Mondelēz International Full Interview

Summary

In this insightful conversation, Javier Polit, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Mondelēz International, discusses the company's journey toward AI adoption and digital transformation. He highlights the importance of a strong data foundation, scalable AI algorithms, and a robust platform strategy. Polit shares a six-pillar framework for AI success, emphasizing business value, data strategy, execution, and talent development. He also compares AI maturity in the CPG industry to the tech sector, noting that while the gap is narrowing, there is still significant room for growth in AI adoption across industries.

Takeaways

• 😀 AI is a crucial enabler of growth and competitive advantage for Mondelēz, providing insights and faster decision-making capabilities.
• 😀 AI adoption starts with a clear data strategy, ensuring that data is accurate, accessible, and unbiased to support machine learning models.
• 😀 Executing an AI strategy requires the alignment of business objectives, technology infrastructure, and cross-functional collaboration within the organization.
• 😀 Data governance is essential for AI success. Harmonizing data across systems and ensuring data quality and integrity are top priorities.
• 😀 Successful AI adoption involves breaking down silos within the company, fostering collaboration between business and tech teams.
• 😀 Companies must create a strong AI core that enables consistent success, ensuring teams don't have to reinvent the wheel for each new initiative.
• 😀 AI maturity in industries like CPG is catching up to the tech sector, thanks to accelerated digital transformation and AI roadmap development.
• 😀 AI evolution includes several stages: narrow AI (current), general AI (future), and super AI (long-term), with each stage offering increasing capabilities.
• 😀 Talent development and organizational culture are key to AI success. Fostering digital fluency and investing in upskilling employees are critical to AI adoption.
• 😀 A strong AI strategy is based on six pillars: business value, algorithms, data strategy, platform strategy, execution, and talent/culture development.
• 😀 Companies must embrace a mindset that ‘every company is a tech company’ in order to remain competitive, particularly in AI-driven industries.

Q & A

What was the initial driver behind Mondelēz's focus on becoming a data-driven company?

Mondelēz's focus on becoming more data-driven began with the goal of becoming the leader in the snacking industry. To keep pace with consumer demand and behavior, they prioritized relentless consumer centricity and started aggregating 360-degree insights of consumers.

What were some key factors that helped Mondelēz start their AI and data transformation journey?

Key factors included the company's existing multi-cloud strategy, the implementation of Google Cloud, and a strong foundation in place when Javier joined. This allowed the team to pivot towards data and AI, focusing on building the necessary infrastructure to support this transformation.

How does Mondelēz define its approach to AI transformation, and what challenges does it face?

Mondelēz defines its approach as a continuous journey, focusing on transforming its culture and operational behavior. Challenges include changing past ways of working and aligning people across the organization to embrace data and AI-driven practices.

How does Mondelēz ensure that its AI transformation is successful?

Success in AI transformation is ensured by having strong sponsorship from the executive team, including the board, clear communication of strategy across the enterprise, and the establishment of a central AI and data science team to drive holistic efforts across the organization.

What is the importance of measuring success in an AI-driven transformation?

Measuring success is crucial for tracking ROI and ensuring that the business case made at the beginning of the transformation holds up. By continuously measuring outcomes, Mondelēz ensures that its AI initiatives align with business goals and deliver tangible results.

What are the key factors for a transformation to succeed in a large organization like Mondelēz?

Key factors include strong sponsorship from leadership, clear and continuous communication, and the establishment of a unified AI/data strategy across the enterprise, avoiding silos. Additionally, having the right talent and strategic partners is essential to drive the transformation forward.

How does Mondelēz handle the complexities of implementing AI in a large, global enterprise?

Mondelēz addresses these complexities by defining a clear strategy based on both external and internal triggers for transformation, and then empowering people at every level to adopt AI and data-driven practices. They also emphasize digital fluency and creating a learning culture to foster continuous innovation.

Why is top-down leadership important for AI adoption in organizations?

Top-down leadership is crucial for embedding AI as a strategic priority within the company. It ensures alignment across the organization and that resources are allocated effectively. By creating awareness about AI's potential, Mondelēz has been able to rally both quick followers and more cautious areas of the business.

What role does data play in the success of AI initiatives at Mondelēz?

Data is the cornerstone of successful AI initiatives. Without accurate and well-governed data, building effective machine learning models to support AI is impossible. Mondelēz focuses on harmonizing and managing data, ensuring it is contextually relevant and accessible across the business.

How does Mondelēz view the maturity of AI adoption in the CPG industry compared to other sectors?

While the tech sector is still ahead, Mondelēz believes the gap is narrowing as consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies advance their digital and AI strategies. The CPG industry is making significant strides in adopting AI, but there is still considerable room for growth.

What advice does Javier Polit offer to companies aspiring to become AI achievers?

Javier emphasizes that companies should start by defining the business value AI will unlock, and then identify the critical algorithms and data strategies needed to achieve that value. A strong platform strategy, clear execution plans, and a focus on talent and culture are also essential for AI success.

What are the six pillars of an AI strategy that Javier recommends?

The six pillars of an AI strategy include: 1) Define the business value AI will unlock, 2) Identify critical algorithms, 3) Develop a clear data strategy, 4) Build a strong platform ecosystem, 5) Organize the enterprise to execute the strategy, and 6) Focus on talent acquisition and retention to drive AI capabilities.