On being a coach and a player, amidst blurring job titles Through a serendipitous journey of fortuitous decisions, Pankaj Rai has embraced diverse roles in various industries over the course of his multi-decade career. His fearlessness towards change and wholehearted acceptance of the outcomes have become the guiding ideals he holds dearly. In an inspiring podcast, the Chief Data Analytics Officer at Aditya Birla Group sheds light on the transformative potential of AI and data analytics in revolutionizing businesses. As Chief Data Analytics Officer: The focus is on being a coach and a player, helping to build data analytics capabilities in each group company to drive transformation and better decision-making. Aditya Birla Group is a Fortune 500 global conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of businesses, including metals, cement, chemicals, fashion, and finance. Pankaj's role involves developing a data analytics culture across the group companies. Balancing centralization and decentralization: Aditya Birla Group's approach is to have a central data analytics function that acts as a thought leadership entity and an advisory, while also helping to develop data analytics capabilities in each group company. This model allows for a balance between centralization and autonomy while considering the diverse businesses within the conglomerate. Consideration of context: Pankaj highlights the importance of considering the context when implementing any approach to transformation. The growth mindset and willingness to innovate may be more suitable in certain contexts, while in others, external factors like regulation and market conditions might limit the scope for innovation. Serendipity and Growth Mindset: Pankaj attributes some of his success to serendipity but also acknowledges that having a growth mindset and being open to new challenges and opportunities played a significant role in his career trajectory. Blur in roles: Pankaj mentions that roles such as Chief Data Analytics Officer, Chief Data Officer, and CIO are increasingly blurring. There is a need to focus on driving transformation and value creation rather than getting stuck in traditional role definitions. Pankaj offers three key takeaways for CIOs, CDOs, and other professionals: a. Break away from past thinking and structures; adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. b. Focus on the customer as the center of your efforts, rather than being bound by industry definitions. c. Embrace ecosystem thinking, fostering collaboration and partnerships for better outcomes.