In Episode 1, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Barry Panayi, Chief Data and Insight Officer at John Lewis Partnership, where they discuss the myths about the role of the CDO and why tenure is so short, which includes;Why no two CDO roles are the sameWhy the majority of CDOs are hired for the wrong reasons How the people making those decisions don’t understand the role or what it should do for them How the CDO role isn’t a transitional one and shouldn’t be about delivering projectsWhy the narrative around the CoE being an internal consultancy is damaging Why D&A teams haven’t been good enough at articulating both direct and indirect value The ways to book and track value generated Why we’ve been guilty of wrongly beating up IT over the years The relationship between technology, the role of a CDO and why it’s become a grey area If culture, literacy and adoption are related to the tenure of the CDOWhy 'culture change' and 'literacy' aren’t helpful terms Why we need to be more prescriptive to change behaviours and culture across the organisationThe importance of comms teams in a chief data office The benefits of "selling" indirectly Why reporting lines and operating models play a role in the success of a CDOWhy you need to understand the trade-offs within your reporting line The benefit of owning insight within the CDO office and the differences in Insight skillsets The relationship between how organisations utilise consulting firms and the impact it has on a CDOHow hype and buzz have helped move data up the value chainWhy the data conversation is starting to stagnate What the CDO needs to do to have more success Thanks to our sponsor, Dufrain:Dufrain is a market leading pure play data and analytics delivery consultancy empowering enterprise organisations to discover the value and potential in their data. To truly become data-driven and drive competitive advantage. At Dufrain, Data is our passion. Our highly experienced data consultants deliver data solutions and real business outcomes across the entire data landscape helping businesses to meet their strategic objectives. Led by Joseph George CEO, we draw on a wealth of expertise, experience and knowledge to deliver innovative solutions to data challenges. Leading brands trust us and partner with us to deliver value and to support and enable their teams for the long term. Our highly experienced data consultants deliver comprehensive services across the entire data landscape from data management and governance, BI and analytics through to shaping data transformation strategies. Take your steps to become data-driven, visit www.dufrain.co.uk and connect with us.

In Episode 2, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lyndsay Weir, Chief Analytics and Insight Officer at Barilla Group, where they discuss the 'so what' about Data, Analytics and Insight, which includes;Why having a non-STEM background has been beneficialWhy having a can-do attitude is critical to be successfulThe importance of having a diversified blend of skills in your D&A team The skills you need to be successful as a modern-day Data Leader The importance of collaboration; why it’s “all we, never me”Why you’ve always got to ask, so what?!Why knowing where you’re going is the key and what is your plan?Why they’ve changed how they present reports and insights; from visualisation to a written 1-pagerThe damage from “data is the new oil”The telltale signs if you’re not aligned with the strategic objectives of the business Striking the balance between tech/tooling and business objectivesThe importance of scalability Dealing with FOMO and Hype; why you don’t have to be first to market Balancing execution and innovation/experimentation The relationship between operating model, skills, adoption and value creation Ways to excite the organisation about Data & Analytics Being technically sound but strategically impactful as a Data LeaderThanks to our sponsor, Dufrain:Dufrain is a market leading, pure play data and analytics delivery consultancy empowering enterprise organisations to discover the value and potential in their data. To truly become data-driven and drive competitive advantage.At Dufrain, Data is our passion. Our highly experienced data consultants deliver data solutions and real business outcomes across the entire data landscape helping businesses to meet their strategic objectives. Led by Joseph George CEO, we draw on a wealth of expertise, experience and knowledge to deliver innovative solutions to data challenges. Leading brands trust us and partner with us to deliver value and to support and enable their teams for the long term.Our highly experienced data consultants deliver comprehensive services across the entire data landscape from data management and governance, BI and analytics through to shaping data transformation strategies. Take your steps to become data-driven, visit www.dufrain.co.uk and connect with us.

