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The Data Exec Series: Preparing for Agentic AI – Before It Was Cool

By Gertrude G. Van Horn, SVP & CIO, Cien.ai

After 30 years as an IT executive—including 20 as a CIO—I didn’t just want to watch the AI wave. I wanted to be part of it. I wanted a seat at the table. That’s why I joined Cien.ai.

–  Gertrude G. Van Horn, SCP & CIO, Cien.ai

The Problem Most AI Solutions Ignore

Most AI-powered GTM tools rush toward insights, recommendations—and now, Agentic AI execution. Everyone’s chasing the shiny new objects: predictive models, intelligent workflows, sleek dashboards. But they skip the prep work. They skip the hard part. And not just the hardest part—the most essential: fixing the data.

Cien’s Foundation for Agentic AI

This is a story about preparing for Agentic AI before it was cool—delivered quietly, expertly, and where it matters most: the data.

Agentic AI—AI that doesn’t just recommend but acts—is only as good as the data it runs on. And after decades in tech, I can say this with certainty: Dirty data is the enemy of strategic execution.

Fixing it is the work of unsung heroes. Few understand it. Fewer still appreciate it. Cien’s been a pioneer in this space—AI before it was cool. Nine years and counting. Proven. Impactful. Game-changing. That’s why I joined Cien: for the grit, the discipline, and the methodical focus on what really matters.

While others only recently sprinted toward Agentic AI as the next buzzword, Cien had already invested in the most foundational building block—data—and quietly delivered one of the cornerstones of agentic execution: Automated data remediation.

From Chaos to Clarity—In Days

Cien identifies chaotic, broken, inconsistent, or incomplete GTM data—and fixes it. Automatically. In 2 days.   That’s what makes downstream analytics work.

Because without clean, accurate, AI-ready data:

  • Rep scoring is misleading
  • Pipeline analysis loses accuracy
  • Lead attribution becomes guesswork
  • Execution is risky

Cien didn’t start with dashboards.We started with trust. We invested first in the foundation—and what we built isn’t just smart. It’s ready. With AI-ready data, Cien’s GTM suite enables Agentic AI to accurately perceive its environment, take initiative, perform multi-step actions, and adapt to change.

Unlike traditional AI that merely recommends, Agentic AI acts—embedding execution directly into workflows so the next step isn’t just suggested, it’s already happening. That’s what Cien makes possible. And that’s why data remediation is not just smart—it’s essential.

Why It Matters

Even the most advanced AI can’t deliver reliable insights if the inputs are flawed.
If your CRM has incorrect close dates, inconsistent lead sources, or inflated deal sizes, your dashboards deceive, your forecasts fail, and your teams lose trust.

It’s not just the sales process that suffers. Executives are growing tired of AI projects that drag on, overpromise, and underdeliver. Budgets are tight. Expectations are high. Reputations are on the line. AI is only as smart as the data it learns from. And trustworthy data drives confident execution.

Cien delivers.  One SaaS company used Cien’s GTM Suite to re-focus reps, simplify roles, and unlock a $20M uplift in bookings—in just 60 days. That number hit $180M in 18 months. That’s execution—not just analysis.

These aren’t one-off wins. Gartner predicts that by 2029, Agentic AI will reduce operational costs by 30% and boost sales-qualified pipeline by 50% or more. At Cien, we’re not waiting for 2029. We’re delivering those outcomes now.

This isn’t about flashy dashboards. It’s about revenue, efficiency, and enterprise value.

So let me ask you: Is your Agentic AI acting on trusted data?

I’ll Leave You With This

You’ve got automation.
You’ve got analytics.
You’ve got the C-suite’s attention.

But do you have data you can trust? 

At Cien, we built Agentic AI on a foundation of trust—because that’s what drives our business cases, fast ROI, and global adoption.

The insights are powerful.
The automation is trusted.
The results are real.

At Cien.ai, our clients know how trusted data turns Agentic AI into real execution—so they stay ahead of the market, not chasing it.

About the Cien.ai Data Exec Series

This article is part of our Data Exec Series, inspired by our work with B2B leaders, growth consultants, and PE operating partners. These pieces focus on how to become a data-driven executive ready for the AI revolution. If you’re interested in RevOps analytics and GTM performance strategy, be sure to also check out our Growth Essentials and Practical RevOps Analytics series.