Data Intensity: Building a hype-free AI culture
AI is dominating news headlines, business discourse, and boardroom presentations. But for IT leaders at Data Intensity, a managed services provider specializing in Oracle solutions, the goal is to let some of the air out of the AI hype balloon in favor of a more pragmatic approach.
Data Intensity certainly recognizes AI’s potential, and executives are on board with using the technology to advance the needs of the company’s customers. But for its internal initiatives, Data Intensity is content with testing and deploying AI abilities only when a legitimate use case presents itself, says Clint Harder, co-CEO of the firm. Data Intensity earned the No. 7 small company spot on the 2026 Best Places to Work in IT list.
Data Intensity’s measured approach to AI stems from an IT culture built around accountability, transparency, and being direct, according to Harder. He believes strongly that IT professionals should have a safe, simple environment in which to pursue their career, especially against the backdrop of accelerating complexity and anxiety about the high-stakes, but largely unknown, impact of AI on the future of work.
“I think there’s something to keeping it simple,” says Harder. “People here have certainty that we understand there’s uncertainty. We’re not pretending that we have all the answers, so they need to be part of every solution.”
An open mind about AI
Although IT employees are not expected to be experts in AI, Data Intensity does prefer people who are open to the promise of the technology. “We need people who are going to embrace AI and not view it as a threat,” he explains. “It’s really about attitude vs. aptitude. They need to have an open mind.”
Harder is intentional about selling the benefits of AI and automation to his IT staff, emphasizing that AI investment is not predicated solely on reducing costs but also on getting the right work to the right person. He also plays up the quality-of-life aspects of automation, including not having to be constantly on call for clients. “It’s changing the focus of what we celebrate in the organization and what we’re trying to change,” he explains. “It’s a parallel path of assessing the technology and waiting for the right moments to deploy it.”
Don’t confuse Data Intensity’s efforts to create a “chill” vibe with encouraging complacency. Employee growth and development are top priorities as the company aims to promote from within whenever possible. Open roles are shared internally on a weekly basis to encourage internal mobility and career growth. IT staff members also get a say in the projects they work on, which lets them choose areas that align closely with their interests and expertise, leading to increased job satisfaction and higher productivity.
Further investment in professional growth comes by way of DI University, a comprehensive training and educational initiative designed to empower the workforce and keep skills current. Customer-facing employees are treated to another layer of training through extensive Oracle and AI certifications to ensure that they retain competency in emerging technologies, Harder says.
For employees still figuring out their path, Data Intensity has started a mentorship program that pairs seasoned professionals with rising stars in the IT department. The Hi-Potential (Hi-Po) development program and structured job shadowing initiatives are also designed to help employees explore potential career pathways and mature into leadership roles.
“There’s a lot of empowerment for people to advance their own career and solve our problems,” says Harder. “There’s not a top-down ‘Here’s how we’re going to solve problems’ but rather ‘Here’s what we need to do, and here are the things that are standing in our way.’”
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