How are Fortune 1000 companies and leading global organizations developing the next generation of data and AI leaders? This is a question that companies are being forced to take seriously as they recognize the need to prepare for an AI future that relies on a strong foundation of reliable and trusted data.

First established over a decade and a half ago, the Chief Data Officer (CDO) role has evolved in an ongoing effort to meet the rapidly changing requirements of data and AI leadership. In 2012, just 12% of Fortune 1000 companies had appointed a CDO. Adoption of the CDO role has increased to the point that by 2025, 84% of the Fortune 1000 and global organizations that were surveyed reported having appointed a CDO.

While the CDO role has become ubiquitous, it has also evolved to meet the rapidly evolving requirements of companies seeking to leverage data as a business asset, and now as a foundation for AI. Since its inception, the CDO role has evolved from a risk and compliance focus in the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, to a business growth and innovation focus. In 2017, just 44% of executives responded that the role was focused on innovation and growth. By 2025, the number of executives reporting that the CDO role was focused on growth and innovation had increased to 80%.

Today, 89% of leading organizations report that AI will be the most transformational technology in a generation, and 93% state that interest in AI is leading to a greater focus on data. With 43% of executives advocating the appointment of a Chief AI Officer (CAIO), how will these changes lead to an evolution of the CDO role in an AI-future?

It was in this context that I recently spoke with David Ulicne, program director of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAIO) Certificate Program, David Steier, Distinguished Service Professor and program faculty lead for the CDAIO program and founding members of the program leadership team. First launched in 2020, the Carnegie Mellon CDAIO program (originally launched as the Chief Data Officer program) has trained over 250 data and AI leaders since its inception.

Reflecting on the establishment of the CMU CDAIO program, Ulicne comments, “The CMU Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAIO) Program was born from a clear market need we identified several years ago: organizations across industries were struggling to turn data and AI into true strategic assets, and there was a lack of senior leadership equipped to bridge technical capabilities with executive decision-making.” He adds, "From day one, our mission has been to equip technical executives to lead in the C-suite with strategic, communication, and business acumen."

The initial impetus for the CDAIO certification program came from conversations with industry leaders, alumni, and CMU faculty who saw the rapid rise of CDO and CAIO roles but found few structured, rigorous programs addressing their unique challenges. Ulicne comments, “CMU, with its legacy at the intersection of AI, data science, management, and public policy, was uniquely positioned to meet this need by designing a program grounded in academic rigor yet intensely focused on the practical demands and high expectations of senior executives.”

Ulicne explains, “The CDO/CDAIO role is evolving rapidly from being seen as a technical specialty to becoming a central driver of business strategy and organizational culture.” He continues “Today's CDOs and CAIOs are expected to drive revenue growth, innovation, ethics, and societal impact—not just IT strategy." Ulicne adds, “We’re seeing a convergence of roles. The CDO, CDAIO, and even CIO are increasingly expected to work as a unified force orchestrating digital transformation. Tomorrow’s CDO won’t just align with business strategy — they’ll help define it."

Steier, who also holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon, held leadership roles in management consulting before returning to CMU. Steier comments, “The program has grown significantly in both scope and impact, driven by continuous feedback from industry partners and our alumni network.” He continues, "We began with data governance and analytics leadership; today, we prepare leaders to navigate the full spectrum of AI-driven transformation”. Steier adds, “Over time, we've incorporated emerging areas like generative AI, data ethics, privacy, change management, and navigating complex global regulatory frameworks.”

Steier adds, “Today, our global cohorts bring diverse executive perspectives to each session. We’ve complemented those sessions with robust alumni engagement, executive forums, and ongoing learning, consistently raising the bar for transformational impact." He concludes, “Data and AI are no longer support functions—they're now core to business strategy and execution. AI is optimizing global supply chains, predicting medical outcomes, and designing next-generation products before a single prototype is built."

Carnegie Mellon is no stranger to executive educational certificate programs for technology leaders. CMU launched a Chief Information Officer (CIO) certificate program in 2002, and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) certificate program in 2013. The CMU CDAIO program, which began its 7^th semester last month, began hosting 35-40 students per semester. The enrollment has grown commensurate with the demand for data and AI leadership roles. The most recent Fall 2024 class comprised 67 participants. The new semester which launched in May will host 102 class participants.

The CDAIO Program draws on world-renowned faculty from CMU's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, in addition to current and former CDOs, CAIOs, and CIOs from Fortune 500s, government agencies, and nonprofits. Ulicne comments, “Their role isn't just to teach; it's to mentor, challenge, and empower our students. This fusion of theory and practice ensures that every session is not only insightful but directly actionable for leaders navigating today's complex environments.”

