The Leadership Algorithm What It Takes to Lead in the Age of Data, AI, and Intelligent Systems

In a world flooded with data but starved for insight, this book gives data leaders the blueprint they’ve been missing. Written for CDOs, CDAOs, and rising data executives, it demystifies why so many organizations fail to realize value from their data investments and offers a practical, actionable path to turn data and AI into engines of real business transformation.

Navigating the paradox of modern data leadership, the book exposes the structural, cultural, and strategic blind spots that hold companies back. It reveals how even the most data‑rich enterprises can fall victim to the “data illusion” and how leaders can break the cycle.

More than theory, this is a hands‑on guide that shows you how to design high‑impact data organizations, build a culture that embraces insight-driven decisions, and align data strategy with long-term business goals. From data products to agentic AI, you’ll get the clarity, frameworks, and language needed to influence stakeholders and lead confidently in an era of rapid technological change.

The book also takes an unflinching look at ethical AI, offering lessons from missteps and practical approaches to rebuild trust through transparency and responsible governance. Rather than treating governance as a barrier, you’ll learn to leverage it as a catalyst for innovation and scale.

Whether you’re steering an enterprise data function or stepping into a leadership role for the first time, this book equips you with the strategic mindset and the organizational roadmap to build the intelligent organizations of tomorrow.

What You Will Learn

How to prepare your organization for emerging technologies like agentic AI

How to design high-impact teams and structures

How to build a data-driven culture

Shrey Shivam is a visionary data and AI leader with over a decade of experience driving large-scale data transformation across global enterprises. As Senior Director and Head of Data, Analytics & AI for EMEA at Fiserv, he specializes in building data products and AI-driven platforms that accelerate customer growth, operational excellence, and business innovation. He has a proven track record of defining growth strategies, scaling high performing cross-functional product & engineering teams, and commercializing innovative data solutions across industries including including fintech, insurance, retail, e-commerce, digital media, investment banking, as well as transaction-led marketplaces spanning music, food, lifestyle, news, legal, and travel. His expertise spans product management, data strategy, machine learning & AI, and modern data platforms, with deep hands-on experience across cloud, big data, and AI ecosystems. Prior to Fiserv, Shrey held leadership roles at Prudential Financial and Times Internet, and co-founded a technology startup, bringing together entrepreneurial thinking with deep technical acumen. His diverse experience across startups, consulting, and enterprise environments gives him a unique perspective on building scalable, customer-centric solutions.

Shrey holds a BTech in Information Technology from Cochin University of Science and Technology and an MBA from Queen's University Belfast. He is also co-author of the book ‘Building an Enterprise Chatbot’ and brings a distinctive perspective on aligning emerging technologies with real-world business impact in the age of AI.