In this edition of “The Executive Outlook,” we are excited to introduce Dmytro Lugovyi, a Senior Director of Collibra, strategic advisor, and business transformation expert. With over 20 years of experience in data intelligence, governance, and strategy, he has been instrumental in helping organizations to achieve the true value of their data.
Dmytro’s journey—from a system administrator in Ukraine to a leader in data strategy and governance—is a story of persistence, adaptability, and a deep understanding of how businesses can use data as a competitive advantage. His expertise lies in guiding enterprises to move beyond just collecting data and instead turn it into actionable business insights.
An Inspirational Journey From IT Beginnings to Data Leadership
Dmytro’s career path wasn’t predefined. He started as a system administrator, then moved into database administration, and eventually found himself working as a consultant. Over time, he realized that companies struggled not because they lacked data but because they lacked a clear data strategy.
“Many businesses believe they have a data problem, but in reality, they have a strategy problem,” Dmytro explains. “If data isn’t driving decisions, improving efficiency, or helping businesses grow, it’s just wasted potential.”
For the last 14 years, he has been deeply involved with Collibra, a leading company in data governance and intelligence, where he has helped hundreds of businesses structure their data strategy, implement governance programs, and extract maximum value from their data assets.
He proudly mentioned, “My focus is not just on starting data governance programs but also on reshaping them to focus on value, efficiency, and business outcomes. “
Dmytro Impactful Role of Leadership in Data Strategy Execution
While Dmytro’s expertise is deeply technical, he emphasizes that leadership plays a crucial role in ensuring that data strategy is successfully executed.
He believes “Data strategy is not just about IT; it’s all about leadership, execution, and making sure the right priorities are set, and without clear leadership, even the best technology won’t bring value.”
His work involves helping organizations prioritize data initiatives, align business and IT teams, and ensure that data governance efforts drive measurable success.
Many companies, he notes, have gone through financial turbulence, leading to layoffs and resource constraints. As a result, executives like CDOs, CIOs, and CFOs are demanding more efficiency with fewer resources.
“Companies tell me, ‘We want to do everything we’ve been doing, but with fewer resources and more value,’” he shares. “The only way to achieve this is by rethinking our approach to data and leadership.”
To stay ahead, Dmytro is constantly learning, reading market insights, and studying industry trends through Gartner reports, McKinsey articles, and leadership books on behavioral change and efficiency.
Data Governance: A Critical Component of Business Strategy
Currently, as a Senior Director of Value Consulting, Dmytro wears multiple hats. His responsibilities include:
- Defining and refining best practices in data strategy
- Running coaching sessions for executives and data teams
- Helping organizations align their data governance with business goals
- Developing frameworks to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs
“No two days in my role are the same,” he explains. “Every organization has different challenges, which makes the work exciting. My job is to help them integrate data into their business strategy, making their operations more efficient and impactful.”
Many businesses, he says, have fragmented governance, where different departments handle data separately. His mission is to unify these efforts. Data cannot be an afterthought. It needs to be part of the core business strategy, and leaders must ensure teams work in alignment, not silos.
How does the Rise of AI Governance Become a Challenge for Data Leaders?
With AI becoming a dominant force in business, AI governance has emerged as one of the biggest challenges for data leaders.
Dmytro warns. “We are seeing a massive rise in AI adoption, but without proper data governance, businesses are at risk.”
AI is trained on incorrect, incomplete, or biased data, it can lead to catastrophic business decisions. The real-world failures in AI implementation, where companies have suffered financial and reputational losses due to flawed AI recommendations.
He emphasizes, “You cannot trust AI if you don’t trust your data,”. Businesses rely on AI; they must ensure their data strategy is solid, their data is accurate, and governance processes are in place. AI governance is now a business-critical issue, with Gartner predicting that its impact on enterprises will surpass that of GDPR regulations.
He states. “AI governance is no longer optional. It is now an operational necessity that can protect businesses from legal, ethical, and financial risks”.
4 Key Leadership Principles in Data Strategy
When asked about the key principles of leadership in data-driven transformation, Dmytro highlights four essential pillars:
1. Data Strategy as a Business Foundation: “A strong data strategy must align with business goals and drive tangible results, not just exist as a theoretical framework.”
2. Leadership Through Change Management: “Technology alone doesn’t drive transformation—strong leadership ensures that businesses evolve with changing data trends.”
3. Collaboration Across Departments: “Data should be a shared asset, not an isolated function. A leader’s role is to ensure cross-team collaboration in data management.”
4. Ensuring AI-Ready Data Governance: “AI success depends on the quality and governance of the underlying data. Without structured leadership, AI implementation is risky and unreliable.”
These principles guide his approach to helping organizations build long-term, scalable data strategies.
The Future of Leadership in Data Strategy
Looking ahead, Dmytro is focused on helping businesses prepare for the next wave of digital transformation.
These principles guide his approach to helping organizations build long-term, scalable data strategies. “The businesses that will thrive are those that treat data as a strategic asset, not just an IT function,” he predicts. “Companies that fail to embrace structured data strategy will struggle to compete.” As AI, machine learning, and automation become more deeply embedded in business processes, organizations must develop sustainable leadership models that ensure data integrity, security, and compliance.
“The future of business belongs to those who master data strategy and leadership. Companies that successfully integrate these two elements will be the ones shaping the future of their industries,” he concludes. Through his work, Dmytro is helping organizations bridge the gap between technology and leadership, ensuring that businesses don’t just collect data but actually use it to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation.
Conclusion
Dmytro’s journey from IT administrator to a leader in data strategy. He proves that continuous learning, adaptability, and strategic vision are the keys to success in today’s data-driven world. His expertise in data governance, business consulting, and AI leadership is helping businesses worldwide maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and make smarter decisions.
As companies navigate the next phase of digital transformation, experts like Dmytro are paving the way for a future where data is not just managed but leveraged for business success.
Click here to read more inspirational stories from our next series of executive outlooks.
Editor Bio
I’m Isha Taneja, serving as the Editor-in-Chief at "The Executive Outlook." Here, I interview industry leaders to share their personal opinions and provide valuable insights to the industry. Additionally, I am the CEO of Complere Infosystem, where I work with data to help businesses make smart decisions. Based in India, I leverage the latest technology to transform complex data into simple and actionable insights, ensuring companies utilize their data effectively.
In my free time, I enjoy writing blog posts to share my knowledge, aiming to make complex topics easy to understand for everyone.
