lundgren, Data and Machine Learning Team Leader at IKEA (INGKA Group), where he spearheads analytics and machine learning initiatives aimed at improving customer experiences and business outcomes. Minna Mustakallio, Head of Responsible AI at Yle since 2024, brings extensive expertise in ethical AI development and has twice been named to the “100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics” list.

In their panel session at CDOIQ Nordics 2025, Siivonen, Lundgren, and Mustakallio explored the growing importance of AI governance as a catalyst for innovation. Lundgren described IKEA’s distributed model that embeds machine learning into individual teams while ensuring centralized AI oversight—creating a balance between autonomy and alignment. Mustakallio highlighted Yle’s swift integration of generative AI within media workflows, showcasing how agility and ethics can coexist. Across the discussion, clear governance, compliance, and high-quality data emerged not as limitations but as core enablers of responsible AI development.

The panelists emphasized that AI governance is not merely a technical imperative but a strategic and cultural foundation. Embedding responsible AI practices early—rooted in ethics, transparency, and organizational values—builds resilience and earns public trust. A shared takeaway was the vital role of strong data foundations: without high-quality data and structured governance, scalable and ethical AI is simply not possible. Moreover, regulation was reframed as a driver of innovation, encouraging discipline, fairness, and accountability in AI systems.

The Digital Revolution in District Heating and Real Estate: A Data-Driven Journey with Danfoss and Leanheat

Lauri Leppä is the Global Business Development Leader at Danfoss Leanheat, bringing extensive expertise in international business and technology management. With a robust background in energy efficiency and smart building solutions, he has held pivotal roles such as Chief Technology Officer and Lead Solution Engineer at Leanheat Oy. His academic foundation in civil engineering from Aalto University complements his hands-on experience driving sustainable innovation, including projects like optimizing district heating in Espoo through AI-powered solutions.

In his presentation, Leppä showcased how Danfoss Leanheat has leveraged AI and IoT technologies to reshape urban sustainability. What began with a simple observation about indoor temperatures and energy usage expanded into a network of over 200,000 smart sensors across Europe, generating 30 billion data points. This massive data infrastructure enabled the use of digital twins to fine-tune building climates, achieving annual energy savings of 200,000 MWh and enhancing comfort for half a million residents. Looking ahead, Leppä emphasized their move toward sensorless solutions and open data standards, reflecting a bold vision for scalable, smart infrastructure.

Leppä’s experience underscores that transformative change in energy and building management stems from applying technical innovation to real-world challenges. His team’s journey illustrates how granular, data-driven insights can unlock large-scale impact when combined with domain knowledge and agile development. The embrace of sensorless technology and open standards further highlights a critical lesson: long-term sustainability depends not just on tech, but on adaptability, transparency, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Accelerating Data & AI Transformation Journeys: Lessons Learned from Zalando and VW  (Speaker: Alexander Borek, Director of Data Analytics, Zalando)

Alexander Borek is the Director of Data & Analytics at Zalando, Europe’s leading online fashion retailer. As co-leader of the Zalando Data Foundation, he oversees a team of 130 experts dedicated to driving transformation through data mesh architecture and advanced analytics. Borek brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles leading global data strategy at Volkswagen Group and consulting for Fortune 500 companies at IBM and Gartner. He is also a bestselling author and a recognized keynote speaker in the fields of data strategy and AI innovation.

At the CDOIQ Nordics 2025 symposium, Borek presented a powerful narrative on how building communities of data leaders can accelerate enterprise transformation. He described how Zalando’s network of over 200 data and AI professionals influenced major institutions like Swiss Post and Deutsche Bahn by promoting strategic AI adoption. Drawing from his tenure at Volkswagen, he illustrated how integrated digital platforms and AI-embedded processes scaled innovation across vehicles, retail, and operations. His “Data Science Safari” model at VW Financial Services demonstrated rapid and effective AI deployment, driving significant improvements in mobility services and customer engagement.

Borek’s key message was that successful data and AI transformation requires more than technical prowess—it thrives on strategic clarity, stakeholder alignment, and a strong sense of community. Treating data as a product, embedding AI into core business functions, and focusing on value-driven outcomes were central lessons. His approach reveals that lasting impact comes from connecting technological innovation with organizational purpose and shared vision.

From Data Chaos to Data Culture: The Human Journey of Transformation

Camilla Björkqvist is the Senior Director of Global Data Governance & Transformation at Mondelēz International, where she leads organization-wide efforts to drive value creation through data and AI. With more than 20 years of experience in data strategy and transformation, she has held key leadership roles at Deloitte, ING Bank, Danone, and Johnson & Johnson. Her work centers on building scalable governance models, promoting data ownership across business units, and advancing digital transformation. Renowned for her expertise in change management, Björkqvist consistently aligns data capabilities with strategic business goals.

In her presentation at the CDOIQ Nordics Symposium 2025, Björkqvist explored the journey from fragmented data practices to a cohesive data culture. Drawing on her experience at Johnson & Johnson, she introduced an eight-step onboarding roadmap designed to streamline complex ecosystems and cultivate governance maturity. At Mondelēz, she highlighted a human-centric approach to data strategy, emphasizing clarity, literacy, and stakeholder engagement. Her four-pillar framework—Business Ready, Data Mindset, Data Excellence, and Data Democratization—illustrates how integrating governance with people and processes can unlock sustained business value.

Björkqvist’s key takeaway is that developing a strong data culture goes beyond technical tools—it requires structure, simplicity, and people-first thinking. Her examples showed how thoughtful governance design and targeted onboarding can reduce complexity and empower teams. At Mondelēz, fostering cross-functional data literacy and aligning stakeholders proved essential to sustaining transformation. Ultimately, success lies in uniting strategy, systems, and human insight to convert data chaos into a strategic asset.

Advancing Data Leadership for Business and Society

The CDOIQ Nordic Symposium forms part of the international CDOIQ Program, originally founded at MIT, and now extended to the Nordic region through collaboration with Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development and a network of community partners. An overall summary of the entire event, including speaker highlights and thematic insights, is available here: Link to the CDOIQ Nordic Symposium Post-Event Summary.

For inquiries regarding CDOIQ communities and activities, please reach out to the appropriate regional organizers here: Link to the global CDOIQ Society website. Sami Laine serves as the contact for the Nordic region.

Author: Udyant Kumar is a doctoral researcher at Aalto University School of Business, where he delves into the intersections of strategic management, sustainability, and organizational innovation using AI and Data. His academic journey includes advanced studies in business and management, grounded in a commitment to producing research that informs both theory and practice. Before entering academia, Udyant accumulated substantial industry experience across sectors such as consulting, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship. This hands-on background gives him a unique edge in his research—allowing him to bridge the gap between complex academic models and real-world business challenges. His work often reflects a blend of rigorous analytical thinking and practical insight, shaped by years of navigating dynamic business environments.