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With increasing relevance of data as a strategic asset, companies strive to make data FAIR, i.e. findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable. Data catalogs are considered an important means to realize these aspirations. However, data catalogs are still a novel and loosely defined concept, which lacks empirical studies on their implementation. Against this background, this study aims at fostering the understanding of data catalogs as a means of increasing data exposure and usage in enterprises. Based on a qualitative and explorative study involving 12 multi-national enterprises, we assess data catalog initiatives based on their scope, goals, and users. We propose a taxonomy of data catalog initiatives and present 3 detailed case studies that illustrate typical approaches to data catalogs. Our findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the FAIR principles by elaborating on their significance in the enterprise …