EP173: From Pilot To Impact, Building AI That Scales

Coming up with AI ideas isn’t the struggle for most teams. The real challenge is to make those ideas stick. In this episode, Shashank Kadetotad, Global Senior Director of Enterprise Data Science and AI at Mars, breaks down what helps companies move from interesting pilots to real business impact. He explains why adoption matters just as much as the technology itself, how culture and leadership shape success and why the best AI solution is not always the most complex one. 

You’ll get practical advice on involving the right users early, setting clear success and failure criteria for pilots and deciding when to build versus buy. Shashank shares lessons from leading AI work inside major organizations and offers a grounded view of what it takes to scale responsibly. If your team is trying to get more value from AI, this conversation will give you a clearer and more useful way to think about the work. 

Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.

About Shashank Kadetotad:

Shashank Kadetotad is the Global Senior Director of Enterprise Data Science and AI at Mars, where he leads the deployment of AI and advanced analytics across global consumer goods operations. With a background that spans Amazon operations, retail and CPG forecasting, and AI leadership across multiple Fortune 500 companies, he has built and scaled enterprise AI platforms that power decisions in supply chain, marketing, and finance. Shashank is recognized for his work on generative AI and multi-agent architectures, with multiple provisional patents focused on applying AI to product innovation, analytics, and consumer engagement. A frequent industry speaker, he is known for making complex AI topics accessible to business leaders while keeping the focus on responsible, high-impact AI in retail and CPG. He can be reached on LinkedIn.

About Tessa Burg:

Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at [email protected].