Driven by Data: The Podcast

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Welcome to another episode of The Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on Kyle's conversation with Laura Fiacco, Founder of Adaptive Assets, exploring why communication, influence and commerciality remain some of the most overlooked skills in data leadership. Alongside the episode discussion, they dive into LinkedIn's apparent AI U-turn, the growing challenge of AI-generated content, and why the future of data leadership may be less about technology and more about transformation.

They cover:

Why LinkedIn, Snapchat and Substack are all taking steps to tackle AI-generated content, and what it says about organisations pushing AI adoption before understanding its long-term consequences
Whether we're heading towards a world where overusing AI becomes just as much of a performance concern as not using it at all
The ethical grey areas surrounding AI-generated communication, from political statements to funeral tributes, and why context matters far more than blanket rules
Laura's perspective on communication as a skill that compounds over time, and why nobody starts by presenting to a thousand people
Why communication isn't synonymous with public speaking, but instead about translating technical concepts into language that business leaders understand and care about
The importance of influencing without authority, building relationships, and developing the commercial mindset needed to turn technical work into business value
How organisations continue to undervalue communication, relationship building and commerciality because they're harder to measure than technical capability
Practical ways data professionals can develop these skills themselves, including writing, voice conversations with AI, and using large language models as personalised coaching tools
Why curiosity, listening and asking better questions are just as important as being able to communicate confidently
Kyle's reflections on why transformation is becoming the next major destination for senior data leaders as technology becomes less of the challenge and organisational change becomes the real differentiator
Catherine's comparison between today's AI leadership roles and the "e-business" and "Chief Internet Officer" titles of the dot-com era, and why AI leadership may ultimately become absorbed into every business function as the technology matures

Programming note: If you've been following Catherine's recent LinkedIn series on the evolution of executive technology roles, this episode expands on that conversation, exploring why today's AI job titles may eventually follow the same path as digital and internet leadership before them.

This episode is a reminder that while AI continues to dominate headlines, long-term success still depends on the fundamentals: communicating clearly, influencing effectively, building relationships, and helping organisations change, not just implement new technology.

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In Episode 18 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Laura Fiacco, Founder of Adaptive Assets, where they discuss why communication, influence and commercial thinking have become the competitive advantage for modern data professionals, and how learning to communicate like an executive is now just as important as technical expertise.

They also discuss:

Why influence without authority is the defining skill for modern data leaders.
The 4 quadrant brain framework for tailoring communication to different thinking styles.
Why successful influence starts by understanding other people's goals before presenting your own ideas.
Why relationship building happens outside the meeting room, not inside it.
How to communicate technical work in a way executives immediately care about.
Why every presentation should start with the business outcome, not the analysis.
Why data professionals often answer questions that were never asked.
What data leaders can learn from sales discovery.
The questions every data professional should ask before proposing a solution.
Why understanding failed attempts and hidden assumptions leads to better stakeholder conversations.
How to influence when different executives have conflicting priorities.
Why peer success stories influence behaviour more effectively than data alone.
Why communication, influence and leadership should become measurable career progression criteria.
Practical habits that help build influence, trust and credibility every day.
Why AI will make communication, influence and judgement more valuable than technical expertise.
Why every person needs to understand their specific role in delivering the wider business objective.
Why every business strategy is built on assumptions that data should validate or challenge.
How to align stakeholders when everyone interprets the same strategy differently.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of The Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine returns from a two-week break to catch up with Kyle on the conversation with Joanne Riseborough, Group Data Management and Culture Director at Lloyd's Banking Group, alongside a wide-ranging catch-up covering AI ethics, the future of education, and why context is everything when it comes to new technology.

They cover:

Why Joanne's willingness to repeat the same simple truth throughout her episode, rather than apologise for it, was itself the standout takeaway, and why data management has long been the least glamorous but most under-resourced part of the data value chain
How the AI boom has quietly made data management one of its biggest beneficiaries, as businesses scramble to build the foundations needed to use their new tools effectively
Why a job title that puts "management" and "culture" side by side gets to the heart of why the two are inseparable, and can't succeed without one another
Catching up on two episodes missed while on holiday: Priya's candid take on the CIO-CDO relationship, and the idea that failing to draw clear lines of accountability creates "competition for relevance" between the two roles, not collaboration
A conversation with Vin on turning AI into revenue, the value of concrete company examples over abstract theory, and how his "information flywheel" concept has moved from a future prediction to something organisations are now actively chasing
A detour into Meta's AI glasses, why the debate over them (cool or creepy?) is really about context and nuance, and why platforms like LinkedIn struggle to hold space for anything in between
A tie-back to Catherine's own past research using facial recognition technology, and how the same tool can be a public safety asset in one context and deeply troubling in another
Whether AI ethics has a genuine seat at the boardroom table, or whether "activity as the barometer of perception" makes leaders reluctant to be the one applying the brakes
Andy Burnham's call for parity between university and vocational routes, what it might mean for how people enter data careers, and the idea (borrowed from a recent Taylor Culver conversation) that data is a skill rather than a career path in its own right
Why the debate over LLMs in university coursework mirrors the harm-reduction argument in sex education: teaching safe, responsible use beats an outright ban

Programming note and community shout-out: Catherine's back from a two-week camping-and-patio-laying hiatus (send help, or bricklaying tips), and registration for Driven by Data LIVE is officially open, with a growing list of bespoke, invite-only events also on the horizon. Make sure you're on the events list to hear about them first.

This episode is a reminder that the unglamorous, unsexy fundamentals, data management, clear accountability, honest conversations about ethics, are usually what make the shinier stuff actually work.

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In Episode 17 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Joanne Riseborough, Group Data Management and Culture Director at Lloyds Banking Group, where they discuss why the AI boom has quietly made data management one of the most strategically important disciplines in the boardroom.

They explore why AI is shining a spotlight on data quality, governance and culture, how large enterprises balance modernisation with legacy technology, and why organisations that invest in strong data foundations will be best positioned to realise meaningful value from AI.

They also discuss:

Why AI has made data management more important than ever.
Why data quality has moved back onto the boardroom agenda.
How organisations should define what "good enough" actually means.
What data quality should actually be measured against.
How large enterprises balance modernisation whilst continuing to operate critical legacy platforms.
The unique data management challenges created by hybrid cloud and on-premise environments.
How data culture influences the success or failure of AI adoption.
Why data and AI literacy is becoming a strategic capability rather than a technical nice-to-have.
How Lloyds Banking Group is building capability through education, practitioner communities and leadership development.
Why executive sponsorship remains one of the strongest predictors of successful AI transformation.
How organisations should balance fixing today's problems whilst investing in tomorrow's capabilities.
Why continuous monitoring and data observability will become fundamental components of modern data management.
How reusable data products can accelerate both governance and AI adoption.
Why organisations should think about both data for AI and AI for data.
Why responsible AI starts with trusted data, lineage and governance rather than model oversight alone.
How central strategy and standards can successfully coexist with federated ownership and delivery.
Why organisations should assess their data maturity before accelerating AI ambitions.
Why the strongest AI strategies are built on strong data foundations rather than stronger AI models.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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In Episode 16 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Priya Enefer, Chief Information Officer at Hakluyt & Company, where they discuss why the tension between CIOs and CDOs isn't a people problem, but an organisational design problem.

They explore how operating models, accountability, product thinking and executive alignment determine whether technology, data and AI become genuine competitive advantages or simply create duplication, politics and confusion.

They also discuss:

Why the tension between CIOs and CDOs is usually created by organisational design rather than the people themselves.
Why every CIO role looks different and how organisational context should define the mandate.
Why organisations should define accountabilities before they hire executives or choose job titles.
Whether every organisation actually needs a Chief Data Officer.
Why technology, data and product leadership must operate as one team if transformation is going to succeed.
The lessons learned moving from Chief Product Officer to CIO and why she still thinks like a product leader.
How separate technology, product and data strategies create duplication, confusion and competing priorities.
Why product operating models fundamentally outperform traditional project delivery.
Who should own AI and why there is no universal answer.
Why many organisations are measuring AI activity instead of AI value and repeating mistakes made during previous technology waves.
How AI risks becoming another executive land grab unless organisations are crystal clear on ownership and accountability.
Why centralised data teams can become ivory towers.
What the private sector can learn from government about delivering successful transformation.
Why dashboards and insights in isolation is not leadership.
Whether technology, product and data leadership roles will ultimately converge or simply become much more interconnected.
Why organisational design, incentives and culture will ultimately matter far more than whichever AI model an organisation chooses.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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In Episode 15 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined for the third time by Vin Vashishta, CEO and Founder of V-Squared, where they discuss why the organisations getting the most value from AI are focused less on models and use cases, and more on outcomes, information architecture and business transformation, which includes;

Why AI strategy has become a revenue growth strategy rather than a technology strategy.
Why AI is an information product that depends on context, information architecture and data.
Why information flywheels will become the defining capability that separates AI leaders from everyone else.
Why organisations are moving from buying AI products to forming outcome-based partnerships with technology and consulting providers.
Why CEOs and CFOs are now demanding clear links between AI investment, business outcomes and shareholder value.
Why meaningful AI ROI requires organisations to transform operating models rather than simply automate existing processes.
Why the fastest-growing organisations are extracting the greatest value from AI by creating entirely new forms of value.
Why organisations such as JPMorgan Chase and Eli Lilly are turning AI into sustainable competitive advantage.
How organisations can begin building information flywheels.
Why technical strategy is becoming a core capability for both executive leaders and technical practitioners as traditional management layers disappear.
Why ownership of commercial outcomes matters far more than whether AI sits with the CIO, CDO or a Chief AI Officer.
Why robotics, autonomous systems and edge AI could soon eclipse today's generative AI conversation.
Why LLMs will become just one small component within far more sophisticated agentic systems.
Why we'll see LLMs diminish in importance.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of The Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Peter Crouch, Group Innovation Director at Lloyd's Banking Group, digging into what it really takes to build an innovation function that earns its keep, why "solving the right problem" beats "solving the problem right," and the discipline required to stay pragmatic about AI when the pressure to look busy is everywhere.

They cover:

Why Peter's insistence that his team isn't a consultancy or a bolt-on, but something fully embedded in the business, matters for how any new function establishes its identity and avoids becoming just another side-of-desk activity
The distinction Peter drew between solving the right problem and solving a problem right, and why so much technical effort gets poured into questions that were never worth asking in the first place
Catherine's tie-in to a Rory Sutherland case study on managing customer perception, and why reframing expectations can matter more than actually speeding up a process
The Porsche brakes analogy: why confidence and trust in the underlying systems, not raw speed or new tech, are what actually give people the courage to move fast
Peter's candour about AI decisions ageing quickly given the pace of change, and why the psychological safety to kill a six-month project that isn't working is more valuable than seeing it through for the sake of appearances
The idea of building repeatable, scalable capability for turning ideas into outcomes, rather than chasing the next isolated "big idea"

Kyle's thought of the week: prompted by Catherine, Kyle unpacks a pattern he's seeing across senior searches, talented specialists (using data governance as the example) who've risen to the very top of their track, out-earning some CDOs, only to find themselves boxed in with nowhere left to go. He explains why deep expertise in one domain rarely translates into credibility for a central, cross-value-chain leadership role, and why the people who make that jump early, often before they feel ready, tend to end up better positioned long-term. His advice: get genuinely clear on where you want to end up, be honest about whether your current track can get you there, and be willing to take a sideways or even backward step now if it sets up the bigger move later.

Catherine's thought of the week: inspired by Harry Kane losing his voice mid-interview, Catherine reflects on her own voice-loss moment hosting last year's Driven by Data Live, and makes the case for giving everything to your work when it counts, leaving it all out on the pitch without apology, while still knowing that pace isn't sustainable every single day.

Plus, a programming note and a community shout-out: Catherine is off for a short camping-holiday hiatus, so the show will pause for a couple of weeks, and the mentorship scheme's winter cohort is now open, get in touch to be paired with someone outside your usual industry and hear how genuinely non-linear most people's career paths really are.

This episode explores why real innovation isn't about chasing shiny new ideas, but about building the capability, confidence, and psychological safety to work on the right problems, know when to walk away from the wrong ones, and be intentional about where your own career is actually headed.

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In Episode 14 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Peter Crouch, Group Innovation Director at Lloyds Banking Group, where they discuss why the organisations that thrive in the AI era won't necessarily be those with the best ideas, but those that build the strongest innovation capability, and how large enterprises can adopt startup thinking without compromising governance, risk or customer trust, which includes:

• Why innovation capability matters more than individual ideas.

• How solving the right problem is more important than solving the problem right.

• Why large organisations should adopt startup principles to innovate faster and reduce risk.

• How staged funding and rapid experimentation prevent costly investment in the wrong ideas.

• Why innovation requires a completely different operating model from traditional delivery.

• How regulated organisations can create space for experimentation without compromising governance or customer trust.

• Why embedding innovation into the business creates greater impact than isolated innovation teams.

• How portfolio thinking stops organisations falling in love with ideas too early.

• Why modern engineering platforms are essential for accelerating innovation.

• Why AI should always be driven by business outcomes rather than technology hype.

• How agentic AI is more likely to augment high-value work than replace skilled professionals.

• Why the biggest opportunity for AI in software engineering is removing friction rather than writing code.

• How replacing certainty with a learning-first mindset transforms innovation culture.

• Why treating failure as learning is essential to building innovative organisations.

• How creating intrapreneurs unlocks innovation at enterprise scale.

• Why proving value early is the key to scaling innovation successfully.

• How embedded, personalised financial services could redefine the future of banking.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Diana Comsa, Global Director of Customer Data Products at Condé Nast, diving deeper into what it takes to reframe customer data as a growth engine rather than a marketing function, the value of professional friction in shaping better thinking, and the practical blueprint for translating technical output into commercial outcome.

They cover:

Why Diana's framing of customer data as a growth engine, rather than something that sits under a marketing initiative, struck such a chord, and what that reframing means for how data teams position their value across a business
Diana's account of learning to ask the right questions, shaped by mentors and managers who consistently challenged her, and why that kind of pushback, however uncomfortable in the moment, is often the biggest driver of professional growth
The distinction between challenge and conflict: why psychological safety isn't about agreement, but about creating an environment where pushback is understood as people wanting the best outcome, not personal friction
Catherine's take on choosing a boss over a company, why the person you report to, and the culture of professional friction they create, tends to shape a career more than a brand name ever will
Why relationship-building remains one of the most underrated skills in the data industry: fundamentally, the job is about changing what people think, do, and believe, and trust is what makes that possible
Kyle's reflection on remote culture and professional friction, why strong company culture doesn't require co-location, but does require deliberate investment in getting to know people at a personal level

Kyle's thought of the week: put on the spot by Catherine, Kyle lays out his blueprint for commercial articulation, the skill of anchoring data work to what a business actually cares about. He walks through the logic of tracing everything back to organisational goals and KPIs, then down through the decisions that influence them, before returning to his newspaper analogy: lead with the headline (the business outcome), not the small print (the technical how). Kyle unpacks the difference between an output (an improvement in data quality) and an outcome (what that improvement enabled for the business), and why board members and CFOs care almost exclusively about the latter. He also stresses that the narrative changes depending on the audience, a CIO, CFO, and CMO each need a different version of the same story. For anyone wanting to act on this today, his advice: ask your boss why you're doing what you're doing, build relationships with your CFO before you need them, and use tools like Claude to research a company's stated priorities from earnings calls and board updates.

Plus, a few community shout-outs: registration is open for Driven by Data Live in October, the magazine is in production ahead of launch at the event, and the team is still on the hunt for book club nominations — reach out via community@orbitiongroup.co.uk.

This episode explores why the technical work is only ever half the job — the ability to build trust, ask better questions, and translate output into outcome is what actually earns data leaders a seat at the table, and keeps them there.

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In Episode 13 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Diana Comsa, Global Director of Customer Data Products at Conde Nast, where they discuss why customer data should be treated as a commercial growth engine rather than simply a marketing asset, and how solving the right customer problems unlocks long-term business value, which includes;

Why the thread running through an unconventional career from strategy consulting to customer data has always been creating commercial value.
Why understanding existing customers often creates more sustainable growth than simply acquiring new ones.
How building a single customer view enables organisations to create deeper customer relationships and unlock new revenue opportunities.
Why global organisations need consistency in customer identity, consent and architecture whilst empowering local teams to serve customers differently.
Why defining business outcomes and success metrics before any work begins dramatically improves the chances of delivering value.
Why customer data platforms should be designed around future business models rather than today's products and revenue streams.
Why technology platforms and AI models are enablers, not the source of competitive advantage.
Why AI strategy should always be an extension of business strategy and underpinned by strong data governance and quality.
How AI is already helping organisations generate customer insight faster, improve reporting and increase engineering productivity.
Why data monetisation isn't about selling data, but about increasing customer lifetime value through stronger customer relationships.
Why the most successful customer data initiatives remain relentlessly focused on solving meaningful business problems rather than delivering technical outputs.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Justin Borgman, co-founder, CEO, and chairman of Starburst, diving deeper into why AI adoption keeps stalling at scale, the real cost of pointing powerful tools at the wrong problems, and what it means to build differentiated business capability rather than just better infrastructure.

They cover:

Why Justin's refreshingly candid starting premise — that messy, fragmented data is simply the reality most organisations are working in — cuts against the vendor instinct to promise a clean, unified solution, and why that honesty lands differently coming from a SaaS founder
The recurring pattern of businesses spending two to three years consolidating data into a single source of truth, only to arrive at the same "so what?" question — and why Starburst's founding premise of using data where it lives challenges the orthodoxy of centralisation as a prerequisite for value
The context problem that no platform solves on its own: how the same number pulled from the same source can mean two completely different things depending on interpretation, and why that ambiguity at enterprise scale can quietly corrode trust in data across an entire organisation
Justin's observation on where AI is delivering the clearest, most demonstrable value right now — coding — and what that signals for how skill sets in software development, data science, and adjacent technical roles are likely to evolve faster than most organisations are prepared for
The entry-level talent question neither businesses nor education systems have yet answered: as AI absorbs the work that once built foundational experience, where does the next generation of senior leaders come from, and who quality-assures the outputs of people who have never done the work themselves
Catherine's take on AI as fire: extraordinarily useful when understood and controlled, capable of running out of control very quickly when deployed at enterprise scale through FOMO rather than focus — and why a CFO's instinct to shut it all down is an entirely predictable response to cost spirals
Kyle's reflection on the speed problem at the heart of this AI cycle: unlike previous technological revolutions, where the pace of change gave industries time to adapt and reskill, this one is moving fast enough that many organisations and individuals haven't yet worked out what adaptation even looks like
A moment from Catherine's farming background and the latest series of Clarkson's Farm that brings the AI transition into sharp relief — precision agricultural technology that looks futuristic to most farms but is closer than people think, and what the emotional weight of replacing a working horse with a tractor tells us about how humans really respond to transformation

Kyle's thought of the week: prompted by a pattern he's been tracking across executive search processes throughout 2026, Kyle reflects on a frustrating gap between capability and communication at the senior leadership level. The people not getting the roles aren't failing on technical grounds — they're losing out on energy and enthusiasm, inability to be concise, talking around questions rather than answering them, and failure to give specific examples. Kyle's concern is that these aren't just interview problems: they're signals of how someone will perform in front of a board or a CEO, and the skills that fix them can be self-taught and improved quickly. Catherine adds a practical tip for building confidence in high-pressure communication situations using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude as a low-stakes rehearsal partner — and shares a striking example from a full studio broadcast that shows how dramatically even experienced communicators can disappear under pressure.

This episode explores why the data and AI industry's biggest bottleneck isn't the models — it's the foundations, the focus, and the people trusted to lead the work and make the case for it.

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In Episode 12 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Justin Borgman, Co-Founder and CEO of Starburst, where they discuss why the biggest barrier to AI success is no longer about models.

The conversation explores why traditional approaches to data architecture are struggling in the AI era, how enterprises can overcome fragmented data estates, the importance of context and semantics, why many organisations remain stuck in pilot mode, rising AI costs, build versus buy decisions, agentic AI, and what the next three to five years of enterprise AI adoption are likely to look like, which includes;

Why the vision of centralising all enterprise data into a single platform has never truly reflected reality.
Why the AI industry's obsession with model selection is increasingly distracting organisations from the real challenges.
How advances in foundation models are rapidly commoditising model performance and shifting attention elsewhere.
What the true bottlenecks to AI adoption actually are.
Where the clearest examples of AI delivering measurable value are today.
Why many organisations remain trapped in POCs despite significant investment and executive attention.
How the lack of context and semantic understanding continues to limit the effectiveness of AI in enterprise environments.
Why trust, meaning and business context matter as much as access to data itself.
Why AI success depends on; data foundations, analytics performance, enterprise context and trusted agentic interfaces.
Why rising AI costs are becoming one of the biggest concerns for enterprise leaders and CFOs.
Why data products are emerging as a practical solution for creating AI-ready context across the enterprise.
Why separating context from physical data location creates more flexible and scalable architectures.
Why executives are increasingly expecting answers rather than reports and dashboards.
Why organisations should be building differentiated business capabilities rather than core platform infrastructure.
How businesses that feel behind are often closer to the market than they realise.
What the next three to five years could look like as AI becomes embedded into every major business function.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with David Krauza, VP of Enterprise Data Strategy, Products & Governance at Comcast, diving deeper into the "arts and crafts" trap that derails data programmes, the discipline of building stakeholder trust before you need it, and what it really takes to drive the bus rather than ride it.

They cover:

Why David's mandated business school module ended up shaping his outlook on data leadership, and the recurring pattern of guests whose commercial thinking was forged outside a purely technical background
The "arts and crafts project" analogy David's boss used to describe technically impressive work that never moves the needle, and why naming the difference between process-enjoyment and outcome-focus matters as much in data as it does in any creative pursuit
Why so much of the data and AI ecosystem gravitates toward exciting new models, tools, and techniques without tying the work back to specific goals, decisions, and KPIs
David's framing that you have to help people before you need their help, and why the leaders who consistently land the biggest roles are the ones already putting into their networks and communities long before they need anything back
Catherine's take on why this same principle defines external brand building, and why leaders who wait until they're job hunting to invest in relationships are always playing catch-up against those who started years earlier
Kyle's view that building relationships with future stakeholders is not a side project for a data leader, it is the job, every bit as much as overseeing platform delivery, governance, and architecture
Why David reframed the trust gap many data leaders face as a sequencing problem rather than a communication problem, and what that distinction means for how and when leaders should be reaching out
The "bus riders and bus drivers" analogy at the heart of the episode title, and why organisations hire a data leader precisely because they don't already know the answer, making it the leader's job to shape direction rather than simply execute instructions
Why being a strong, detailed communicator changes the entire dynamic of a hiring conversation, and how that same skill plays out with stakeholders once someone is in the role
Catherine's practical tip for building interview and communication confidence using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude as a low-stakes practice partner, and why consistent repetition beats waiting for natural talent to show up

Kyle's thought of the week: prompted by a message from a CDO at a crossroads in their career, Kyle reflects on why the CDO role isn't disappearing or resurging industry-wide so much as it's becoming entirely dependent on whether a business's leadership views data as a commercial value-creation function or a technology delivery capability. Where it's the latter, that responsibility increasingly sits with the CIO, and Kyle notes the early signs of broader transformation-style mandates emerging that fold CDO, CIO, and Chief AI Officer responsibilities into a single board-level role.

This episode explores what it actually takes to drive value rather than just deliver outputs, the discipline of investing in relationships long before you need them, and why naming the gap between busywork and real impact is often the first step to closing it.

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In Episode 11 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by David Krauza, VP of Enterprise Data Strategy, Products & Governance at Comcast, where they discuss why strategic clarity and proactive stakeholder engagement are the keys to unlocking genuine business value from data and AI, which includes;

Why the root cause of failed AI and data programmes is almost never the technology and almost always the absence of a clear business outcome.
How to tell the difference between an organisation that has genuine strategic clarity and one that just has a compelling PowerPoint.
Why a strategy without explicit trade-offs, knowing what you are not going to do, is no strategy at all.
How "arts and crafts" projects quietly drain data programmes of focus, credibility, and commercial impact.
Why retrofitting goals around work already underway creates a circular dependency that pulls organisations further from real value.
Why the "bus riders and bus drivers" framework reframes what it means to be an effective data leader.
Why waiting for perfect conditions before driving impact is one of the most common and costly habits of data leaders.
How proactively building relationships with CFOs, COOs, and business unit heads before you need them is what separates influence from scrambling.
Why the trust deficit most data leaders face is a sequencing problem, not a communication problem.
How starting within your own team or with a single friendly stakeholder is the most practical way to begin building the bus driver muscle.
Why most CDO mandates are structurally designed to deliver outputs rather than value and how that shapes the type of leader organisations end up hiring.
How to navigate a broken mandate in practice and why challenging it in the interview room is riskier than it sounds.
Why the incentive structures within data leadership roles have historically rewarded technical delivery over commercial impact.
Why the data industry's technical origins created an archetype that is now working against the commercial value organisations actually need.
How company size and culture determine whether data is treated as a strategic asset or an internal IT service and why that changes everything.
Why organisations that started their data journey for the wrong reasons often find the perception too deeply embedded to shift from within.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Sarah Emerson, Group Director of Insight & Business Partnering at Howden, diving deeper into the growing importance of commercial thinking, business partnering, and the role relationships play in driving value from data.

They cover:

Why Sarah's background in finance and corporate strategy offers a unique perspective on data leadership, and how commercial acumen can become a powerful differentiator for leaders looking to influence organisational outcomes
The challenge of connecting data strategy to business strategy, why many organisations struggle to articulate strategic priorities clearly, and the practical ways data leaders can uncover them regardless
Why curiosity about business value shouldn't be reserved for senior leaders, and how analysts at every level can develop a stronger understanding of commercial impact
The growing importance of business partnering as a dedicated capability, and how organisations can bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders more effectively
The realities of operating model design, why federated approaches continue to gain traction, and the trade-offs organisations must consider when balancing proximity to the business with cost and complexity
Sarah's view that self-service analytics has largely failed to deliver on its original promise, and what that means for the future of data enablement and adoption
Why understanding how business leaders are measured, incentivised, and rewarded can dramatically improve stakeholder engagement and increase adoption of data-led initiatives
The challenges of discussing performance, incentives, and accountability within organisations, and why trust and relationship-building remain critical leadership skills
The evolving role of the Chief Data Officer, the increasing consolidation of data responsibilities back into CIO organisations, and what this shift could mean for the future of data leadership
How AI has accelerated organisational debates around ownership, accountability, and transformation, with many businesses still determining where responsibility ultimately sits
The emergence of broader transformation and innovation leadership roles that combine data, technology, AI, digital, and business transformation under a single mandate

Kyle's thought of the week: as more organisations place data leadership responsibilities back under the CIO, many of the lessons learned throughout the evolution of the CDO role risk being forgotten. The challenge now is ensuring that value creation, business engagement, and commercial impact remain at the centre of the agenda, regardless of where accountability sits.

This episode explores the realities of commercial leadership in data, the importance of business partnering, and why understanding people, incentives, and organisational dynamics is often just as important as understanding data itself.

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In Episode 10 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Sarah Emerson, Group Director of Insight & Business Partnering at Howden, where they discuss why commercial thinking and business partnering are the keys to uncovering business strategy and making data genuinely matter, which includes;

Why having a non-technical background can give you a competitive edge as a data leader.
How to infer business strategy when corporate goals are unclear or poorly defined.
Why Sarah believes commercial KPIs should always take priority over internal data metrics.
How finding out what a stakeholder is bonused on is the fastest route to their engagement.
Why federated operating models consistently deliver more commercial value — and why they're expensive.
Why self-serve analytics will never truly scale, particularly in relationship-driven industries like insurance.
How conversational AI is poised to succeed where a decade of self-serve dashboards has failed.
Why inconsistent data definitions across divisions remain the biggest hidden barrier to AI adoption.
The importance of executive sponsorship in driving data culture — and what to do when you don't have it.
How financially incentivising sales teams based on data adoption could become the industry's next big shift.
Why embedded business partners bridge the gap between analytical output and real commercial impact.
How to uncover business strategy when no one will give you the time or the meeting.
Why defaulting to technical language is one of the fastest ways a data leader can lose the room.
Why the business, not just the data team, needs to take accountability for driving data product adoption.
How embedding analysts within business teams is what drives genuine commercial impact.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Keith Moody, diving deeper into the realities of value creation, stakeholder management, and why the biggest barriers to success in data leadership are often human rather than technical.

