The rise of AI-driven analytics in a fast-moving and fragmented world

The world is not only changing – it’s splintering. Geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty and technological acceleration are reshaping how organizations operate and how leaders make decisions. In this turbulent environment, artificial intelligence and data analytics have emerged as essential instruments for navigating complexity and enabling agility.

In the spring of 2025, I had the opportunity to guide executive leaders from diverse sectors, connected in real-time from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the United States, through the course Data Analysis for Global Leaders, part of the Doctor of Professional Practice in Global Leadership at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. This course, rooted in practical application and strategic foresight, focused on enabling participants to transition from data consumers to data-driven decision-makers.

Throughout our sessions, we explored a set of capabilities that global leaders must now master:

1. Descriptive analytics: Understanding what has happened by leveraging dashboards, visualizations and summary statistics.
2. Predictive analytics and predictive AI: Anticipating what could happen by using data and AI-based models to forecast trends and scenarios in dynamic environments.
3. Prescriptive analytics and prescriptive AI: Deciding what should be done by optimizing decisions through algorithms, simulations and AI.

One of the key lessons surfaced was the growing importance of translating data into narratives that inform, persuade, and mobilize. Leadership is no longer about having answers. Instead, it’s about asking the right questions, extracting insights from complex data sets and applying those insights with ethical judgment and strategic intent.

Our class addressed real-world problems with tangible data. In one use case, a global retail company used learning analytics to improve talent development strategies. In another use case, students analyzed humanitarian logistics data to model how prescriptive analytics could enhance disaster response.

These use cases were not abstract exercises. They came out of real cases I have had a chance to work on throughout my career and reflected the pressing challenges organizations face in a fragmented world where agility and inclusion must guide every decision.

To enhance these experiences, I developed several AI-based learning resources, including a personalized GPT for mathematical modeling and a series of AI-powered podcasts. These tools have allowed students to deepen their reflections, reinforce key concepts and apply analytical thinking beyond the digital classroom.

Inclusive data practices emerged as a particularly urgent theme. As AI becomes embedded in decision-making, we must ensure that our datasets and algorithms do not reinforce existing inequities. Fairness, representation and accountability are not just ethical considerations; they are imperatives for responsible and sustainable leadership.

What we saw throughout the course is clear: data-driven leadership depends on augmenting human judgment. Progress means equipping leaders with the tools to act decisively in uncertainty, to align decisions with strategy and to drive positive impact across complex systems.

In an AI-empowered and globally fragmented world, leadership cannot be what it used to be. It must be more analytical, more anticipatory, and more inclusive. And perhaps most importantly, it must be even more human.

As these technologies continue to advance, addressing data analysis and AI in a holistic, structured and comprehensive manner will be crucial for societies to thrive.

About Professor Marco Serrato.

Marco Serrato serves as Vice President of Arizona State University's Learning Enterprise, and as professor of global strategy and business analytics at Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has experience developing initiatives with private, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the MENA region, including serving as former chair and emeritus board member of the International Consortium for University-based Executive Education (UNICON). Dr. Serrato has published more than thirty research papers on international peer-reviewed and conference journals, four books, and three book chapters. His contributions have been featured by international media including the World Economic Forum and the United Nations, among others.