Acknowledgements & Reflections

Throughout my mission at Nissan North America (NNA), I remained deeply focused on addressing the core challenges at hand: challenges rooted not in technology, but in the complexities of organizational change management.

Rather than imposing external frameworks or pushing predetermined solutions, I made it a priority to actively listen. I engaged with a broad range of stakeholders across functions, seeking to understand their goals, constraints, perspectives, and ways of working. This process was invaluable in shaping an approach that respects and reflects Nissan’s unique culture, operational realities, and aspirations.

The result is not a generic framework to be “implemented,” but a Nissan-ready playbook, grounded in empathy, informed by context, and aligned with the organization’s long-term vision.

I extend my sincere thanks to all those who generously shared their time, insights, and experiences. Your contributions were essential in shaping this work.

Looking ahead, I am confident in Nissan’s ability to evolve into a truly data-driven enterprise. The foundation is already in place: a resilient organization, deep (but scattered) technical expertise, and a passionate workforce. With continued focus and the right investments, I believe Nissan is well-positioned to harness modern technologies in a way that amplifies its strengths and unlocks new levels of innovation, agility, and customer value.

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Matthieu Ortala

Senior Data Strategy Advisor · Published Researcher

Former CEO, CTO, CIO | Software Engineer · DevOps Architect · Tech Advisor

Expert in Scalable Systems, Data Platforms, Applied AI and Digital Transformation

ORCID: 0000-0001-5091-3041 | Profile