They cover:

Why Keith's candid perspective stood out, and how some of the most honest conversations happen when leaders are able to speak without the constraints of corporate messaging and organisational politics
The critical relationship between the CDO and CFO, why finance leaders remain the ultimate validators of value, and how a single nod of approval can determine whether an initiative succeeds or stalls
Why proving value still remains the defining challenge for data leaders, despite years of discussion around ROI, business outcomes, and commercial impact
The importance of stakeholder management, trust-building, and relationship development, and why no data leader succeeds without bringing others along on the journey
How AI can be used as a practical leadership tool, from role-playing difficult stakeholder conversations to helping leaders navigate conflict, influence, and executive communication more effectively
The emerging ways data and AI leaders are using AI personally, including as a career coach, meeting assistant, productivity partner, and accessibility tool
Why change management isn't a phase of transformation programmes but the job itself, and how successful leaders recognise that adoption is an ongoing responsibility rather than a project milestone
The reality that humans remain the most complex variable in any data strategy, and why technical excellence alone will never guarantee success
How previous experiences, organisational history, and leadership baggage influence every new data leader entering a role, whether they're inheriting success, failure, or scepticism
Why data leadership increasingly resembles sales, and how influencing decisions often requires changing perceptions, behaviours, and long-held beliefs rather than deploying new technology
The growing importance of real-world communities, events, and human connection as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent and increasingly difficult to distinguish from human-created work
Why curiosity and imagination may become the defining skills that separate high-performing leaders in an era where access to technology becomes increasingly democratised

Kyle's thought of the week: whilst many organisations claim they lack a clearly defined business strategy, the reality is that strategic priorities almost always exist somewhere. The responsibility for data leaders is to uncover them, build relationships with the people who own them, and connect their work to those outcomes rather than waiting for perfect documentation to appear.

Catherine's thought of the week: we often have more control than we think. Whether it's improving stakeholder relationships, influencing difficult conversations, or navigating organisational complexity, the leaders who make progress are typically those willing to take ownership, seek support, and proactively shape their environment rather than waiting for conditions to improve.

This episode is a practical discussion on the realities of leading change, proving value, and navigating organisational complexity, whilst exploring how human behaviour, relationships, and influence continue to matter just as much as technology in determining success.

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In Episode 9 of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Keith Moody, a renowned Data & AI Executive, where they discuss the relationship between the mandate of the CDAO and the results that data and analytics teams continue to deliver, which includes;

How the absence of a clear value delivery mandate is the root cause of data being treated as a cost centre rather than a business asset.
Why most CDO mandates are designed based on what organisations think the job is, not what it actually needs to be to generate commercial impact.
How Keith built four analytics organisations across two companies and delivered over $500 million in incremental annual value.
Why the data function's reporting line is rarely neutral, and how a once-thriving value-delivery team was reduced to an order-taking service desk.
How convincing leadership that "no analytics could happen until data was perfect" brought an entire organisation to a standstill.
Why CDOs who push for commercial accountability in interview processes face a catch-22.
Why most interview processes focus on capability over delivery expectations leaving the value mandate undefined from day one.
Why you should actively push for commercial targets.
Why and how to routinely reframe the mandate once inside an organisation.
Why the CFO should be the ultimate validator of any value numbers attributed to analytics.
How reporting directly to the CEO removes prioritisation deadlock entirely.
Why governance committees are a poor substitute for having a single accountable decision-maker at the top.
How change management done at the end of a project is the single biggest reason analytics initiatives fail.
Why blanket data literacy programmes are largely an admission of failure.
How automating decision-making away from VPs was successfully sold internally.
Why the AI investment cycle is repeating the exact same hype and collapse pattern seen with data science.
How FOMO, shareholder pressure, and competitive optics drive organisations to invest in AI capabilities they haven't defined a use case for.
How the first practical step for any CDO stuck in cost-centre mode is to audit their existing portfolio and how to do so.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where host Catherine Dowden-King and, this time, special guest Nirali Patel, unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Nirali reflect on the conversation with JoAnn Stonier, Lara Izlan and Abbi Agana, diving deeper into what it actually takes to step into a NED role, where your mindset needs to go, and how your patience may be your best asset.

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This is a special episode of the Driven by Data Podcast, where we publish our recent NED webinar!

Featuring JoAnn Stonier, Ex-CDO Mastercard, Lara Izlan, Director of Data, ITV and Abbi Agana, CEO, Leathermarket JMB

Our speakers shared career trajectories into NED roles, emphasising diverse backgrounds (data, media, housing, finance, privacy) and recurring themes: continuous change, giving back, mentorship, and strategic coaching mindset.
How to break into NED roles: build a board CV, clarify your 'why' and value proposition, leverage networks, observe boards, speak to chairs and current board members, and use targeted communities and programs.
Differences between nonprofit and for-profit board experience: governance skills transfer but scale and profile matter; large/high-profile nonprofits can be gateways to commercial boards while small trustee roles mainly develop governance experience.
What boards look for: subject-matter expertise gets you noticed, but financial literacy, generalist judgement, governance and fiduciary responsibility are baseline requirements; c-suite title is not strictly necessary.
Practical expectations of NED work: time commitment varies (frequently ~20–25 hours/month for active boards), includes prep, board meetings, committee work, possible ad-hoc meetings and retreats, and requires doubling stated prep time as a rule of thumb.
Common pitfalls and mindset shifts: NEDs must adopt 'noses in, hands out' approach, avoid being a hands-on operator, focus on strategic advisory and support rather than doing the work for exec teams.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Edward Chenard, diving deeper into what it actually takes to step outside your lane as a data leader, make yourself redundancy-proof, and shift the conversation from technical delivery to commercial impact.

They cover:

Why Edward's unattached, portfolio career status meant the episode landed differently, and why the growing constraints around PR and corporate communications are making truly candid guest conversations increasingly rare on podcasts
How the fractional and advisory model is reshaping what value creation looks like in data leadership, and why organisations often get more commercial clarity from a contracted external than a full-time hire
Why delivering exactly what the job spec asks of you is, in reality, a risky career strategy for any enterprise data leader or CDO
The mindset behind becoming redundancy-proof, and why Edward's firsthand experience of layoffs shaped his willingness to step outside his mandate rather than stay safely within it
The "ask forgiveness rather than permission" approach to data leadership, and why professional arrogance, done with nuance, is often what separates those who reshape mandates from those who get trapped by them
Why "talk numbers, not tech" should be on a post-it note in every data leader's office, and how reading the room determines whether your message lands or loses the room entirely
The importance of knowing when to geek out with peers at industry events versus when to translate everything into conversion rates, revenue targets, and business outcomes at the board level
How skill and will both play a role in whether data leaders break out of their comfort zones — and why going back to what feels familiar is the enemy of executive credibility
Why sitting at "the children's table" is a mindset problem as much as a structural one, and what it actually takes to earn a seat in the room where the real decisions are made
The growing challenge of getting guests to speak candidly on record as geopolitics and economic uncertainty push businesses toward risk aversion and comms-approved messaging

Kyle's thought of the week: why perfect conditions don't exist — and why waiting for the mandate to fix itself, the business to catch up, or the industry to finally get it right is a strategy that history has already proven doesn't work. The leaders who succeed are the ones who go and create the conditions themselves.

Catherine's thought of the week: what happened when Orbition ran a NED webinar that LinkedIn declared a dead format — 67 senior leaders from across the UK, US, and Europe later, and the lesson is clear: don't let someone else's data point on what doesn't work override what your own experience and evidence tells you is worth trying.

This episode is a practical, honest unpacking of what it means to go beyond the mandate, not by working harder or taking on more, but by having different conversations, building broader context, and being willing to step into rooms that weren't originally part of the brief.

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In Episode 7, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Edward Chenard, Fractional Chief Data and Analytics Officer, where they discuss how data leaders can break free from the cost centre trap and drive measurable, quantifiable business value, having personally delivered over $2.5 billion in revenue across Fortune 500s and start-ups alike, which includes;

How a career in product management at GE laid the foundation for an outcome-first approach to data leadership.
Why not having a seat at the table is not an excuse and why the biggest commercial wins came from several levels below the C-suite.
How to read the type of organisation you are in and choose your influence strategy accordingly.
Why the shift from AI-as-tool to AI-as-strategy matters for how data leaders position themselves now.
Why data teams are correctly perceived as overheads.
Building a personalisation platform at Best Buy that generated over $1 billion in revenue.
Why identifying the metrics the C-suite actually obsess over is the only way to get and keep their attention.
Why delivering what the job description says is the riskiest career move a data leader can make.
How a predictive shipping tool built in four months turned a century-old logistics company into a recognised innovator.
Why agreeing attribution with business stakeholders before the work starts is the only way to get the credit you deserve.
Why the individual contributor mindset of doing what you are told actively works against data leaders when they step into leadership roles.
Why data leaders need to think like intrapreneurs, owning a P&L and speaking the language of finance, VCs, and private equity rather than just tech.
Why a background in international business and theology turned out to be better preparation for data leadership than a technical degree.
Why philosophy and physics majors often outperform computer science graduates in data roles because thinking through problems without solid facts is the real differentiator.
Why IT cultures that lead with process are structurally incapable of delivering transformation.
Why training your team on AI regardless of what the C-suite thinks is a leadership obligation, not insubordination.
How Edwards frameworks for moving data teams from dashboard builders to decision-makers are publicly available.
Why it is human as the loop, not human in the loop, and why AI will quickly expose those who have been faking it.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI 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 & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They'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 & AI 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 they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They 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.

View Details

Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday’s episode, share what’s been on their minds, and explore the realities of leadership, culture, and capability across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Dru Patel from the FA, diving deeper into the human side of data leadership, from storytelling and self-awareness to the commercial realities of what it actually takes to succeed at the executive level.

They cover:

Why Dru Patel’s approach to storytelling and communication stood out as one of the most compelling conversations the podcast has hosted to date
How technical capability alone has become “table stakes” in data leadership, and why the differentiator is now influence, communication, and the ability to shape perception
Why “soft skills” might be the most damaging phrase in the industry, and how cultural buy-in and human-centred leadership are often the real drivers of ROI
The uncomfortable reality that working hard and being technically brilliant doesn’t automatically lead to progression, and why self-awareness is becoming a critical leadership trait
How data leaders can shift conversations away from platforms, dashboards, and governance, and toward decisions, business outcomes, and commercial impact
Why organisations still struggle with the perception of data teams as back-office technical functions, and how that perception shapes hiring, mandates, and ultimately failure
The difference between data literacy and data culture, and why culture is what happens when nobody is watching
How lived experience, industry context, and organisational history shape expectations around data quality, trust, and value creation
Why many CDO mandates continue to fail, not because the individuals lack capability, but because organisations hire for technical delivery while expecting commercial transformation
The growing disconnect between what data leaders are hired to do and what boards actually expect them to achieve
They also dig into the future of data leadership and organisational accountability:
Why businesses are now entering their third, fourth, and even fifth iteration of the CDO role, and what those repeated resets reveal about the maturity of the market
How hiring behaviour has unintentionally incentivised technical specialisation over commercial leadership for more than a decade
Why asking questions around decisions, KPIs, revenue targets, and business performance during interviews can quickly reveal an organisation’s true perception of data leadership
Kyle’s thought of the week: why the debate around failed CDO mandates is becoming too polarised between “it’s the organisation’s fault” and “it’s the individual’s fault,” and why the reality sits somewhere in the middle
Catherine’s thought of the week: what happened after asking LinkedIn for web developer recommendations, and what the overwhelming response revealed about vendor outreach, personalisation, and the growing problem of AI-generated sales noise

They also discuss:

Why AI has enabled many organisations to operate “badly at scale, but faster”
How senior leaders increasingly avoid broad vendor engagement unless there is an immediate need
The importance of building trusted communities where candid conversations can happen openly and safely
Why Orbition Group’s private membership community continues to grow as leaders look for more meaningful peer-to-peer discussion away from the public spotlight

This episode is a candid exploration of the skills gap that rarely gets discussed in data and AI leadership, not the technical gap, but the commercial, cultural, and human capability gap that increasingly determines who succeeds, who gets overlooked, and why so many organisations still struggle to realise value from data.

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In Episode 6, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Dru Patel, Data Lead at The Football Association, where they discuss how embracing failure fuels a human-centred approach to data leadership that unlocks adoption, trust, and real organisational change, which includes;

How an unconventional background spanning Kenya, the Cabinet Office, and a life coaching qualification shaped a distinctly human approach to data leadership.
Why hard work alone has a ceiling, and how the first ten years of Dru's career proved that technical output without soft skills will only take you so far.
Why starting with the "why" is the most powerful tool a data leader has for driving engagement, adoption, and business buy-in.
How asking "why" five times gets you to the real root of what a stakeholder actually needs, and why most data teams stop at the first answer.
How the gap between data teams and the business is normal, and why failing to challenge it with the right questions is the real problem.
Why data teams need to push back on the brief rather than just building what's requested.
How a dashboard that stops being used isn't always a failure, and why it often signals that the business is ready to ask bigger questions of the data.
Why data literacy and data culture are not the same thing, and what it actually takes to move from one to the other.
How the six blind men and the elephant illustrates what happens when everyone is right in their own context and nobody is looking at the whole picture.
Why treating data like the organisation's own money, rather than a technical function, is the mindset shift that drives real literacy.
Why data leaders take failure far harder than anyone else in the room, and what a 1980 psychology study reveals about the stories we tell themselves.
How building a PPE supplier system in six days during COVID taught Dru that perfection is the enemy of progress.
Why owning failure openly builds more trust than silence, and how to reframe the conversation from blame to improvement.
How imposter syndrome shows up in data leadership, why it never fully goes away, and what mentors and trusted voices can do to help reframe it.
Why nerves and excitement are the same feeling, and how the most effective leaders choose which one to act on.
Why listening, really listening, before jumping to solutions is the soft skill most data professionals underestimate.
How a human-centred lens, not a technical one, is what ultimately bridges the gap between data teams and the decisions that matter.

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Welcome to another episode of the Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and explore what's really happening across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on their conversation with Richard Masters, VP of Data & Analytics at Virgin Atlantic, diving deeper into the themes that matter most right now, from decision-led data strategies to the realities of building for reusability in an AI-driven world.

They cover:

Why Virgin Atlantic's surprisingly lean fleet of 44 planes is a masterclass in doing more with less, and what data teams can learn from it
Richard's astrophysics background and how the principle of signal over noise shapes his entire approach to data
Why the North Star of any data function should be decision support, and how working backwards from decisions changes everything
The shift from "collect all the data" to "what decisions are we trying to impact" — and why that transition is still hard for most organisations
The move from single-use data projects to reusable, scalable products, and why building for one use case is the old way of thinking
How AI is democratising business capability, the rise of the "builders vs coders" mindset, and what that means for how data teams are structured
Why fewer platforms, used well, will beat a sprawling vendor stack, and what that means for the vendor community going forward

They also dig into the future of talent and skills in data:

Why critical thinking, curiosity, and imagination are becoming more valuable than technical qualifications
How the widening talent pool challenges universities and educators to stop being anti-AI and start teaching people how to use it responsibly
Why neurodiversity and unconventional backgrounds will be a competitive advantage in an AI-augmented world
Catherine's thought of the week: why data professionals have a duty to educate those around them as AI misinformation spreads, from the boardroom to the toddler group
Kyle's thought of the week: why the CDO role may be heading toward a fractional, advisory model, and what that split between strategy and execution means for the future of data leadership hiring

This episode is a candid look at where data is heading, where the real value is created, and why the leaders who thrive will be the ones who connect commercial strategy to the decisions that actually move the needle.

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In Episode 5, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Richard Masters, Vice President of Data & AI at Virgin Atlantic where they discuss how a "signal over noise” mindset helps cut through complexity, and enables better decision-making and real business impact, which includes;

How an astrophysics background shaped a “signal over noise” mindset for data and decision-making.
How reducing data noise and surfacing the right signal drives meaningful business action.
Why decision support should be the North Star for every data team.
How aligning data work to business strategy requires constant iteration, challenge, and course correction.
Why iterative improvement wins the day.
How data context and metadata are critical to trust, usability, and adoption.
Why data lineage, governance and trust are foundational to scaling AI successfully.
How prioritisation should be driven by impact vs feasibility, not technical curiosity.
Why a product mindset enables reuse, scalability, and faster value realisation.
How platforms act as the governed foundation for reusable data, AI and decision-making capabilities.
Why simplifying to fewer platforms improves trust and speed of delivery.
How observability and adoption tracking link data products to real decision-making and P&L impact.
Why AI success depends on evaluation frameworks (“is it right?”) and human-in-the-loop validation.
How AI is shifting roles from coders to builders using and diversifying D&A talent beyond traditional STEM backgrounds.

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Welcome to another episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven by Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom unpack Tuesday’s episode, share what’s been on their minds, and explore what’s really happening across the data and AI landscape.

This week, Catherine and Kyle reflect on the conversation with Peter Everill, diving deeper into the themes that matter most right now, from decision-led data strategies to the realities of operating in an AI-hyped market.

They cover:

Why the market is becoming saturated with “AI-everything” messaging, and how vendors are losing differentiation
The growing gap between activity and impact, and why many data teams are busy but not moving the needle
Peter Everle’s decision-making framework, and why focusing on decisions that impact P&L is the only thing that really matters
The cultural challenge of empowering teams to push back, and why most organisations still operate like a ticketing service desk
The tension data leaders face between challenging the business vs protecting their role, especially under board-level pressure to “do AI”
Why this AI cycle feels different from previous hype cycles, and how pressure is now coming from every function, not just IT
What separates leaders who deliver real commercial value from those who don’t

They also dive into the current hiring market:

Why data leadership hiring has become overwhelmingly saturated, with thousands of candidates for a single role
How CVs are becoming indistinguishable in the age of LLMs
Why job applications are no longer an effective strategy on their own
The shift from traditional hiring to network-led, trust-based recruitment
And what candidates must do differently to stand out in a market that’s noisier than ever

This episode is a candid look at the realities of data leadership today, where every path carries risk, AI pressure is unavoidable, and success comes down to judgement, influence, and the ability to focus on what truly drives value.

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In Episode 4, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Peter Everill, Head of Data Product at IAG, where they discuss why most organisations still invest heavily in data, analytics and AI capabilities without ever connecting that work to the handful of decisions that truly move business performance. They break down why the future of data transformation is really decision transformation, sharing a practical five-layer framework that links performance visibility, root cause, budget trade-offs, automated decisioning and enterprise optimisation directly to P&L impact, which includes;

Why the real purpose of data and AI is not building outputs, but improving the decisions that materially change business performance.
How Peter’s career shifted from historical reporting into transforming decisions and workflows that directly influence operating models.
Why the biggest capability gap in most organisations is linking technical capability to strategy, commercial priorities and P&L outcomes.
How starting with business decisions instead of tools helps avoid the common trap of capability-first transformation.
Why stakeholder requests that cannot be tied to action or performance change should rarely make the roadmap.
How bottom-up demand creates sprawl, fragmented priorities and lots of activity that never ladders up to enterprise value.
What the five decision layers are that connect data transformation directly to P&L impact.
Why performance visibility is the first step to stop leadership teams debating numbers instead of making decisions.
How root cause analysis becomes the turning point where prioritisation, ownership and commercial focus become clear.
Why smarter budget trade-offs matter more than simply asking for more investment.
How AI creates the most value when it improves decision quality before automating workflows at scale.
Why automating workflows without improving the decision just helps organisations get to the wrong answer faster.
How enterprise optimisation exposes where one team’s success is unintentionally creating cost or lost sales elsewhere.
Why local optimisation inside siloed teams often damages enterprise performance without leaders realising it.
How making performance problems visible requires executive sponsorship because transparency can create organisational tension.
Why root cause is usually the point where leaders realise they still lack clarity on what really drives performance.
How both business leaders and data leaders should start by focusing on one decision that matters most.

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Welcome to another episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven By Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom sit down to unpack Tuesday’s conversation, share what’s been on their minds, and explore what’s really happening across the data and AI landscape.

Fresh off Kyle’s return from holiday, the pair dive into Tuesday’s episode with Daragh Kelly, Chief Data Officer at The Economist, unpacking the ideas that stood out most, and a few that challenge the dominant narratives in the market right now.

They cover:

Why the concept of “Trad AI” (traditional machine learning and data science) is a useful lens, and how the market is blurring the lines between legacy AI and the new wave of generative and agentic capabilities
The ongoing hype cycle in AI, why it’s nothing new, and how organisations risk getting distracted by buzzwords rather than focusing on real outcomes
The growing gap between building AI solutions and making them scalable, reusable, and commercially viable
The importance of defining what “AI” actually means inside your organisation, and why vague language is creating confusion at the board level
The tension between speed and direction, and why moving fast means nothing if you’re not solving problems that actually matter
Whether operating models really need to change for AI, and why Dara’s perspective challenges the prevailing narrative
The shift from analysts as insight generators to “toolmakers”, and what that means for the future of data and analytics roles
The rise of self-serve capability across organisations, and the risks of uncontrolled experimentation without governance
The ongoing power struggle between CDOs, CIOs, and CTOs over AI ownership, and why the answer is far from settled
The role of optics, titles, and external brand in shaping career progression for data leaders in an AI-first market

Plus, in this week’s Thoughts of the Week, Kyle challenges the long-standing narrative around “having a seat at the table,” arguing that it’s often used as an excuse for not delivering value, and that true impact comes from driving outcomes, regardless of reporting lines. Catherine reflects on the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the data community, why the conversation is still far from where it should be, and the responsibility leaders have to actively shape a more inclusive industry.

Like and subscribe wherever you listen, and if you’ve got a question or topic you’d like the team to cover, email community@orbitiongroup.com

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In Episode 3, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Daragh Kelly, Chief Data Officer at The Economist, where they discuss why most AI initiatives are still failing, why there's not much measurable progress and how insight functions have become toolmakers and decision intelligence partners, which includes;

Why most AI initiatives fail because they as a solution looking for problems.
The importance of aligning AI use cases to strategic goals, KPIs and measurable outcomes.
Why speed rather than velocity leads to very little measurable progress.
Why compelling POCs create false confidence before the real production challenges begin.
The deployment gap: why robust, scalable and commercially viable AI is still hard.
Why disconnected tools and poor workflow integration stall AI value realisation.
The simple test for prioritisation: is this problem big enough to matter?
Why the best AI use cases act as building blocks for future capability.
How AI and UX together are driving true self-service insight generation.
Why insight teams are evolving from answer providers to toolmakers.
The growing importance of data governance, quality and observability in an AI-first world.
How distributed insight creation can weaken corporate memory and knowledge curation.
The skills shift toward UX, enablement, storytelling and decision intelligence.
Practical build vs buy criteria in fast-moving and rapidly commoditising AI markets.
Why operating models matters less than discipline, purpose and capability building.

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Welcome to another episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven By Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom sit down to unpack Tuesday’s conversation, share what’s been on their minds, and explore what’s really happening across the data and AI landscape.

With Kyle away this week, Catherine is joined by Kinnari Ladha, CDO, Travelodge, to reflect on Tuesday’s episode with Barry Panayi, diving deeper into the themes that sparked the most discussion, and a few that deserve even more attention.

They cover:

Why the path from CDO to NED is becoming increasingly attractive, but remains unclear, relationship-driven, and difficult to break into
What boards actually expect from data leaders, and why being “the data expert” is only a small part of the value
The growing lack of standardisation in the CDO role, and how differing mandates, ownership, and expectations are shaping success or failure
The emerging split between data foundations and value delivery, and whether the CDO role is becoming too big for one person
The ongoing tension between CDO, CIO, and CTO over AI ownership, and why no single function can truly own it
The challenge of balancing short-term ROI with long-term foundational investment, and why many organisations are still getting this wrong
Why strong collaboration between data and technology leaders is critical, and how misalignment can derail even the best strategies
The widening maturity gap across organisations, from those deploying AI at scale to those still grappling with basic data challenges
Why data and AI literacy remains one of the most overlooked barriers to success, despite heavy investment in tools and platforms
The growing pressure on organisations to drive adoption, and the reality that without behaviour change, even the best technology fails

Plus, in this week’s Thoughts of the Week, Catherine shares her perspective on the growing divide in organisational maturity and how the AI boom is widening the gap between leaders and laggards. Kinnari reflects on the often-overlooked challenge of data and AI literacy, and why organisations must prioritise workforce capability if they want to unlock real value from their investments.

Like and subscribe wherever you listen, and if you’ve got a question or topic you’d like the team to cover, email community@orbitiongroup.com

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In Episode 2, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was re-joined (over 2.5 years on) by Barry Panayi, Group Chief Data Officer at Howden, where they discuss, how the CDAO role continues to evolve and whether accountability is being diluted, which includes;

Why the CDAO role is splitting between commercial outcomes and BAU leadership
Why the biggest trade-off today is speed vs sustainable value
A pragmatic view on AI ownership: enterprise enablement vs bespoke build
The risk of over-indexing on ROI and neglecting foundational data capability
The danger of the CDAO role being watered down
Why many organisations still hire CDAOs for the wrong mandate
How culture and incentives shape whether data leaders can succeed
How AI is making value measurement easier than traditional data work
Why proving quick wins can sometimes slow long-term progress
Why CDAO–CTO chemistry now matters more than job titles
The leadership lesson: make the least bad decision with conviction
Why Barry wrote The AI of the Beholder as a leadership decision simulator
The reality that there is rarely one “right” leadership choice
Why future board opportunities for CDAOs require broader leadership breadth
What boards actually value from ex-CDAO leaders in NED roles

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Welcome to the very first episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven By Data: The Podcast, where hosts Kyle Winterbottom and Catherine Dowden-King sit down every Thursday to unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and discuss what's really happening across the data and AI market.

In this debut episode, Kyle and Catherine reflect on Tuesday's conversation with Kevin Cassar, diving deeper into the themes that sparked the most discussion, and a few that didn't make it into the main episode.

They cover:

Why the data conversation is shifting from delivering ROI to accelerating it, and what that means for data leaders still stuck in output-factory mode
The growing pressure on organisations to be seen doing AI, regardless of whether it's actually delivering value, and why the optics of inaction are now costlier than wasting budget
The internal land grab between CDOs and CIOs over who owns AI, and why the answer is often more cultural than technical
Why rolling out enterprise ChatGPT to an entire bank doesn't necessarily mean your organisation is embracing AI
Kevin's people-first philosophy, and why understanding where your team actually sits on the AI adoption curve matters more than having an aggressive strategy
The evolving role of the data professional: from coder to builder, from report-puller to AI quality controller

Plus, in their new Thoughts of the Week segment, Catherine raises a question that's hard to shake: are we over-optimising our downtime? From boiling water taps to washing up, she makes the case that friction isn't always the enemy, and that some of our best thinking happens precisely when we're not being productive. Kyle agrees and admits most of his best ideas arrive at 3am or are written on a shower panel.

Like and subscribe wherever you listen, and if you've got a question or topic you'd like Kyle and Catherine to cover, email the team at community@orbitiongroup.com

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In Episode 1, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Kevin Cassar, Chief Data Officer at TalkTalk, where they discuss how to accelerate the speed of value delivery, which includes;

Why speed to value is becoming as important as ROI itself
The macroeconomic and GenAI forces increasing pressure on delivery timelines
How TalkTalk’s data strategy is focused on profitability, trust, and customer satisfaction
The “triangle of value”: data, business action, and financial outcomes
Why federated data operating models can accelerate adoption and execution
The balance between experimentation and implementation at scale
How governance should act as an enabler, not a blocker, to faster delivery
The pyramid framework linking ExCo priorities to data products and models
Why culture, psychological safety, and upskilling are critical to speed
The five pillars of organisational readiness for faster value creation
Real examples of reducing delivery from 12 months to under 8 weeks
Kevin’s three practical leadership principles: vision, collaboration, and investing in people
Why ExCo maturity and sponsorship are the hidden drivers of speed to value
How direct CEO access materially reduces time from idea to production
Why poor data foundations still kill speed, regardless of AI ambition
Why adoption velocity, not just build velocity, determines realised value

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For our final episode of the Driven by Data Dilemmas spin-off show, Catherine is joined by Kyle Winterbottom as they talk through their favourite parts of season six, and what's to come on the Driven by Data Podcast as it resumes next week with season seven!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Alexandra Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer for Zurich Insurance

Today's theme is all about 'Transformation the right way' - together, Alex & Catherine talk about the errors of forgetting people in great big transformations, how AI is shaking up the entire world, not just data teams and importantly, how to avoid getting someone fired on your first day!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast, released every Thursday. Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Steve Janoo, Chief Data Analytics Officer & Global Digital Technology SVP for Diageo! Together, they talk about Data Leadership Sink or Swim!

