The Importance of Unstructured Data and Metadata

What happens when a former NHL player who once faced Wayne Gretzky ends up running a global data company that sits at the center of the AI boom? That question kept coming back to me as I reconnected with Mike McKee, the CEO of Ataccama, seven years after our last conversation. So much has shifted in the world since then, yet the theme that shaped this discussion felt surprisingly grounded. None of the big promises of AI can take hold unless leaders can rely on the data sitting underneath every system they run.

Mike brings a rare mix of stories and experience to this theme. His journey from the ice to the C suite feels like its own lesson in discipline, teamwork, and patience, and he openly reflects on the way those early years influence how he leads today. But the heart of this conversation sits in the reality he sees inside global enterprises. Everyone is racing to build AI powered services, yet the biggest blockers are messy records, inconsistent metadata, long forgotten databases, and years of quality issues that were never addressed. It is a blunt problem, and Mike explains why the companies winning with AI right now are the ones treating data trust as a foundation rather than an afterthought.

Across the discussion, he shares stories from organisations like T Mobile and Prudential, where millions of records, thousands of systems, and vast volumes of structured and unstructured data must be monitored, understood, and governed in real time. Mike walks through how teams build confidence in their data again, why quality scores matter, and how automation now shapes everything from compliance to customer retention. What stood out most is how quickly the expectations have shifted. Boards and CEOs now treat data as a strategic asset rather than an operational chore, and entire roles have emerged above the chief data officer to steer these programmes.

This episode is also a reminder that AI progress is never only about models or GPUs. Mike pulls back the curtain on why organisations struggle to measure AI readiness, how they can avoid bottlenecks, and what it takes to prioritise the work that actually moves the needle. His point is simple. Without trustworthy data, AI remains a promise rather than a practical tool. With it, businesses can act with confidence, respond faster, and make decisions that genuinely improve outcomes for customers and employees.

So as AI reaches deeper into systems everywhere, how should leaders rethink their approach to data trust, governance, and quality? And if you have been on your own journey with data challenges, where have you seen progress and where are you still stuck? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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