Ulicne explains, “Our instructors are a cornerstone of the program’s success. We meticulously select them based not only on deep expertise but also their ability to engage and mentor executive learners.” He continues, "We built a program faculty of scholar-practitioners who blend cutting-edge research with real-world executive experience." The CMU CDAIO program is supported by 15 faculty instructors and 30 guest coaches/experts. I have had the personal privilege of participating as a guest expert since the program’s inception.

Inderpal Bhandari is one of the founding program leaders. Bhandari completed his PhD in Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon and went on to become one of the first executives to hold the Chief Data Officer title, dating back to his appointment to the role in 2006 at Medco. He later served as the Global CDO at IBM for nearly 8 years. Today, Bhandari is Distinguished Executive in Residence at Carnegie Mellon and a member of the board of directors at Walgreens Boots Alliance and the AES Corporation

Bhandari serves as Program Advisory Board Chair for the CMU CDAIO Program. He comments, “The program is designed to be highly intensive and hands-on. We focus on very practical preparation for the CDO role. This includes a heavy focus on management skills such as alignment with the business, collaboration with peers, learning by doing, and helping change the organizational culture”. He continues, “What sets the program apart is the intensive immersion that takes place. We teach our students what it’s like to be in the CDO role”. Looking to the future of data and AI leadership roles, Bhandari recognizes the rapid turnover of CDO incumbents -- with a quarter of CDOs serving in the role for less than 2 years and over half serving for less than 3 years -- and notes that he expects this trend to continue given the complex demands of the CDO role.

Allison Sagraves is another faculty leader who has been with the CDAIO program since its inception. Sagraves was formerly a pioneering Chief Data Officer at M&T Bank, where she served as the company’s inaugural CDO, a role that she held from 2015-2020. Sagraves proudest accomplishment is what she describes as creation of a “lifelong community”. She explains, “Teaching the capstone leadership class in the Carnegie Mellon CDAIO program is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. The curriculum is top tier, but the real secret sauce is the generous community.” Sagraves continues, “We learn from each other, and I’m still in touch with students from every cohort since 2021.” She concludes, “In a world where AI is changing everything, it’s rare to be part of a network like this. I firmly believe that the CMU program is the very best program out there for data and AI leaders.”

Krishna Cheriath has also been heavily involved with the CDAIO program since its inception. Krishna is currently Chief Digital Officer with Thermo Fisher Scientific with responsibilities for digital products/services, data, analytics, and AI. He previously held Chief Data and Analytics Officer roles at Zoetis and Bristol Myers Squibb. Krishna comments, “This program is all about practical experience. The faculty comprises of a mix of academic and practitioner perspectives. We focus on putting students into the position of an incoming CDAIO”. He adds, “Driving business value is the key to success in the CDAIO role. We help students learn how to collaborate with and influence the business leaders that they serve.” Krishna concludes, “The speed of change is only increasing. Today’s CDAIOs must be highly adaptable and nimble. Who knows what new AI capabilities will emerge in the coming months and years”.

Looking to the future evolution of data and AI capabilities and the demands on data and AI leaders, Ulicne reflect, “Innovation doesn’t come from the technology alone — it comes from leadership that understands how to harness these new data-centric tools ethically and strategically for competitive advantage and societal benefit. That’s exactly what we train our CDAIOs to do”.

Steier adds, “This shift means our education model must go beyond teaching tools and frameworks — we must instill strategic leadership, organizational change capabilities, strong communication and influence skills needed to engage the board and rally the organization, and a deep understanding of data’s broader societal implications.” He notes, “Our curriculum reflects that, with a strong emphasis on influence, ethical stewardship, and transformational leadership—preparing executives not just to adapt to change, but to lead it”.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded across products, operations, and customer experiences, data and AI leadership will become a boardroom imperative. This requires navigating not only the technology but also the complex global regulatory and ethical landscape. Ulicne notes, “Data and AI are two sides of the same coin—you can’t collect the right data without knowing how it fuels AI, and you can’t trust AI without governing the data. The future demands leaders who master both."

Future CDOs and CAIOs will need to be fluent across business, technology, and human behavior, and will increasingly serve as crucial stewards of trust in how data and AI are developed and deployed. The Carnegie Mellon Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAIO) Program is helping redefine executive leadership for the AI era. By combining technical expertise, business strategy, and ethical stewardship, the program is equipping senior leaders to drive innovation, trust, and transformative change in a data-driven world. As industries converge around AI, CMU is helping preparing executives not just to adapt, but to lead.

Ulicne concludes, “Many of our alumni are now leading national data/AI strategies, building data-driven businesses from the ground up, or pioneering ethical AI initiatives in global organizations. It's incredibly rewarding to witness the dynamic interactions within each cohort, as these experienced leaders challenge and learn from one another, forming lasting professional bonds. Watching them grow into confident, visionary leaders—and knowing CMU played a role in that journey—is deeply fulfilling.”