In a special IRL recording, Steve talks through his thoughts on what allows a data leader to swim freely towards success, and what causes them to sink. There's politics, exec buy-in and the evolution from player to coach.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast, released every Thursday. Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Dan Kellett, Chief Data Officer for Carmoola! Together they talk about Leadership Legends vs Leadership Lows!

Dan walks through his thoughts on what makes a leader a legend, vs a loser! They discuss stories about candidates crying during interviews and team members making rookie errors.

Dan shares some candid experiences of when it all went wrong, and he needed to walk away from his desk.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast, released every Thursday. Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Ines Ashton, Digital & AI Strategy Director (CIO), The Compleat Food Group. Together, they talk about how to avoid falling for FOMO!

Ines walks through her experience of staying laser-focused on her strategy, her role, and her priorities, avoiding falling for FOMO. They also discuss how to avoid falling for the "shiny object syndrome" in an AI-Powered world.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast, released every Thursday. Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Tim Lum, Global Chief Intelligence Officer, WPP | Ford | VML In this episode, they discuss three key stories surrounding when it all goes wrong. From deleting 11 years' worth of data, to a business unit causing the data servers to screech.

Tim walks us through how to manage data teams when it's all gone a bit pear-shaped.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Irina Mihai, Director of Data Foundations, Decision & Data Science function, adidas. In this episode, they discuss three key stories surrounding an AI Adoption or Anarchy. They discuss the how behind adoption, the wins organisations are seeing in real-time, and the final story offers an alternative perspective on the mass layoff fears.

Irina offers her candid views on how to tame anarchy and lays out some of her plans for adidas' AI adoption.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Lisa Allen, Director of Data, The Pensions Regulator. In this episode, they discuss three key stories surrounding a career crisis. They discuss how someone can come into the data world as entry-level talent, someone re-adjusting their role in the data space, and the challenges being seen in the data engineer market.

Lisa offers her advice on entering the market and how to be a competitive candidate, and words of caution to her fellow leaders.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Zachery Anderson, Former CDAO for NatWest Group. In this episode, they discuss how, for many people, the data work is great, but it's the people that suck. From nightmare managers who make you want to scream into a pillow, to everything now being branded AI. Zachery gives his takes on our dilemmas and shares some of his personal experiences of where people have sucked!

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Nick Blewden, Director of Data for Co-op. In today's show, they discuss all things data MESS! From sticky situations where someone goes and deletes things in prod, to the woes of a student in their first 3 months of "real-life" data work.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com and Catherine will put them to our expert guests to answer.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Lyndsay Weir, CDAO, Barilla Group. In this episode, they discuss the highs and lows of people management and how dramatically a culture can impact your work life, data team, and overall business value. They talk about 100% attendance at school, Lyndsay's 5 core values and why she's always going to ask "so what?"

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

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In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The third panel discussion saw Catherine King joined by;

Paul Hollands, Chief Data & AI Officer, AXA,
Johanna Hutchinson, Chief Data Officer, BAE Systems
Nick Blewden, Director of Data, Coop
Sam Hancock, Global Head of Data Science, Octopus Energy

Where they discussed, Leading with a Legacy of Impact, How Data can Change the World, which includes;

How to distinguish between short-term value creation and long-term impact when shaping your data strategy.
The decisions made that will outlive tenure and define data leadership legacy.
The boldest thing a CDO should be doing today, but most aren’t.
The people-first principles that anchor leadership when making high-stakes data decisions.
Experiencing the “this is why we do it” moment and the times when data work had a direct, unforgettable human impact.

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.

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In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half-day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The second panel discussion saw Kyle Winterbottom joined by;

Ranil Boteju, Chief Data Officer, Lloyds Banking Group
Loretta Franks, Global Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Kellanova
Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer, Rightmove
Aimee Smith, Director of Data, Metropolitan Police
Jane Smith, Field CDAO, ThoughtSpot

Where they debated; Making Data Count by Providing Tangible Value the Business Can Touch, which includes;

How you transform from a technological-centred data function, into a business value centred function?
How to decide which data projects get resourced, and what hard evidence do you use to show they are delivering business value?
Which projects you’ve killed because they couldn’t scale, and what did you learn from them?
Which action from; Building a brand identity, aligning capabilities to value levers, designing a fluid operating model and broadcasting data wins, moves the needle most?
Where Agentic AI fits into the business value discussion?

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.

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In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half-day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The first panel discussion saw Kyle Winterbottom joined by;

Davin Crowley-Sweet, Chief Data Officer at National Highways
Kelly Hume, Lead Partner at Baringa
Kinnari Ladha, Chief Data Officer at Merlin Entertainments
Daniel Hulme, Chief Data & AI Officer at WPP

Where they debated; The Biggest Challenges in Data, Analytics & AI and How They're Being Tackled, which includes;

Why perceived data quality challenges are actually data confidence and communication issues.
Why business leaders need a stronger data vocabulary to drive better outcomes.
How shifting from projects to products improves data ownership and accountability.
Why lack of trust in data stems from unclear standards and outdated systems.
Why hype has led to organisations chasing use cases without defining problems.
Why Low-hanging fruit often yields superficial success.
Why true business value from AI comes from addressing complex, strategic problems.
Why organisations must rethink processes not just adopt new tools.
How brave leadership unlocks better digital decisions.
Why data leaders must simplify the AI conversation for executives.
How a dual AI strategy balances innovation and control.
Why AI regulation is necessary but only when thoughtfully designed.
Why ethical AI depends on explainability, not intentions.
Why traditional company values don’t guide AI ethics.
Why building trust in data starts with being trusted as a data leader.
Why orchestration, not capability, is often the barrier to delivery.
How reframing data roles helps escape the ‘service desk’ trap.
Why tension in organisations can lead to better outcomes.
Why upskilling execs in data requires empathy, not just education.

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.

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In Episode 50, the season finale of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by James Benford, Director General of Surveys, Economic and Social Statistics at Office for National Statistics, where they have a candid discussion regarding the turnaround job at hand after recent public scrutiny and high-profile errors.

They dig into what went wrong, the impact on trust, and how new leadership is refocusing priorities, rebuilding quality, and resetting culture, plus more, which includes;

How a turnaround mandate is reshaping ONS culture, leadership, and structure after the June review.
Why transparent acknowledgment and correction of high-profile errors is central to rebuilding trust.
How grand tech ambitions drift without clear use cases and why that must change.
Why building a single data platform without a clear use case became a costly lesson in purpose-led design.
How ruthless focus and prioritisation are creating space for excellence in core statistics.
Why survey response rates are falling globally and how ONS is adapting to the new reality.
How digital-first, user-centred survey design can lift completion and reduce bias.
How alternative data sources add power and why third-party data quality and governance matter.
Why multidisciplinary teams are non-negotiable.
How recognising data and AI as economic assets will reshape national accounting.
Why GenAI and ML can raise quality while saving time.
How “Stats GPT” style access can make official statistics easier to find, query, and use.

Find more information on the general reset underway at the ONS, and the detail on the statistics and the surveys discussed in this episode.

If you wish to provide feedback on what ONS is currently doing, please use this mailbox: econstatsplan@ons.gov.uk

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.

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In Episode 49, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Adrian Estala, Field Chief Data & AI Officer at Starburst, where they discuss how to deliver successful AI innovation and transformation by letting 'the business' lead, which includes;

Why we need to let business teams to lead AI innovation for meaningful transformation.
How business-led approaches to AI translate into practical, real-world examples.
The major differences that set AI apart from previous waves of technological business transformation like ERP, Cyber and Cloud.
Why AI demands a fundamentally different approach compared to traditional IT-led transformations.
How organisations are adapting to the rapid pace of change driven by AI advancements.
Balancing the need for AI experimentation with the discipline of effective governance and control.
Identifying high-impact AI use cases that deliver competitive advantage through targeted experimentation.
Adapting delivery models and governance structures to meet accelerated AI project timelines.
Why organisations need a (business) semantic layer in enabling faster and more responsible AI innovation.
Why the era of migration is over and what that shift means for digital strategy.
Rethinking data foundations to support AI-driven decision-making across the business.
The concept of “big data, small agents” and its implications for the future of work.
What will distinguish successful AI adopters from those who remain stuck in experimentation over the next 12 months.

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.

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In Episode 48, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Susan Laine, Chief Technology Officer (Data) at Quest Software, where they discuss the concept of building 'AI for AI', which includes;

The state of data in the AI era and why garbage in equals disaster out
How ‘AI for AI’ is helping organisations manage data at scale and speed
Where AI is being used to optimise AI and why that matters
Why most AI POCs still don’t make it out of production and what to do about it
Balancing the race for speed with the realities of trust, governance, and risk
Building a modern data trust model looks like and why it’s critical for AI success
The key metrics that matter most when measuring trust in data
The rise of the data marketplace and what it means for data sharing and adoption
How data management convergence is changing the game for modelling and intelligence
How user feedback loops are helping to mature data products over time
Why context and semantic layers are essential for AI you can trust
How GenAI is reshaping how we build and scale data products
The structural and cultural shifts AI is triggering across data teams
The changing roles and skillsets needed to succeed in AI-led data teams
Why building your own capability is slowing you down and what to do instead
Three smart steps to build trusted, scalable AI and data capabilities today

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.

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In Episode 47, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Mike Leverington, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at Skyscanner, where they discuss the evolving landscape of data analytics in the era of AI, which includes;

How AI and GenAI are transforming not only the way we work but the way we think, impacting creativity and originality across the workforce.
Why the decline of junior and entry-level data roles is reshaping the traditional career ladder in data.
The societal and ethical implications of AI-driven workforce changes.
How the automation of foundational work could affect how the next generation of data professionals learn and develop.
How leaders can strike the right balance between “future-fitting” now and managing the risks of waiting.
The implications of AI becoming a key trainer of the workforce, and what that means for learning, upskilling, and talent development.
The potential risks smaller businesses face in the AI race against well-funded competitors.
Whether the industry is over-talking “data value” and what that means for real business impact.
Why a persistent gap remains between how data teams define value and what executives actually care about.
The lessons from the “bold claims” era when inflated ROI promises were needed to secure investment.
How organisations can hedge their bets in a rapidly shifting AI landscape.
What an “AI-ready culture” truly looks like and why it matters for long-term success.

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.

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In Episode 46, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Ming Tang, Chief Data & Analytics Officer & Chief Digital & Information Officer at NHS England where they discuss the the governments 10-year strategy for the future of healthcare and the role that data and digital will play, which includes;

From pharmacist to Chief Data and Analytics Officer at NHS England.
The reason for trialling a dual role of CDAO and CDIO leading both digital and data strategies across the NHS.
How the government’s ten-year plan is driving a major shift in how digital and data support healthcare delivery.
Why a single patient record is a cornerstone of the NHS’s strategy.
What the future of healthcare may look like in ten years.
How digital transformation is already improving patient outcomes.
How patients engage with the NHS will change dramatically.
The impact the strategy will have on Staff of the NHS.
The data challenges associated with building a single patient record.
Why AI is delivering real impact in areas like diagnostics, software development, and operational efficiency.
Why Digital inclusion remains a key focus, with efforts to support both patients and staff across varying levels of digital confidence.
The challenges of building digital and data literacy at scale across different audiences.
Why patient-centred design, multidisciplinary collaboration, and reimagining workflows are critical to success.
Moving from treatment to prevention is a top priority.
Moving from siloed data to real-time, person-centred, interoperable data flows.
How AI is supporting clinicians by tools such as ambient voice technology.
How proposed legislation could support seamless data sharing across NHS, suppliers, and public services.

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.

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In Episode 45, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Catherine King takes the hot-seat as she hosts a live panel discussion alongside, Pete Williams, Director of Data at Penguin Random House and Greg Freeman, CEO & Founder at Data Literacy Academy, where they discuss how to allow your organisation to climb the data & AI literacy ladder, which includes;

Why Data & AI literacy isn't about technical skills or tools.
How practical implementation and belief in the value of literacy are still recent developments.
How there are no decisions in modern business that are free of data.
Why people don’t use what they don’t trust and they don’t trust what they don’t understand.
Why literacy must address taught fears and cultural resistance.
Why companies are still falling into the trap of thinking tools and tech will drive transformation.
Why Generative AI is proving to be a Trojan Horse and the opportunity it provides for enterprise impact.
Why literacy efforts need to go beyond 'tick-box' training to personalised, job-relevant learning that connects directly to business outcomes.
Why you should track productivity improvements, promotion rates, and qualitative feedback from learners.
How to use behavioural metrics and ROI-linked business initiatives to measure literacy impact.
How you can create effective feedback loops from the frontline that are essential for iteration and broader transformation.

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.

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In Episode 44, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Nick Blewden, Director of Data at Co-Op where they explore how one of the UK’s most recognised brands is harnessing data not just to improve performance, but to deliver meaningful social impact.

Nick shares how the Co-op’s member-owned model shapes its approach to loyalty, personalisation and ethics, why balancing commercial success with social good is central to its strategy, and how initiatives in data culture, literacy and governance are helping to build trust at every level of the business. The episode explores;

Why consulting experience equips many data leaders for senior roles in industry.
How the Co-op’s unique member-owned model drives its approach to data and decision-making.
The importance of aligning commercial success with social good.
How partnerships with universities have unlocked new insights into health, nutrition and deprivation.
Why ethical guardrails and clear consent are critical to building trust in personalisation.
How loyalty and membership schemes powered by data science deepen customer engagement.
Growing membership from 4 million to nearly 7 million and he role that data played.
How personalisation is used to encourage healthier lifestyle choices.
Why balancing valuable personalisation with privacy concerns is one of retail’s biggest challenges.
How the Co-op uses its member councils, youth councils and surveys to shape data-driven initiatives.
The role of rapid delivery and quick commerce data in reshaping retail behaviour.
How they equipped front-line staff with data products to transform decision-making.
Why building data literacy depends on addressing both “will” and “skill” across teams.
How embedding ethics and governance early safeguards impact and reputation.
Why leadership engagement strengthens confidence and trust in data.
How evolving operating models keep data teams aligned with fast-changing business needs.

For more information on our upcoming Driven by Data LIVE event; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-live/

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.

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In Episode 43, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Sarah Hardison. Product Director, Analytics Enablement at GSK where they discuss the results from a research project on the investment and value in Data and AI that was conducted to support an MBA Thesis in partnership with University of Cambridge, which includes;

Why aligning data and AI initiatives with overarching business strategy is the most critical factor for success, with 80% of respondents citing it as essential to delivering value.
How failing to measure value directly correlates with an inability to demonstrate impact. All organisations that had not shown value also reported not tracking any metrics.
Why only 50% of surveyed organisations reported actively measuring the value of their data and AI initiatives, despite it being foundational to demonstrating return.
How 65% of participants believed they had successfully demonstrated value. The remaining 35% had not, and all of those lacked measurement frameworks.
Why cost reduction and revenue generation were reported as the primary ways value is defined, yet only a few sectors could clearly demonstrate revenue impact.
Why metrics such as customer satisfaction and innovation are harder to quantify but still considered essential soft indicators of value.
How the perceived value of data as an asset varies depending on business context and use case, making standard valuation challenging.
Why telling success stories and communicating achievements across the business was identified as a critical enabler for cultural adoption and stakeholder engagement.
How incremental delivery through proofs of concept helps secure long-term value and supports agile execution.
Why business cases are more compelling when they include both financial metrics and alignment with strategic objectives.
How the cultural orientation of a company, whether strategy-driven or metrics-driven, should guide how data leaders approach value articulation.
How networking internally and understanding business pain points leads to more relevant and supported data solutions.
Why data’s value is similar to that of brand equity, being intangible, influential, and entirely context specific.

For more information on our upcoming Driven by Data LIVE event; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-live/

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.

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In Episode 42, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Carl Smith, Group Data Officer at JCB, where they discuss why everyone hates data governance, the motivation behind his 3-part book series, and why organisations face in implementing effective data strategies, which includes;

Why everyone hates governance (until they need it).
How most organisations are stuck in “governance theatre”
Repositioning governance as a business enabler, not a compliance exercise.
Using governance to support faster, safer decision-making.
Concrete tools and templates that make it stick.
Unmasking the theatre of strategy to avoid PowerPoint-fuelled nonsense that never lands.
Framing strategy as a vehicle for change, not documentation.
Fixing the disconnect between strategy and execution.
Aligning with business outcomes, not buzzwords.
Designing for agility, relevance, and real-world political constraints.
Running Data like a business function.
Moving from delivery to accountability.
how to own outcomes, not just projects.
Building the operating model for a modern data function.
Budgeting, staffing, and positioning the function for credibility.
Designing services, not just capabilities.
Navigating exec influence and organisational politics.

For more information on our upcoming Driven by Data LIVE event; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-live/

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.

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In Episode 41, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Joyce Myers, Chief Data Officer at MTSI where they discuss the critical facets of effective change leadership, which includes;

Why we should aspire for 'Change Leadership' not 'Change Management'
Joyce's journey from the military to Data Leadership.
The use of data in the defence industry.
The core facets of Change Leadership in Data.
The cultural impact on data adoption.
The role of building relationships for success with data.
How culture and buy-in is different in an employee-owned organisation.
The interplay between change and culture.
Influencing people to act without relying on authority or mandates.
Why we should maintain a positive mindset.
Why Goodness In, Goodness Out is better than Garbage In, Garbage Out
How to celebrate celebrate success and build trust.
Communication strategies that 'sell the vision' of data transformation.
Experiencing momentum in the journey of change leadership.
Strategies used to keep teams engaged and motivated when change is slow.

For more information on our upcoming Driven by Data LIVE event; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-live/

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.

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In Episode 40, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Carlos Soares, SVP Data, Analytics & AI at Brenntag, where they discuss how Brenntag is reshaping global operations by applying data, analytics, and AI to drive measurable business value.

From tackling transformation through dual streams to building a data culture rooted in EBITDA impact, this conversation uncovers the practical realities and hidden complexities of delivering scalable value with data, which includes;

Why defining the true problem statement is the most important part of successful transformation.
Why many confuse the problem statement and pain points.
The importance of hiring ‘purple’ people and building ‘purple teams for transformation.
Why data and analytics work should deliver EBITDA impact and why that’s an issue for our industry.
Building models and controls groups to measure value creation but more importantly drive it internally.
The two streams of successful D&A transformation.
How quick wins can deliver commercial returns to drive credibility and further investment.
Why low-hanging fruit often gets overlooked.
Why cross-collaboration and working in partnership with business stakeholders is the only way to succeed.
The phenomenal success of their ‘Customer Growth Engine’ that’s delivered insane results.
Why AI will augment human-decision making not automate it.
Why the association to IT limits strategic potential and value creation.
Why we need to reskill for relevance in an AI enabled world.
Plus, much more.

For more information on our upcoming Driven by Data LIVE event; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-live/

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.

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In Episode 39, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Alex Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, Indhira Mani, Chief Data Officer at RSA and Greg Freeman, CEO at Data Literacy Academy where they discuss how to successfully adopt AI inside organisations, which includes;

Why AI adoption is a business transformation journey, not just a technical implementation.
How aligning AI with core business priorities drives meaningful outcomes and stakeholder engagement.
The importance of clearly defined use cases to avoid over-engineering and misaligned efforts.
Why cross-functional collaboration between business, data, and IT is crucial for scalable success.
How solid data foundations and governance underpin responsible and effective AI deployment.
The importance of developing AI literacy across all levels to support confident and informed decision-making.
Why focusing on business value and outcomes, not algorithms, helps demystify AI and gain broader support.
How adjusting the language used around AI can make it more accessible and reduce resistance.
The importance of embedding ethics and transparency from the outset of AI initiatives.
Why mindset, culture, and change management are the true enablers, or blockers, of successful AI adoption.
How leadership curiosity and openness accelerates cultural readiness for AI.
The importance of managing expectations to prevent fatigue and maintain organisational trust in AI efforts.
How continuous storytelling and iteration help build momentum and credibility throughout the AI journey.

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.

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In Episode 38, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Executive Career Coach, Julia Westland. Julia spent many years as a Data & Analytics professional working in management consulting before transitioning into headhunting where she led Spencer Stuarts Digital, Data & AI practice, before becoming a career coach.

Together they unpick the current Data & Analytics job market, the trends they're seeing, forecast what is to come and give a whole host of advice around job searching in the current market, which includes;

Why the demand for data leaders remains strong despite ongoing economic uncertainty and market shifts.
Why organisations are prioritising specificity in defining and sourcing data leadership roles.
The importance of understanding company context when navigating data leadership opportunities.
Why the CDO role varies widely in scope and the consequences that has on career progression.
The skills required for data leaders aiming to influence at the top table.
How some CDAOs have transitioned into broader business roles and why.
Aligning your background with a company’s data maturity level to increase your fit and success.
How GenAI is reviving focus on foundational capabilities like data governance, quality, and data management.
Why leadership, change management, and stakeholder influence now outweigh technical depth alone in senior data roles.
How the evolving data landscape is opening up new career paths across operations, product analytics, and AI strategy.
How to position your CV and LinkedIn profile as strategic assets in your job search.
Why tailoring your CV with exact job description keywords boosts visibility in AI-powered hiring tools.
The importance of clean, simple formatting to ensure your CV is readable by applicant tracking systems.
How to craft a strong headline and summary that align with the role you’re targeting.
Creating a compelling, results-driven CV by quantifying your achievements.
How LinkedIn and CV alignment improves discoverability and impact when being headhunted.
Why developing a concise personal pitch helps you stand out and stay memorable to recruiters.
The importance of testing your CV’s narrative using tools like NotebookLM to ensure it communicates your value.
How intentional communication and storytelling can elevate your positioning and lead to more interviews.

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.

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In Episode 37, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Ash Dhupar, Chief Data & AI Officer at Analog Devices (Fortune 500) where we explore how data leaders can link their work directly to measurable EBIT and revenue gains, and how the Chief Data Officer role has shifted from “data quality” to “profitability driver.”

Ash shares a real life example of unlocking $50M in yield improvements by connecting siloed manufacturing data, and why predictive AI is key to stopping costly waste before it happens.

We unpack the importance of the three-legged stool; balancing technology, business alignment, and process change, and why CDOs must own delivery end-to-end to shift the outdated perception that data is “just reporting.”

You’ll hear why scaling AI demands new skills, how too many “chiefs” has slowed progress can slow progress. We also discuss why agentic AI at scale is still 18–24 months away, and how AI-first strategies can multiply EBIT impact by 2–10x to create lasting competitive advantage.

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.

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In Episode 36, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom i re-joined by Daniel Hulme, a leading authority in the world of AI and Chief AI Officer at WPP (as well as being CEO at Satalia and Conscium)

Kyle and Daniel discuss the rapid evolution of AI and its implications for various sectors.

They explore the concept of agentic AI, its real-world applications, and the importance of verification in AI deployment.

The conversation also delves into the impact of AI on jobs, the future of work, and the role of education in preparing graduates for an AI-driven world.

Ethical considerations and the need for aligned AI are emphasised, along with the challenges organisations face in building and adopting these technologies, and placing the right bets with their investments.

Takeaways:

The evolution of Ai in the last 12 months.
How AI has graduated from an 'intoxicated graduate' to masters level intelligence and beyond.
Why Leaders don't have time to place the wrong bets but many are.
Why companies are wasting time and money on building the wrong agents.
How to prioritise the correct AI bets to invest in.
How AI can free society from economic constraints meaning people won't have to work.
The future of the education system and the impact on graduate jobs.
Why verification of AI will be imperative to success and also accounts for 80% of deployment cost.
The five levels of AI verification you need to know about.
The importance of testing for skills and expertise instead of knowledge.
When AI may become conscious and we could be at AGI by 2030.
The disruption we're going to see in the job market.
The relationship between software and AI and why most firms can't attract the talent they need to build AI.
Why we should be building AI with values as opposed to implementing guardrails after the fact.
The three questions to ask when deploying AI.
The real safety and security issues that companies are going to face.
Why there will be an explosion of innovation in AI safety.
The risks of building zombie superintelligence.

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.

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In Episode 35, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Dan Taffler, Group Director of Data & Analytics at Reach Plc, where they discuss Dan's journey in data leadership, and managing Data & Analytics for a group of 120 brands.

They also delve into the impact of AI on journalism, and the importance of a product mindset in data initiatives.

Dan shares insights on engaging stakeholders, using a 9 box framework for prioritising and measuring value delivery, and navigating the AI hype cycle.

He emphasizes the need for cultural shifts within data teams and the role of an MBA in enhancing leadership skills.

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.

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In Episode 34, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was re-joined by Malcolm Hawker, Chief Data Officer at Profisee, fresh off the publication of his new book 'The Data Hero Playbook'

They discuss what prompted him to write the book and the insights from within it, how he kept witnessing the same issues and challenges while working at Gartner and the real reason he decided to leave!

Malcolm dives into the challenges faced by data leaders, the importance of shifting from a mindset of limiting beliefs to one of growth and development, and the need for Data Leaders to take accountability.

They discuss why concepts such as Data Culture, Data Literacy and 'Garbage In, Garbage Out' have become excuses and how delivering value solves all of those problems.

Malcolm talks about how external forces often influence the perceptions and actions of data leaders and why accepting them has disempowered us.

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.

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In Episode 33, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Cali Wood, Head of Data & AI Strategy and Culture at AXA UK and Ireland, where they discuss the evolution of data culture within AXA, the importance of balancing innovation with governance in AI, and the strategies for promoting data literacy across the organisation.

Cali shares insights on building a Data and AI Academy, measuring data literacy success, building skills matrices and competency frameworks for Data & AI teams, and the future of roles in the era of AI.

Takeaways

Overcoming cultural challenges to ensure successful AI adoption.
Balancing innovation with governance.
Promoting data literacy across the organisation.
Creating engagement strategies for Data and AI initiatives.
Measuring data literacy effectiveness.
Translating engagement metrics to business value.
Creating skills matrices and competency frameworks to build capability.
Creating blended learning journeys.
The future of roles in data will evolve with AI.
The importance of communication strategies.
Aligning training and L&D to business needs.
Why AI transformation requires a focus on the human element.

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.

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In Episode 32, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Arun Nandi, Chief Data and AI Officer at Carrier, where they discuss the transformative role of AI in business and its potential impact on climate change.

They explore the importance of a value-first mindset in AI initiatives, the need for cultural alignment and stakeholder engagement, and the significance of reskilling the workforce in the AI era.

Arun shares insights on building an AI accelerator programme and the challenges of measuring value in AI projects, emphasising the need for discipline and consistency in tracking outcomes.

Takeaways:

AI is a powerful enabler for business transformation.
The importance of a value-first mindset in AI initiatives.
AI's impact on climate change and sustainability is significant.
Building an AI accelerator can drive innovation and speed.
Cultural alignment is crucial for successful AI adoption.
Measuring value in AI requires discipline and consistency.
Stakeholder engagement is key to successful AI projects.
Reskilling the workforce is essential in the AI era.
AI should be viewed as a horizontal capability across organizations.
The future of work will involve collaboration between humans and AI.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI and Data Leadership
03:03 Carrier's Evolution and Purpose
05:50 The Current AI Landscape and Its Future
12:13 Navigating the AI Hype Cycle
17:59 Keys to Success for AI Leaders
27:31 The Shift to AI-First Mindset
29:06 Prioritizing Value in AI Use Cases
34:42 Fostering a Value-First Mindset
39:43 Problem-Solving with AI as an Enabler
46:16 Accelerating AI Implementation
50:26 Cultural Alignment and Co-Ownership in AI
53:25 AI's Role in Climate Change and Sustainability

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.

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In Episode 31, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Catarina Miranda, Global AI Director at Pandora, where she shares her unique journey from biomedical engineering to AI and machine learning.

She discusses the importance of AI literacy and governance within organisations, the recent breakthroughs in AI technology, and common misconceptions surrounding its capabilities.

Catarina emphasises the need for businesses to focus on outcomes rather than the technology itself and provides insights into how organisations can effectively adopt AI while preparing for the future of work.

