Data Masters Podcast Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Business Strategy with Dr. Elena Alikhachkina
AI is not a side project; it is a business model shift. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Elena Alikhachkina, Chief Data and AI Officer of TE Connectivity, director, board advisor and author, to explore why AI demands a product mindset, how “learning data” powers continuous AI loops and what boards must do now to govern AI responsibly. Elena shares why technical skills alone are no longer enough, how trust is being redefined in the age of digital employees, and why 2026 will mark a turning point for data, governance and enterprise transformation.
Elena challenges the idea that data is “the new oil” and instead reframes it as a living, learning asset embedded in business processes. We unpack what it really means to build AI loops, why product leaders must be deeply embedded in operations and how governance, data readiness and performance accountability must evolve as agents join the workforce.
Key Takeaways:
00:00 Introduction.
02:38 AI is reshaping data careers and elevating product and business skills.
06:00 Product leaders go beyond dashboards to uncover the real business problem.
09:43 Data teams must embed in operations and “walk the floor” to drive adoption.
13:33 Data is not oil — it must power continuous learning loops.
16:15 AI pilots fail when they do not close the loop with user feedback and new data.
20:20 Boards face confusion and must translate AI into governance responsibilities.
23:00 Data governance and data readiness must become board-level metrics.
25:00 Leaders will manage digital employees and agents alongside humans.
28:21 2026 will move AI beyond chat interfaces into embedded enterprise systems.
30:50 The AI opportunity is underestimated, but security and compliance may slow scale.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elena-alikhachkina-2265041/
TE Connectivity | LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-connectivity/
TE Connectivity | Website
https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-connectivity/
https://www.re-coded.com
National Association of Corporate Directors | Website
https://www.nacdonline.org
Johnson and Johnson | Website
https://www.jnj.com
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