Fiona Millar & Caroline Knowles

We travelled from Manchester to New York to attend the Informatica Master Data Management (MDM) & Data Governance Summit!

The event was really engaging, packed with insights on Master Data Management (MDM), and lots of exciting developments. The day put a real focus on empowering #AI with Trusted Context and re-framing our view of Data Governance as a stabiliser rather than a brake.

We had a fantastic day at the summit and managed to squeeze lots of sightseeing around New York into our trip as well.

Women in Data Breakfast

The morning kicked off with an energising panel for the Women in Data breakfast, where our very own CTO Miranda Pocock joined Susan Zaffers (MVP Health Care), Katie Tougas (The Hartford), and Deb Bade (Informatica) on a panel exploring how to navigate change in the AI era, build support for data strategies, and create real business impact.

Katie leads Data Governance at The Hartford, while Susan’s career journey from HR into data leadership was a compelling reminder that some of the most valuable skills in this field aren’t technical. Empathy, communication, and the ability to bring people along on a journey matter just as much as knowing your way around a data platform, and were emphasised as key qualities that lots of women excel in.

A theme that ran through the whole conversation was communication as a core data skill.

If your message isn’t landing, the answer isn’t to repeat it louder  – it’s to find a different way in.

 Getting everyone speaking the same language isn’t a soft skill; it’s a strategic necessity, and one that data leaders at every level are grappling with.

The panel also reflected on how AI is fundamentally changing the visibility of data governance. What was once a back-room discipline is now a boardroom conversation. For Susan, whose work involves medical data, that shift comes with real stakes. Ensuring data is correctly categorised isn’t just a compliance exercise, it’s what unlocks meaningful insights and better outcomes.

Keynote

The keynote session followed on the from the breakfast and really set the tone for the day. It introduced the central themes of Master Data Management (MDM) and Data Governance. The room was filled with key representatives from Informatica, alongside current and prospective customers, all eager to hear Informatica’s strategic priorities for 2026 and how it’s ecostystem is advancing to prepare data for AI solutions.

Katie Tougas from The Hartford Group delivered a compelling perspective on the importance of data governance and a clearly defined data strategy. She laid out a simple but effective framework for structuring data initiatives across three stages:

Foundations             →        Enablement              →        Impact

The logic is straightforward: build strong data fundamentals first, bring business users along so they genuinely understand the architecture, thereby allowing maximum business value to be realised.

A major theme of the keynote was ‘Trusted Context’, positioned as a primary focus for Informatica in 2026. The message was clear:

“Context is the new currency for data and AI.”

Feeding agentic AI with both autonomy and meaningful context is what enables organisations to truly harness the full potential of AI.  A helpful analogy was used to illustrate this point:

A talented musician may sell out arenas, yet the same individual performing on the street could earn only pennies. The talent hasn’t changed — the context has.

Data is no different. Without the right framework around it, even the best data delivers a fraction of its potential value.

The statistic that stood out:

60% of AI projects initiated this year are expected to fail due to a lack of AI-ready data.

It’s a striking figure. The implication for organisations is urgent: the window to build the right foundation is now, not after an AI initiative has already stalled. Informatica’s goal is to ensure that customers using its platform don’t become part of that statistic.

Networking

After the keynote, the floor opened up for networking. The energy in the room matched the excitement of the day and the conversations were filled with enthusiasm and anticipation. For us, it was a chance to meet face to face with many of the Informatica colleagues we work closely alongside.

We also had a fascinating conversation with a customer who is currently embarking on a data catalogue initiative, a journey that will feel familiar to many in the room. Working as a one-person team, they are taking a deliberately methodical approach: cleanse and standardise the data first, then introduce Master Data Management (MDM) once the foundations are solid. Progress is steady rather than fast, but the strategy is sound. It’s a real-world illustration of something we hear often – data governance at scale is rarely a sprint, and the organisations that get it right are usually the ones willing to do the groundwork before reaching for the more visible wins.

Two professionals from the financial sector sparked an equally thought-provoking conversation, this time about what truly makes a great consultant. Their answer wasn’t about technical expertise – that’s a given. What sets the best apart, in their experience, is consistency and commitment: showing up reliably, integrating genuinely with the client’s team rather than parachuting in and out, and producing documentation that has real longevity beyond the engagement itself. The point that resonated most was around handoff and training – too often, a solution is delivered and the business is left to figure it out. The best consultancies don’t just build, they transfer knowledge, equip the team, and make sure the organisation can truly own what’s been put in place. It’s a standard we hold ourselves to at Cloud Perspective, and it was validating to hear it reflected back from the client side as the benchmark they hold their partners to.

Taken together, these conversations were a timely reminder that for many teams the journey is still very much in its early chapters, and that there is immense value in a community of peers who are navigating the same challenges, whether that’s resourcing constraints, cultural change, or simply finding partners you can trust for the long haul.

Breakout Sessions

The were a number of informative breakout sessions throughout the day that provided a deeper dive into the practical application of MDM, Trusted Context, and AI readiness.

One session explored how Salesforce is building a trusted data context foundation, leveraging Data 360, MuleSoft, and Informatica to enable intelligent action. Salesforce is demonstrating how integrating platforms and unifying data sources is key to delivering real-time insights and driving meaningful business outcomes.

We also attended a hands-on workshop focused on developing an integrated strategy for AI data readiness. This was a highly interactive and collaborative session, encouraging us all to think critically about how we can transform business strategy into action and tangible results. A strong emphasis was placed on identifying realistic use cases, defining measurable business metrics, and ensuring that data initiatives are directly aligned to organisational priorities and outcomes.

Overall, these breakout sessions reinforced the importance of not only building strong data foundations, but also taking a pragmatic, business-first approach to preparing for AI—ensuring that data strategy is both actionable and impactful.

The summit gave us a huge amount to think about – from Trusted Context to the realities of AI‑ready data – and the conversations stayed with us long after we left the venue. And because no trip to New York is complete without soaking up the city around you, we made the most of the days on either side of the event.

New York

Monday began with a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral – particularly relevant as the following day was St. Patrick’s Day. From there we took in the Rockefeller Center and the iconic New York Public Library before spotting the Salesforce Tower looming over Midtown.

 Across from Bryant Park sits the Salesforce Tower and its Innovation Centre –  a natural first stop, given the week ahead. And now that Salesforce’s acquisition of Informatica is complete, the moment carried extra weight. In that spot, we were quite literally standing in the shadow of both companies at the same time.

The afternoon took us through the organised chaos of Times Square before the architectural elegance of Grand Central offered a welcome contrast. We then made our way downtown to the Twin Towers Memorial, a deeply moving experience that stays with you long after you leave. The rest of the day unfolded on the water – crossing the Brooklyn Bridge by foot into Dumbo, catching the ferry back to Wall Street, and then out to Staten Island for a view of the Statue of Liberty as the sun began to drop. The perfect end to the day was dinner with Martyn and Miranda, a great chance to decompress and connect ahead of the summit.

Wednesday had a slower, more reflective feel after the intensity of the conference. We walked the length of Park Avenue before heading into Central Park – a reminder of just how vast and surprising the city can be. From there, we explored the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the size of which is truly impressive, and then we ventured into the Natural History Museum to take in the dinosaur and space exhibits. A stroll through Little Italy rounded off the trip before we headed back to the airport.

Two days well spent in a city that has left us already thinking about our next visit.