Tina Chakrabarty stands out as a transformative leader in the realms of data governance and digital transformation. Currently serving as the Global VP – Head of Data Governance at Sanofi, Tina is at the forefront of developing and implementing comprehensive data governance frameworks that fuel innovation and business growth. Her strategic vision aims to harness the power of data to enhance AI capabilities, optimize operational efficiency, and elevate informed decision-making across the organization.
Renowned for her empathetic and visionary leadership style, Tina seamlessly integrates her professional acumen with a deep commitment to excellence, integrity, and impactful change. Her career is a testament to her expertise in data management and governance, marked by significant roles with leading global organizations including Cognizant, EY, The Coca-Cola Company, Accenture, Capgemini, and Deloitte. Tina’s contributions have notably advanced the data governance landscape in Canada, underscoring her ability to drive industry-wide transformation.
As a leader, Tina’s approach is rooted in inclusivity and empowerment. She fosters a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just principles but driving forces behind organizational success. Her dedication to promoting women in technology and leadership roles is evident through her active involvement in professional networks and her role as an advisory board member for the Standards Council of Canada. Tina’s commitment to DEI reflects her belief that a diverse and inclusive workforce spurs greater innovation and performance, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
Tina’s accolades, including being named among the 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network, highlight her exceptional contributions to her field and her advocacy for diversity. Her educational achievements—spanning a B-Tech in Computer Science and Engineering, an MBA from a top Indian business school, and an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School—demonstrate her relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Tina is deeply invested in her personal life, valuing time with family and friends and advocating for mental health and well-being. Her holistic approach to life balances her professional achievements with personal passions and community involvement, reflecting a leader who is not only driven and compassionate but also grounded and continuously evolving.
Steering Data Governance and AI Initiatives
Tina is currently the Global VP – Head of Data Governance at Sanofi, a leading global healthcare company. Her career has been marked by continuous learning, innovation, and leadership, with a particular focus on Data and AI. Tina has worked with some of the world’s most influential organizations, excelling in data governance, digital transformation, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
Her professional journey began with a solid foundation in technology, earning a B-Tech in Computer Science and Engineering. This technical expertise paved the way for her early roles in data management and governance, where she recognized the need to blend technical skills with business acumen. To address this, Tina pursued an MBA from a prestigious Indian business school and later an Executive MBA from Harvard Business School, gaining the strategic insight and leadership capabilities necessary for driving large-scale transformations in a global business environment.
Tina’s career includes leadership roles at renowned organizations such as Cognizant, EY, The Coca-Cola Company, Accenture, Capgemini, and Deloitte. These positions allowed her to tackle complex challenges, lead diverse teams, and drive innovation. Her contributions to data governance have been particularly impactful, influencing industry standards and best practices. In Canada, Tina played a significant role in shaping data governance frameworks, working closely with national leaders to establish ethical and effective data management practices.
A core aspect of Tina’s journey has been her unwavering commitment to DEI. She views diversity as a strength that enhances decision-making and innovation. As a DEI advocate, Tina has focused on creating inclusive environments where every voice is valued. Her involvement in women’s leadership networks and professional groups underscores her dedication to mentoring and supporting the next generation of leaders, especially women and underrepresented communities in technology. Empowering others to reach their full potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of her leadership.
Aligning Data and AI with Sanofi’s Business Objectives
As the Global Vice President and Head of Data and AI Governance at Sanofi, Tina plays a crucial role in shaping the company’s digital transformation and overall business strategy. Her role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including strategic leadership, policy development, data quality management, risk management, ethical AI oversight, and cross-functional collaboration.
Tina’s primary responsibility is to develop and implement a global data and AI governance strategy that aligns with Sanofi’s overarching business objectives. She collaborates closely with the executive leadership team to ensure that data and AI initiatives are both innovative and strategically aligned with the company’s mission to improve global health. Tina’s thought leadership is key in leveraging data and AI as strategic assets to drive growth, enhance operational efficiencies, and deliver personalized healthcare solutions. Her strategic oversight ensures that data governance practices are forward-looking, adaptable to emerging trends, and supportive of Sanofi’s long-term vision.