00:00 Introduction to Catarina Miranda and Her Journey
03:07 Pandora: The World's Largest Jewellery Brand
06:11 The Role of AI in Personalisation at Pandora
08:45 AI Literacy and Governance in Organizations
11:49 Recent Breakthroughs in AI Technology
14:52 Common Misconceptions About AI
18:12 The Importance of AI Literacy in Business
20:57 Facilitating AI Literacy and Training
27:24 Empowering AI Teams through Decentralisation
28:34 The Importance of Testing in AI Systems
32:07 Prioritising AI Use Cases for Business
36:49 Evaluating the Business Impact of AI
40:32 Understanding AI's Role in Job Transformation
48:40 Lessons from Virtual Reality for AI Adoption
52:08 Key Takeaways for Organisations Embracing 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.

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In Episode 30, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Vin Vashishta, CEO & Founder of V Squared and author of best-selling book 'From Data to Profit' where they discuss the evolution of AI and data strategy in businesses.

Vin shares insights from his book 'Data to Profit', discussing the importance of data in achieving ROI from AI initiatives, emphasising the need for businesses to transform their strategies and workflows to integrate AI effectively.

The conversation also touches on the changing roles of CEOs, the challenges faced by Chief Data and AI Officers, and the impact of AI on job roles and skills in the workforce.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background of V Squared AI
02:42 The Journey of Writing 'Data to Profit'
05:54 Key Factors for AI Success in Businesses
08:38 Transformational Strategies for Competitive Advantage
11:14 The Importance of Incremental Change
14:28 Navigating the AI Landscape: Use Cases and Business Strategy
17:22 The Role of C-Level Executives in AI Transformation
20:13 Cultural and Strategic Challenges in AI Implementation
22:58 The Shift Towards Information Architecture in AI
25:56 The Future of AI: Agents and Information Management
29:13 The Evolution of Information Architecture
30:36 AI's Impact on Data Roles
35:20 Shifting Responsibilities in Data Teams
36:58 The Value of Customer-Facing Products
41:02 The Future of Data Roles and Job Market
45:06 The Need for Continuous Reskilling
52:46 Navigating Rapid Changes in the Job Market

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.

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In Episode 29, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Sam Hancock, Global Head of Data Science at Octopus Energy. Sam shares his unconventional career journey from Capital One to Google and Waymo and ultimately to Octopus Energy, where he focuses on leveraging data to drive the company's mission of accelerating the energy transition.

The conversation explores the balance between data-driven decision-making and instinct, the unique culture at Octopus Energy, and the company's innovative approach to sustainability and customer service.

Sam and Kyle explore the critical role of data and AI in driving sustainability within the energy sector and they discuss the challenges of integrating data into business practices, the importance of fostering relationships across teams, and the innovations in energy management that can help achieve sustainability targets.

The conversation also delves into the complexities of carbon emissions, the electrification of industries, and the potential of smart tariffs to optimize energy usage.

Overall, the discussion highlights the need for collaboration and innovative solutions to address the pressing challenges of climate change.

Takeaways:

Sam Hancock's journey includes roles at Capital One, Waymo, and Octopus Energy.
He emphasizes the importance of diverse experiences in shaping his current role.
Octopus Energy is focused on accelerating the energy transition.
The company is customer-obsessed and aims to disrupt the energy sector.
Sam's role allows for entrepreneurial freedom in data strategy.
Balancing data-driven decisions with instinct is crucial for innovation.
Octopus Energy's culture encourages entrepreneurship and high standards.
The company has ambitious targets for customer growth and sustainability.
Data is a strategic asset at Octopus, with significant data ingestion capabilities.
The tech platform developed by Octopus is designed for the energy sector. Understanding the data challenge is crucial for effective pricing.
Data integration should start at the beginning of business processes.
Building relationships within teams enhances data-driven decision-making.
Electrification is key to achieving net-zero emissions.
Smart tariffs can optimize energy usage based on grid demands.
AI systems are essential for managing the energy transition.
Data centres can be a force for good in sustainability efforts.
Zonal pricing could incentivize greener energy usage.
Companies need to be transparent about their carbon emissions.
Nature-based solutions and carbon capture are vital for sustainability.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Sam Hancock and His Journey
01:00 Career Path: From Capital One to Waymo
04:30 Transition to Climate Tech and Octopus Energy
07:20 Overview of Octopus Energy's Mission and Operations
09:48 Sam's Role and Data Strategy at Octopus Energy
13:16 Balancing Data and Instinct in Decision Making
18:28 The Unique Culture and Vision of Octopus Energy
22:12 Leveraging Data as a Strategic Asset
25:17 Understanding the Data Challenge
28:10 The Role of Data in Sustainability
31:31 Innovations in Energy Management
37:39 Navigating Carbon Emissions and Sustainability Targets
42:15 The Intersection of Data and Energy Solutions

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.

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In Episode 28, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by McKinley Hyden, Director of Data Value & Strategy at Financial Times, where they discuss McKinley's journey from a background in literature to a career in data, the role of the Financial Times in providing quality journalism, and the importance of data in driving strategic decisions.

McKinley shares insights on the challenges of valuing data, the need for cultural change in organisations to embrace data as an asset, and the significance of upskilling in AI. The conversation also touches on the importance of effective communication and knowledge management in data analytics, as well as the future of AI in business.

In this conversation, McKinley Hyden and Kyle Winterbottom explore the profound impact of technology, particularly AI, on society, education, and the workforce. They discuss the moral implications of AI, the need for responsible use, and the importance of upskilling to navigate the changing landscape. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of creating effective AI policies to ensure ethical practices and the potential for job transformation in the face of technological advancements.

00:00 Introduction to Data and Storytelling
02:14 Understanding the Financial Times
04:19 The Role of Data Value and Strategy
09:33 Upskilling in Data and AI
10:44 Valuing Data as an Asset
14:12 Overcoming Resistance to Change
19:25 Defining Value in Data
22:20 Communications and Knowledge Management
27:31 The Future of AI in Business
28:44 The Impact of Technology on Society
30:53 Navigating the Moral Hazards of AI
32:44 The Future of Education in an AI World
35:19 Job Transformation and the Role of AI
41:47 Upskilling for the AI Era
44:42 Creating an AI Policy for Responsible Use

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.

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In Episode 27, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Indhira Mani, Chief Data Officer at RSA, where they discuss the disconnect that often exists between strategy and execution, and what it takes to actually deliver, which includes;

Transforming from legacy to modernisation and then innovation.
Shaping data as a transformation to move data to the point of decision.
Designing a strategy that works in reality to create impact.
Failing fast is the best way to execute a strategy.
Why building trust through execution will make or break your strategy.
Understanding what you can deliver versus what your business wants.
Why you should treat your data activity as a 2-way product framework.
Why ‘why comes first’.
Making practical decisions around organisational readiness.
Measuring organisational readiness.
The importance of flexibility, practicality and pragmatism.
Why you need Executive Commitment and why sponsorship isn’t enough.
Testing for that commitment.
Why you need clarity of tangible outcomes against goals and objectives.
Why we’re not in the business of building lakes and warehouses.
Building reusable and scalable products.
Identifying what capabilities and skills you need to deliver.
Inheriting a team of 20 and growing it to 120.
The relationship between operating model and successful transformation.
The importance of incorporating change iteratively.
Why you shouldn’t aim to change but to win hearts and minds.
Why it’s never about ‘what’ but always about ‘why’ and ‘how’.
The importance of building curiosity.
The 4 transition states of transformation.
Trebling the return on investment in the short term and aiming for 10x over the long-term.

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.

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In Episode 26, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Steven Pimblett, Chief Data Officer at Rightmove, where they discuss how to create the pull factor and aligning capabilities, operating model and value levers, which includes;

Being the 1st CDO at Rightmove.
Both a B2B and B2C business model and an expanding service offering.
Using data to deliver growth, value and innovation.
The relationship between ambassadorship and data & AI being viewed as a value creator.
Reporting to the CEO for the 3rd different time.
Why reporting line matters but other things matter more.
The proximity advantage of having a seat in the boardroom.
The relationship between strategic storytelling and attributable value creation.
The importance of creating a D&A brand identity.
Building capabilities that you can align to value levers.
How data, insight, action is the flow of value creation.
The importance of creating partnerships and earning trust.
How value is defined, varies from company to company.
The reason why misalignment between capability, operating model and value levers occur.
The importance of creating a fluid operating model and team structure.
Creating unit economics to build a value creation framework.
Why complexity and engagement are also considerations beyond value.
The importance of creating the ‘pull factor’ in partnership.
Failure comes from failure to address the people component of the role.
Broadcasting wins to the organisation and why you have to push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
The similarities and differences between digital and non-digital organisations.
Why CDOs will get more opportunity to enter the boardroom due to Agentic 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.

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In Episode 25, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Matt Lovell, Group Director of Data & AI at JD Sports Group, where they discuss the benefits of centralising data & AI leadership, which includes;

The importance of building centralised data leadership in complex, multi-brand organisations.
Why federated models require a hybrid approach to data strategy and technology governance.
Aligning use-case driven transformation to quick wins and long-term data goals.
The need for internal audits to uncover hidden technology and data assets.
Why data maturity varies across business units and how to turn that into a strength.
The evolution of customer behaviour post-COVID and how omnichannel strategies are adapting.
How predictive insights help ensure the right product is in the right place at the right time.
The value of analysing local trends and geolocation data to inform valuable business decisions.
Why strategic data sharing can strengthen partnerships without directly monetising data.
How AI is being used to augment human capability and improve operational efficiency.
The emergence of agentic AI to proactively detect and resolve issues before escalation.
Why teaching prompt literacy is key to unlocking AI’s full potential.
How BI and AI are converging to deliver next best action intelligence.
The evolving role of data professionals as AI handles more technical execution.
Why clean, well-governed data remains essential for enabling effective AI solutions.

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.

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In Episode 24, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Angela Pearce, Chief Data Officer at Pension Insurance Corporation Plc, where they discuss how a varied career background and business focused approach allowed her to deliver multi-million pound benefits, which includes;

Why working in hospitality early in her life shaped her approach.
Coming from an unconventional background.
Moving out of Data & Analytics to broaden her skillset.
Being the first CDO in an entrepreneurial organisation.
The differences of working in large versus smaller organisations.
The importance of selling what your team can do for stakeholders.
Differences in managing expectations and stakeholders in different environments.
Why you need more buy-in, in smaller organisations.
Being the top data person in an organisation three times and whether having the title matters.
Knowing when you’re ready for a CDO role.
Why sales skills are absolutely essential for success as a CDO.
Why commercial understanding of business processes is imperative.
Building strategy and foundations in a greenfield environment.
Why tackling people and culture should be your first port of call.
Why imagination and creativity is a super power for data teams.
Balancing short-term value added wins with long term strategy.
Why you have to promote the small stuff.
The signals that you’re reaching a point of data maturity.
Navigating resistance challenges to a data strategy.
Why a good data strategy will be controversial.
Planting seeds that you grow into addressing difficult conversations.
Why the ‘lack of value’ narrative is still so prevalent.
Having a business focused approach to realise benefits.
Why the CDO shouldn’t be measuring and articulating value.
Why business readiness is key to substantiating value.
Building a data culture that aligns to an organisational culture.
Why data literacy should be about removing obstacles for people to do what you need them to do.
Why you need 99% carrot and 1% stick.
Being a female CDO from outside of London.

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.

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In Episode 23, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Angela Le Mathon, Vice President; People Data & Analytics at GSK, where they discuss the role of HR in an Agentic AI enabled world and it's implications on the workforce, which includes;

Differences between applying analytics in HR versus other domains.
Why people analytics is usually an afterthought.
Why other business areas get more funding for analytics work.
How large companies are using data and analytics to manage their workforce.
Why people and skills can’t be measured equally.
The key metrics that organisations expect from people analytics.
Why the sophistication of GenAI has helped HR and people analytics.
The impact that AI is likely to have on the workforce.
The rise of the digital workforce.
How humans and agents will co-exist.
Why execs will have to change the way they manage their organisation.
Why HR has the opportunity to reinvent itself.
Why workforce planning and org design will be critical to success in an Agentic AI world.
How the roles undertaken by humans will change.
Why skills will become less important.
Why L&D budgets will reduce as a by-product of agents.
Why humans will be forced to step up their game.
The two waves of Agentic Ai implications on the workforce.
Figuring out what humans do with the extra time that they’ll have.
What organisations need to do to be Agentic AI ready.
Why the relationship between HR and Technology will need to transform.
Why People Analytics will become part of the core Data Leadership team.
Figuring out how ‘at risk’ you’ll be.
Navigating DEI though the lens of people/HR data and analytics.
The future of HR in an AI world.

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.

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In Episode 22, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom shifts from host to guest as we're joined by a 'special guest host' where Kyle is quizzed on all things related to the data and analytics talent landscape, which includes;

Spending almost 15 years in D&A Talent.
Starting Orbition in lockdown in 2020.
Having bold, controversial opinions.
The relationship between Data Leadership hiring and the lack of value narrative.
Why the purpose and expectations of the CDO role are misunderstood.
How misalignment in expectations leads to hiring failures.
The morale dilemma of putting people into roles they can’t succeed in.
The role of use cases and KPIs in Data Leadership hiring.
Why you’re likely to be fired for delivering what your business asks for.
The Discover, Identify, Engage and Assess Framework for Hiring.
Why the lack of standardisation impedes hiring for most businesses.
How organisations can position themselves effectively to engage top talent.
Considerations to become a Data & Analytics Employer of Choice.
Why most JDs are terrible.
The importance of storytelling in D&A recruitment.
Conducting skills assessments and its relationship with retention.
How data and analytics recruitment is often void of data.

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.

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In Episode 20, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dan Robertson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Bupa, where they discuss the relationship between organisational culture, operating models, change and transformation and delivering value, which includes;

How doing a business degree fuelled an interest in using data to support decision-making.
Why starting his career as a programmer made him realise that he wanted a different path.
Being the inaugural CDO for multiple, large, complex organisations.
Why your operating model holds more weight than any solution in changing an organisation.
Why tuning in to organisational culture is the key to success for a transformational CDO.
Getting an understand of company culture in the interview process.
Why the amount of change required to embed that operating model defines the rockiness of the data strategy journey.
Anchoring the implementation of change to the vision and purpose of the organisation.
The importance of understanding ‘how things get done’.
Why alignment on company purpose and vision impacts the ability to affect change.
Tying incentives and objectives to that vision and purpose.
Why your boss needs to ‘get it’ or be prepared to get it, so you don’t come unstuck when things get tough.
Why the middle of the organisation will likely be the biggest cultural roadblock.
Why federation is usually better for large organisations.
The impact that maturity has on deciding on a centralised or federated model.
Offering a service model to balance the pros and cons of operating models.
Why the vision, purpose and north-star of the organisation is so important.
The role of architecture of breaking down silos to unlock value.
The common symptoms of what blockers to value creation are.
The importance of Data Literacy both internally in D&A teams and in business teams.
Why your team need to be able to explain the investment case to the exec that aligns to your purpose.
The link between expectations and the average tenure of the CDO.
The 3 key inflection points as a transformational CDO.
Why you need to be careful about choosing which value-based use case you start with.
Presenting different data strategy options to the exec.
Deciding whether you’re aiming to be more data-driven or want competitive advantage.
Understanding the size of the possible prizes.

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.

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In Episode 20, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Gabriel Straub, Chief Data Officer at Ocado Group, where they discuss how data, AI and automation transformed Ocado and redefined the grocery sector, which includes;

Utilising 3rd party technology and the realisation that it wasn’t good enough.
Evolving from a grocery retailer into a global technology solutions provider.
Building proprietary tech to solve challenges traditional systems couldn’t handle.
Becoming market leaders for great customer experience.
The journey to building and selling technology solutions to retailers all over the world.
Why ML solutions became a necessity to provide a distinct customer proposition.
The differences between operating an in-store versus online grocery retail business.
Combining internal, external and P&L factors in prioritising use cases.
Competing with an established model and changing the way people shop.
The impressive fulfilment operations and the multiple iterations.
Calculating the ROI of product optimisations.
The relationship between innovation and company culture.
The three main GenAI use cases.
Having 150 ML use cases to enhance forecasting, reduce waste, and improve availability.
The role of simulation in testing 500 years of operations in just one year.
Why embedding data teams in product and engineering drives better outcomes.
The importance of culture and long-term thinking in driving innovation.
Leveraging GenAI to enhance workforce productivity and knowledge access.
The potential for agent-based systems to transform internal operations and customer interactions.
The benefits for retailers to partner with Ocado and leverage their technology.

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.

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In Episode 19, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Simon Jury, Chief Data Officer at Kingfisher, where they discuss the power of instinct and why you shouldn't always ignore it, which includes;

Insights from decoupling ASDA from Walmart as VP of Data.
Why building the right operating model for a group structure is critical.
Balancing centralised vs. decentralised delivery across group and brand levels.
The nuanced realities of a “single source of truth” across brands.
Aligning all data decisions with value creation from the outset.
When to trust your instinct over data—and why that’s okay.
Why the biggest challenges in D&A are ultimately people issues.
The disparity in investment between technology and people.
Why the skills that make a great data practitioner don’t always make a great data leader.
Why most of a Data Leader’s time should be spent focused on their team.
Building a high-performing D&A culture in a federated model.
Creating frameworks for role exploration and skill development within D&A teams.
The evolving role of analysts in a more data-literate future.
The investment needed to truly unlock value from D&A at scale.
Why it’s no longer acceptable for senior leaders to lack data fluency.
Helping business leaders articulate what they really want from AI.
Why living overseas sharpened the guest’s ability to translate data insights.
Combining the science of data with the art of experience for better outcomes.
Why being financially savvy is a key skill for any Data Leader.
Why the most successful data products are popular first, and smart second.
The potential of conversational interfaces to reshape how we interact with data.

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.

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In Episode 18, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rob Kent, Data & AI Leader at Greggs, where they discuss the learnings from reporting to a CEO and being on the board of a UK Plc, which includes;

Starting a career in IT over 30 years ago.
Building D&A functions from scratch on multiple occasions.
How the common thread has been executive sponsorship at the highest level.
Anchoring data strategies to business strategies.
Being part of a small group of CDOs that have reported to a CEO.
Sitting on the board of a UK PLC that publicly declared data as core to its strategy.
The business drivers that allowed data to have a seat at a board table.
The learnings and experience of reporting to a CEO.
Growing an appreciation of competing with priorities of other functions.
The importance of empathy when sitting on the board.
Balancing wearing a corporate hat and a data hat.
Still needing to justify the existence of the data analytics function.
A simple three-tier model to calculate value-creation.
Accepting that there is a cost of doing business.
Delivering tangible benefit in a cost-effective way without a large budget.
Whether reporting lines and titles actually matter.
The things that the CEO will be thinking about and asking.
The things that can influence the position of the data executive in an organisation.
The two key questions to ask your CEO that dictate proximity to them.
Why CDOs have the power to choose which organisation is right for them.
Why the data industry should be pushing on open doors.
Why there is often a gap in expectations.
The contributing factors to being seen as a cost centre.
Why attributing value is easier for B2C businesses than B2B businesses.
Why you’re doing something wrong if you can’t attribute value to data initiatives.
Why translation will take you further than most other things.
Why business people don’t care about our data analytics world.
The material differences between having a seat at the table versus being a layer removed.
Why any decision is made based on facts, fear, or faith.
Where the future of data analytics teams lies.
Why we’re not being picked on and other functions have it worse than us.

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.

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In Episode 17, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steve Green, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) where they discuss the self-inflicted barriers to CDO success, which includes:

Transitioning from being a true technologist into a change agent.
Setting up a chief data office from scratch.
The 6 pillars of the data office.
Why he built an advisory team and how it delivers value daily.
The benefit of having a holistic view of the D&A industry from his time at the FCA.
The struggle to meet operational needs as well as the needs of the regulator.
Why data offices create problems by building point solutions.
Thinking 5 years ahead to balance long-term strategy with immediate needs.
Building to answer questions that you don’t yet exist.
To deliver value on strategic outcomes, you have to be in the strategy conversations.
How data teams are constantly delivering what businesses ask for but not what they need.
The lesson that most data offices are still learning, the hard way.
Navigating your way into the right conversations if you’re not already in them.
Setting the correct expectations with your business.
Why how you run the data office is more likely to dictate success than where it sits.
Why it can’t only be the CDO who’s capable of engaging with the business.
How the interview process should tell you what type of expectations the firm has.
The importance of building relationships with people before you need to engage with them.
Why learning how to make stuff happen beats generic data or leadership skills.
The importance of effective and intentional hiring.
Why data offices need to be better at blowing their own trumpet.
Pushing the boundaries of why data offices exist.
Transitioning from defensive to value generating.
Why many data offices create barriers for themselves and end up behind the curtain.

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.

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In Episode 16, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Helen Blaikie, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Aston University, where they discuss the comprehensive programme they've executed to help them build a truly data confident organisation, which includes;

The implications of covid on the higher education sector
How her non-data/technical background has helped her to a better CDO
Why you have to be a strong salesperson as a CDO
Why you shouldn’t be using the ‘D’ world
Building a data confident workforce instead of a literate or fluent one
Establishing 54 measures of success for the organisation
Developing data products to measure the measures of success
Ignoring conventional wisdom and thinking big but also starting big
The importance of tailoring the language of the data confidence programme to something the organisation would understand
The key components of the programme and the major benefits and challenges experienced
The learnings from attempting to personalise the programme
Creating pathways
Embedding data confidence requirements into the recruitment process for non-data roles
Tips on building advocacy and creating champions
Why training should be the last thing you do
Why timing is key when thinking about the training component of these programmes
Why it’s important that you have the correct foundations to deliver a data confidence programme
The qualitative and quantitative measures of success of a data confidence programme
The power of true business partnering to improve data products
Measuring lead indicators to quantify business outcomes

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.

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In Episode 15, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Heather Wade, Data Transformation Director at Johnson Matthey, where they discuss research findings that attempt to understand what happens when risks outweigh benefits, which includes;

Learnings from taking all the best bits from consumer data into a different industry
The reason for undertaking a DBA
Why there’s so much research written about the benefits of data but very little about the risks
Understanding the different types of risks your organisation faces
Delivering a piece of research about how firms tackle data related risks
Why there’s much more risk than the traditional cyber or privacy risks
Focusing on qualitative research as opposed to quantitative
How the research uncovered the differences in the CDO/Data Leader role
Whether the CDO tenure forces us to focus on value and benefits as opposed to risk
Discussing the risks of inaction as opposed to selling benefits
How the people and culture element of teams pose a large threat
The lack of difference between regulated versus unregulated industries
How firms should approach the balance between benefits and risk
Measuring potential risks
Why the biggest risks could be the lack of clarity around what a data function exists to do
Managing grey areas of risk (like sustainability)

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.

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In Episode 14, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Bhagya Reddy, Executive Director of Empowerment and Collaboration at Virgin Media O2, where they discuss how having a role focused on empowerment and collaboration is the secret to data democratisation, which includes:

Having a passion of making data accessible
Coming from a deep technical background and moving into a business facing role
How you know when you're doing data democratisation correctly
The importance of trust and confidence in data democratisation
The key KPIs of data democratisation
The role of data literacy within data democratisation
The benefits of building the Data University at VMO2 entailed
Using engagement as a measure the effectiveness of democratisation
Driving Innovation by turning insight into action
Why empowerment and collaboration are the key's to success
The importance of decommissioning data products
The three factors to consider when decommissioning
Prioritising speed to value
Overcoming cultural barriers and addressing resistance to change
Tackling DEI challenges in the Data & Analytics industry
The need for skills-based hiring, structured returnship programmes, and fostering an inclusive data culture.

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.

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In Episode 13, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tamara Castelli, Chief Operating Officer at UNiDAYS where they discuss her transition from leading a data and insights team to becoming the Chief Operating Officer, which includes:

Falling out of love with the theory of academia
Being driven by seeing application result in outcomes
Moving from consultancy to an end user organisation
How a merger provided a career changing opportunity to lead
A great analogy about a restaurant, a kitchen, china sets and menu font to describe how businesses can focus on the wrong things
The transition from VP of Data & Insight to Chief Operating Officer
The many parallels between the CDO and COO roles
Why data has to drive change and understanding it’s role within that objective
Why AI will bring the role of Data Leadership and business leadership to a point of overlap
Why business leaders will face challenges in the future that Data Leaders have faced forever
What may be seen as performance problems may actually be process problems
Grabbing the opportunity with both hands by taking accountability for things outside of her remit
Why operations is a great home for Data and Analytics teams
The differences between the CDO and COO communities
Why there’s less commonality between the COO community
Success stories as a COO
The power of having more influence as the COO
Spotting data gaps more easily from a higher vantage point
Launching OKRs around transformation and growth goals
Navigating perceptions of the current perception your business has of you
Things to think about if you’re considering a move into an operational role

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.

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In Episode 12, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Murtz Daud, Director of Data & AI Director of Data & AI at British Gas Business, to discuss the barriers to data innovation, which includes:

The different views on what a Data & Analytics function is – starting with the fundamental question: why do we need this department?
Why Data & Analytics should be decision-makers, not ticket-takers
Enabling the business to create value through data-driven solutions
The rise of Data & Analytics structures is driven by the fear of being left behind
Embedding data-driven decision-making across the organisation
Demonstrating the value of Data & Analytics as an investment, not a cost
The importance of leading indicators – measuring the actions that influence key outcomes
How an MBA can help transition from a technical leader to a business leader
The concept of 'purple people' – bridging technical and business skills to create high-performing teams
Leveraging individual strengths to enhance team performance
Why great leadership is about building the right team, not knowing everything
Creating the right conditions for innovation and psychological safety
Innovation doesn’t have to be complex – it just needs to solve real-world problems
The role of the client/sponsor in championing data products internally
Positioning Data & Analytics as a strategic consulting partner within the business
The ongoing challenge of shifting perceptions of Data & Analytics from a support function to a value driver
The critical role of emotional intelligence in leadership
Why cultural change is essential for fostering innovation
Recognising and rewarding contributions to maintain motivation within data teams
Ensuring time is allocated for innovation to thrive within organisations
The best ideas often come from those closest to the problem – creating space for grassroots innovation

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.

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In Episode 11, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Darren Wood, Data Product Leader at BBC, and they talk about the benefits of Data Product Management, in which they talk about:

The helpfulness and collaborative nature of the data community
How the BBC is advancing digitalisation and personalisation
Understanding the user journey through touchpoints and insights
Why data products are about structuring data and extracting value
The key role of organisational understanding in maximising data product value
The three critical stages in the data product lifecycle
The four phases that follow the creation of a data product are introduction, growth, maturity, and decline
The challenge for data product managers in pre-empting decline and making tough decisions
Why speed to value is critical in data product success
The key differences between data teams and product teams
Why a roadmap is essential for prioritisation and decision-making
How splitting a roadmap into reactive, proactive, and strategic elements enhances focus
How understanding value can help quantify business impact
Why adopting a business mindset means treating colleagues as customers
The importance of ‘eating your own dog food’ in data product teams
Why treating the data team as a mini business changes how they operate
The four phases of an effective discovery process: discovery, definition, development, and delivery
The key difference between data product management and traditional product management—why MVPs in data often don’t reach end users before they are fully functional
The ongoing debate between domain-oriented, centralised, and decentralised approaches
The varying responsibilities of a data product team, and why alignment with business value is key
Why stepping into a data product manager role requires conscious awareness of its challenges and opportunities

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.

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In Episode 10, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Peter Everill, AI, ML & Data Product Leader for a European Retailer for a LinkedIn Live event, and they discuss the importance of quantifying value, in which they talk about:

How data can significantly impact P&L performance
Why the USP of the data team lies in identifying where to focus and what action to take
The importance of metrics in making performance observable and driving decisions
The risk of internal data teams falling behind without a structured consultancy methodology
How improving business literacy in data teams helps focus on the right metrics
The role of methodology in influencing P&L outcomes
Why winning over senior management is crucial for success
The need for metrics that drive actionable insights and business performance
Why not everyone wants to be data-driven—and how to choose the right sponsors
The cultural adoption of metrics and its impact on business success
Understanding failure states to identify areas for improvement
How collaboration between data teams and business stakeholders drives better outcomes
Why data literacy shouldn’t be a burden on business users
The common gap in business process mapping within organisations
Why engaging finance teams is essential for understanding P&L impact
The importance of quick wins in gaining stakeholder support
Why cultural openness to data is necessary for effective implementation
Why actionable, role-specific metrics lead to better business adoption

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.

