Kiran Kodali
Head of R&D Data Strategy and Governance & Data Foundations
Sanofi
Kiran Kodali is a value-driven data and digital transformation leader, currently leading the R&D Data Strategy and Governance at Sanofi (Pharma / Life Sciences). Kiran has had the opportunity to work across industries - including investment banking, US military and business aviation - with a focus on enabling business objectives from a data and digital standpoint. He has expertise in launching and scaling capabilities that allow monetization on the data generated/acquired, support decision making and improve business outcomes.
Learn more about the Boston CDAO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
There were some tough decisions that I had to make over the course of my career progression, and one key aspect that was common across those decisions was to validate my sense of purpose and anticipate the positive impact that I could generate through the decision. Other important elements were to have a mentor and to stay curious and keep learning.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
'Be a servant leader that creates an environment for teams and individuals to thrive.' Provide a framework that enables them to innovate, improve, get recognized and navigate seamlessly, while ensuring that we stay on track with delivering business value.
With disruption being a key theme of the past few years, where do you see your role as a CDAO going in the next 1-2 years?
It is not easy to be disruptive and disciplined at the same time. I believe my role will ensure that the innovative and disruptive approaches that come up are aligned to the business objectives, maintain that discipline, and deliver value to the organization.
Advanced technologies and methods are creating some level of disruption in almost every industry, and it is vital to stay on top of the competitive landscape and identify opportunities that align with our interests.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the role as a CDAO?
Stick with your passion, keep learning, find a mentor and continue to build your network!
Tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.
- I love exploring authentic food from different cultures.
- I enjoy training our pup Simba (mini poodle), so he can show off his new skills.
- I served in the Army Reserve for 6 years and now serving in the Navy Reserve.
What is the value of participating in a professional community through Evanta?
Cross-industry knowledge sharing, emerging trends and networking.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
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