One of Tina’s key roles is to establish and enforce robust governance policies, standards, and frameworks for managing data and AI systems. She leads the creation of guidelines to ensure data integrity, privacy, and security while fostering responsible AI innovation. These policies are essential for maintaining stakeholder trust and are consistently applied across all business units, providing a unified approach to data and AI management.
Maintaining high standards of data quality is another critical aspect of Tina’s role. She oversees data quality management initiatives to ensure that data is accurate, consistent, and reliable. Tina leads data stewardship programs, identifying data owners and custodians, and cultivating a culture of data stewardship. This emphasis on data quality enhances Sanofi’s ability to deliver innovative healthcare solutions and improve patient outcomes.
In the complex regulatory landscape of today, Tina also focuses on managing risks associated with data and AI. She leads efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to data usage, privacy, and AI deployment. This involves conducting regular audits, implementing controls to prevent data breaches, and ensuring compliance with global data protection laws such as GDPR and HIPAA. Tina stays ahead of emerging regulations to ensure that governance frameworks remain adaptable and compliant with new requirements.
Ensuring that AI initiatives are both advanced and ethical is another significant aspect of Tina’s responsibilities. She leads the development of AI governance frameworks that emphasize transparency, fairness, and accountability, establishing guidelines to avoid biases and potential harm. By prioritizing ethical considerations, Tina helps maintain Sanofi’s reputation as a responsible innovator in healthcare.
Effective data and AI governance also requires strong cross-functional collaboration, which Tina facilitates across various business units, including IT, R&D, legal, compliance, and operations. She fosters a culture of shared responsibility, ensuring that data and AI governance is integrated into all aspects of the company’s work. This collaborative approach helps embed governance practices into the organizational culture, enabling Sanofi to fully leverage data and AI to achieve its strategic goals.
Observed Gaps Among Emerging Women Leaders
To continue growing as a woman leader, Tina emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, embracing challenges, seeking mentorship, and maintaining self-awareness. Lifelong learning keeps her abreast of industry trends and leadership practices, ensuring she remains innovative and informed. Embracing challenges and taking calculated risks help her build resilience and hone problem-solving skills, essential for navigating complex situations. Mentorship and networking have been pivotal in her career, providing guidance, support, and diverse perspectives that enrich her leadership journey. Tina also prioritizes self-awareness and emotional intelligence, understanding her strengths and weaknesses and leading with empathy.
However, Tina has observed some gaps among emerging women leaders. One significant area is confidence in self-promotion. Many women excel in their roles but struggle to advocate for themselves, which can impede career advancement. Tina encourages emerging leaders to assert their value and achievements confidently.
Another area is risk-taking and overcoming the fear of failure. The reluctance to take risks or fear of making mistakes can limit growth. Tina believes it’s crucial to view challenges and failures as opportunities for learning rather than obstacles to avoid.
Strategic networking is also an area for improvement. Building meaningful and purposeful connections can open doors to new opportunities and provide crucial support. Tina notes that this aspect is often underutilized by emerging leaders, who may benefit greatly from cultivating a robust network.
Finally, advocacy for others is sometimes lacking. True leadership involves lifting others, especially women and underrepresented groups. Tina advises emerging women leaders to focus on mentoring and creating inclusive environments, recognizing that their success is intertwined with the success of others.
Principles and Values Guiding Tina’s Professional Journey
Tina attributes her success to several key factors and values that have guided her career. A cornerstone of her achievements has been her commitment to continuous learning. By actively pursuing new knowledge through formal education, industry conferences, and engagement with peers and mentors, she stays at the forefront of Data and AI advancements. This dedication ensures she leads effectively in a dynamic field.
Strategic risk-taking has also been crucial to her career progression. Embracing challenges and stepping out of her comfort zone have allowed her to drive innovation and achieve significant results. This willingness to navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities has been instrumental in her impactful contributions.
