In the race to harness data for competitive advantage, most organizations pour resources into the latest analytics platforms and AI toolkits. Yet, the real bottlenecks aren’t created by technology. Even with the emergence of AI, the real barriers to data integrity are trust, findability, searchability, consistency and organization.
This raises the question of whether executives can reliably find, understand and take action based on the data that underpins every strategic decision?
The Evolution of the Information Manager
Enter the information manager: professionals who have long been the custodians of document control, taxonomy and compliance. Today, that toolkit—with its emphasis on metadata design, stewardship workflows and ethical data handling—is the secret sauce that transforms raw data into reliable insight.
Over the years, the information manager has taken on various names from archivist, librarian, data scientist to data steward. Initially, the role was centered around the meticulous organization and preservation of physical records and documents, ensuring that valuable information was accessible and safeguarded.
As technology advanced, the role evolved to encompass digital data management, with librarians and archivists adapting to new tools and systems for cataloging and retrieving information. The rise of big data and analytics further transformed the role, giving birth to data scientists who not only manage data but also extract actionable insights from it.
From Record-Keeping to Strategic Asset
Today, as data stewards, these professionals are entrusted with ensuring data quality, governance and compliance, playing a pivotal role in leveraging data as a strategic asset for organizations. This evolution reflects the growing importance of data in driving decision-making and innovation in the modern enterprise.
Moreover, the role of the information manager is a catalyst for the adoption and deployment of AI. By ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, well-organized and well-governed, information managers lay the groundwork for effective AI implementations. They provide the high-quality data that AI models need to learn and make accurate predictions. Without their expertise in data governance and stewardship, AI initiatives would struggle with issues of data quality and reliability.
Even within the world of AI, the role of the information manager remains indispensable. As AI models are deployed, continuous monitoring and management of data are crucial to ensure these models remain accurate and unbiased. Information managers play a key role in detecting and mitigating biases in data, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and maintaining the integrity of the data pipeline. Their ongoing stewardship ensures that AI systems operate ethically and effectively, driving sustained value for the organization.
By embedding governance early in the data life cycle, equipping stewards with analytics literacy and weaving policy automation into machine learning operations, these organizations are turning data integrity into a powerhouse of speed, innovation and trust.
Setting the Stage: The Explosion of Data
In today’s digital age, the sheer volume of data generated is staggering. From social media interactions to transactional records, every action we take creates a digital footprint. This explosion of data isn’t just a technology challenge—it’s an organizational one.
Companies are grappling with how to store, manage and make sense of this vast amount of information. The challenge lies not only in the technical aspects of data storage and processing but also in ensuring that data is accessible, secure and used effectively to drive business decisions.
An illustrative example is YouTube, where data accumulates at an astonishing pace:
As of mid‑2025, the platform hosted over 4.3 billion videos, with creators uploading six hours of new video content every second. This deluge underscores the relentless pressure on infrastructure and governance systems to not just keep up—but to transform raw data into decision-ready insights.
Information Managers are Key Leaders
Armed with governance skills and domain context, information managers are uniquely positioned to lead enterprises into this data-driven future. Here’s why they’re your secret weapons:
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Information managers excel in establishing data governance frameworks. They ensure that data is accurate, consistent and actionable. By implementing policies and procedures, they help organizations maintain data integrity and compliance with regulations. This governance is essential for building trust in data and making informed decisions. |
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Information managers possess deep knowledge of their industry and organization. This domain expertise allows them to understand the nuances of the data and its implications. They can identify trends, patterns and anomalies that might be overlooked by those without this context. Their insights are invaluable for strategic planning and operational efficiency. |
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With their governance skills and domain context, information managers can lead the charge in data-driven decision making. They can translate complex data sets into actionable insights, helping executives and teams make informed choices. This ability to harness data effectively can give organizations a competitive edge, driving innovation and growth. |
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Information managers excel in establishing data governance frameworks. They ensure that data is accurate, consistent and actionable. By implementing policies and procedures, they help organizations maintain data integrity and compliance with regulations. This governance is essential for building trust in data and making informed decisions. |
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The “Last Mile” of AI and Machine Learning
Information managers are uniquely positioned to harness the power of machine learning and AI, but their success starts with a strong, well-structured data foundation. These skilled professionals are not just custodians of data; they’re leaders who can help organizations make the most of the complexities of their data landscape. By leveraging their governance skills and domain expertise, information managers can unlock the full potential of data, driving innovation and ensuring sustainable growth. Embracing their role as key leaders in the data-driven future is essential for any organization aiming to thrive in the digital age.
About the Author
Partner, Data Sciences
As a Partner at SolomonEdwards, Rob leads our enterprise Data Sciences practice with a strong emphasis on data hygiene, governance and strategic integration. Additionally, he serves as the Executive Chairman of Harbor—a premier provider of expert services in strategy, legal technology, operations and intelligence for law firms and corporate law departments. Across these roles, Rob fosters innovation and operational excellence with a focus on data management and transformation.
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