Bridging the Gap Between Engineering & Business Strategy:Applying a Product Mindset to Data Problems

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.