Ashish Dibouliya

The motivation behind this achievement stemmed from my passion for leveraging data and AI to solve complex challenges in financial services. At Webster Bank, we were navigating a transformative merger and needed a unified, scalable, and compliant data platform. This submission reflects our commitment to innovation, regulatory excellence, and customer-centric solutions, while also aligning with my personal goal of advancing AI-driven, enterprise-ready architectures that create measurable business impact.

My entry centered on building a modern, metadata-driven enterprise data platform that unified disparate banking systems following a large-scale merger. We introduced cloud-native architecture on Snowflake and AWS, integrated real-time data replication, and automated regulatory reporting pipelines using Informatica and Tidal orchestration. A key innovation was embedding data quality, lineage, and explainability frameworks, ensuring transparency and compliance for regulatory audits. We also applied machine learning for anomaly detection and intelligent data profiling, which improved accuracy, reduced manual effort, and accelerated reporting cycles. This combination of scalable design, automation, and AI-driven insights not only streamlined operations but also established a future-ready foundation for innovation and governance within the bank.

My role was to provide strategic leadership and architectural direction throughout the project. I guided the evaluation and adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as Snowflake, AWS, and metadata-driven data quality frameworks, ensuring alignment with both regulatory requirements and business goals. By fostering collaboration across technology, business, and compliance teams, I ensured the delivery of a scalable and transparent data platform. I also introduced structured governance and innovation practices, which not only accelerated execution but also built trust in the solution. Ultimately, my expertise in enterprise data architecture and AI integration, combined with a focus on vision, execution, and stakeholder alignment, was pivotal in turning a complex challenge into an award-winning success.

Our innovation addressed the challenge of fragmented data systems and manual regulatory reporting following a large-scale bank merger. Traditionally, reporting involved siloed platforms, heavy manual intervention, and risks around accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. By creating a unified, cloud-native data platform with automated pipelines, built-in quality checks, and metadata-driven explainability, we eliminated redundancies, accelerated reporting cycles, and ensured transparency for regulators. This not only improved speed and accuracy, but also empowered business teams with self-service access to trusted data, transforming compliance from a reactive process into a strategic enabler of growth and innovation.

What makes our innovation stand out is the combination of scalability, automation, and transparency built into the platform. Key features include: 1. Cloud-native architecture (Snowflake on AWS) for scalability, performance, and cost efficiency. 2. Automated regulatory pipelines with Tidal and Informatica, reducing manual effort and errors. 3. Metadata-driven data quality, lineage, and explainability frameworks, ensuring trust and audit readiness. 4. Real-time replication and anomaly detection, enabling faster insights and proactive issue resolution. 5. Self-service data access for business teams, turning compliance into a strategic advantage. Together, these features created a future-ready platform that not only meets today’s regulatory and operational demands but also positions the bank for innovation and long-term growth.

This achievement was only possible because of the collaboration and commitment of my team and the wider Webster Bank organization. The technology team brought deep expertise in cloud, data engineering, and AI, while business and compliance partners ensured the solution was aligned with regulatory requirements and strategic priorities. Together, we fostered a culture of innovation, accountability, and shared ownership, which enabled us to tackle complex challenges and deliver an outcome that exceeded expectations. The project reflects not just my leadership, but the collective strength of a talented, cross-functional team committed to transforming how we use data to drive trust, compliance, and innovation.

One of the biggest challenges was integrating disparate systems and ensuring regulatory compliance during a time-sensitive merger. We also faced hurdles in managing data quality, governance, and cross-team alignment across multiple functions. My expertise in enterprise data architecture and experience with large-scale platform migrations helped me design a clear roadmap and introduce frameworks for data quality, lineage, and explainability. Strong leadership and communication skills enabled me to bridge gaps between technology, business, and compliance teams, ensuring everyone was aligned to a common vision. By combining technical depth with collaborative leadership, I was able to turn obstacles into opportunities, ultimately delivering a solution that was robust, scalable, and trusted.

I hope this innovation sets a benchmark for how data and technology can transform regulatory compliance and business intelligence in the financial industry. By proving that compliance can be automated, transparent, and value-generating, we aim to shift the perception from regulatory reporting being a burden to becoming a strategic enabler of innovation and growth. For the wider industry, this approach demonstrates how cloud-native, metadata-driven data platforms can reduce risk, improve efficiency, and deliver trusted insights at scale — ultimately benefiting not only organizations but also customers and regulators through improved trust, speed, and accuracy.

Winning this award validates my vision that data and technology are powerful enablers of transformation. It highlights how innovation is not just about new systems, but about building scalable, transparent, and future-ready platforms that improve efficiency, strengthen trust, and create long-term business value. This recognition affirms our progress in shaping a path where technological advancements drive compliance, resilience, and growth, while inspiring us to continue delivering meaningful innovations for the financial industry and beyond.

The biggest challenges were integrating multiple legacy systems, ensuring regulatory compliance under tight timelines, and maintaining data quality and governance during the transition. These complexities demanded both technical precision and cross-functional coordination. We overcame them by establishing a clear architectural roadmap, embedding robust governance frameworks, and fostering collaboration across technology, business, and compliance teams. My leadership focused on aligning diverse stakeholders, resolving conflicts quickly, and keeping the team centered on the long-term vision — which ultimately turned these challenges into opportunities for stronger innovation and delivery.

I believe this innovation will shape the future of the financial industry by demonstrating how modern data platforms can transform compliance and reporting from a reactive obligation into a strategic capability. By enabling faster, more reliable, and transparent insights, it sets a precedent for how banks can operate with greater efficiency, resilience, and trust. Looking ahead, this approach will encourage the industry to embrace scalable, cloud-native solutions that not only meet regulatory demands but also empower organizations to innovate, adapt quickly, and deliver lasting value to customers and stakeholders.

What excites me most right now are the advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud-native platforms, and real-time data processing. AI is transforming how we approach data quality, anomaly detection, and predictive insights, turning raw information into actionable intelligence. In my work, these technologies allow us to design future-ready data ecosystems that are not only scalable and compliant but also capable of delivering smarter, faster, and more transparent decision-making. By leveraging these trends, we are building solutions that keep pace with industry change while unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth.

My advice is to start with a clear vision, but stay adaptable. Transformative ideas often face skepticism or resistance, so persistence and resilience are essential. Surround yourself with a team that brings diverse perspectives, because innovation thrives at the intersection of different skills and experiences. Most importantly, focus on solving real problems rather than chasing trends. When your idea creates genuine impact — improving efficiency, building trust, or unlocking new value — success and recognition will naturally follow.