Building the Data Foundation for AI — Insights from TDWI’s Q2 Blueprint Report
Webinar Speaker: Fern Halper, TDWI VP Research, Senior Research Director for Advanced Analytics
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET
As organizations move beyond early experimentation with AI, a pattern is emerging: the strength of the underlying data foundation is critical for success. While many enterprises are actively deploying traditional, generative, and agentic AI, only a subset are achieving consistent, scalable business impact. The difference lies in how effectively organizations integrate, govern, and operationalize data to support AI at scale, and whether they can move beyond fragmented environments and ad hoc approaches to build repeatable, production-ready capabilities.
In this webinar, Fern Halper, Ph.D., VP of research at TDWI, will present key findings from TDWI’s Q2 Blueprint Report: Building the Data Foundation for AI. Drawing on survey data and qualitative insights from data and AI leaders, Fern will examine the characteristics of organizations that are successfully translating AI initiatives into measurable outcomes, and the foundational data capabilities that enable this success. She will be joined by experts from Snowflake and ZoomInfo, who will share practical perspectives on how organizations are evolving their data environments to support modern AI initiatives.
Attendees will gain insight into why many organizations struggle to scale AI despite widespread investment, and how leading organizations are addressing these challenges through more integrated architectures, stronger governance, and a disciplined approach to operationalization. The session will also explore how concepts such as AI-ready data, metadata, and unstructured data processing are becoming critical requirements for enabling AI-driven business value. Topics include:
- The core components of a modern data foundation for AI—and what is truly required versus optional
- How high-performing organizations structure, govern, and operationalize both structured and unstructured data
- Why metadata, lineage, and governance are essential for creating AI-ready data and scaling AI
- The relationship between data foundation maturity and the ability to move AI into production and drive business impact
Guest Speaker
Rowan Bailey
Senior Director of Product Data Analytics
ZoomInfo
Rowan Bailey currently serves as Senior Director of Product Data Analytics at ZoomInfo, following ZoomInfo’s acquisition of Workbounce. Previously, he co-founded Workbounce, a knowledge enablement platform designed to reduce knowledge silos and empower GTM and sales teams.
Workbounce was acquired by ZoomInfo in late 2024. Before launching Workbounce, Rowan held leadership roles including Head of Revenue Operations at Peakon, and Head of Sales Operations & Analytics at Perkbox, where he was instrumental in shaping data-driven processes across GTM functions.
Date: June 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 am PT
Fern Halper, Ph.D.