In Episode 3, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sanjeevan Bala, Group Chief Data & AI Officer at ITV, where they discuss the future of the Board and ExcCo, and the role the CDO plays in the future, which includes;Why data drives an offensive growth strategy at ITVThe importance of having a value-driven strategy The importance of the PLC board and ExCo on signposting the strategic importance of data Making data a strategic business initiative and not a technical one The future possibilities for CDO's on their next career moveWhy the CDO is less about the task and more about building relationships Why the technicalities are the easiest part of the D&A equation to crack The role of data in board advisory If reporting lines/structures have an impact on successWhy insight isn’t the problem, unlocking the last mile isBeing an offensive, value-driven function versus being an enabling function Why being an enabler means you’re a cost centre Why the D&A voice is often missing from ExCo The role of diversity in the boardroom and the relationship with how D&A is viewed Why many boards are asleep at the wheel and are not fit for purpose for the future The difference between “value potential” versus “value capture” How “value-driven” versus “data-driven” can be measured The benefit of bringing in outside thinking and perspective to build next-generation capability  Why technical skills alone won’t help you winHow to get onto a board without board experience

In Episode 4, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kinnari Ladha, Chief Customer Data Officer at Manchester Airport Group (MAG), where they discuss what it takes to make the move from leading Data & Analytics teams, to becoming a CDO, which includes;The major differences between leading Data & Analytics teams and being a CDOWhy you have to leave your Data Analytics hat at the door and focus on business strategy Why you need to manage your leadership style to handle emotions and politics The importance of trust and empowermentCulture, Change and Relationship Building Why you have to measure the impact of the business outcomes you’re supportingThe telltale signs that you’re ready to execute Why operating as an executive requires a totally different skillsetThe importance of diversity of thought and resilience Understanding pain points and value levers Why you need to have a growth mindset to step up to become a CDOHow to assess whether a CDO title is actually a CDO role Do we really need a voice at the table?Why you need to move the perception of your team from service provider to partner The importance of understanding how your stakeholders mange their P&LWhy you need a communications plan to dictate your own narrative Striking the balance between strategy and execution Why you’ve got to hold yourself to account for milestones and deliverablesThe art of data storytelling as a CDOCommunicating your vision in a way it resonates to different audiences The impact of being seen as a ‘thought-leader’ and why it’s important Learning to read the room

In Episode 5, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kate Sargent, Chief Data Officer at The Financial Times, where they discuss the importance of getting data into the boardroom to ensure D&A success, which includes;Why data strategies often articulate the role that data can play and not often what it will playWhat should be included in your data strategy Understanding the business strategy and objectives if it’s not obvious Why D&A teams need to constantly reinvent themselves Why you need to befriend your commercial/finance colleagues Transcend D&A into the boardroom by meeting people where they are Why it’s imperative that you’re easy to work /do business with The need for a voice in the boardroom for D&A to be successful Why very few other functions have or need a strategy but data still does Why new tools and techniques should be additive, not substitutional Why the “old school” work is still where the most value is derived Why finding the right balance of the team structure will underpin the success of any Data Leader  The importance of staying alert to disengagement Identifying the issues and choosing the solution to fix themWhy ‘data product’ demonstrates the growing-up of data as a discipline The differences between ‘data product’ and ‘data as a product’ and why the differentiation mattersDriving top-down and bottom-upWhy data is viewed as important but not urgent (and how to create urgency)The power of demonstrating the risk of missed opportunities to drive change

In Episode 6, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ciara Moore, Chief Data & Digital Officer at Bank of Ireland, where they discuss how to sell your data story and why you have to be customer-obsessed, which includes;Why language is importantWhy you need to be customer-obsessedThe relationship between data and providing better customer experiencesData-Driven or Customer Obsessed Why you should never start with the data Why customer experience is very “touchy-feely” The importance of protecting your customer's data in a way they want it to be used The importance of first principlesUsing AI to measure the emotions of your customersWhy it’s on Data Leaders to quantify the value of the work we do Why it’s never enough to build foundationsPicking the appropriate use cases as a starting point Why you have to deliver “little and often”  Why it’s always a tough journey for 12-18 monthsWhy you need to tell the story and tell it in a way that resonates with your organisation Why you need to be cautious about how you frame the art of the possible The importance of using different channels of communication to tell and sell your story People get it when the language changes The importance of letting your D&A team present to business stakeholders Why you need to take a hands-on approach to storytelling as a Data Leader The power of creating more capacity for your team to do more interesting work

In Episode 7, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tim Carmichael, Chief Data Officer at Chaloub Group, where they discuss the role of servant leadership in Data & Analytics success, which includes; Being the first CDO in the British Army Why the remit of all CDOs should be to enable evidence-based decision-making Solving the challenge of helping organisations find the tantalisingly out-of-reach valueWhy servant leadership is the type of leadership needed to get value from dataWhat servant leadership is NOT!Why to be a servant leader you need to have a fundamental shift in mindset Why you have to play to your people’s strengths and not agonise over their weaknesses People are 6 x more effective if they’re playing to their strengthsWhy you have to help people understand the context of decisions The twin facets of the role of the Data Leader The role of trusting partnerships and the importance of communication Why you can never get to value without trust How moving away from “then and us” is the secret sauce to unlocking valueThe difference between leadership, line management and mentorship To be a great influencer you need humility and courageWhy being an enabler doesn’t mean you’re less important Why, amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics Why Gen AI is unlocking awareness of Data Literacy Why ruling through fear means you can kiss goodbye to innovation How servant leadership is not servile Aligning team structure and operating model to play to people’s strengths Why communication is just a form of marketing Learning the hard way that beauty is in the eye of the beholder

In Episode 8, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by James Morgan, Chief Data Officer at The Crown Estate, where they discuss all of the facets involved in building a Data & Analytics capability for strategic transformation while managing the hype cycles, which includes;The importance of having the right information strategy Why D&A needs to be involved in strategic planning Why you have to identify which stakeholders deliver value for the organisation How too many data teams are focusing on solutions instead of objectives Choosing objectives that will deliver the best ROI  Why diverse teams are critical for success with D&A Balancing the immediate needs and the strategic visionDefining what your core capability needs to be Ensuring you enable the business so they don’t do it themselves Why all hype cycles only exist to help deliver an outcome  Why choosing the right tools can be critical Why some hype cycles have been hugely advantageous The importance of identifying where the nuggets of real change lie within any hype cycle Why the fundamentals of good data practice are still applicable today Why prototyping is beneficial but it can’t be your main approach Why AI isn’t the answer to everything Why not all hype cycles are created equally How people confuse operating model and team structure Trying to hire unicorns and writing 35 different job descriptions to build a team Why your data team should represent the population Why you have to truly believe in building a diverse team Why being obliged to fill a diversity quota or target is the wrong approach Why you’ll only ever gain credibility by delivering something that people want and use Needing to get your organisation to the place of believing that data is intrinsic to its success Attributing the value of your work before you deliver anything

In Episode 9, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Aimee Smith, Director of Data at Metropolitan Police (probably known as Scotland Yard by most outside of the UK), where they discuss the opportunities that Data & Analytics presents to revolutionise policing and moving to prediction for prevention, which includes;Tackling Organised Crime GroupsChairing the national police data board bringing together 43 organisations Being one of the most complained about organisations to the ICOThe importance of executive sponsorship How investment is linked to your highest leadership level The biggest challenges Met Police/Scotland Yard have with data Why their people are genuinely their biggest asset and the challenge that creates for D&A investment Peelian principles; why data has always been used in policing What they have done to prove their value Using credible stakeholders within the organisations to tell the data story The different levels of data-led decision-makingThe opportunity to revolutionise policing through data and analytics The challenges of being judged based on media headlines Why the obsession with catching offenders could be the wrong approach Prioritising workload in potential life and death situationsHow the public help set the organisation's business strategy Why most people don’t connect data to their core role and missionWhy their data can be valuable to UK PLC but the challenges in articulating howHow the expectations of how data is used are different within the same organisation Fixing broken relationships with the black community while also trying to deploy DS/ML with biased data Tackling bias and ethics as an organisation that people love to scrutinise Using their own DS team to test for bias Choosing not to deploy certain solutions due to bias and ethical concerns Needing to build trust with the public before they can execute on predictive analytics A shout-out to Davin Crowley SweetThanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

In Episode 10, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by David Castro-Gavino, Global VP of Data at HelloFresh, where they discuss, unboxing data maturity and insights from the HelloFresh growth journey, fuelled by data, which includes;Their focus on renewable and sustainable value to the customer Being recruited directly by the Co-Founder Removing complexity by having a unified data platformThe evidence that data has played a pivotal role in the huge growth trajectory of the organisation Why being “data-driven” is a company value Going beyond the what and understanding the why behind the data Tackling different levels of maturity across regions and breaking those silosThe symptoms of growth pains in a hyper-growth organisationDismantling certain capabilities that weren’t designed for scale Accelerating time to actionable insight The framework of 4 key pillars; People, Technology, Governance and Enablement Designing the data strategy so it was practical and linked to the business Implementing the four-pillar approach as a 6-Step recipe Talking in the language of food which the business would understand Building for the immediate requirements that needed tackling but also for the long-term visionThe importance of having the right structure, the right talent and the correct career frameworks Deciding the speed you hire at and how you’ll lose productivity The importance of data education and the HelloFresh Data UniversityBalancing build versus buy and its relation to maturity The four core dimensions of data enablement Monetising the work that has been done Walking through the 6-Step Data Recipe to get to relish feast Helping the business to adopt the technology Prioritising based on core business metrics Ensuring you’re delivering a return on investment  The importance of stakeholder application, not just usage, in realising value  Why you have to ensure you agree of the definition of a business metric The 4 key takeawaysMoving from data-driven to data-enabled The lessons learnt from the journey they’ve been on with implementing data-mesh Thanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

In Episode 11, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dr Raoul-Gabriel Urma, Executive Chairman of Cambridge Spark, where they discuss the role of education in Data & Analytics success, which includes;Creating a business out of a passion for education and technology Gaining a PhD in Computer Science at the University of CambridgeBecoming a published author The pace of technological change and transformation is becoming bigger and faster How CDOs/CIOs are constantly battling to adopt and embrace that change Creating a business out of a passion for education and technology Why there’s too much hype in the industry and the impact that has on expectations  Why there needs to be more education around commercial use cases for business leaders What it will take for Data and AI to be a profit centre Why it’s always about people (staff and customers)The importance of being able to see the impact of your work The retention challenge; why Data and AI skills are in high demand Why you have to invest in people to keep pace with technological advances How education supports retention Why CDO tenure often disincentivises education and people investmentsHow the role of the CDO is expected to deliver ROI like any other exec roleThe power of a strong HR business partner Getting the balance of delivering quick wins while also building for and investing in the future Educational use cases from some big brand names How apprenticeship programmes can create several £m in top-line How graduate boot camps are reducing time to ROIWhy educated leaders understand how talent delivers profit Why people are the first to go when costs need to be cut Why most UK organisations don’t realise the apprenticeship levy is readily available for training existing staffHow a lack of value realisation may become a blocker for investment in education How business leaders don’t view data and AI as something that will support revenue growth Why training is needed for business leaders to understand how a data strategy delivers value Why that is the job of the CDO and the importance of sellingWhy CDOs need to take more credit for what they doUnderstanding which educational avenue is best for your organisation The benefits of career changers and reskilling

In Episode 12, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Alexandra Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, where they discuss the practicality of building an award-winning diverse and inclusive, Data & Analytics team, which includes;Being in an organisation for 19 years Transforming from a traditional MI function to an end-to-end Data & Analytics function Moving everything back in-house Spending a lot of time externally to learn from others Having the job description of “deliver value through data”Why they’ve launched their 3rd data strategy Having internally focused and externally focused strategies 25% tech, 25% value and 50% people Putting a pound amount value to what they deliver Why the business doesn’t want to talk about risk or technology, they want to talk about value The link between D&A success and diversity Building an award-winning D&A team Why you need to destroy groupthink and promote positive challenge Doing 175 interviews and realising they were getting a lot of the same type of applicants What they changed to attract more diverse individuals and getting 170% more applicants Why this isn’t about ticking boxes How a diverse team is simply a by-product of doing the right things Why organisations mistake Representation and Diversity The power of apprenticeships and the two ways they’ve used them The benefits of growing your own talent Tackling skills shortagesChallenging yourself when identifying the essential versus desirable skills The misconception that technical data people aren’t able to communicate Why you don’t need a data translator The link between diversity and inclusion, and Data and AI ethics The AI ethics framework and ethical committee they’ve implemented The key trends predicted from being a governing body member for DataIQ and EvantaThanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

In Episode 13, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Zachery Anderson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Natwest Group, where they discuss the value that is being driven from productionising GenAI, which includes;Why GenAI feels different to any other D&A hype that’s come before itHow the scale and interest is off the chartsHaving an outpost in Silicon Valley to scout new tech partners How they were working with OpenAI 18 months before ChatGPT launchedWorking with LLM’s 6-8 months before ChatGPT Having 2 LLM use cases in production and another 10 in development How there will be more direct interaction between LLM’s and customers Educating the business on the security risks Why regulation matters but customer expectation matters even moreWhy it’s important to just get started Prioritising the correct use cases  The 5 design patterns for GenAI use cases Running the central D&A function like a PE firm; it has to generate a return or it doesn’t happen The importance of killing projects that won’t deliver a return as fast as possible Having an annual target of how much the D&A organisation will generate as a multiple of the cost structure The importance of having your finance team calculate and audit target Why Analytics Leaders should, but don’t do analytics on themselvesWhy GenAI will change D&A team structures and operating modelWhy executive support and interest is more important than who you report toAdvice on productionising GenAI Why it really matters where your GPU’s are hosted Why you need to hold your current plans very lightly The importance of app development for LLM usage Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy. Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first. At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve. Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.Thanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform

In Episode 14, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sarah Barr Miller, Director of Data & Automation at British Airways, where they discuss the reality of trying to influence change in a large, traditional organisation, which includes;Working in data straight out of University in the 90’sWhy data hasn’t historically been the focus of the organisationHow the digital experience of the business has left a lot to be desired at timesWhy the presence of safety extends culturally across the organisationHow they’ve had people working in data for over 35 years at the organisation Having deep ‘on-prem’ routesBeing the cheerleader of the team to drive change The challenges that having minimal to no attrition can bringHow they’ve upskilled and trained a large data teamBeing impatient in a world where change is slow Why they’re still using old-school tech and toolsBattling to increase the organisational expectations of the Data teamWhy the organisation doesn’t often see that data can be a solution to their issuesKicking off a big engagement and communications workstream to cater for 3 audiences Why this year will be more about bringing the work of the data team out into the daylight Being brutal in prioritising work Being open, transparent, and approachable as a leader The importance of framing ‘The Why’Generating interest from a business that had historically been trained to not make requests The polo mint analogy The transformation from governing data from a security perspective to being a value-generator The role operating model and team structure play in large-scale transformation The people puzzle; combining the why and the how Why data is at the heart of all BA transformation programmesThanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy. Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first. At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve. Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 15, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is re-joined by Niresh Rajah, now the Group Chief Data Officer at Danske Banke, where they discuss building a Chief Data Office to support one of the largest digital transformations in financial services across Europe, which includes;Forward 28: the 5-year strategy to be a digitally orientated, customer-first, sustainable organisation Being hired to create a data-driven environment to support one of the largest FS digital transformations in EuropeConstructing ‘Data-Driven Danske’ and the 4 components of focus The 5 layers of the ‘Data-Driven Danske’ layer cake Demonstrating value from a multi-billion investment The key instigator as to why the investment has been madeAligning Forward 28 and Data-Driven Danske Building the 8 capabilities that make up a Chief Data OfficeBattling defence and offence as a large FS organisation Why faith and trust only go so far The 4 metrics to measure that change is happening Using transition states to move towards the end-goal Having executives who see the value of data as being fundamental to their customers The challenge of prioritising the best use cases due to so much demand The reality of driving change in a large legacy organisation despite the appetite to do so Fighting the war for talent to build a forward-think chief data office Delivering quick wins despite having the trust of the executive leadership team Top-Down, Bottom-Up and the Messy Middle Developing an engagement and communication approach The importance of having a talent strategy to build a world-class D&A capability Building a co-sponsored cross-skilling programme Predictive AI v Generative AI Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy. Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first. At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve. Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 16, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ben Dias, Director of Data Science and Analytics at easyJet, where they discuss the lean startup approach to Data & Analytics, which includes;Being a stereotypical neurodiverse data scientist Being driven by solving problems that no one else had Working on recommendation algorithms 20 years agoIntentionally investing heavily in personal development around ‘soft skills’ Mapping out what “The Lean Startup Approach” to Data Science would beDeciding whether to stay technical or move into leadership Approaching leadership as a science Being one of the first airlines to launch their NetZero roadmap Having a CEO who drives the data agenda Not being able to build the foundations fast enough to keep up with demand How they delivered value incrementally while building the foundations How the business continued with investment in data programmes even while planes were grounded during Covid Demonstrating the value of the lean startup approachThe 6-steps practical guide to implementing the lean startup approach (article below)The benefits delivered from the lean startup approach The challenges/considerations to this approach Why you shouldn’t deliver any work until you know what “done” looks like Why you should always address the riskiest thing first The importance of not being the HIPPO as the Data Leader Why you need to align the approach to your vision Why all prioritisation conversations have to start with a conversation about valueThe importance of having a framework of measuring non-financial metrics The benefits of having a flat structure Keeping fixed costs low Why you need to have a diverse team to solve complex problemsWhy using external partners can bring “diversity of thought”Thinking outside the box to hire a more diverse team Implementing data fluency programmesUsing apprenticeships to upskill business users Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy. Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first. At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 17, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Antje Bustamante, VP of Data at Funding Circle, where they discuss the role of "leadership" in Data & Analytics, which includes;Why the fun comes from generating revenue for your business and giving people amazing careers Why businesses don’t ask for data transformation Learning from personal experience the CDO/Data Leader role is undefined Why titles are often intentionally misused Why your customers won’t tell you what their problems are The importance of understanding commercial drivers and how your business makes money Changing the mindset that data isn’t a problem it’s an opportunity How data events are always focused on technology, yet you can’t find much on the topic of leadership Why aspiring leaders are concerned about losing their technical skills when they shouldn’t be The ability to change habits and mindsets Why D&A is misunderstood and is often the starting point of most of our challenges Why there is too much entitlement in Data & Analytics Leadership Data Leaders need to be ready to take on the job of educating people Why managing and leading are two different things The challenges of promoting high-performing ICs into management How 82% of all managers have never had any management training The importance of having leadership values Why it’s OK to ask for help and you don’t have to know it allWhy attracting and retaining great talent is the hardest part of leadership Finding a way to that seat if your role doesn’t grant you oneAs maturity increases, the less the Data Leadership role should be neededWhy data needs strong representation to be seen as a success Why the NED market for Data Leaders is quite hot Why commercial organisations will only truly understand the value of data when we help them make more money Why the Data Leadership role could be dead in 5 years The importance of personal development and upskilling as a leader Why she qualified as a career coach to become a better leaderWhy your success is directly linked to the success of your people Why data leaders need to change their network and bubble Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 18, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Susanna Moan, Chief Data Officer at Currys Plc, where they discuss how they're using data to create connections to create better customer experiences, which includes;Using Data to create customers for life The 4 key pillars of the Data Strategy and the thought behind themDefining the data strategy prioritisation roadmap Ensuring that you’re listening as a CDOFocusing on where you’ll get advocacy and usageUnderstanding the difference you’re making from a contribution perspective communications plan to market the story and benefits Aligning the business, data and customer strategies Why they have a tagline that surmises the data strategy Articulating the breadth of what a chief data office should doSegmenting the strategy into collect, protect and use The importance of thinking about usage at the beginningReducing technology costs Why data platform projects aren’t exciting to CEO’s, but what does interest themUsing data to create connected partnerships that create better customer experience and also make money Balancing the needs of intergenerational customer expectations Hyper personalisation needs and the relationship with security The role of GenAI in the world of retail and 3 internal POCs for internal use cases Managing GenAI interest from the ExCoThanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 19, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Phillip Dale, Head of Data Governance at Marks & Spencer, where they discuss how data governance by design is enabling them to the build for the future, which includes;Why the data & analytics community is the best community in the world Making data accessible for people to leverage it Why a good governance function is one of the best commercial enablers in business The importance of having the right controls in place The value of trusted data What data governance means for ‘the business’ The role of DG in executing the data strategy How getting people to understand the benefits of good-quality data is the easy partStrategy versus Governance and understanding the true north Why you need a governance approach which keeps you fit for the future Why you need to show how commercial challenges of your organisation can be supported by governance Why keeping it simple makes things more robust and sustainable Why your job as a governance leader will never be done The challenges of being accepted by data & analytics professionals when you come “from the business”Choosing the right DG tooling and understanding your maturity Getting your tools used and minimising technical debt Prioritising what should be fixed and what doesn’t need to be Dealing with ad-hoc requests The importance of getting people on the same page with a unified narrative Why sub-par experiences and results live long in the memory Celebrating the governance trophies (wins)Why the exciting stuff is often delivered by other parts of the D&A teamData governance by design core principles and artefacts Why GenAI is a great opportunity for the governance community The eutopia of when organisations want governance rather than feel like they need it Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 20, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Anthony Cosgrove, Co-Founder at Harbr, where they discuss how data sharing is improving the data consumer experience, which includes; Building a data platform in response to huge regulatory fines Creating a business that exists to solve the challenges he had personally faced doing the jobRaising $50m to build Harbr The three key use cases that people use the platform forThe challenges of data sharing and the implication on data democratisation Why the consumer user journey is often missing The importance of scalability and reusabilityThe lack of empathy between the people creating data assets and the people using them The balancing act of value and controlThe journey of data products, data as a product, product management and data meshWhy data isn’t special - product management should be appliedWhy language is important!Why the number one challenge for CDO’s is complexityWhy you have to cross boundaries to get value from data Why democratisation requires diversity, flexibility and choice Why value comes from the user and the use case