This week, we’re spotlighting Neelima Misra, Co-Founder and CEO of DaasTek, a veteran systems thinker and foundational engineer who translates Data & AI hype into enterprise reality.
With over 26 years of experience, Neelima specializes in turning “messy data” into structured, actionable assets. Her approach moves AI away from experimental pilots and toward trusted, composable systems by balancing quick wins with long-term stability. As a leader who prioritizes “responsible intelligence design,” she navigates the complex intersection of data ownership, knowledge engineering, and human-centric value to deliver real business impact. In this feature, she shares her perspective on building alignment across technical teams, the evolving regulatory landscape in the Nordics, and why the future of AI depends on becoming a “Trust Broker.”
Hyperight.com: What’s the best way to describe your job to someone outside tech?
Neelima Misra:I see my role as helping talented Data & AI people work better together. I focus on creating clarity and alignment so individual strengths don’t pull in different directions but add up to something bigger.
For me, it’s not about control. It’s about setting the right principles and guardrails so teams can make decisions on their own and move forward with confidence, without unnecessary friction.
At the end of the day, my aim is simple: bring people and technology together in a way that works and scales.
Hyperight.com: What originally sparked your interest in AI/data, and what keeps you inspired today?
Neelima Misra: I transitioned into Data and AI because it intersects psychology, science, and the arts, enabling a human-centric, systemic approach. My focus has evolved from data to Enterprise AI scaling and governance recently. With the rise of agentic AI, I now prioritize “responsible intelligence design”, the critical convergence of data ownership, knowledge engineering, and autonomous systems.
Hyperight.com: What is one challenge you’re trying to solve, and why does it matter?
Neelima Misra: One challenge I’m trying to solve is how to turn data, AI, and digital investments into real, human-centered value instead of complex representations that are hard to understand or validate. It matters because when we keep things simple, context aware, and grounded in real needs, these technologies can move from just being tools to improving everyday decisions and outcomes in meaningful ways.
Hyperight.com: A tool you can’t live without (tech or not)?
Neelima Misra: For daily learning and collaboration, I use Notion, Perplexity, Canva, ChatGPT, Excalidraw, Slack, Discord, and LinkedIn.
In my consulting world, to align enterprise strategy with systems, I rely on EA tools like LeanIX, Sparx, Signavio, Confluence, SharePoint, and Copilot, which help transform complex enterprise landscapes into structured, actionable insights.
Hyperight.com: What trend in data or AI do you think will shape the Nordic region the most?
Neelima Misra: One trend I see emerging across the Nordics and Europe regarding AI innovation, is navigating a tightening regulatory landscape focused on data sovereignty. While there is a strong push for citizen-centric AI, a tension exists between innovation speed and trust. The challenge for the Nordics is to balance these forces to build responsible, scalable AI ecosystems.
Hyperight.com: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to others entering the data and AI field?
Neelima Misra: Master the art of being a “Trust Broker” Don’t just learn to code; learn to translate between the “two kingdoms” of business and tech.
