Metadata-First: The New Data Operating System

What if metadata could do far more than document your data?

Join Houston DAMA for an engaging session with data strategist, author, and advisor, Larry Shiller, as he explores why a metadata-first approach is becoming the new operating system for data-driven organizations.

Metadata is often treated as documentation; but when elevated to a first-class citizen, it can become the control plane for data products, governance, analytics, and AI.

Larry will explore how leading organizations are using metadata to automate governance, accelerate self-service, scale data products, and build more trustworthy, explainable, and policy-enforced AI.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Distinguish metadata-as-documentation from metadata-as-control-plane
• Understand how metadata can drive data products, governance, and AI
• Explore the concept of “non-contentful code” and why it matters
• Identify common organizational roadblocks to a metadata-first strategy
• Assess your organization’s metadata maturity and develop a practical 90-day roadmap

The session will combine conceptual framing, real-world examples, and actionable guidance, including a reference architecture, maturity model, case examples, and an attendee checklist/scorecard.

Who should attend?
CDOs, CTOs, CIOs, data governance leaders, data product owners, enterprise architects, and leaders responsible for analytics, AI, and digital transformation.

📅 Date: 8/18/26
🕐 Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
📍 Location: 801 Travis St (17th Floor), Houston, TX 77002

Come explore how treating metadata as infrastructure (not documentation) can help your organization scale data and AI with greater speed, trust, and control.

DAMA Houston Data Management Association – Houston Chapter of DAMA International