Agentic Intelligence - by Manish Sood & Venkat Venkatraman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Make Your Data Work Together--and Work Fast

Most organizations aren't held back by a lack of information, but by slow, scattered data that's impossible to use when decisions are on the line. In Agentic Intelligence, Manish Sood and Venkat Venkatraman show how companies can break free from outdated systems, unify their data, and operate with the speed today's business environment demands.

This practical guide explains how real-time data and AI agents can improve decision-making, customer experience, and day-to-day operations. Through straightforward explanations and relatable examples, the authors show what it takes to retire outdated systems, bring critical information together, and give teams a clearer view of what's happening across an organization.

You'll learn:

• Why unified, real-time data is now an essential source of competitive advantage
• How agentic systems accelerate decisions and improve customer relationships
• Ways to eliminate data silos and streamline operations
• How leaders can use real-time intelligence to drive clarity, trust, and speed

If you want to strengthen your organization and stay ahead in the Intelligence Age, this book offers the roadmap.

Review Quotes

This book delivers a pragmatic yet powerful roadmap for navigating the shift to an agentic intelligence era, where humans and machines work side by side. Through ten clear, actionable steps, it shows how unified, connected data becomes the foundation for everything that follows. Applicable to technical experts, business leaders, and board members alike, it is a practical guide to unlocking new value, driving smarter decisions, and staying competitive. Get the data right, and the possibilities are expansive."
-- Jo-ann dePass Olsovsky
Former CIO, Salesforce & BNSF Railway; Board Member, Reltio

A must-read for every executive thinking about the AI readiness of their organization. Manish and Venkat lay out the business case for building a data foundation first. With real-life examples from the world of business, this book brings to life the transformational impact of actively managing and leveraging data.
-- Mihir Shah
Former CIO & Head of Data, Fidelity Investments

"As an executive or a practitioner, this book will become the book you go to for deep understanding of data in general and more importantly in a rapidly evolving AI world. Hard to think of strategy or execution in an AI world without the concepts and examples in this book to guide you."
-- Mike Gregoire
Former Chairman & CEO, CA Technologies; Founding Partner, Brighton Park Capital

"A thought-provoking book using examples that inspire the reader to envision how they can create real, and real-time value from linked data. We are all navigating the opportunity of Artificial and Agentic Intelligence, but what's blocking us and how can we go faster? Sood and Venkatraman bring answers to life in a realistic and simplified way using great case studies ('Before Dawn' as an example) followed by strategy-to-implementation Rules. You will relate to these stories so much that this book will become a trusted reference and roadmap that you'll share with your colleagues."
-- Carla Stratfold
Former VP, Amazon Web Services, 2011-2021

"Having served on Manish's board at Reltio, I have seen firsthand his rare combination of deep technical mastery and thoughtful, visionary leadership. He possesses a unique ability to cut through trends and focus on the fundamental architectural shifts required for true innovation. His insights are essential for any leader looking to build a resilient, future-ready organization."
-- Chetan Puttagunta
General Partner, Benchmark

"In Agentic Intelligence Sood and Venkatraman take the concept of data-as-an-asset to the next level: data as a coordination fabric for the organization. Monthly or quarterly strategy decisions will be for companies that find themselves in the dustbin of history. But so will those relying on AI as just a tool. This book makes the clear case for strategy as a system fueled by data in motion and actionable AI. Replete with visionary examples and a clear set of prescriptive advice, the book should be required reading for business, data and AI executives today, even though its insights will certainly stand the test of time."
-- Douglas Laney
Data, Analytics, and AI Strategist; Author of Infonomics and Data Juice

"I found Agentic Intelligence to be one of the most grounded and actionable frameworks I've encountered. Sood and Venkatraman move beyond AI hype to address the foundational question of how organizations must redesign their data architecture and governance to enable humans and machines to truly work as coagents. Required reading for any executive serious about making AI operational at scale."
-- Shamim Mohammad, CPA
EVP, Chief Information & Technology Officer, CarMax

Manish puts a new spin on where the future is headed with Agentic Intelligence. Where most books talk, Agentic Intelligence showcases a path forward into where and how organizations will transform their businesses with this technology. Sood reminds of why having the right foundation matters in AI success. This books is an absolute must-read in the Age of AI.
-- R. Ray Wang
CEO, Constellation Research; 2x Bestselling Author

About the Author

MANISH SOOD is the CEO, founder, and chairman of Reltio, a context intelligence company. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he has spent more than two decades helping organizations unify data and improve enterprise decision-making.

VENKAT VENKATRAMAN s Professor Emeritus at Boston University and a leading authority on digital business strategy. He previously taught at MIT Sloan and London Business School and is the author of The Digital Matrix and co-author of Fusion Strategy.