Episode 23

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Published on:

20th Feb 2026

Why Enterprise AI Keeps Disappointing (hint: CoPilot isn’t the Problem) ft. Santosh Kaveti

Most CTOs and CIOs are not behind on AI because they chose the wrong model. They are behind because their data, culture, and workflows are not ready.

In this episode of The CTO Compass, Mark Wormgoor speaks with Santosh Kaveti, CEO of ProArch, about what it really takes to scale AI in large enterprises. They break down why AI pilots stall, why data lakes did not solve data readiness, and how tech leaders can move from experimentation to real business impact in 90 days or less.

The conversation also covers Microsoft Copilot, enterprise data governance, AI security and compliance, and how CIOs and CTOs should respond when boards demand AI results.

If you are a CTO or CIO under pressure to deliver AI outcomes instead of demos, this episode offers a practical, no-hype playbook.

Key Takeaways for CTOs and CIOs

  1. Why AI adoption fails without strong data readiness and ownership
  2. What “data as a product” looks like in practice
  3. How to move from AI pilots to production in four to six weeks
  4. Why Copilot often struggles and how to unlock real productivity gains
  5. How to measure AI ROI beyond licenses and usage metrics
  6. Why model-agnostic architecture matters for enterprise AI

About Santosh

With over 18 years of experience as a technologist, entrepreneur, investor, and advisor, Santosh Kaveti is the CEO and Founder of ProArch, a purpose-driven enterprise that accelerates value and increases resilience for its clients with consulting and technology services, enabled by cloud, guided by data, fueled by apps, and secured by design.

Santosh’s vision and leadership have propelled ProArch to become a dominant force in key industry verticals, such as Energy, Healthcare & Lifesciences, and Manufacturing, where he leverages his expertise in manufacturing process improvement, mentoring, and consulting.

Chapters

00:00 Knowing When You're in the Wrong Direction

07:44 What is Data Readiness in AI?

12:49 Where Do You Start with AI Data?

17:43 AI Implementation in Your Business

26:11 Microsoft Copilot is Overtaking!

37:04 AI Enterprise Adoption

43:53 Leveraging AI for Big Changes

Where to find Santosh

  1. Website: https://www.proarch.com/
  2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshkaveti/

My Socials

• Website: https://tairi.co

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwormgoor

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markwormgoor

Contact Us

• Business Email: team@tairi.co

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About the Podcast

The CTO Compass
CTO, CIO & Tech Leadership: Strategy, Clarity, Building Teams & Real-World Lessons
The CTO Compass is a podcast about CTO, CIO, and tech leadership - on strategy, scaling, teams & bringing clarity to technology leadership for real boardroom impact.

Hosted by Mark Wormgoor, each episode features candid conversations with experienced CTOs, CIOs, and senior tech leaders from startups through to large enterprises.

The focus is on the real work of leading in tech:
– Setting clear tech strategy that aligns with business goals
– Scaling teams and culture
– Making high-stakes decisions under pressure
– Navigating the transition from hands-on engineer to executive leader

This is not a hype show, nor a theoretical leadership podcast. Guests share hard-won lessons, mistakes, and practical insights from the moments that mattered most - when clarity was missing, heavy decisions needed to be made, and leadership was tested.

If you’re a CTO, CIO, or tech leader looking to sharpen your thinking, increase your influence, and create real impact in the boardroom, The CTO Compass is built for you.

About your host

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Mark Wormgoor

How do you decide which tech to bet on when AI is moving so fast?
And everyone expects you to have all the answers?

I work alongside leaders when technology decisions keep them up at night. Over the past 30 years, I’ve been in those moments myself - leading large global IT organizations, consulting for industry leaders, and advising executives and boards.

What I’ve learned is that the hardest part isn’t the technology itself. It’s setting the right direction, building teams that can execute, combined with rigorous execution.

Today, I lead Tairi. We work as a strategy, coaching and execution partner for leaders where technology is a real driver of business value, not just a supporting function.

As technology and AI continue to reshape businesses, my focus is simple: helping leaders make the right tech decisions - and execute on them.