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In Episode 9, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Paul Hollands, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at AXA where they talk about value as the North Star, in which they discuss:

How structuring the data agenda can drive impact as the first CDAO at the UK & Ireland level.
How a clear North Star helps AXA UK & Ireland focus on the commercial impact of data and AI.
Building strong foundations to execute data and AI use cases effectively.
Balancing central coordination and business unit autonomy with a federated operating model.
How business sponsorship from engaged CEOs supports the data mission.
The value of having a team fully aligned behind a clear vision.
Using a strong North Star to simplify complex processes and stay on track.
How understanding the business environment helps measure data leaders’ performance.
Tackling the irony of CDOs being expected to excel at measuring value but lacking clarity on their metrics.
Why being business-focused in theory doesn’t always translate to practice.
The difficulty of measuring the value of certain data processes.
How stakeholder management and strong relationships drive data success.
Encouraging CDOs to share more stories about their impact.
Building knowledge-sharing communities to promote value-driven data practices.
How GenAI is being industrialised and trust is being built around its use.
Exploring how AXA and its staff are using GenAI in practical ways.
Adapting data strategies over time as GenAI shapes the direction of data and AI.
Avoiding distractions from shiny new trends in data and analytics by staying focused on long-term value.

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.

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In Episode 8, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rosh Awatar, Managing Director at Sky, and they discuss the importance of getting data's seat at the table, which they discuss:

The challenge of getting data leaders involved in key business decisions
Why data leaders need to steer the business, not just support it
How the right sponsorship can create business value
The importance of networking and building connections across all levels
Building strong relationships with the business
The difference between what Data & Analytics teams see as “value” versus what business leaders see as “value”
Adapting your message depending on the data capability you’re focusing on
Aligning data priorities with business goals and strategies
Being involved in the right conversations to make better decisions
Balancing commercial success with long-term benefits
The view some companies took on CDO roles in 2024 and how CDOs can show their value
Delivering value through strong data governance and enablement
Deciding whether a centralised or decentralised/federated data model works best for your company’s culture
The collaborative and innovative environment at Sky
Why it’s important to ask for help when needed
How culture and purpose shape a company’s view of data
Striking the right balance when talking about the value of data

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.

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In Episode 7, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Matt Stebbings, Petcare D&A Transformation Director at Mars Petcare, where they discuss the importance of the first and last mile in change & transformation, which includes;

Transitioning from an engineering and IT background to a growth function at Mars Petcare
Being one of the world’s largest family-owned businesses, accounting for 60% of Mars' operations
The history and significance of Mars' five principles and their role in shaping the company’s culture
Why doing business with a data analytics mindset is critical for shaping the future
Understanding the difference between transformation and change
Leveraging growth science to foster loyalty and drive innovation
The ecosystem strategy: using data to combat issues like feline kidney disease
Overcoming challenges in engaging the business to embrace data-driven mindsets
Maintaining public-facing insights through extensive behind-the-scenes data work
Differentiating between focus and prioritisation to maximise value
Empowering business leaders within product ownership teams
Shifting from traditional data projects to product-oriented working in data analytics and its impact on change
The evolving role of the CEO and the addition of "D" (data) to their responsibilities
Establishing the need for CDO-type functions in modern organisations
Training and transforming teams to adopt a more data-focused approach
Embedding the D&A team within the growth function to align with business outcomes
Balancing the importance of getting both the first and last mile right in data initiatives

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.

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In Episode 6, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Aldwin Tito, Chief Data Officer at Shell where they talk about Business Processes and Data Management, in which they discuss:

How data management can be effective without relying on expensive tools.
The critical role of asset management within Shell.
How navigating hype cycles helps you get to where you are today.
Taking control of what you have today ensures a reliable foundation for the future.
How does the GenAI era compare to past hypes like ERP systems?
Unlocking data-savvy thinking and why it’s crucial.
How tools like ChatGPT are becoming more accessible in everyday contexts.
How AI enables the creation of decision models based on past data.
How GenAI approaches data management challenges.
Building yourself up by taking deliberate, well-thought-out steps.
How history tends to repeat itself in pursuing the latest tech trends.
AI is an enabler of technology, rather than just a technological advancement.
How business analysis helps teams understand the impact of change.
Balancing risks and potential: reaching the maturity required to apply AI for tangible benefits.
Exploring the three key states of data quality.
Placing ownership close to the point of data generation can drive better outcomes.
Aligning data management processes closely with business operations.
How to determine the rightful owner of the GenAI strategy.
Speculating on the potential obsolescence of the Chief Data Officer role in the future.

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.

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In Episode 5, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Matthew Doucette, Director of Technical Recruitment at Deliveroo to talk about the role of data within talent acquisition and how it's now a 'war for talent intelligence', where they discuss:

How recruitment data hasn’t evolved much since 2009, despite having more data than ever
The challenge of translating objective data into subjective insights
Why someone is an A-Player in one company but not in another
The importance of a talent roadmap to guide long-term growth
Why talent intelligence is quantitative approach but there's a need for qualitative data
Why finance and HR need to work more closely together
Aligning talent strategy directly with business results and strategy
Embedding data science into recruitment processes for better outcomes
The ripple effects of hesitant hiring managers on Talent Acquisition
Why measuring ROI on talent intelligence investments is crucial
The complexities of defining and measuring "the best" in talent
How heat mapping job descriptions can uncover insights for hiring strategy
Why job descriptions and job adverts are two different things that serve different purposes
Reflecting on past experiences to refine data aggregation and measure success

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.

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In Episode 4, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Loretta Franks, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Kellanova, where they discuss the transition from Kellogg’s to Kellanova and the role of data in driving business success, which includes;

Managing the transition from Kellogg’s to Kellanova during a historic organisational shift.
Coming from a STEM, non-data, non-technical background and how it has shaped her data leadership approach.
Building relationships and credibility across global regions to enhance Data & Analytics efforts.
Why investing time in relationship-building strengthens the impact of D&A functions.
How your leadership style can dictate success.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to grow into a stronger, more effective leader.
The data product approach and its relationship with data governance.
Focusing on business outcomes and consumer experiences to transform data results.
Sharing credit for team successes
The role of storytelling in navigating the fast-paced world of data.
How maintaining momentum builds a compelling narrative for the D&A function.
Redefining value beyond financial metrics to broaden the scope of success.
Establishing prioritisation mechanisms to align business needs with data product goals.
The importance of reusability, and speed to value.
Prioritising the value of data sets against business objectives.
The impact of initiatives during the transition from Kellogg’s to Kellanova.
Creating innovative products is the heartbeat of an organisation’s success.
How celebrating milestones, like ringing the stock exchange bell, honours a 118-year legacy.
Breaking down big data frameworks into actionable compliance and value-focused initiatives.

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.

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In Episode 3, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Perry Philipp, Chief Data Officer at Entain, where they discuss the transition from COO to CDO, which includes;

Why change programmes lasting longer than 12 months are at risk of failure
Why centralisation isn't the long-term answer, but when and why it is needed
The lessons learned from being a COO that help in a CDO role
Approaching challenges when faced with a blank sheet of paper
The impact of executive churn
Why most business problems are the same and occur in cycles
How organisations value data differently
The impacts of centralisation, decentralisation, and federation
The difference between outputs and outcomes
The shared challenges and engagement within the data community
The importance of language in driving understanding and alignment
Creating value and fostering an environment for growth
Delivering the world’s largest Snowflake migration globally

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.

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In Episode 2, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Johanna Hutchinson, Group Chief Data Officer at BAE Systems, where they discuss how the role of people and culture influence change, which includes;

Government’s perspective on data statistics
Making data accessible to people
The importance of getting the right messages to the right people
The power of automation capabilities
Where the growth of AI increases in potential
The notion of value within BAE systems
The challenges of the defence industry
Initial opportunities and challenges as Group CDO
The difference in perception between data and business
Creating core capabilities
The use of language and the differences in understanding it
The difference in culture between organisations
Recognising different team cultures across the same organisation
The changing world and how data fits into it
The impact that politics has on the defence sector
The importance of transformation programmes
Building an internal data community
Measuring the impact of data on the business

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.

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In Episode 1, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Orlando Machado, Chief Data Officer | Vice President at the LEGO Group, where they discuss the hype around new D&A trends, which includes;

How LEGO became the to describe data storytelling across LinkedIn
Reflecting on the evolution of Data Science and AI.
Addressing the allure of shiny new technologies
How organisations can cut through the noise to uncover real value.
The rise of GenAI and its implications for Data Science and traditional AI practices.
The evolving role of the CDO amidst technological advancements and shifting priorities.
Challenges organisations face in realising value from Data Science and AI initiatives.
Discovering the biggest opportunities that organisations can leverage today.
Exploring how LEGO has harnessed Data and AI to drive innovation and create tangible value.
The trend and speed of the hype cycles and buzzwords and their effect on the industry.
The future of digital and data roles based on new technologies and demands
The impact the lack of standardisation has on the D&A industry.
The difficulty of knowing which hype cycles to adopt.
Prioritising opportunities in use cases.
Tackling AI ethics.
How LEGO are tackling data literacy fluency.
The effect the size of the organisation can have when implementing data strategies.

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.

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In Episode 50, the season finale of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast. Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Marion Shaw, Head of Data & Analytics at Chaucer Group, where they discuss how success with data and analytics is a giant marketing exercise and how to use it build visibility and curiosity, which includes;

Having a career that allowed an understanding of what it takes to get something to market and grow profits
Why technology and data can’t be treated the same way
How curiosity around data impacts business decision making
Getting your business stakeholders to ask the right questions
Building new revenue streams be leveraging data that was previously unavailable to harness
How she created a gamified data exercise to market and educate business stakeholders
How that has benefited the data team with their engagements with their business stakeholders
Using competition and FOMO to battle cynicism and scepticism
Accepting that you’ll never know win over everybody
Utilizing traditional marketing techniques to tell the story
Why they brought the former receptionist into the team as a data champion
Using your success stories to drive positive PR
The importance of being visible to your stakeholders to build interest and curiosity
Why D&A teams can’t be successful without business stakeholders
Guiding your business stakeholders to meet you in the middle
Measuring the effectiveness of your marketing efforts
The importance of tracking your results beyond the initial use case
Agreeing an attributable figure that data can claim for the returns
Identifying your biggest champions and squeakiest wheel
Why you should never use “data speak”
Advice on how to drive curiosity, interest and buy-in

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.

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In Episode 49, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Maddie Armitage, Director of Data & AI Solutions at BT, where they discuss how to build data products that get used to drive commercial benefit, which includes;

Getting business stakeholders to adopt a product led mindset
Why everyone has to be focused on outcomes and benefits
Prioritisation based on speed and value
Why AI should allow organisations to use data in a more effective way
Why good data product management is all about relationship building and good communication
The differences in building data products for internal use versus external use
Why better relationships equals better outcomes
The capabilities required to build successful data products
Why clear direction of travel and clear strategic thinking are critical
How a product mindset drives a focus on commercial outcomes
The importance of understanding how you contribute towards your business making money
How to ensure effective collaboration between data teams and business functions.
How you can get your organisation to use data is the crown jewels
If a data product approach helps with the measurement of value
Why you need to create shared outcomes, goals and responsibility with your business stakeholders
The future of the CDO role and can some become CEOs

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.

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In Episode 48, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rachel Purchase, Director of Data & Analytics at Admiral Group Plc, where they discuss some of the challenges associated with having an organisation that has such an appetite for data, which includes;

Taking responsibility for an enterprise D&A capability after several unsuccessful external attempts
The mandate being to fix the issue that the business and IT aren’t working effectively together
Why being data-driven doesn’t necessarily mean you are data mature
The challenges of moving from being product centric to customer centric
Why having a centralised team structure doesn’t work in such a data “hungry” organisation
Tackling how to standardise best practice and excellence across 27 different business units
The challenges of having such a ”data hungry” organisation
Building a data academy that supports 900 people
Identifying where the biggest value creation opportunities are
The different levels of maturity across different business units
Challenging the status quo of how prioritisation happens
Why entrepreneurial spirt is advantageous but can create challenges
Whether the appetite for data impacts the expectations of what it should be delivering
Upskilling data professionals with non-data related skills
Reskilling business users to take on data roles
Getting the communication strategy right
Why they created individual data brands across business functions
Why the aim should be to get “Data” and “the business” indistinguishable from each other

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.

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In Episode 47, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Anna Wang, Head of AI at Multiverse, where they discuss current AI landscape and the key considerations to bridge the AI skills gap, which includes;

Studying AI at Stanford
Having her company acquired by Multiverse
The combination of AI and behavioural science to evaluate skills
If you’re serious about AI you have to be serious about data
Building AI models than are 4x more accurate than interview processes
Why there is no point in investing in AI if you’re not investing in the people that will use it
The importance of investing in your people to make them effective at using AI as a tool
Why LLMs are in a generalised state
Why AI is lightyears ahead of where it was even 5 years ago
The most common misconceptions about AI
Why it’s unlikely that you can use AI out of the box
Why people are leaning in too much to demo’s we see online
How no one has yet been left behind yet, despite what people may believe
What is preventing organisations in taking action with AI
Why business leaders need to embrace an investment in learning
The security and ethical fairness concerns that prevent action
Why most businesses will be AI native in the future
The consequences of inaction
Why understanding the data that is powering your organisation is a good place to start
The significance of the skills shortage in AI
Why AI skills gaps is a multi-layered problem
Why the speed of technological advancement is a challenge
Why critical thinking and questioning skills are essential to get the most out of AI
How team structures and operating models play a significant role
Why AI infrastructure should be shared between data and tech teams
Why whoever has the final decision on how AI is used should be incredibly business minded
The importance of growing your experimental AI muscle
Why urgency will play a major role in success
The MAGE approach to training and upskilling organisations and people
Training 16,000 people across 1500 organisations to make more impact at work
The 2 vector that AI will impact in the next couple of years
Tackling the fear from non-data or technology professionals
The relationship between data culture and AI
The importance of both data and AI literacy

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.

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In Episode 46, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Katy Gooblar, Director of Education & Data at Data Literacy Academy, where they discuss how to ensure your people are AI ready, which includes;

The key factors in ensuring an organisation is ready to truly harness the power of AI
How AI adoption is related to trust in leadership
Understanding which foundations you need to leverage AI
The interconnectivity between data literacy and AI adoption
Why you need to focus on the silent majority
The departmental nuances that affect learning and adoption
The link between usage, trust and understanding for adoption
Why literacy progress requires a lot more than training
How culture can be fluid across departments and how that impacts adoption
Why data literacy must be more than a side of desk activity
The importance of understanding the psychological of winnings hearts and minds
The educational mechanisms used to drive effective change
Why you have to create key messaging that is tied to business objectives
How to assess people to develop the right curriculum for individuals
Why you never want people starting in the wrong place
Identifying your key strategic cohorts
The nuances of top down versus bottom-up
Getting the communications and marketing messages out into a business
Why it’s not just about what people learn but how they learn and interact

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.

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In Episode 45, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tony Zona, Chief Data Officer at Grant Thornton UK, where they discuss how to translate the language of data to create a unified language, which includes;

Operating for 25 years in the same organisation
Being a translator in his personal family life
Why coming from a non-traditional background has been a huge benefit for his career
The unusual situation of having Data Leaders within its advisory business
The benefits and downsides of being in the same organisation for so long
Why translation is the key to success in both the business and technical settings
How to avoid the business coming to you with pre-defined solutions
Creating the muscle memory to establish the ‘why’
The misconception that all businesses require the same thing from a CDO
Why semantics are part of the translation challenge
Why the data literacy challenge is a cultural one and not a training one
Business Leaders don’t want to talk about Data
The importance of articulating not just what the benefits are, but what that means
Creating a team that is focused on the business objectives and benefits
Why data can and should become a unified language of business
Why the language we use internally as an industry we shouldn’t use within our organisations
Ensuring you can articulate the risks of not having a unified language as well as the benefits
Why it’s your job as a Data Leader to understand what is important in relation to terminology inside an organisation
Why the immaturity of the industry still causes many of our challenges
Why organisations are still figuring out what they want and need from their data investments
Articulating messages differently for different audiences

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.

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In Episode 44, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is re-joined by Daniel Hulme, Chief AI Officer at WPP and one of the world's leading AI authorities, where they discuss how the AI landscape has shifted since his first appearance on the show over 3 years ago, which includes;

Selling Satalia to WPP
Why it’s become a successful acquisition
Launching a research organisation to understand ‘machine consciousness’
Why machine consciousness will be a very important question we’ll face as a species over the coming years
Why we should be looking at AI through applications not technologies
How GenAI has given artificial intelligence a UI
Why GenAI isn’t the panacea of AI
The 3 things that you need to unlock value with GenAI
Why you need differentiated talent to succeed with AI
How optimisation algorithms will still give you the biggest bang for your buck
Why the most popular definition of AI is the weakest
Why using human beings as the pinnacle of intelligence is not a good idea
The 6 categories of applications of AI that resolve any business friction
Why we should be tracking neuromorphic computing
How GenAI has disrupted the media, advertising and marketing sectors
Why LLMs are like intoxicated graduates
Figuring out which problems to tackle that will truly disrupt your business
Why the capability of the technology will outrun the speed of adoption
The questions to ask to spot the genuine ‘AI Experts’
A controversial view on AI ethics surrounding intent
The 3 type of AI risks
The 3 questions you need to ask yourself to deploy AI safely
Why we may only be 10-20 years away from a superintelligence
Why a superintelligence could be the biggest existential threat to humans if we don’t focus on safety
Why we have a duty of care to build conscious 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.

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In Episode 43, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Stijn (Stan) Christiaens, Co-Founder and Chief Data Citizen at Collibra, where they discuss the framework to create financial value through data, which includes;

The catalyst for launching Collibra
What the title Chief Data Citizen means
Setting up the chief data office inside Collibra
Why people confuse Collibra for a data management software company
Defining value and data monetisation
Why selling data is the least common way of monetising data
How to use data to turn it into money
How the immaturity of the CDO role affects the ability to monetise data
The 5 enterprise capabilities of the MIT data monetisation framework
Why putting the data product in the middle is what makes the money
The evolution of the data product and what it is or isn’t
While monetizing data is difficult that’s not an excuse
Why the ‘data as an asset’ trend will be unstoppable
But, why most companies don’t treat data as an asset
The Databricks V Snowflake debate
Why most data vendors are like ants in comparison to the ‘hyperscaler’ titans
Why those titans are benefitting Collibra
Why organisations will never succeed in putting all of their data in one place
Why the data vendor ecosystem still has a long way to grow

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.

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In Episode 42, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is re-joined by Davin Crowley-Sweet, Chief Data Officer at National Highways.

After Davin's first appearance almost 2 years ago (still the most listened-to episode of all time) they discuss what’s unfolded since valuing their data as an asset and the failings of the D&A industry, which includes;

Why CDOs are playing musical chairs
The language of business is finance and what that means for data
Making data an asset class in its own right
Why your job is to create clarity from ambiguity
Recognising the difference between conflict and tension
Why data professionals hide too much behind technical skills
Putting a valuation on your data asset and the benefits of doing so
Why the valuation is merely a means to an end
The difference between valuation, value, benefits and monetisation
Why being an enabler may provide good benefits but won’t capitalise on the value of the data
The relationship between valuing your data asset and capital allocation
How valuing the data asset has changed the business model
How data people create new meanings from words that already exist and wonder why they’re being misunderstood
Why it’s easier to make a data team business literate than it is to make an entire business data literate
Why you don’t need a ‘data culture’
Why there’s a fear of speaking about failure in the D&A industry
Why creating a strategy was the biggest failure of his career
Why earning trust and emotional commitment of the organisation is critical to success
Data is hard because the job exists to challenge senior leaders' belief systems
Why “you’re mental” if you think technology will fix that problem
Why the future skillset of the CDO is more aligned to psychologists and philosophers
What you should do today as a D&A professional if you want to make a difference

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.

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In Episode 41, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dominic Holden, Head of Data Governance at Jet2.com, where they talk about the key considerations when building out a data governance function from the ground up, which includes;

Constructing the data governance operation
Clearly defining who does what, when
Getting sponsorship and buy-in for data governance
Reframing what data governance is
Democratizing data across an organisation
Defining and upskilling a data ownership structure
Prioritising where to start and what the focus areas should be
Balancing the academic and theoretical concepts with reality
Considering the practicalities when designing your data governance framework
Ensuring that data governance is viewed as a value-creation endeavour and not fixing data
The skills and experience needed to build a well-balanced data governance team

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.

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In Episode 40, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Greg Freeman, CEO of Data Literacy Academy, Hannah Davies, Head of Data Culture and Excellence at Admiral Group Plc and Kate Jones, Head of Data Product and Strategy at Coventry Building Society as part of a live panel event, where they discuss how to design and deliver an enterprise data literacy programme, from planning to impact, which includes;

Understanding the business case for data literacy programmes
Who should drive it and why
The key steps in planning effective enterprise data literacy
Approaches to obtaining buy-in and sponsorship
How to build a data academy
Communicating the value to the wider business
Branding people with persona names
Ways to measure success
Why success metrics will change with maturity
Proving the ROI on data literacy initiatives
If there is resistance to the word 'literacy'
If structured data literacy programmes can work in smaller organisations
The scale of dedicated resources required to execute
Typical objections to running data literacy programmes
Selling the benefits of why a data literacy programme is required
The common challenges faced when implementing a data literacy programme
Overcoming those challenges
Assessing the current level of data literacy before starting
Tailoring data literacy activities for different stakeholders and departments

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.

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In Episode 39, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined Stefania Gvillo, Chief Analytics & Insight Officer at Domino's, where they discuss how to be a better data storyteller to drive better business impact, which includes;

Understanding what matters to your audience
The link between value and effective storytelling
Focusing on what drives decisions and not what is cool and insightful
The importance of perception and how storytelling can reshape it
Why your language determines your impact
The storytelling nuances between B2B and B2C
Why you should never refer to your stakeholders as clients
Why you should be a journalist and not a novelist
Case studies where storytelling changed outcomes and led to success.
Strategies for upskilling your team in storytelling and influencing.
Constructing your team with storytelling and influencing skills in mind
Practical tips for improving storytelling skills for listeners

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.

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In Episode 38, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rui Machado, Vice President of Data Engineering and Architecture at H&M Group, where they discuss data modelling, accessibility and translating highly technical solutions into business value, which includes;

Working for household names such as Nike and Meta
Leading a team of 200 Data Engineers at H&M
Becoming the author of; Analytics Engineering with SQL and Dbt: Building Meaningful Data Models at Scale
H&M’s focus on sustainability and society
Why data modelling lost relevance and why it’s had a resurgence
The fundamental changes in how organisations build and use data models
Why decentralising ownership of data has disrupted the industry
Why SQL is still the core tool for data teams and why it has survived despite the explosion of the modern data stack
Why there has been a refocusing on data accessibility
What sets the great engineers apart from the good engineers
Why data engineering teams need to be more aligned to their business stakeholders
Why engineers need to understand the economics of building specific applications
How organisations can ensure that their technical teams are delivering things that will help the business to create/realise value
Why some technical people can elevate themselves into leadership and others struggle
How to connect very technical concepts to business outcomes and strategies
Using OKRs to understand business priorities and align your engineering goals
The shift from data teams being a service team to being a partner

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.

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In Episode 37, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Claire Thompson, Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Legal & General, where they discuss the power of influencing and operating at board level to transform organisations, which includes;

Starting her career as a SAS programmer
The key traits and attributes a CDO/Data Leader need to be effective at board level
Intentionally taking a sideward career step to get the opportunity to become a better communicator
Why influencing skills can be problematic for CDOs/Data Leaders
The importance of being a great storyteller and its relationship to value cretion
The conditions that D&A teams require to add tangible business value
Finding the sponsors in your organisation
Whether you need to be in the boardroom to influence
The expectations of the boardroom in relation to Data & Analytics
If executives are expecting tangible ROI from their investment
Building an AI Accelerator within L&G
Being a part of the Lord Mayors Ethical AI initiative
The practical education pieces that can be done to upskill/educate stakeholders
The key to ensuring that data, analytics and AI is treated as a transformational endeavour it needs to be
The relationship between DEI and the ability to influence to create value
Hints/tips on how to get DEI right in a world where so many D&A teams struggle with 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.

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In Episode 36, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Chris Daniels, Chief Data Officer (Corporate Bank) at Deutsche Bank, where they discuss the delineation between business and technology, which includes;

Why organisations haven’t put data as a first-order citizen historically
Avoiding unnecessary transformation of our data
Finding good, opportunistic data science use cases within sales and product teams
Why the things we built 18 months ago we’d never dream of building today
Having the right conditions for success as a CDO
Why you’ll never have an enduring model that is right for all situations at all times
The move from centralised to distributed structures to align with product lines
Why extreme centralisation doesn’t work
Making data everyone’s problem
Why where data is homed in an organisation can matter
Why to be successful it has to be a topic of importance at the board/exco level
Where it sits is irrelevant if it isn’t a topic of importance at that level
The importance of creating a common purpose
Why reporting lines should matter to D&A professionals if they want to grow
Why you need to be both business and technology literate to succeed as a D&A team
How the lines are blurring between business and tech
The importance of cross-functional teams
Why automation is increasing the need for better technology expertise and focus
The importance of real-time observability
Upskilling as someone from a non-technology background
Why industry events are a necessity for learning
Why process reengineering will be a key to success in a rapidly evolving world
The importance of AI literacy at the exec level so they can reshape their thinking
Not believing in data strategies
The importance of explainability
Why it’s necessary to think beyond the first-wave of GenAI possibilities

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In Episode 35, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rupal Sumaria, Head of Data Management at ASOS, where they discuss how to obtain buy-in and sponsorship for data management, which includes;

Ending up in Data Governance by accident
Rebranding from Data Governance to Data Management
The recognition that Data Management can support
Why repetition, persistence and resilience are the key to driving buy-in and sponsorship
Using different content and analogies to communicate with different teams
The importance of getting into as many meetings as possible
Using a variety of different mediums to communicate with your business teams
Why data management success requires a fundamental mindset shift for the entire organisation
Communication differences between business teams and executives
Why the perception of legacy organisations versus digital natives isn’t always accurate
Prioritising which data management use cases to tackle first
Why willing partners are critical and how you identify them
Why people skills are so critical when working in data management
How personality can take you a long way
Why the perception of job titles can make a difference
Balancing quick wins with long-term strategic initiatives
The role of technology and tooling in data governance
Why data discoverability is a critical component to success
The importance of retaining and sharing company knowledge
The differences between data governance and AI governance
How GenAI will impact data governance

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.

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In Episode 34, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Peter Laflin, Director of Data Analytics at Morrisions, where they discuss how to build a high-performance Data & Analytics team that is laser-focused on value and impact, which includes;

The distinction between a ‘Head of’ and CDO role
Why value has become a buzzword
Why value has to be embodied culturally to be attained
Why the role of a D&A team is to help their business sell more
Translating technical work into business benefits
The mindset shift required to get your D&A team talking in business speak
The relationship between the team you build and the success you’ll have
Recruiting to build a cohesive team
Why ICs often struggle to cope once promoted into management
Why the language of the business has to be spoken internally within the D&A team
Why your team always need to know why they’re doing something
The importance of having a very clear vision of the direction you're heading
Being really clear on the problem you’re trying to solve
Why many D&A teams are driven by the wrong things
The role of business leadership in defining our D&A direction
Why you should focus on the customer and the value will follow
Building a business culture into a D&A team
The art of explaining very complex topics in very simple language
Embracing neurodiversity for success
Practical tips for creating a truly inclusive environment

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.

