Sherri Adame

As enterprises scale AI and data products across domains, traditional governance models fail to keep pace. Historical approaches to data ownership no longer flex to meet data product demands. Domain autonomy creates inconsistency. AI amplifies risk. This presentation presents a scalable operating model that integrates data literacy, enterprise governance, governance engineering and domain enablement into a single cohesive approach built on the modern data platform. Using a federated data mesh architecture powered by Databricks, this modern approach to data ownership transforms governance from documentation and oversight into a programmable, platform-embedded enterprise capability. The result: - Faster domain onboarding - Reduced regulatory risk - Automated policy enforcement - Measurable AI readiness

As organizations increasingly adopt Databricks as a unified platform for analytics and AI, ensuring robust data governance becomes critical for compliance, security, and operational efficiency. This presentation will explore the end-to-end framework for governing the Databricks cloud, covering key use cases, foundational governance principles, and scalable automation strategies. We will discuss best practices for metadata, data access, catalog, classification, quality, and lineage, while leveraging automation to streamline enforcement. Attendees will gain insights into best practices and real-world approaches to building a governed data cloud that balances innovation with control.

Now the largest automaker in the United States, selling more than 2.7 million vehicles in 2024, General Motors is setting a bold vision for its future, with Software-defined vehicles and AI as a driving force. With data as a crucial asset, a transformation of this scale calls for a modern approach to Data Governance. Join Sherri Adame, Enterprise Data Governance Leader at General Motors, to learn about GM’s novel governance approach, supported by technologies like Atlan and Databricks. Hear how Sherri and her team are shifting governance to the left with automation, implementing data contracts, and accelerating data product discovery across domains, creating a cultural shift that emphasizes data as a competitive advantage.