From Alpha to AI: Inside BlackRock’s Bold Data Transformation

What happens when one of the world’s largest asset managers decides to think like a tech company? In this episode, Diwakar Goel, Global Head of Data at BlackRock, pulls back the curtain on how his team is orchestrating one of the most ambitious data transformations in the financial world.

From powering global investments with a touchless analytics “green package,” to reimagining operations through a homegrown AI-infused task platform, Diwakar shares how data governance, privacy, and automation are embedded not as afterthoughts—but as design principles. You’ll hear how they balance speed and regulation, why operational excellence isn’t just grunt work anymore, and why he believes most AI projects need to start with something far less sexy: foundational data modeling.

Oh, and did we mention he manages a 3,300-person org where 80% of operations are already fully automated?

This is not your average CIO playbook.

🔑 Topics Covered:

* Why BlackRock treats data like code—and how it’s paying off

* The surprising way AI is helping reduce employee churn in data ops

* Why Diwakar prefers “boring” AI over “magical” AI

* How a single-digit governance team handles massive compliance needs

* What startups often get wrong when trying to sell to enterprises like BlackRock

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veenormous.substack.com