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In Episode 33, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steve Janoo, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Diageo, where they discuss the debate around CIO and CDO relationship and reporting lines, due to Steve’s background as a former Global CIO to get an alternative view, which includes;

Reporting lines and why they shouldn’t matter
The challenge of perception
Why the status of the technology function plays a major part
Why wherever you sit it’s only ever about the business strategy and outcomes
How the conversation differs between CDAO and CIO versus other business leaders
Why the CIO and CDAO should work together to create common ground
Why there is too much for one person to take ownership and accountability across Digital and Data
Why the CIO is often in the boardroom and the CDAO isn’t
The lack of understanding of the CDAO role at the exec level
Why the lack of standardisation confuses executives
Landing your message in the boardroom if you’re not in the boardroom
How not all digital and data exec conversations don’t take place in the boardroom
Why you have to find your medium to land your messages you need to land
Why the CDAO needs to be empowered to build on top of existing technology platforms
What the perception of D&A actually is in the boardroom
Demonstrating the value you deliver
Why incremental value is a must to balance investment and ROI
Why flexibility, speed and agility are value drivers in modern-day business
Why executives are still bought into the fact that data adds value
Why the transformational nature of the CDAO role drives the challenges around tenure
What a good CIO & CDO relationship looks like
Making the transition from CIO to CDAO
Why the CDAO is the best person to be accountable for GenAI

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In Episode 32, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom hosts a panel discussion alongside;

Hannah Davies, Head of Data Culture & Excellence at Admiral Group
Josh Cunningham, Group Head of Data Culture at Lloyds Banking Group
Cali Wood, Head of Data Strategy and Culture at AXA
Sandra Oudshoff (who was the Global Analytics Engagement Lead at Heineken at the time of recording)

Where they discuss how Data Culture teams are transforming organisations in 2024, which includes;

Why Data Culture is more than just training
The relationship between being 'data-driven' and failure
The importance of people and trust to improve competency and capability
Why it’s important to break the notion of culture down by target audience
Why data culture is everyone’s job
The importance of having dedicated roles to drive data cultural initiatives
Why culture is important to make better decisions that drive business value
The different types of data culture initiatives that these organisations are delivering
Battling against ‘the taught’ fear of data
Differences in upskilling when catering for D&A colleagues and business stakeholders
The importance of upskilling the executive team
Using different mediums and methods of communication to highlight the value being realised
Measuring how good your data culture is and the value of your culture initiatives
The impact that data culture has on the value generated
The importance of tracking and measuring engagement
Understanding your data maturity and having a maturity roadmap
The relationship between culture and value
Tailoring culture initiatives to different personas
The relationship between self-service and data culture
The major roadblocks/challenges you may face
The impact that GenAI will have on data culture/literacy initiatives
Key advice for any organisation that is just about to embark upon its Data Cultura journey
Making these initiatives mandatory or optional
Making data sexy and fun

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.

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In Episode 31, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Justin Windle, Head of Data Oversight at First Citizens Bank, where they discuss the purpose of data evangelism and how to set the north-star and sell the value, which includes;

Setting your north star
Operating in a buzzword-heavy industry
Understanding your purpose and where you’re heading
Setting a North star in the absence of a data strategy
Why too many D&A journeys purely tactical
Why your D&A strategy may change but your north star shouldn’t
Why value is the “why”?
Why your communication around the north-star should be different for different audiences
Why you should brand your data organisation internally
The progression of the Data Leader
Moving from reactive to value-driven
Building to deliver value quickly but also towards your vision
The disparity between average tenure and average roadmap
The need for having different CDOs at different stages of the journey
Tying value to your north-star
Creating advocates across your organisation
How 99% of organisations are not sold on the value of data
Why the primary role of the CDO is to be evangelist
The importance of learning to craft the D&A message to the different business functions
Why you have to sell the benefits and get people excited
Why the last thing you should do is talk about data
Why you should give people bragging rights
Why you should never build your North Star on a business case
Why value and valuable are 2 different things
The relationship between culture and evangelism
Why you may be struggling to build a data culture
Getting the business stakeholders to help define the north-star
Why people are the major roadblock to reaching a north-star
Why it’s easier to sell D&A to executives
Evangelism will help change the incorrect perception of the industry
Why most companies don’t understand what the role of the Data Leader is

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.

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In Episode 30, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sol Rashidi, Former Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer at various Fortune 100 organisations and now advisor, where they discuss what really causes many of the Data & Analytics industry's challenges and the importance of perception, which includes;

Starting out as a Data Engineer
Being a translator before the translator skillset was recognised
Being a techno-functional Data Executive
Helping to launch IBM Watson
Why you’re never brought in as a CDO when things are going well
Why your value has nothing to do with what you can build
Why success has nothing to do with your competence in the data space
Why you’ve only got 6 months to build the perception of value as a Data Leader
The framework of understanding what are common, core and local data challenges
Putting wins on the board amongst conflicting agendas
Over 70% of organisations don’t understand the value of a CDO yet
The importance of asking your stakeholders what they think your job is
Understanding who and what you should prioritise
What we actually mean when we talk about 'good communication' and ‘getting out in the business’
Why you need to create function-specific strategy documents for each key stakeholder
The importance of talking in the language of your stakeholders
Why you should always talk about their needs and requests
Creating brand equity by ensuring your stakeholders feel heard and understood
The catalyst for writing her best-selling book
Having 40 AI deployments in production at in enterprise organisations
The 3 key reasons why organisations change tact and don’t follow through
Why data analytics work is the hardest to quantify in business
The three measurements of value and ROI; financial, cultural and relevancy
Landing different messages for different personas
Why 60% of the day is committed to communication
Why you presume that people know what you’re doing but they never do
Why data and analytics people don’t get the correct training to be successful at the executive level
Why it’s less about IQ and more about EQ, BQ and SQ
Why you need to report to ‘the business’ if you want to be respected, but, why it’s easier to do the work under IT
Why you’ll always be starting from a deficit in perception if you sit within IT
Why having responsibility is different to having the authority
What the future of AI will look like
Why they’ll be a decrease in the amount of AI-based projects over the next 12-24 months

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.

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In Episode 29, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Evie Dineva, Group Head of Data Engineering & Data Science at Gymshark, where they discuss how to balance delivering commercial value through data, analytics and AI products responsibly and ethically, which includes;

Being driven by the purpose of improving business performance
Articulating the commercial value of what Data & Analytics teams do
The importance of supporting people to be better at what they do
Working for a brand as big and prominent as Gymshark
The importance of being in an environment where company values are visible
Common pitfalls as to why organisations fail to deliver commercial value with data
Focusing on the why and not the how
The importance of understanding your vision
Why success is largely down to building strong relationships
What good business partnering looks like
The differences between tactical versus commercial business partnering
Being advocated for and championed without having to be in the room
Why the strategic initiatives often hold the bigger commercial gains
Defining the measure of success before you define the solution
The rise of Data & AI products and the difference it’s created
Balancing the pursuit of commercial value with building responsible and ethical data & AI products
The risks of neglecting ethical considerations
Where accountability lies with humans and artificial intelligence
The importance of humans in the loop
The relationship between risk and literacy
The relationship between authentic leadership and ethics

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.

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In Episode 28, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Pete Youngs, Managing Partner at Ortecha, where they discuss the key considerations of designing and implementing the correct data operating model and its importance in data and analytics success, which includes;

Why a data operating model is more important than your data strategy
The day-to-day chaos of living without an operating model
The relationship between D&A enablement and your operating model
Defining the MVP data operating model
Data operating models in the absence of data strategies
Why your operating model should be ever-evolving
The confusion between operating models and team structures
Why people are the most important part of your operating model
Why your data operating model can’t conflict with the business operating model
Trends around centralised versus decentralised structures
The relationship between team structure cycles and the tenure of the CDO
The importance of defining role profiles and managing with OKRs
Why size and scale are important factors in defining the best data operating model
Why many data operating models are created by data governance or strategy teams
The relationship between data operating models and delivering value
The importance of a value-driven mindset and having a value-case
Balancing value realisation while building your data operating model
Why not enough focus or time is put into successful implementation and adoption
Why most CEOs would be shocked if they knew how much it actually costs to do it properly
Why your data operating model needs to be rolled out iteratively across the organisation
The symptoms of a successful data operating model and measuring success
Why data products have changed the way data operating models work
Why lack of adoption is often due to a lack of process
The importance of selecting the right partners
The top four pieces of advice to create the right data operating model
The relationship between data operating model and data culture

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In Episode 27, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tom Betts, Group Data Director at Kingfisher Plc , where they discuss the complexities, challenges and opportunities of building a centralised data function at a group level to support multiple operating brands, which includes;

His journey from DJ to Travel Agent to CDO
Studying Artificial Intelligence in the early 2000s
Organising a centralised data domain to serve a multi-brand business
Being the first data leader at group level
The benefits and challenges of starting from a blank canvas
The challenge of attracting talent as a group company that people haven't heard of
Building a data-led customer experience as a pillar of a corporate strategy
Deciding which capabilities sit within the operating companies versus what is centralised at the group level
Working out where the biggest opportunities lie across multiple brands
Adopting different ways of working within different teams
The importance of meeting each operating company where they are and not having a group approach to everything
Dealing with different; cultures, literacy, adoption and maturity across the different brands
The core use cases that are scalable and reusable across different operating companies
Building an orchestration framework for Generative AI tools
Using gamification as a tool for education and upskilling
The benefits of building working prototypes to drive buy-in and adoption
Building a customer-facing generative AI solution
Understanding and mitigating the risks of a customer-facing GenAi solution
Considering the risks of inaction
Why you’ll always learn more from just doing
Why the role of Chief AI Officer is not needed in isolation
Why it’s important to have teams that are delivering DS/AI solutions to go as end-to-end as possible in a cross-functional way
Why it’s faster to build things than it is to leverage what has been built

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.

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In Episode 26, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Michelle Gansle, Chief Data, Analytics & AI Officer at Mcdonald's, where they discuss why, as one of the world's biggest brands, they still have a commitment to change and innovation and how Data & Analytics fuels that, which includes;

3 fun facts that people don’t know about McDonald's
The data and analytics goals of McDonald's
The size and scale of the D&A capability at McDonalds
Defining the right operating model for such a large enterprise
Key D&A use cases in the fast food industry
Why prioritisation should be the easiest part of the job
Why even the biggest companies need to optimise and innovate to be successful
Why one of the world's biggest brands has a commitment to change
The tangible impact that certain innovations like drive-thru’s and delivery apps have had on their business
What the landscape looked like before and after the pandemic
Building a foresight team to predict what may happen in the future
The three-legged stool concept
Why the McDonalds culture has always been tied to innovation
How innovation is in service of the organisation's core business
Why they view their size and scale as an incomparable advantage
The double-edged sword of being a large business
Why relentless curiosity will make you successful
Understanding the difference between what you could do versus what you should do
The benefit of having a seat at the table
Why it’s imperative to understand what “the end” is, and why Data & Analytics is not it
Who really are the competitors
Why they’re rarely first to market but are often fast followers
The role that GenAI will play at McDonald's
The 3 horizons of Generative AI
How D&A was mentioned 42 times at investor meetings

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.

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In Episode 25, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Irina Mihai, Director of Data, Marketing Analytics & Decision Science at Adidias, where they discuss how to create an environment to ensure that the work of a D&A team is constantly visible, which includes;

Coming from a non-STEM background and dealing with imposter syndrome
The importance of branding the Data & Analytics team both internally and externally
Having an internal decision-support culture
The benefits of authentic leadership
The importance of how to decide on which problems to work on
Intentionally building a team to cater for areas where you have less experience
Choosing the right KPIs to monitor performance
Moving from being an individual contributor into a leadership role
Ensuring you’re not a bottleneck for your team
The importance of defining your team's purpose within the organisation
Fostering an environment of psychological safety
Why you should co-create your roadmap as a team
The importance of having designated leads for each item of your roadmap as a team
Why communication skills separate the good from the excellent
Having a criteria to prioritise what projects to undertake
Understanding the organisational strategic goals
Knowing when and why to discontinue a project
The benefits of having an organisational culture where challenge is welcome
The importance of having an agreed model of communication to engage effectively with stakeholders
Why the engagement and commitment of stakeholders is a key evaluation criteria
The benefits both internally and externally of making sure your D&A team is visible
Why you can no longer rely on the company brand to attract talent
Why everyone needs to be responsible for their own visibility

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In Episode 24, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Chris Bannocks, Group Chief Data Officer at QBE Insurance, where they discuss how they are productionising GenAI use cases from scratch within 8 weeks, which includes;

Being a CDAO/Group CDAO in multiple organisations/sectors
The importance of international experience
Being allergic to the term ‘data strategy’
The impact that Gen AI will have on business
Why GenAI/AI isn’t the solution to every problem
Harnessing the value that GenAI can bring
The top and bottom line opportunities of GenAI
Why GenAI raises the stakes further for D&A teams
The requirements of the semantic understanding of your data organization
Going fast and hard on one opportunity to prove it could be done
Using different mediums to gather 300 potential use cases
Building things to be reusable and scalable
Measuring the addressable opportunity
Why they didn’t have to quantify the value before they got started
Standing up a technical spike within 6 days to show what could possibly be done
Having a 12 week deadline to get it done from a standing start with no capability
How that capability has now reduced time to production to 8 weeks
The collaboration needed with each leader from different business units
The importance of creating a working product in production
Why they avoided focusing on efficiency and focused on increasing revenue instead
Avoiding enthusiastic experimentation
Why tight deadlines helped to make decisions quickly and focus on scope/MVP
Why you should never start a piece of work without input from business stakeholders
The challenge of ethical and bias considerations
How they tackled GenAI education across the organisation
The importance of having a human in the loop
Building a team that can deliver
Top pieces of advice for anyone about to embark on this journey

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In Episode 23, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Caroline Zimmerman, Director of Data Product & Strategy at Profusion, where they discuss the research study she helped to conduct into how private equity companies are leveraging Data & AI to fuel growth and enterprise value, which includes;

The catalyst for conducting the research study
Why private equity has a very specific definition of value and how to measure it
Why PE has a lot to teach the corporate Data & Analytics landscape
The major differences between PE-backed firms and the rest when it comes to D&A
Focusing on enterprise value
Why time horizons are important and can create urgency with long-term thinking
The differences between PE Data Leaders and others
Why PE does ‘BI’ but not in the traditional sense
The power of growth modelling and the relationship with investment/capital allocation
The role of Data & Digital in value creation teams
The career opportunities for Data Leaders in PE
The two key ways that PE firms are using Data & Analytics across their portfolio
Obsessing over understanding your most valuable customers
Culture is still the main challenge to overcome
The differences between PE firms who specialise versus those with diversified portfolios
Why data monetisation affects multiple and not just profit
Why horizontal investments into data infrastructure don’t exist in PE
Why the D&A community should care about this research
Why it still should be all about making better decisions
Roles, titles and remuneration benchmarks of Data Leaders within PE
Where you can find/access the research study

A joint INSEAD research project by:

Theodoros Evgeniou, INSEAD Business School
Caroline Zimmerman, Profusion
Olly Blaydon, Armstong International
Shahbaz Alam, AWS

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In Episode 22, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Simon Ferriter, CEO at Anmut , where they discuss why organisations are valuing their data like other balance sheet assets, which includes;

The framework for measuring the value and fitness for purpose of your most important data
The role of capital allocation in data assets
How most organisations don’t understand which data assets are important to success
If data teams lack the business/management acumen to communicate data effectively
Why data isn’t treated or managed like other resources and assets in an organisation
Not all data has equal importance to decision-making
Why the 80-20 rule is likely in play when it comes to data
Why data valuation is completely context-dependent
The three financial methods for valuing data
The importance of social impacts of data (environmental and community)
The benefit of putting a financial figure on the value of data assets
Why semantics around language are causing confusion
Why the financial figure isn’t the end result, it’s what that allows you to do from there
Why data valuation drives improved "value"
Knowing which data asset is important for which business opportunities
Why valuing your data captures the attention of the board and makes it their issue too
The under-investment in data management capability and the overinvestment in technology
Why the problem statements are fairly universal across industries and organisations
Why complexity means intangible assets are overlooked and often undervalued
Why accounting standards are no longer fit for purpose in the digital age of today
If data should be on the balance sheet
Investing in the upstream business process to prevent the need for new tools
The benefits that organisations are seeing from valuing their data assets
Why Anmut launched a product to help organisations to self-serve on this process

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In Episode 21, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, we're airing the live interview that took place between Kyle Winterbottom and Ranil Boteju, Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Lloyds Banking Group which was recorded at the end of 2023 and then transcribed into 'Exclusive Leader Feature' article in the first edition of the Driven by Data Magazine, where they discuss how analytics practitioners are at the heart of value creation at LBG, which includes;

The power of purpose
Evolving views of value creation
The future of analytics skills & value creation
The potential and pitfalls of Generative AI
Fostering a data culture
Building an intentionally different team
Whether the CDAO role will exist in 5 years

**Read the magazine here; https://orbitiongroup.com/driven-by-data-magazine-home/

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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 job
Raising $50m to build Harbr
The three key use cases that people use the platform for
The challenges of data sharing and the implication on data democratisation
Why the consumer user journey is often missing
The importance of scalability and reusability
The lack of empathy between the people creating data assets and the people using them
The balancing act of value and control
The journey of data products, data as a product, product management and data mesh
Why data isn’t special - product management should be applied
Why language is important!
Why the number one challenge for CDO’s is complexity
Why 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

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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 part
Strategy 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 team
Data 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.

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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 them
Defining the data strategy prioritisation roadmap
Ensuring that you’re listening as a CDO
Focusing on where you’ll get advocacy and usage
Understanding 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 do
Segmenting the strategy into collect, protect and use
The importance of thinking about usage at the beginning
Reducing technology costs
Why data platform projects aren’t exciting to CEO’s, but what does interest them
Using 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 ExCo

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.

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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 all
Why attracting and retaining great talent is the hardest part of leadership
Finding a way to that seat if your role doesn’t grant you one
As maturity increases, the less the Data Leadership role should be needed
Why 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 leader
Why 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.

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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 ago
Intentionally investing heavily in personal development around ‘soft skills’
Mapping out what “The Lean Startup Approach” to Data Science would be
Deciding 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 approach
The 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 value
The 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 problems
Why using external partners can bring “diversity of thought”
Thinking outside the box to hire a more diverse team
Implementing data fluency programmes
Using 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.

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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 Europe
Constructing ‘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 made
Aligning Forward 28 and Data-Driven Danske
Building the 8 capabilities that make up a Chief Data Office
Battling 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.

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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’s
Why data hasn’t historically been the focus of the organisation
How the digital experience of the business has left a lot to be desired at times
Why the presence of safety extends culturally across the organisation
How they’ve had people working in data for over 35 years at the organisation
Having deep ‘on-prem’ routes
Being the cheerleader of the team to drive change
The challenges that having minimal to no attrition can bring
How they’ve upskilled and trained a large data team
Being impatient in a world where change is slow
Why they’re still using old-school tech and tools
Battling to increase the organisational expectations of the Data team
Why the organisation doesn’t often see that data can be a solution to their issues
Kicking 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 programmes

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.

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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 it
How the scale and interest is off the charts
Having an outpost in Silicon Valley to scout new tech partners
How they were working with OpenAI 18 months before ChatGPT launched
Working 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 more
Why 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 themselves
Why GenAI will change D&A team structures and operating model
Why executive support and interest is more important than who you report to
Advice 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 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 - CambridgeSpark

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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 shortages
Challenging 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 Evanta

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 - CambridgeSpark

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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 Cambridge
Becoming 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 investments
How the role of the CDO is expected to deliver ROI like any other exec role
The 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 ROI
Why 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 staff
How 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 selling
Why CDOs need to take more credit for what they do
Understanding which educational avenue is best for your organisation
The benefits of career changers and reskilling

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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 platform
The 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 silos
The symptoms of growth pains in a hyper-growth organisation
Dismantling 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 vision
The 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 University
Balancing 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 takeaways
Moving 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 - CambridgeSpark

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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 Groups
Chairing the national police data board bringing together 43 organisations
Being one of the most complained about organisations to the ICO
The 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-making
The 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 situations
How the public help set the organisation's business strategy
Why most people don’t connect data to their core role and mission
Why their data can be valuable to UK PLC but the challenges in articulating how
How 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 Sweet

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 - CambridgeSpark

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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 vision
Defining 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

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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 value
Why servant leadership is the type of leadership needed to get value from data
What 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 strengths
Why 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 value
The difference between leadership, line management and mentorship
To be a great influencer you need humility and courage
Why 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

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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 important
Why you need to be customer-obsessed
The relationship between data and providing better customer experiences
Data-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 principles
Using AI to measure the emotions of your customers
Why it’s on Data Leaders to quantify the value of the work we do
Why it’s never enough to build foundations
Picking 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 months
Why 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

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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 play
What 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 them
Why ‘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 matters
Driving top-down and bottom-up
Why 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

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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 CDO
Why 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 empowerment
Culture, Change and Relationship Building
Why you have to measure the impact of the business outcomes you’re supporting
The telltale signs that you’re ready to execute
Why operating as an executive requires a totally different skillset
The 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 CDO
How 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&L
Why 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 deliverables
The art of data storytelling as a CDO
Communicating 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

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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 ITV
The 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 move
Why 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 success
Why insight isn’t the problem, unlocking the last mile is
Being 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 win
How to get onto a board without board experience

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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 beneficial
Why having a can-do attitude is critical to be successful
The 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-pager
The 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 objectives
The 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 Leader

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.

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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 same
Why 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 projects
Why 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 CDO
Why 'culture change' and 'literacy' aren’t helpful terms
Why we need to be more prescriptive to change behaviours and culture across the organisation
The 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 CDO
Why 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 CDO
How hype and buzz have helped move data up the value chain
Why 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.

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What do Data Modelling, Delivering £500m in value through Data & Analytics, and building a Data Academy have in common?

They all feature in the most listened-to episodes of Driven by Data: The Podcast, ever!

After recently concluding Season 3 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, we thought we'd bring you a compilation bonus episode of some of the most listened-to episodes ever, to keep you tide over until the launch of Season 4 in a couple of weeks, which we promise will be the biggest and best yet.

This episode features;

S3 | Ep 4: The Resurgence of Data Modelling, with Kelly Hume
S3 | Ep 16: Delivering £500m in Value with Clive (Benny) Benford
S3 | Ep 21: Building a Successful Data Academy with Hannah Davies

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After concluding Season 3 of Driven by Data: The Podcast last week, we thought we'd bring you a compilation bonus episode of some of the most listened-to episodes ever, to keep you tide over until the launch of Season 4 in a couple of weeks, which we promise will be the biggest and best yet.

This episode features;

S3 | Ep 1: Valuing Data as an Asset with Davin Crowley-Sweet
S3 | Ep 3: Data; A People Sport with Liz Henderson
S2 | Ep 1: Becoming Data Literate with David Reed

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In Episode 50, of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Joseph George, CEO at Dufrain, where they discuss the seven sins of data transformation, which includes;

The differences between being an employee in a big corporate to running a business
The realities of the Data Science hype cycle in 2017/18
Why the good work is only done in pockets and silos
Research that suggests that only 27% of organisations are ready to achieve benefits from AI
Why they commissioned their ‘State of Data’ Report and some of the key findings
Why most organisations believe they’re significantly more data mature than they actually are
Why data is important but not urgent
How most organisations can’t tie their D&A work to any increase in profit /revenue
The reality of how organisations are still using data within an organisation
How organisations are suffering from the “streetlight effect”
Why most data and analytics projects still don’t deliver the desired benefits
How most of the blockers are non-technical
The seven sins of data transformation
Why data is an afterthought in most transformation programmes
The lack of good programme/project management on most data and analytics initiatives
The importance of understanding what success and ‘completed’ is for different stakeholders
Why many agile projects aren’t actually agile
The three lenses of collaboration and why the lack of it negatively impacts many D&A projects
Why everyone needs to think and act commercially and speak in business language
Why it all ties back to revenue
Why we all have to look in the mirror
The importance of being able to articulate the benefit of any data initiative
Why the CIO is being chosen over the CDO for having responsibility for AI

You can find The State of Data Report here; https://www.dufrain.co.uk/

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In Episode 49 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dr Christina Sandema-Sombe, Chief Data Steward at Nike, where they discuss the relationship between user acceptance and adoption and the role it plays in Data and Analytics success, which includes;

How being better at writing has been a huge benefit throughout her career
The 6 things that she owns as Chief Data Steward
How to activate organisations to treat data as an asset
Why data is truly a team sport between business, data and tech
The importance of knowledge management and change management
Managing data within different teams at different levels of maturity
The importance of user acceptance
Why identifying the art of the possible causes disruption
Why we often overinvest in new tools while not being mature enough to benefit from them
Why it should be behaviours first and technologies second
Why most technology becomes expensive shelfware and how to avoid that
Why D&A approaches the problem of change like it’s a brand new problem, when it’s not
Why inter-disciplinary thinking is critical for combatting change
Why driving change for D&A is like a merger and acquisition of two big giants
The healthy balance between carrot and stick
Why executive sponsorship is absolutely critical to success
Why you have to be very intentional about educating
Aligning data initiatives to business objectives
Why top-down stewardship is more effective than bottom-up
The role of the operating model and how team structure can be critical
The relationship between knowledge management and adoption
Why branding is super important to make it D&A interesting, exciting and accessible
Her hilarious story related to Justin Timberlake 👀

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.

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In Episode 48 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Andy Moore, Chief Data Officer at Bentley Motors, where they discuss what it takes to define, build and execute a Data and Analytics strategy in a 100+ year old organisation, which includes;

Understanding the corporate strategy
Having a fully electric vehicle line-up by 2030
The focus on sustainability
The importance of executing a gap analysis of the corporate strategy
Their Data Dojo Data Literacy programme
The relationship between the strategy and the people
Building and executing a Data Strategy from scratch in an 100+ year old organisation
How data has evolved over the last 23 years in that organisation
Setting the strategy and building the capability
The challenges and opportunities of building a team from a blank canvass
Balancing the team in relation to experience when hiring
The demand from younger generations to get into our industry
Using apprenticeships to develop the skills you'll need in the future
Why workforce planning is critical
How to increase the flow of fresh, young talent into our industry
The benefits of having a truly diverse team like Bentley’s D&A team is
Being a recovering Chief Digital Officer and what the future of the Chief Data Officer looks like

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.

