How to Make Your "Introverted" Data Finally Speak Up (ft. Mrinal Prasad)

Data is already sitting in your organisation — patient, silent, holding every answer you need. But it won't speak up on its own. That's the challenge Mrinal Prasad has spent his career solving. In this episode, Sujay and Sidd sit down with Mrinal to explore why data — despite being everywhere — is still being left on the table by most organisations. In this conversation, we cover: • Why data is like an introvert: it has all the answers, but won't volunteer them • The 3 real reasons C-suite leaders don't treat Data as strategically as People, Process & Technology • Why measuring and communicating data's ROI is what makes it sustainable — not just useful • The single ownership problem: when everyone owns data, no one does • How Saarthi measures its own success by client ROI, not revenue • Why data is no longer about growth — it's about survival • The chess grandmaster metaphor: Data sees 15 moves ahead, but only if you engage it • Practical steps for a legacy enterprise CEO ready to finally activate their data • Why data-driven culture is a habit, not a project Whether you're a CDO, a CEO, or a board member asking why your data investments aren't paying off — this episode will reframe how you think about the conversation you're (not) having with your data. CHAPTERS AND TIMESTAMP: 00:00 Introduction to Data as a Strategic Asset 02:48 The Importance of Data Utilization 05:49 Measuring Data Value and Ownership 08:43 Data as a Core Business Function 11:31 Building a Data-Driven Culture 14:39 Sarthee's Approach to Data 17:22 Customer Perspectives on Data 20:19 Communicating Data Value Effectively 30:57 Strategic Data Utilization in Enterprises 35:22 Understanding the Data Landscape 38:33 Scaling Data Insights for Strategic Growth 41:42 The Role of AI in Data Management 46:22 Personifying Data: Insights and Wisdom 51:46 Introduction to Data-Driven Insights 52:15 Talking to Your Data 54:00 Understanding ROI of Data 56:33 Building a Data-Driven Culture 59:23 Data as a Grandmaster 01:01:48 Close - Key Takeaways ABOUT THE GUEST: Mrinal Prasad is Co-founder & Co-CEO of Saarthee (Sanskrit for 'the one who guides'), a data analytics company on a mission to help organisations move from collecting data to actually deciding with it. He started his career as an analyst — writing code, navigating spreadsheets, learning how to surface real insight — and has since worked with C-suite leaders across industries to make data a core business driver, not a side activity. 🔗 CONNECT with Mrinal on LinkedIn:   / mrinalprasad   📚 RESOURCES: Book: "Data as the Fourth Pillar - An Executive Guide for Scaling AI" by Sujay Dutta & Siddharth Rajagopal Website: ⁠https://www.datathefourthpillar.com CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS: Sujay Dutta:   / sujaydutta   Siddharth Rajagopal:   / sidd-rajagopal   Interested in joining the Podcast as a Guest or referring someone? Email us at ⁠⁠community@datathefourthpillar.com⁠⁠ Subscribe for more CXO briefings on the future of Data and AI. #DataStrategy #DataLeadership #CXO #CDO #FourthPillar #Saarthi #DataAnalytics #Enterprise40