What started as a tactical function focused on compliance— rather than value—has morphed into one of the most impactful roles in any organization. The rapid ascent of AI has forced a rethink: data leadership can no longer stop at governance. It must enable growth, too. “Now you see data leaders taking on deeper responsibility to truly help drive transformation and strategy,” says Luftig, who has worked with dozens of CDOs on their data initiatives. “In some organizations, CDOs help shape products.