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In Episode 47 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Rachel Keane, Founder of DigData, where they discuss the need to connect the industry with education to raise the profile of Data & Analytics as a career option much earlier, which includes;

What DigData is and why it exists
The talent shortage in the D&A industry
Why there is so little being done to raise awareness at an earlier age
The need to attract students from different educational backgrounds and interests
The consequences organisations are seeing and feeling
The core challenges with how data is positioned within the education system
What more can be done to raise the profile of our industry
How can we quantify success
What data "means" in educational institutions
Why the tenure of the CDO plays a part
How to make junior/graduate talent more accessible to all companies
Why our obsession with tech is negatively impacting
Connecting industry with education
The relationship between this challenge and DEI

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In Episode 46 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Ben Steele, Head of Data & Analytics at BMS Group where they discuss how to successfully engage your business leaders and what constitutes the perfect conditions for a Data Executive, which includes;

Being the first data leader through the door
Owning and implementing the first data strategy in an organisation
Operating in low data maturity environments
Generating between £50-100m in revenue through Data & Analytics
Why it isn’t the job of a data team to define what value means for a business
Why you can’t distil value down to one single meaning or metric
Data use cases versus business use cases
The importance of being comfortable having purely business conversations
Why collaboration is the single biggest superpower of a Data & Analytics team
What you should expect to be measured by as a Data Leader
What business leaders, boards, shareholders, etc, view as “value”
The importance of getting the balance of skills in a team correct
Working effectively with other business leaders/peers
How to successfully engage a business leadership team
The importance of Data Literacy to the success of the CDO
The perfect conditions for success in a CDO role
Why talking about attribution of revenue is the wrong question
Why the notion of a Data Strategy will hopefully become redundant

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In Episode 45 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is rejoined by, Samir Sharma, CEO & Founder of Datazuum, where they discuss how to really understand business objectives and align a data strategy that you can operationalise, which includes;

Defining, creating and operationalizing your data strategy
The ‘Data Strategy Canvass’ and the purpose of existence
The catalyst for creating it
Why business teams and data teams are talking different languages
The reasons why data strategies don’t often align with business strategies
Why asking the right questions is the critical component
How recent research has shown that only 6% of data strategies made any reference to business value generation
The 3 questions to answer about every use case
The difference between benefits and outcomes
Why many organisations don’t have clearly defined business strategies
How you can understand what the business objectives really are
Why you don’t need to be at the decision-making table to aligning data strategy to business strategy
The 3 buckets that all value levers are tied to in the eyes of “the business”
Why too many focus on data use cases and not business use cases
The value discrepancy between business leaders and data teams
Why most organisations don’t assess Data Leaders for the skills they actually need
Why reporting lines don’t matter
The 7 steps to align a data strategy to business objectives

Link to Data Strategy Canvass: : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/samirsharma1_data-valuecreation-business-activity-7101161956320907266-GlNT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

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In Episode 44 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Dan Kellet, Chief Data Officer at Capital One where they discuss how to strike the balance between driving innovation while delivering day-to-day, which includes;

The benefits of working in one organisation for 23 years
How a data and analytics journey evolves inside an organisation over that timeframe
Why so many things are different but a lot of things are still the same
What innovation means in a global organisation
The relationship between innovation and value
Quick Wins V Innovation
The benefit of having a clearly defined business strategy
Why innovation is all about people
Why relationship building is one of the most important skills to success
The impact a team structure has on realising value
If team structures play a part in being able to innovate
The benefits and challenges of a centralised versus fragmented team structure
How to spend your time to strike the balance between delivery, innovation and value
Advice on how to reprioritise with innovation in mind

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In Episode 43 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, we’re sharing the conversation that Orbition Group’s very own Kyle Winterbottom and Catherine King took part in for the DAMA UK and BCS Diversity in Data Conference, hosted by Jenny Andrew, which includes;

A snapshot of the Data & Analytics talent landscape today
Current trends in Data & Analytics talent
Encouraging more women into Senior Leadership
How to create truly diverse teams
The importance of Non-STEM routes into Data
The need to raise awareness at earlier ages
Why we should be striving for diversity of thought
How most organisations confuse DEI & representation
The role of non-technical roles in diversity
The importance of mentorship
How to utilise events and external networking opportunities
Battling Imposter Syndrome
The impact job descriptions have on diversity
What do companies mean by hybrid working in 2023
Fixing a flawed hiring process

Video link to conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzmE9P-JD0s&t=18s

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In Episode 42 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Scott Hirleman, CEO and Founder of Data Mesh Understanding and host of 'Data Mesh Radio' podcast where they discuss, the current Data Mesh landscape and how that's been impacted by Generative AI, which includes;

What Data Mesh is, and what it isn't
The current state of play in the Data Mesh landscape
What has worked in relation to extracting value from Data Mesh
The organisations that have been very successful in implementing Data Mesh
The common use cases that make it applicable
If Data Mesh is right for your organisation, or not
Why you would consider taking the Data Mesh route
The impact of agility and speed
The struggles of implementing at scale
What to do and what not to do
Why Data Mesh has been drowned out by Gen AI
The relationship between Data Mesh and Gen AI
Why the D&A industry is obsessed with chasing the "new shiny"
How to prevent ourselves from doing so
How to leverage our businesses' enthusiasm for the "new shiny"

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In Episode 41 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Beth Bauer, Founder and CEO of PosiROI, where they discuss, the 4 key dimensions required to deliver innovation and value at scale, which includes;

Why feedback loops are critical to driving innovation and a data-informed culture
The importance of meeting people where they are
Why value means different people to different people
Why value always needs to translate to money eventually
How the 1st steps of value creation are unlikely to be related to money
Why we need to recognise there are different value points
Why having the data culture that we want can create power struggles
The 4 dimensions that underpin the journey toward value creation
Why Sales, Marketing and Speed define whether your innovation will be successful
How innovation occurs in silos within the same organisations
The ADEPT framework for strategies that assist with the acceleration of the 4 dimensions in a data-informed culture
Why value of data needs to be measured against the number of use cases it can solve
Why trust is the anchor to everything
Why relationships will always win over data in building trust
Building a high-performance team that creates value with data
Why data is a team game and not just a data-team game
To build a data-informed culture you need a sales and marketing capability

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In Episode 40 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Deepak Jose, Global Senior Director, Head of One Demand Data Analytics Solutions at Mars Wrigley, where they discuss how to create a value-first mindset to break down organisational silo’s, which includes;

Creating a single source of truth
The ‘one-demand’ mindset
How the concept of Ikigai led him to Mars
How to understand, identify and prioritise business problems that add value
Moving from reducing costs to creating profit and growth
The importance of building relationships with functional leaders
The 70, 20, 10 principle which dictates where investment and resource is directed
Being “value-driven” despite the hype of being “data-driven”
What constitutes value
The concept of the 'balance scorecard' to create KPI’s that generate value
The story of the Honduran Bridge and the relationship with Data Products
White Box Building and Interoperability
Investing in Change Management
Why value-realisation is a team sport
Why you need to build to adapt not build to last to break down silos
Building a Gen AI Operating Model that drives a value-first approach
The Gen AI Framework; do things, do things better and do better things
The learnings of a 20+ year career of working at giants like Coca-Cola and Mars
The importance of challenging the status quo
Why you should be a Gazelle and not a Lion!

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In Episode 39 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sami Rahman, Allison Sagraves, Founding (former) Chief Data Officer at M&T Bank, and Board Advisor, where they discuss the role of the CDAo in the new era of AI and why they are set-up to fail, which includes;

91.9% of firms report that they have achieved some measurable value from their investments in data and analytics,
23.9% say they have created a data-driven organization
20.6% of firms report having established a data culture
Between 2012 and 2023, companies having appointed a CDO grew from just 12.0% to 82.6%
Only 35.5% of major companies report that the role is successful and well-established
Just 40.5% say that the CDAO role is well understood within their company
The three generations of CDO to CDAO and the pending CDAIO role
The functional evolution of the CDAO role
Why the goalposts keep moving for the CDAO
The need for defined success metrics
Why the Data & Analytics industry is always under construction
Why we’re too glass half empty and there’s too much focus on what we’ve not achieved
The need to quantify what value is and communicate the value we’ve achieved
The “build it and they will come” mentality
How we no longer need to sell the simple concepts of data
If you’re still having to convince people then you’ve got the wrong people in the company
Whether reporting line impacts the effectiveness of the CDAO role
The hardest thing for any CDAO to figure out is identifying what problem you actually need to solve
What’s wrong with the CDAO role as of today
What needs to happen to address those issues
Moving into the AI era as a CDAO
The skills needed to be a modern-day CDAO

Link tot he article discussed in the episode:

https://hbr.org/2023/06/why-chief-data-and-ai-officers-are-set-up-to-fail

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In Episode 38 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sami Rahman, Head of Data Engineering and Data Platform at Penguin Random House, where they discuss how to build an MLOps capability that drives business benefit, which includes;

His journey from Business Psychologist to MI5 reject to Data Leader
Being told to give up because he would never work in data without a computer science degree
Being unemployed for 1 year and receiving 326 rejections
Building an entire MLOps system for £50,000
Reducing the time to build models from months to days
Reducing the time to productionise ML models from 5 months to minutes s
Generating a 200% increase in performance across all 12 measures of success
Why MLOps forces you to think about how the model will drive value
How MLOps can be beneficial across the whole D&A value chain
The differences between MLOps and AIOps
Why MLOps isn’t new DevOps
The future of MLOps and the relationship with Genertaive AI
Choosing the right MLOps tech and tooling
Why you need to explain MLOps in less than 2 sentences
When you should start your MLOps journey
The usual pitfalls both technical and business that people should be aware of
The ethical considerations
AI Explainability - how to understand the outcomes in a business context
Why we should build an “evil” AI to tackle bias
The skills you need to execute successful MLOps

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In Episode 37 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lena Mass Cresnik, where they discuss how organisations can develop a Generative AI strategy, which includes;

The 7 components of a Generative AI strategy
Generative AI as human intelligence augmentation
Organisational ROI for using Generative AI tools
The considerations of developing a Generative AI strategy and roadmap
Financial Services and Fintech Generative AI business use cases
The need for upskilling existing staff
The role of organisational design and operating model in relation to Generative AI
Measuring the performance and impact of Generative AI models
The level of expertise or skills required within the data team to successfully execute a generative AI strategy
The risks of Generative AI
The differences to consider across different sectors
The increase in hyper-personalised content
The role that Generative AI will have on the Data & Analytics job market
Where Data Leaders should start

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In Episode 36 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Andy Cotgreave, Senior Data Evangelist at Tableau, where they discuss the role of data visualisation in driving change and realising value, which includes;

Why successful data analysts often have varied backgrounds
Why communication is not a soft skill
How data visualisation is a language
The impact that dashboards can have when presented effectively
How even the most average dataset is highly subjective
How it is so easy to tell different stories with the same data
How the pandemic provided both examples of how you can strive to be neutral or enforce an opinion
The art of creating effective dashboards
The role of data visualisation in driving change and realising business value
How, many executives use poorly presented charts in their keynotes
Four practical tips for better presentation with data visualisation
Why he disagrees with Seth Godin
Why you should think about changing your visualisations even if the data is the same
Who should care about storytelling with visualisations
The importance of aesthetics
Why different audiences require different dashboards
The impact of data democratisation and self-serve on data visualisation
Some key people of influence to follow in this space

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In Episode 35 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Asheeka Hyde, Head of Trading Analytics and Data Science at Dunhelm, where they discuss tangible advice on how to be a better communicator to drive value, which includes;

Having Data & Analytics as a key pillar of the organisation
How to achieve executive alignment
Why most executives are already bought-in
Why it’s important for executives to actually experience the benefits of Data & Analytics
How to demonstrate value as early as possible
The importance of making data problems visible to the execs
Why you have to truly inspire people
Why “quick wins” are often merely for winning trust
Understand what we mean by “value”
The importance of saying ‘No’
Why you need to change your communication depending upon the maturity of your organisation
Why you need to get the execs to prioritise for you
The differences to consider between organisations with a clear business strategy and ones without
How there is more than one way of communicating and influencing
Why working with a comms professional changed her communication style
Why consistency of communication is absolutely critical
Understanding if you are the right person to communicate the message you want to deliver
Why your communication needs to be thoughtful
If you want 80% of people to leave a room with the right message, you need to tell them 5 times
Why you have to find different ways of saying the same thing
The importance of utilising internal comms teams
The know, do and feel communication framework
The importance of testing if your message is landing
Why, if you don’t tell your story then people will create their own

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In Episode 34 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer at The Very Group, where they discuss how to move data from a cost centre to a value creator, which includes;

A transformation journey that has been ongoing for over a century
Why some D&A teams are still seen as a cost centre and not a value-creating function
Why demonstrating value creation is a primary responsibility of a Data Leader/CDO
The tangible things that Steve has done to be seen as a value-creating function
The 4 key pillars of their Data Strategy and measuring the capability maturity
The value-creation measurement framework they’re using and how that helps to communicate
Why you have to connect data and insight to action
The importance of talking in outcomes and the benefits of those outcomes, and not data
Why it’s imperative to have an operating model that supports value-creation
A Joint-Venture model to prove value and take to an investment board
How they’ve used hastags to demonstrate the value of Data & Analytics as an enabler to the business functions in those JV’s
Why ‘data as a product’ has bridged the communication gap and acts as a client success manager
Why PR has been critical in the success of the D&A team and how external validation has helped

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In Episode 33 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Micheline Casey, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Siemens Energy, where they discuss how to create value-driven data products using design-thinking, which includes;

Being the first CDO at the Federal Reserve
Working in Senior Data Leadership at household names such as Ford, Maersk and now Siemens Energy
The spin-off of Siemens Energy from Siemens and the challenges they’re tackling
How there are close to a billion people worldwide who are under-served or don’t have energy
How Data/AI is creating commercial value to the energy sector
The sustainable energy transition movement
The concept of design-thinking
How to use design thinking to create tangible business value
How to apply design thinking to create data products and artificial intelligence solutions
Why it allows us to speak the right language to business stakeholders
Why it allows you to get value iteratively and quickly
Some real-life case studies in creating innovative data products that create business value
The importance of slowing down to speed up
Connecting design thinking to Data Strategy
How design-thinking fits into the organisational design conversation
Economic modelling for valuation - hard benefits and soft benefits
The importance of designing for component reusability to allocate value

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In Episode 32 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Diane Berry, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Phoenix Group, where they discuss the journey from devising a data strategy to executing that strategy, which includes;

The importance of providing interim value while on your strategic journey
Why to do anything at scale you’ll need to have a multi-year strategy
Why building relationships with key stakeholders/business leaders is essential for success
The importance of validating your problem statement
Why you need to develop a “front door process”
The challenge of not being a P&L centre
Why you need to tie the value of your work to key business projects
Why it’s critical to align your data team to the business teams they’re serving
Why your team need autonomy
Why the Data Leader shouldn’t own all the relationships with the business
The benefits of having a multi-disciplinary team
Being able to attract career changers
How to communicate your success and why you need to market yourself
Knowing if you’ve got the buy-in of the business
Measuring how you’re tracking against your data strategy
Why you should never lose sight of the long-term
The likely traps that can derail your data strategy
The importance of your data teams ‘store front’
The relationship between culture and buy-in

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In Episode 31 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Taylor Culver, Founder of XenoData, where they discuss how Data Leaders can deliverable measurable value from their data strategy, which includes;

Why ROI is a 'nice to have' for company executives, not a priority
Innovation is what company execs and shareholders care about the most
Finance leaders don’t measure impact on ROI, but IRR
Organisations will happily spend on capex but not an opex, and what that means for Data Leaders
Why culture and literacy aren’t the magic bullet, but good leadership is
Data isn’t an asset, and if it was, why it wouldn’t be a good asset to have
Why Data Leaders need to focus on adding the enterprise value of a firm
If you’re being held accountable for ROI as a Data Leader then you’re already on the way out!
Why Data Leaders already have everything they need to be successful
The relationship between “value” and “ROI”
Why innovation is what company execs and shareholders care about the most
Why intangible value is far greater than the ROI you’ll generate
Why finance leaders don’t measure impact on ROI, but IRR
How data leaders can quantify their impact
The importance of language
Calculating the financial impact of data initiatives
The differences between quantifying tangible and intangible benefits
How ROI merely makes you more credible as a Data Leader
Why organisations keep investing capital into data initiatives

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In Episode 30 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Bethany Lyons, Chief Product Officer at Kawa Analytics, where they discuss the current data product landscape and what actually constitutes a data product, which includes;

The fascinating story of Kawa and the problems it solves
Delivering Data Products versus Data Projects
The differences between product management principles applied to data and data products
Why most data teams operate like an IT Service Desk and why product thinking can change that
Why you should start by applying product management to data before you try to build data products
Why a product management approach forces value-driven thinking
How we have ‘Data Product Managers’ who aren’t doing Data Product management
Why there’s a better success measure for your data initiative than usage/adoption
Where you should hire your first Data Product Manager
Platform versus Feature Product Managers and why they’re rarely interchangeable
How data products differ from traditional products
Why marketplaces will be the future of data product
The relationship between self-service analytics and data as a product
What actually constitutes a data product
The biggest unspoken challenge in the data-mesh discussion
The impact of org structure and operating model on data product success
Why too many businesses try to scale their data product before establishing product market fit
What data product people should do to position themselves for the wave of incoming opportunity

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In Episode 29 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sally Bashuan, Executive Director; Head of Data Governance at Federated Hermes, where they discuss the role of data and analytics within ESG, which includes;

The Importance of having a great Leader
Why ESG is important to everyone
Why companies and boards are paying attention to ESG
How ESG will impact D&A teams
Understanding the fundamentals of ESG from a data standpoint
The current landscape of 3rd party ESG data
The major challenges for Data teams
The ESG data journey that Federated Hermes are on
ESG Strategies V Data Strategies
The role of Data Literacy within ESG
The importance of ensuring everyone is talking the same language with ESG
Pros and Cons of ESG Data providers
How should data teams be structured to win at ESG
The commercial benefits of great ESG scores
Why there is more to consider than just regulation
The consequences of getting it wrong
Formulating an ESG Data team
The future of ESG

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In Episode 28 of Season 3, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom joined by Jim Sterne, Board Chair Emeritus, Digital Analytics Association and Founder of Marketing Analytics Summit, where they discuss the rise of Generative AI and how organisations can leverage for success, which includes;

How every person can have their own AI agent acting on their behalf
How Generative AI has been 70 years in the making
Why Generative AI will be as big as the birth of computers, the internet and the smart phone
Why longtail content is now back
Why Generative AI will completely change the world of SEO
Why domain knowledge and branding will become the biggest commodity to success
How Generative AI will completely change your business and marketing strategy
Why AI won’t take your job
Why you should focus on training your entire organization to use the tool, and not focus on the people who can help you build them
How companies will make Generative Ai a question machine, not an answer machine
How Generative AI will change the role of Data & Analytics teams
Why the strength of your data is now genuinely what gives you competitive advantage
How Generative AI will drive more focus to data stewardship, governance, management, etc
Why companies that offer data aggregation will see an increase in valuation
Why everyone needs to learn how to use Generative AI
Why Generative Ai is different than the Big Data and Data Science hypes of the past
What Generative AI does to the role of Data Democratization and Data Literacy
Why data literacy now becomes “business speak literacy”
Why the data dictionary becomes incredibly important
Why the biggest skill now becomes; how to ask a great questions
Knowing what to questions to ask or not ask
Why the winners will be who can teach Generative AI to act like an analyst
Why the level of playing field has been raised and what that means for raw talent

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In Episode 27 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ben Boutcher-West, Chief Digitial Officer at Connected Kerb, where they discuss how data is fuelling the EV world, which includes;

How data is fuelling the EV landscape
Why it's now all about user convenience
Why data is the glue that will help realise a reduced carbon environment
Repurposing a Data Asset into a product and how it flows into the boardroom
How data is helping to inform future policy around EV investment within both the public and private sector
Why the EV sector is still somewhat of the ‘wild west’
The balance between obtaining value now and being seen as the tip of the iceberg of innovation
Making company targets and KPIs part of daily standards to inform value-generating activities
The threefold role of any data/digital team to ensure they’re embedded into the business
The role that data plays in helping shape a sustainable future
How to ensure that your team is adding value
The rise of the citizen developer
Recommendations of people to follow for advice, hints, tips and tricks to start your own citizen developer journey
The advantages and challenges of working in a start-up when it comes to Data
How different environments change the role and expectation of the CDO
The future of the EV sector
Why there’s likely to be 50-60 EV software start-ups to be launched this year

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In Episode 26 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Farouk Ferchichi, President Data & Analytics at Envestnet Inc, where they discuss how Data & Analytics is fuelling digital interconnectivity to help people live a more intelligent financial life, which includes;

Being in the first playground of Chief Data Officers
The disruption which means organisations should be investing heavily into data & analytics more than ever
The pressure on the financial ecosystem after SVB
The importance of hyper-personalisation in both service and product offering
What customers now want from their financial institution
The challenges that FS organizations are currently facing
The Data & Analytics solutions that help address those challenges
The solutions to ensure that FS firms are meeting the constantly evolving needs of their customers
How they’ve built a global open-banking connectivity layer
The importance of being able to show the customer a 360 view of their financial situation
The creation of an anonymised national monetary database that holds roughly $5 trillion across 15-20% of US households
How Data Products are being leveraged to help people understand their current financial health
The relationship between hyper-personalization and data products
The benefits to the customer and the FS industry
Why large FS institutions are beyond chasing their digital competitors
Why the operating model is integral for organisations to take advantage of this interconnectivity opportunity
Why times of crisis provide an opportunity to simplify decision-making processes
The combustion of financial literacy improvements with digital savviness
The three things that all FS institutions should be considering to benefit the end consumer

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In Episode 25 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Danny Gardner, Social Intelligence Lead at Haleon, where they discuss how to drive business value through the use of social intelligence, which includes;

A fascinating career journey
Why 80% of the data from social media is just noise
Why there’s information that is good to know and then there’s information that’s actionable.
The typical use cases you see for social intelligence
What social measurements are valuable
The differences in Social Intelligence between B2B and B2C
The use case that he is the proudest of
What you need to build a social intelligence capability
The importance of community building
The challenges that organisations face that prevent them from taking advantage of social intelligence
Why more businesses aren’t actively working in the social intelligence realm
The tools to use for Social Intelligence Initiatives
How to execute a social intelligence strategy
How different social media platforms provide different opportunities/challenges
The challenges of tying it to the bottom line
How the ROI has been up to 350%
Why ROI doesn’t have to be positive or measurable
How to use social intelligence to understand your competitors better
Why social intelligence can protect your brand image/reputation

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In Episode 24 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Denholm Hesse, Chief Data Officer at BDO UK LLP, where they discuss what the first 100 days as a new CDO look like, which includes;

The importance of knowing the mandate you have
Understanding what table you’ve got a seat at
Why you’ve got to be at the right table to be able to deliver value
The 3 segments of the first 100 days
Why you must be able to influence the way an organisation operates to be successful
The importance of being able to operationalise the strategy
The benefits and challenges of working for an LLP
Being the first CDO/Data Leader for an organisation
Why big tech migrations are hard to prove ROI on
Why being easy to work with should be a priority
Why you shouldn’t get distracted by looking for quick wins
The 3 key things you need to understand before you can think about strategy and vision
Why doing what you did in your last role won’t work
What the ultimate job of the CDO is
Why the tenure of the CDO role will increase
The importance of a communications plan to share the excitement
How you can gauge progress based on the questions the data team receives
Why you need to be in control of the value you can create
The importance of getting the whole data team to be value-focused
Why it’s imperative that you know how you’re going to execute
Why you should create a tangible ROI target for the data team
What Business Leaders should consider before hiring a CDO
Why you shouldn’t rush into a CDO role
Why you should focus on the mandate, the remit and the table you’re sitting at

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In Episode 23 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Mathieu Lacome, Chief Performance & Analytics Officer at Parma Calcio 1913, where they discuss how Data and Analytics is being used to deliver success in the world of football, which includes;

The journey from French National Team to PSG to Parma
What he figured out about Football Analytics when co-authoring his book; "Football Intelligence: A hands-on guide to maximising your investments in data"
The mindset towards data in football/sports is the same as in the corporate world
How sportspeople aren’t used to working with data despite being surrounded by stats
Why waiting 6 months to see results doesn’t work in football
The importance of building your strategic assets despite needing quick wins
Why scalability is critical
The key use cases where data usually helps football clubs
Why data in football is all about allowing them to make strategic decisions to win matches
The difference in data maturity between different football setups
Why having lots of investment doesn’t mean you’ll be successful with Data & Analytics
The importance of working towards a strategic goal
What's included in Strategy Value Creation for football clubs
Business Strategy; in football it’s winning trophies, just like in business it’s to make money
The difference between a Data-Driven strategy versus a Data-Informed Strategy
What does a data team in a football organisation look like
The type of projects they deliver
Why data in football is like most other industries - Literacy and Adoption
What they’re doing to drive literacy and adoption

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In Episode 22 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Vin Vashista, Founder of V Squared and a LinkedIn "Top Voice", where they discuss how to deliver tangible ROI from your data and analytics initiatives, which includes;

How Vin reached 160K Followers on LinkedIn and became a “Top Voice” by writing about data monetization
Why he wanted to write a book that was a single blueprint in a book; “From Data to Profit”
Why 70% of data teams are NOT delivering any returns for their organisation
Why genuine ROI will keep the hype and boom going
Why you need to hire differently to monetize data
How to identify the first green shoots of value creation
The biggest problem is that we don’t connect the technology to the strategy
Why it’s imperative to get C-Suite sponsorship if you want to be successful
Why you have to delvier ROI incrementally and not wait for a big bang
If you let technology drive strategy you end up with more technology
Why you need a prioritization framework
Why the frustrations of data and C-Suite professionals is the same root cause
Why you need an opportunity discovery framework that involves the whole business
Why business teams know where the opportunities are but they have no way of articulating their needs
Why data teams aren’t the best people to decide what the business should be doing
How we confuse strategy and tactics
Why we need to interrogate our data & analytics ideas like a shark tank pitch
Why most C-Suite Leaders think the data team needs to be managed as it can’t be accountable for its own value creation
Why you need a Data Monetization catalogue
The 3 slide sales deck that Execs keep falling for
The 9-figure ROI use cases
Why there are so few people who can connect hype to revenue
Why C-Suite executives are transfixed on ROI yet still invest in data projects that don’t deliver any ROI
Why many Data Leaders are great strategic leaders yet most don’t actually lead the strategy
Why to be a successful CDO you need to have come from a Data role/background, but shouldn’t be hands-on
Why we should train our technical people to be more than just more technical
Why moving forward people who can’t prove ROI won’t have a place in the organisation
Why data teams will be the growth engine for most businesses over the next 5 years
The misunderstanding that you can clean your way to valuable data
Why you need a product-first approach to data
Buy-in = TRUST
Why 'track record of success' is the only way to C-Suite sponsorship

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In Episode 21 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Hannah Davies, Head of Data Academy at Admiral Group, where they discuss what it takes to build an effective Data Academy, which includes;

The importance of stakeholder engagement
Why it’s always about people
The journey of building a Data Academy community of 700 people
Why a Data Academy is so much more than training
Why the first hire into the Data Academy was an engagement and content officer
Having the ability to remove silos
Why data is the answer
The force that brings together; literacy, adoption, upskilling, development, community
The different ways of working with different sizes of data teams
Being a great place to work for data professionals
The importance of giving people a way to engage without forcing it on them
The 5 key pillars of the Data Academy
Why the element of community is her proudest achievement
What the community is made up of
How to cater for different audiences
Why many people have “taught fear”
Removing the barrier of making a business decision with data
How to change mindset and build confidence
The difference between data training and data culture
Tackling culture, adoption and literacy
Things to think about if you’re in the process of building a Data Academy
Upskilling, reskilling and retention

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In Episode 20 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tiankai Feng, Data Governance Leader and former Senior Director of Product Data Governance at Adidas, where they discuss the importance of making data more fund and how to drive results through creativity, which includes;

The importance of making Data more fun
The steep learning curve and benefits of moving into governance from analytics
Why ‘use-case thinking’ is the most exciting but difficult part of Data Governance
How Data Quality is completely subjective based on usability
Why creativity and data are often seen as a paradox
Why creativity is all about mindset
Why urgency and frustration led him to bring creativity into his data role
How the enemy of creativity is common sense
The benefits gained from bringing this level of creativity to the data team
Why there are always ways of doing things differently in Data & Analytics
The value that creativity brings to communication
How you can use unconventional formats to communicate the value of data
How you can improve communication, collaboration and PR by being creative
How you can increase literacy by thinking more creatively
The area it has been the most effective in the organisation
Leadership sponsorship and stakeholder advocacy
Where you should start to think about where you can be different/creative
How you can channel your inner creativity

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In Episode 19 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by CJ Anderson, one of the most recognised Data Governance advisors in the UK, where they discuss the importance of tackling Data Governance from the bottom up, which includes;

CJ’s journey from a librarian to one of the most recognised names in Data Governance
Why most legal organisations' clients are far more data mature than they are
Why the role of Data Governance isn’t about enforcing policies
Why you want the most junior people to be having the Data Governance conversation
The importance of opening the lines of communication
DG is about helping to change the perception of Data
The importance of the data sausage machine
Why Data Governance is your Lego green mat
The importance of using language that makes sense to your audience
The challenges that most data-immature organisations face on their journey to data maturity
How operational processes happen in silos and why cross-functional working isn’t common
Why job titles matter
Why you should start small and at the bottom
Why data maturity is a marathon and not a sprint
The two differing Data Governance approaches
Why most organisations only have 1000 data points they truly care about
The relevance of the Silk Road story in data stewardship
Why Data Governance doesn’t work while sitting in IT

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In Episode 18 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sarah Schlobohm, Head of AI at Kubrick Group, where they discuss how not to do Machine Learning and why organisations are getting it wrong, which includes;

The frustrations as a hiring manager in the ML space
The most common mistakes organisations make when implementing AI
The importance of engineering in ML
Why so many ML projects don’t make it into production
Why you need to think about the whole lifecycle and ecosystem
The different challenges from the technical side to the business side
Why you don’t want to be a solution looking for a problem
Why you should fail and do so fast
The importance of knowing when to give up
Balancing the business strategy and the hype of AI
The signs that you’re not ready for AI/ML
Why you should do some analysis to identify relevant use cases
Why you should have the technical skills in the room before the ML decision is made
The future of ML tooling
Why the cost of ML is drastically underestimated and the impact that has on ROI
Why the amount of time and effort that should go into Data Governance is underestimated
The role of MLOps
Why there’s no substitute for domain expertise
The pros and cons of different reporting structures
AI Ethics and the examples of where things have gone wrong
The practical steps that organisations can take to improve Diversity & Inclusion
Why diversity is a cultural challenge
Why women shouldn’t be pushed into non-technical roles

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In Episode 17 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Colm O'Grada, Director of Data & Analytics at Tines, where they discuss the differences in building a high-impact Data & Analytics capability between a large (Google) and small (Tines) organisations (Tines), which includes;