Effective leadership and collaboration are central to Tina’s success. Leading with a clear vision and fostering a collaborative environment, she prioritizes open communication and works closely with diverse teams to align efforts and achieve shared goals. This approach has enabled her to implement successful strategies and drive positive change within organizations.
Her commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is integral to her success. By advocating for diverse perspectives and creating inclusive environments, she enhances team performance and contributes to a more equitable workplace. Mentoring and supporting others, particularly women and underrepresented groups in technology, aligns with her values and drives meaningful change.
Tina values several principles highly. Integrity and ethics are paramount; she upholds strong ethical standards and transparency in her actions, which build trust and credibility in her professional relationships. Continuous improvement is another core value. She strives for excellence and seeks ways to enhance her skills and practices to remain effective and relevant in her role.
Empathy and support for others are crucial to her leadership approach. Building strong, supportive relationships and fostering growth through mentorship are key aspects of her style. Lastly, innovation and impact are significant to Tina. Leveraging new ideas and solutions to advance data governance and ethical AI aligns with her goal of contributing positively to society and the industry.
These principles have shaped her journey and continue to guide her leadership approach, ensuring she remains a forward-thinking and impactful leader.
Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Leadership
Tina finds the greatest joy in her daily routine when she connects with her team and collaborates on innovative projects. Starting her day with team meetings or brainstorming sessions is a highlight that brings her immense satisfaction. These interactions, filled with enthusiasm and creativity, are moments when she and her colleagues explore new ideas and solutions together. The energy from these collaborative efforts not only fuels her passion for leadership but also reinforces her commitment to fostering a positive and productive work environment. Celebrating milestones and witnessing the progress made as a team are among the most fulfilling aspects of her role.
One of the most significant risks Tina has taken in her career involved leading a major digital transformation initiative. This project required a complete overhaul of data governance and AI strategies across the organization. The risk was substantial, as it meant challenging established practices and implementing new technologies and processes, which could disrupt ongoing operations and demand extensive change management. Despite these challenges, Tina was confident in the potential benefits, including improved data quality, better decision-making, and increased agility in responding to market changes.
Taking this risk involved advocating for bold changes, securing support from key stakeholders, and managing a complex implementation process. The successful completion of the project not only enhanced the organization’s data and AI capabilities but also demonstrated the value of embracing calculated risks to drive innovation and achieve strategic goals. This experience reinforced Tina’s belief in the importance of pushing boundaries and the rewards that come from tackling significant challenges.
Essential Tips for First-Time Leaders
Stepping into a leadership position for the first time is both exhilarating and daunting. Tina offers the following advice for those embarking on this journey:
First, cultivate self-awareness. Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and leadership style is crucial. Self-awareness allows you to lead authentically, make decisions aligned with your values, and identify areas for growth. Seek feedback constructively to enhance your leadership skills.
- Building strong relationships is also essential. Invest time in getting to know your team members, understanding their strengths, motivations, and challenges. Strong, trusting relationships foster effective leadership and enable you to guide, support, and motivate your team more effectively.
- Effective communication is key. Be clear about your vision, expectations, and goals. Transparency fosters trust and aligns your team with organizational objectives. Encourage open dialogue and remain approachable for feedback and concerns.
- Leading by example sets the tone for your team. Demonstrate the values, work ethic, and behavior you expect from others. This builds credibility and fosters a culture of respect and accountability.
- Embrace learning and adaptability. Leadership often involves navigating new challenges. Stay open to learning and adapting your approach as needed. Seek mentorship and professional development opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge.
- Delegate and empower your team. Trust your team members with responsibilities and allow them to take ownership. Delegation helps manage your workload and encourages team growth and development.
- Managing conflict constructively is also important. Approach conflicts with a problem-solving mindset, addressing issues promptly and fairly. Effective conflict management strengthens team cohesion and improves overall performance.
Finally, stay focused on goals. Keep your team’s objectives and the organization’s mission at the forefront. Ensure every decision and action aligns with these goals, and regularly review progress to stay on track.
Follow on Social Media:
