https://www.patreon.com/datameshradio (Data Mesh Radio Patreon) - get access to interviews well before they are released Episode list and links to all available episode transcripts (most interviews from #32 on) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmCIinVgIm0xjIVFpL9jMtCiOlBQ7LbvLmtmb0FKcQc/edit?usp=sharing (here) Provided as a free resource by DataStax https://www.datastax.com/products/datastax-astra?utm_source=DataMeshRadio (AstraDB); George Trujillo's contact info: email (george.trujillo@datastax.com) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgetrujillo/ (LinkedIn) Transcript for this episode (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TtT53TI4j-lwsbCnNHWhtX2rTJudxSyLpm8ylId6fM4/edit?usp=sharing (link)) provided by Starburst. See their Data Mesh Summit recordings https://www.starburst.io/learn/events-webinars/datanova-on-demand/?datameshradio (here) and their great data mesh resource center https://www.starburst.io/info/distributed-data-mesh-resource-center/?datameshradio (here) In this episode, Scott interviewed Liz Henderson AKA The Data Queen, Executive Advisor at Capgemini. To be clear, Liz was only representing her own views on the podcast. Some high-level takeaways/thoughts from Liz's view: To drive buy-in and engagement in a data strategy - especially with people outside the IT/data team - focus on the "why". Why are you doing this initiative or approach? What business goals is it supporting? Also on driving buy-in for a data initiative, start by listening instead of selling/pitching. Focus on the business needs and work backwards to show how data can help address those needs. To be successful with a large change-management data initiative, you need the patience, leadership, courage, and will to push forward. And the budget - don't forget the budget :D You can't have an effective data strategy if it isn't directly tied into the business strategy. Really consider how data can help to support and execute on the business strategy. Data strategy in a vacuum away from the business is a recipe for trouble. It's very easy to get overly focused in data on what you are delivering instead of why you are delivering it and who it is supposed to serve. If you want to be successful, you need to focus on the latter two. And look to deliver continuous incremental value rather than a back-end loaded value delivery. Change management is very easy to get wrong in data. Really consider if you can not only get the ball rolling, but keep it rolling and in the right direction to implement a large change. Loss of momentum can mean loss of funding. If data mesh follows a similar pattern to data literacy, it's likely to be 3-4 years from initial large swell in hype around data mesh - whether that was late 2021 or more now - until we really see a clear picture of how more organizations have implemented. There needs to be a time for trial and error. Data literacy can only get you so far - you need data storytelling and visualization as the business people need to be able to understand what the data is saying to drive decisions. The 3 most common ways organizations go wrong with data are 1) technology-first / expecting to buy your way to a solution to challenges; 2) not asking the "why" questions; and 3) not having a data strategy.

Liz started the conversation talking about how data is an asset to the company - not treating data as an asset, an important differentiation - and started with a common theme for the conversation: "why?". Why is data important to the business? Why are we doing the data work we are doing? What is the purpose?

When speaking with company executives, especially those outside the IT/data team, Liz starts every conversation by digging into what is the business trying to do. What is the business strategy? How does data currently play into that strategy? What role do they want data to play in the business strategy? What role might data play if everything were perfect? You can't have an effective data strategy...