The New Stack Podcast Why Your ‘Data Exhaust’ Is Your Most Valuable Asset
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Aug 21, 2025 Rahul Auradkar, Executive VP and GM at Salesforce, shares his journey from a cricket-loving youth in India to a leader in data evolution. He discusses the transition from relational databases to modern data solutions, unveiling the importance of 'data exhaust' for businesses. Auradkar highlights challenges posed by data silos and emphasizes the necessity of unifying these to enhance business interactions. He also dives into how generative AI can elevate data practices, paving the way for more productive and seamless enterprise experiences.
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Cricket Sparked A Data Mindset
- Rahul describes growing up in India and following cricket through newspapers, radio, and conversation which trained him to synthesize scattered data.
- He used statistics and contextual storytelling to fill gaps and create meaningful narratives from varied sources.
Automation Amplifies Bad Data Risks
- Rahul frames AI as intelligent automation at scale that amplifies the harm from low-fidelity data.
- He warns that automation magnifies errors and trust violations when data lacks accuracy and relevance.
Data Evolution Created Trapped Silos
- Rahul traces data evolution from relational databases to warehouses, lakes, and lakehouses and shows how this created protocol and SQL fragmentation.
- He identifies those divergent formats and silos as the core source of trapped data debt enterprises must solve.