How a 12-Person Team Drives AI Transformation at a $50B Org (Mars)
rschmelzer · x · 2026-08-19
Shashank Kadetotad, Global Sr. Director of Enterprise Data Science and AI at Mars, reveals how a lean 12-person team supports AI transformation across a $50B+ conglomerate.
Key Strategies:
- Accelerator Approach: 15 reusable "Lego block" modules cut deployment time from weeks to days.
- Production Readiness: Production readiness is included in the PoC scope; governance is viewed as an enabler, not a bottleneck.
- Failure Criteria: Defining failure criteria upfront allows the AI Lab to serve as a safe space for experimentation and enables early termination of failed pilots.
The team operates across supply, demand, finance, and HR, using standardized forecasting and optimization accelerators.
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