The key differences between building teams in big organisations to small teams
The journey from Google to Tines
Contrast with ‘adopting’ teams in larger companies
The pro's and cons of having a much smaller bench
Being the first data hire in a growing organisation
Why you need to be more versatile in a smaller company
The importance of being hyper focussed
Focusing on breadth versus depth
Why trends don’t really matter for most companies
What trends might mean for data workers
Organisational structure of data teams
The cynicism around the current tech layoffs
Why being invited to meetings is a sign of someone who’s doing their job well
The importance of data in times of uncertainty
Why all data functions aren’t built equally
Getting the balance right between generalist V specialist roles

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In Episode 16 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Benny (Clive) Benford, Chief Data Officer, Formerly of Jaguar LandRover (JLR), where they discuss the journey to realising £500m in commercial value through data and analytics, which includes;

The journey of building a Data & Analytics function at JLR
How they unlocked and realised £500m worth of commercial benefit and value
How to ensure the data team is consistently delivering value
The importance of having a process of engagement
How to prioritise the workload and the value the potential return of each project
How to allocate/attribute value
The mission statement of creating £1m of value per team member, per year
Transforming decision-making across an entire enterprise
Why it’s important for senior data leadership needs to wait for the right career opportunity
Why the conditions are so important to success
Why most business users/leaders don’t view data as something that can provide “value”
Making the business case for large-scale investment
Why you need to agree on the value before you commit to any project
The impact of the hype in Data & Analytics
Why there are so many instances where organisations are tech-first and value-last
Who’s to blame for a lack of ROI
Why it’s so important to have a range of skills and not just data/technical skills
Why over 1/3 of the team didn’t have a technical skillset
Why everyone underestimates the level of change required to deliver value
The importance of a communication strategy and how to utilise it well
How they quantified that if they could deliver all projects, there would be £1.2b of value
The importance of your people knowing why they’re doing the work
How they built an apprenticeship programme of 700 people (15-17% of all data apprentices in UK)
Where the responsibility of the data team ends
Why it’s better to start without the big infrastructure project
Why they received funding to invest in people but had the technology budget cut

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In Episode 15 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Paul Evangelista, Chief Data Officer at United States Military Academy at West Point, where they discuss how the armed forces are using Data & Analytics to drive innovation, which includes;

The role of Data in the current US Military Academy
How Data has played a role in the military since the early 1900’s
The maturity journey of Data and Analytics in the US military
The trackers used to measure adoption and usage of Data & Systems
What the success metrics look like in that environment
The importance of empowering leaders at all levels
The importance of culture and executive support
Why becoming 'data-centric' is second on the priority list of the US Army
How the armed forces innovate
Examples of how Data was used in the World Wars
Why the US Government is hiring leaders from the world’s biggest tech players
How the US military has a culture of innovation of change
The role of data on the war in Ukraine
How they calculate ROI in their field
Why we need to focus on decision literacy not data literacy
The gap that exists in the D&A industry

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In Episode 14 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Chun Schiros, SVP of Enterprise Data Science Group at Regions Bank, where they discuss the role of responsible AI in organisational transformation, which includes;

What data innovation in a traditional industry sector looks like
The role of speed in data innovation
The opportunity for partnerships between traditional banks and digital banks
Why scalability beyond individual use cases will be the differentiator for success with AI solutions
The importance of integration to become an AI-driven organization
The core challenges of achieving scalability with AI solutions
The mindset shift of being able to multiply the impact
The prioritization tradeoff between benefit and cost
The importance of being truly customer focused
The guardrails that create a balance between innovation and ethics
The role of DEI in responsible AI
Why failure with AI Innovation is absolutely guaranteed
The excitement around AI versus the fear of things going wrong
The importance of having a culture where failure is accepted
Why you shouldn’t think in terms of offense versus defense
Why buy-in is directly related to the ability to demonstrate how you can help the organisation to meet strategic goals
Shifting culture to adopt Artificial Intelligence
Prediction on AI trends over the next 12 months

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In Episode 13 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Leanne Fitzpatrick, Director of Data Science at Financial Times, and Andy McMahon, Head of MLOps at Natwest Group, where they discuss the current MLOps maturity, which includes;

The maturity of MLOps over the last 12 months
Why getting ML into production is no longer the challenge
Why the Ops component is now the major challenge
What best practice actually looks like
Why ML is more software than Data Science
Why thinking about MLOps as products is helping the industry
What does MLOps actually mean to business leaders
The resiliency and risk elements
Why design and processes are really what make or break MLOps
Why we need rules of engagement
Why we don’t have enough practitioner expertise
The challenge of building scalable MLOps solutions
The differences and similarities to software engineering
Why companies will need to change their operating models to support their MLOps maturity
The importance of domain expertise for successful MLOps
The current tooling landscape
The role of vendors play in the journey
Build versus Buy
Predictions for next 12-24 months

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In Episode 12 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Greg Freeman, CEO and Founder of Data Literacy Academy, where they discuss how to build a data literacy programme at scale, which includes;

The reason the Data Literacy Academy exists
What the business is, who it’s for and who it’s not for
How they’ve raised over half a million in funding to grow the organisation
Why Data is a “taught fear” in business
Why everyone doesn’t need to be a Data Scientist
The importance of finding a champion in the C-Suite
The importance of understanding what level of literacy each individual requires
The three types of literacy profiles within an organisation
Why most organisations fail to realise that literacy is a Change Management initiative
The spectrum of understanding of the data literacy problem
Why organisations that treat data as a transformational change tend to do better
Why the remit of a CDO goes beyond just data
The importance of mapping the strengths of your stakeholder relationships
Why the starting point for a Data Leader should be to ensure that people understand the value of data
You can’t avoid data but you can certainly avoid engaging with it
Why teaching hard skills is only relevant at a certain level of maturity
Why data people need to improve their business literacy
Why being more business literate will help data people to progress in their career
The importance of saying “no”, without saying “no” and knowing what to say “no” to
Why there are only two gaps; knowledge and communication
Why every Data Leader needs to be a Salesperson
The importance of having a PR/Communication strategy

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In Episode 11 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Cornelia Schaurecker, Global Group Director AI & Big Data at Vodafone, where they discuss how to create commercial impact quickly and sustainably with Data and AI, which includes;

Why it's all about people
The benefits of reporting to a commercial leader
How they've delivered several hundred data-driven solutions/use cases
The driver to build once and deploy to many
The starting point to ensure you’re creating commercial impact
Why it’s imperative not to boil the ocean and how to prioritise to pick the right bets
The importance of answering the right questions
Why a good use case is one that scales
The importance of time to market, speed and scale
The tools and tech they’ve built to address the scale and speed challenges
Why you need more than just tech/tool to create scalable solutions
The role of automation in scale
How to use measurements to build transparency
The steps taken in building a high-performance team
Why the quality of your data assets plays a role in attracting talent
Why “social good” helps to attract talent
How to ensure that your data team’s work is visible, valuable and impactful
How they created a menu by building a use-case library with all of their data assets
Their "AI Everywhere" Strategy
Their journey to 1:1 personalisation
Creating an AI Ethics policy
The 3 components of driving a data culture

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In Episode 10 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Nirali Patel, Group VP of Data Strategy at Liberty Global, where they discuss how to create change at scale to drive data transformation, which includes;

The similarities/differences of operating across different sectors
Why data transformation is merely a part of business evolution
What good data transformation looks like
The importance of scalability with change
How to make wholesale change across an organisation
Why most organisations fail to link the want with their why
How to identify the why
The importance of understanding your organisations operational metrics
Understanding what “brilliant” looks like for your organisation
Successful case studies of scalable change
Why having a good personal relationship with data is imperative for transformation
Aligning change with business objectives
Why it’s often more a change of mindset and attitude towards data
The importance of getting out into the business to understand how things get done
Why POC’s don’t work
Why you should look at other parts of an organisation for previously successfully delivered projects to improve adoption
Why you should get comfortable in accepting that many won’t adopt
Why all parts of your business do not need to have the same level of literacy/fluency
The 5 questions to assess your organisations data literacy/fluency
The relationship between change and return on investment

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In Episode 9 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ed Child, Global Head of Consumer Data & Digital Analytics at Costa Coffee, and James Miller, Product & Strategy Director at Carruthers & Jackson, where they discuss why customers should be front and centre of your data strategy, which includes;

Why businesses are doubling down on data and analytics and the relationship with your customers
Why data strategies have historically been dry, architectural documents
Why your customers should be at the heart of your data strategy
Why good businesses can articulate a really strong story about their customers
The importance of recognising internal and external customers
Why it’s important to be able to tell the story of data through the lens of the customer and/or consumer
Why many organisations don’t realise what they’re getting themselves into and underestimate what it’s going to take
Why the shiny objects rule the day
Why understanding the vision for a data strategy is critical
Why "customers" are a language that the business understands
Why the data product way of thinking helps to get closer to the customer
Why business buy-in is where many data strategies go wrong
How changes in customer behaviour and expectations affect the data strategy
The role of personalisation within the data strategy
Why a data strategy should be a process not a document
Why customers are now more aware of the value exchange of their data
How 1st and 3rd party data changes impact a data strategy
Why organisations are now doubling down on untapped 1st party data
Why the days of having a 3-5 year strategy are gone
Why customer-centric and data-driven are one and the same

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In Episode 8 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Vijay Yadav, Director, Quantitative Sciences; Data, Digital & Analytics, at Merck, where they discuss what modern-day data leadership should consist of, which includes;

The reality of why most data initiatives don’t start from the business objective, despite everyone knowing that should be the starting point
Why many Data Leaders don’t really understand what the business wants
Why ‘the business' should be in the driver’s seat, at least in the passenger seat, but not in the trunk/boot (where it often is)
Why Data Leaders are often guilty of mystifying data for business leaders/consumers
How he learnt the hard way by delivering many technical projects that failed
Why your success as a Data Leader is directly linked to the ability of the people you can attract and retain
Why ‘People’ trumps both ‘Process’ and ‘Technology’
The tangible benefits of putting people first
The fundamentals of retaining great people
What Data Culture really means
Why culture can’t be “changed”
The relationship between culture and literacy
The role of internal data communities in building a great data culture
Practical tips on how to build one effectively

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In Episode 7 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Vlad Jiman, Director of Data at NBrown Group, where they discuss formulating a winning data strategy to secure investment for phase 1 data transformation, which includes;

Being involved in the largest IPO on London Stock Exchange
The overinvestment in Data Science
The award-winning Data Transformation at Pets at Home
In charge of one of the 5 key strategic pillars of a UK Top 10 online retail organisation
The heritage of NBrown Group and how they were the first organisation to send products direct to consumer via post
How they moved Data from an enabler to a key strategic pillar within the PLC
Why you have to have a holistic approach, not a tactical one
The three pillars of the data strategy that he has put together
The importance of speed
Building a cloud native, end to end data platform
Why most organisations are still paying lip-service to Data Culture
Why everything has to start with “Why?”
How data immaturity can mean investment in data has better returns than investment in other parts of a business
Why most CEO’s no longer need to be convinced of data
Why you can move a lot quicker than people think
Why the organisation will drive the transformation if done properly
Why a breaking point in a transformation with new people can be a good thing
Why the operating model should be the first priority to get right
Why tech is one of the things that can help you outpace the competition if you know what you’re doing
Why Data Governance is now done in a more sophisticated way
Identifying Data Champions in the boardroom
Why there are so many issues with “Data Literacy”
Data Culture = The trifecta of; curiosity, access, and knowledge
The reasons why most Data Strategies fall down the hole
The skillset/experience that Data Leaders require to succeed with Data Strategy and Transformation
Faith, Fear and Finance; the 3 pillars of a business case
Why data is likely to cost 10-15% across every transformational project

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In Episode 6 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Randy Bean, Founder of NewVantage Partners (A Wavestone Company), where they discuss the struggles of the Chief Data Officer, which includes;

The average tenure of the CDO Tenure
The increase in organisations that believe the CDO role is established and successful over the last 2 years
The future of the CDO role
A shift from reporting into Technology
Stats behind the challenges that organisations face in becoming data-driven
Why businesses shouldn’t be making investments in data without being able to quantify the business value
What CDO’s need to do to be effective
What the most successful CDAO’s do
The gap that most organisations have between the data capabilities and the ability to use them
How the language you use demonstrates your credibility
Navigating the risks of an economic downturn
The role of lip-service in Data & Analytics
Finding the balance between innovation and ethics
Why data isn’t a substitute for human judgement
Whether it's possible to quantify value that isn’t related to financial returns
The skills businesses should look for in a CDAO
Why Data Leadership is an art, not a science
The importance of organizational readiness
Navigating reporting lines and organizational structures
Advice for aspiring CDAO’s
Why operating in the C-Suite is an additional set of skills beyond Data & Analytics

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In Episode 5 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Malcolm Hawker, Head of Data Strategy at Profisee, where they discuss why Data Literacy isn't the key to success, which includes;

The benefits of starting his career in Product
His time at Gartner; the 1500+ conversations he had with CDO’s and why he left
Why there are so few successful use cases of Data & Analytics initiatives
Why so few Data Leaders do what they’d advise others to do
Why we talk a good game about failing fast but no organisation incentivises that to happen
Why it’s up to the Data Leader to instigate the required change required to improve the current dysfunction
Why most CDO’s are walking into Lions dens
How it is absolutely possible to quantify the commercial benefit of our data initiatives despite some claiming it’s not
How models can help us to quantify the value we create
Why we need to stop debating semantics
Why organisations continue to (rightfully) invest in Data & Analytics despite not seeing great success
Why the data community can come across as “preachy” and “finger wavey” in communicating best practices
Why data literacy is a loaded term that turns the table of accountability
Why it’s a product problem and not a user problem
Why it always come down to centralisation V decentralisation and why you need to do both!
The future of data sharing and the economies of scale it can create

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In Episode 4 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kelly Hume, Lead Partner of Data Analytics & AI at Baringa Partners, where they discuss the resurgence of data modelling, which includes;

How she was persuaded not to study astrophysics but went on to work at NASA
Why she suffered from Imposter Syndrome by being surrounded by Nobel Prize winners
Why Baringa have one P&L to drive better levels of collaboration
How their strategic focus is on sustainability & climate change
How Baringa built the world’s leading climate change scenario model
The resurgence of data modelling
Why we’re back at 1st principles
Why data platforms are here to stay and aren’t another hype cycle
The challenge with modern-day data architectures
Where Data Platforms are currently failing
The importance of understanding the specific use cases
How to design with the end in mind
The importance of cross-functional teams lead by the business
The challenge of adopting new and rapidly evolving technologies
The importance of rationalising your genuine master data
Where data duplication and storage sit on the carbon footprint agenda

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In Episode 3 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Liz Henderson, Executive Advisor (and NED) at Capgemini, where they discuss how data is ultimately a people sport, which includes;

How a bad experience shaped her appreciation of change management
Why the resistance to change occurs
Why you’ve got to get the key influencers in a business to drive the change
How to identify and engage those key influencers
The ‘top down’ and ‘bottom-up’ questions to ask
Why you shouldn’t highlight top down business objectives
Why most data strategies are too high-level and don’t include people or actions
Why there’s minimal investment into change management
The trend of siloed data strategies and the associated risks
How to make data relatable to people on an individual level
Why data is just a hype train
How to deliver value without support from senior leadership
Why you shouldn’t jump in feet first
The 5 “Why’s” of Data
How to benchmark an organisations data-driven status
Why the non-exec table needs to be convinced of data
Why being challenged demonstrates a data-literate organisation
The term “data” switches people off
How 90% of organisations are investing in data, but 90% claim their biggest challenge is a people/cultural one
Why data will be a P&L asset in the future

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In Episode 2 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Niresh Rajah, Managing Director; Data, RegTech & Digital Advisory, where they discuss how to obtain the balance between Offence, Defence and ESG, which includes;

The role of CDO in tomorrow’s world
How to obtain a balance between Offence and Defence
Why defence is more than regulation
Why no one is “buying” Data Management
Why many data operating models aren’t fit for transformation
Why building a balanced team is so important to win in both offence and defense
Why any business leader worth their salt understands that they need data to run, grow and control their business
Data Leaders don’t communicate in the language of the business; benefits and outcomes
Where ESG sits within the conversation of Offence and Defence
Why ESG is on the agenda of every boardroom and why Data is at the heart of it
The legal, regulatory and perception challenges of ESG that make it more complex
The challenges of acquiring accurate ESG data
The 4 differences between ESG regulation and “traditional” regulation
How ESG will drive consumer behaviour and play a role in market share
How this impacts who your organisation partners with
Why you need to have a separate ESG data strategy & ESG data teams
How to tackle the 34-38 sub-components of E, S & G
The 7 steps to consider to become ESG ready

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In Episode 1 of Season 3, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Davin Crowley-Sweet, Chief Data Officer at National Highways, where they discuss how to value your data like you value any other asset, which includes;

Why CDO’s shouldn’t expect organisations to know what they want/need
How data is an intangible digital asset that can be valued like any other asset whether you do something with it or not
The difference between “value” and “benefits” are how we’re confusing them
Why it makes no sense that our balance sheet tells us more about our furniture than it does about data
How he was able to value the data asset at £60 billion which was 50% of the value of the roads and 10x more than their technology assets
Why valuing your data drives proportionate capital investment into it
Data Literacy V Business Literacy
How the data strategy took 12 months to complete, included input from 300 people and identified circa £1 billion of potential upside
The role that Anmut played in helping to value their data assets
How they calculated it would cost £300m to realise £1bn in return and the strategy to do that cost £3m
How one project cost £400K to deliver over 6 months and returned £60 million
The difference between quick wins and being opportunistic
Why you must be a business leader first and a data leader second
Why you have to frame data in a language your business understands
How being able to quantify & articulate the value and benefits of data has made attracting talent much easier
The mistakes he made at the start
Why you need to be disruptive but not cause disruption

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In Episode 50 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Joe Bradley, Chief Scientist SVP Data Science & ML at LivePerson, where they discuss Conversational AI, which includes; What the business benefits are of Conversational AI Hype V Reality of Conversational AI Who is doing it versus who isn't and why How organisations know when they are ready to implement this The Pros and Cons of Conversational AI & Personalization The relationship between Conversational AI & Personalization How it differs from building a general DS/ML capability The learnings of working at mammoth brands such as Nike and Amazon The future of Artificial Intelligence Top 3 tips for anyone looking at either entering into, or improving their Conversational AI journey

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In Episode 49 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Zoher Karu, Vice President Chief Data & Analytics Officer for Blue Shield of California, where they discuss the framework of change & transformation, which includes; How to spot evidence of transformation The key ingredients of transforming organisations through Data & Analytics Why most organisations very rarely make a start with change The playbook to getting the change management piece right The role of the Data Leader in Change/Transformation How we know to start with a business challenge/opportunity and work backwards but why that doesn't happen The role of reporting lines and team structures in the ability to drive change The relationship between change/transformation and innovation

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In Episode 48 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ranil Boteju, Group CDAO at LBG, where they discuss the importance of enabling Data and Analytics teams into businesses, to help them transform, which includes; How Data and Analytics have evolved in Banking What the Data and Analytics transformation he is leading at LBG looks like What does winning in data and Analytics look like at a big organisation like LBG What the biggest challenges are Why they’re putting a huge emphasis on non-technical roles such as; Culture, Communications and Ethics Tackling Data Ethics and why it’s got its own role How he is ensuring that the Data & Analytics strategy ties to realising the business objectives Why it's unlikely there will be CDAO roles in 5 years' time Why Data Literacy will soon be taught in schools

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In Episode 47 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Adam Sroka, Head of Machine Learning Engineering at Origami, where they discuss everything that entails Data Science, which includes; An insight to Origami Adam's role/responsibilities and what he is tasked with achieving Some of the key challenges/complexities when it comes to using Data and Analytics to tackle global challenges, concerning the energy sector The role ML teams play, following this and examples of cases The main changes between Data Science of 5 years ago versus Data Science of today How to build a DS team that adds genuine business value Advice for DS's in terms of what they should focus on to ensure a successful career The importance of building a strong personal brand/social media presence Results you will experience following this Where the DS industry will be in the next 5 years

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In Episode 46 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Paul French, Director of Data & Analytics at First Central, where they discuss how to attract great talent, to build great teams, which includes; Why First Central defines its business as an “innovator in data” Why he decided to set up Data Culture & Product Team The 3 characteristics that made him join the business and how the business could articulate this clearly Why he prioritised building the team in his first 6 months Why you need a talent strategy just as you need a strategy for any business problem How they amplified their story across the networks to drive inbound interest How he worked with his internal TA team and figured out what role he needed to play Why the team you recruit will be the reason you either succeed or fail What Paul looked for as he built his team Attracting new talent with apprenticeships and raising the profile of the industry Retraining people from other business units through secondments and incubators Importance of raising the profile of data internally through upskilling sessions and building communities How to create that compelling narrative and what should go into it Why people have turned down more money elsewhere to join Paul’s team Some great tips on how to get the Diversity & Inclusion balance right

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In Episode 45 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lara Izlan, Director of Data Strategy at ITV, where they discuss the role of Data in business transformation, which includes; The group-wide, multi-year Data Strategy and what it incorporates How that supports the wider ITV corporate Digital Transformation Strategy The benefits of a cross-functional team structure Data-Driven Thinking V Value-Led approach The importance of cultural and mindshift change How ITV are realising the “promise of value” Why the iterative approach has been a key to success Why the product-way is realising commercial value Mapping every activity and idea to a financial figure Value V Prioritisation The importance of “better conversations” Moving from service centre to partner How to accelerate change Why transformation needs to be visible at all levels

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In Episode 44 of Season 2, of Driven By Data: The Podcast our CEO Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Caroline Carruthers, Chief Data Officer at Carruthers and Jackson. Where they discuss Data ethics, which includes: The evolution of the summer school What is data ethics The Importance of data and analytics Why Data Ethics has become a “thing” How organisations tangibly implement Data & Analytics into their organisation How this affect the wider Data & Analytics Ecosystem Tips on do’s and don’ts Where Data Ethics sits on a business's agenda

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In Episode 43 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by Chief Analytics Officer at Healthfirst, Christer Johnson, where they discuss using Machine Learning to scale personalization in healthcare, which includes: What personalization means from a health care perspective and its importance How to help members get access to the healthcare they require The importance of health equity and what Healthfirst are doing to combat that How ML is leveraged for personalization How to know what to prioritise and optimize The results of this and the next best action from there What role digital transformation is playing within the healthcare setting (wait times/treatment/appointments, etc) An insight to what the future looks like for Healthfirst How to put a tangible metric on value added, as a not for profit

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In Episode 42 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Team One, Prachi Priya, where they discuss how to enable a Data Culture in the world of Analytics, which includes: How the evolution of analytics maturity affected the role of the CDO Ways to adapt to the constant advancing market trends The definition of Data Culture Key components that make up Data Culture How to enable that culture and allow it to flourish How to go about gaining buy-in from the C-Suit Prachi's experience in regards to the relationship between DEI and Data Culture

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In Episode 41 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by Senior Vice President of Customer Analytics & Marketing at Popular Bank, Alyssa Elser, where they discuss how combining different disciplines can help unlock the power of Data, which includes: The process of building the CA function from scratch Why this was on the business agenda and its purpose Specific disciplines that have been merged together and how this was decided What this means in reality, in terms of what it allowed Alyssa to create The benefits and challenges of building the CA function Details regarding the team at Popular Bank e.g. size Benefits of coupling Data & Analytics with research How the element of cultural change was managed/addressed amongst the new function build How all of this tied back to the Data/Insights strategy as-well as the Business strategy

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In Episode 40 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Maggie Remynse, Vice President for Curriculum for Data Camp, where they discuss how Data Education is the foundation of value creation, which includes: The role Data Literacy has in Digital Transformation Why Data Education is so important in data analytics Why organisations should conduct a skill-gap analysis What needs to be included for this to be done successfully How organisations can upskill their employees How to manage expectations around what business leaders expect, regarding upskilling The, not so obvious, benefits of upskilling How to approach differences between skill gaps and data literacy gaps What some of the successful Data Literacy programmes do that others don't How to reach Maggie for more information regarding her profession and opportunities

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In Episode 39 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by People Analytics and Insight Director at HMRC, Ian Wallis, where they discuss how the combination of people and analytics is a recipe for success, which includes: Discussion around Ian's published book, what led to writing it, and the main goal of it The gap between the theory and the reality of data implementation Anything during the research phase that surprised Ian How to go about building a high-performance team and how to know when you are actually "there" Why despite most businesses struggle to attract and retain talent, people analytics remains one of the lowest adopted areas of analytics The role of the People Analytics function How People Analytics differs to working in the customer arena What is considered the measure of success in influencing an organisation the size of HMRC Where the battle for talent stands in the future

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In Episode 38 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Eva Murry, Lead Evangelist for EMEA Region at Snowflake, where they discuss why you don't need to be technical to achieve in Data Analytics which includes: How people from outside the Data industry can position themselves appear like the desired candidate, in todays competitive market Reasons someone would want to start in the Data Analytic community The importance of networking Where you can go to find valuable resources How data democratisation leads to a truly data driven business The role Data Literacy plays in data democratisation How "non-data/technical" people drive us forward in these areas The benefit of data communities and organisations planning to develop in this space Why leaders should invest in data collaboration Tips into how organisations create a true data culture

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In Episode 37 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by Consulting Partner for Mesh-AI, Sean Robertson, where they discuss the difficulties of Productionising Machine Learning, which includes: The Mesh-AI story Reasons why so many organisations struggle to get ML into production Discussion around whether sector matters Specifics that need to be considered with regards to Data Management The non-technical components that must be respected Identifying when an organisation is ready for ML Differences in what companies are doing or not doing, which determines their success An idea to what ML looks like over the next 3-5 years

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In Episode 36 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by, Major George McCrea, Chief of Staff & Captain Luke Parker, Senior Technical Officer at the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence, where they discuss data-driven decisions that can be life or death which includes: Reasons they believe they were listed in this years Data IQ 100 Cases where the work they have done with Data played a crucial role, including COVID, Adventure Training, HADR and Carbon Sequestration How they constitute the concept of value as a non-commercial organisation Exploring how combining people, process and technology differs from the commercial world and in the forces How investment in people is continually encouraged and pushed forward in the forces How, as a team, they justify investment in their area of the forces An insight into their future

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In Episode 35 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by former CDO of Virgin Media O2, Eddie Short, where they discuss how to make your data your competitive advantage, which includes: What companies that are winning with data are doing that others aren’t The role of Data in Digital Transformation The relationship between the CDO and the CIO Where the CDO should report Why most organisations still think Data & Analytics is IT How ordinary businesses start to try and compete with the likes of Amazon What constitutes being a Data-Driven business Getting data recognised by the business as an asset Why good customer experience is a pre-requisite and what truly makes the difference

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In Episode 34 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Dione Rayside, CRM Director at Engine UK, where they discuss how organisations can compete, grow and win by being customer-focused, which includes: Her unique career path from HR to Sales to Data/CRM Leader and why she used to be embarrassed about it, but what it’s given her Why an interest in people is key to success The importance of allyship in succeeding as a “diverse” individual in Data & Analytics How Engine Transformation are walking the walk with Diversity & Inclusion and the award they recently won for that Why customers now see a "brand" and not "products" The importance of a seamless digital experience and not hard to do business with How customers' wants, needs and desires have changed How you tie CRM back to the wider organisation How organisations best utilise CRM/Data to compete, grow and win What the companies that are succeeding with customer data are doing that the ones who aren’t, don’t The reality of 1:1 personalisation The importance of communication packs to deepen customer relationships

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In Episode 33 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, Founder of Designing Analytics, Brian O'Neil where they discuss the impact of the design on analytics which includes: Why nobody really wants your team’s data science and analytics…even if they ask for it The #1 non-technical hurdle to achieving business value with data and why teams continue to fail What data science and data product teams can learn from software product teams about building useful, usable, high-value digital solutions How data product teams and leaders can leverage design to become innovation partners to their internal stakeholders Why design is not just about UX and data viz when it comes to data products The 3 types of people data product teams need to be considering when creating solutions How to turn raw data into a valuable data product or intelligence application The designer vs. data practitioner approaches to changing users’ behaviour and why data literacy may not be the issue The roles and skills missing from most enterprise data science and analytics teams Approaching data products from the last mile Design V Design Thinking Why are teams so often creating technically right, effectively wrong data products?

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In Episode 32 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAAAz5twABKmxOOvRZGlVKdCCPHSUp8Ug-8T4 (Kyle Winterbottom) is joined by, Machine Learning Engineering Lead, Andy McMahon where they discuss demystifying MLOPs which includes: What is MLOps What constitutes value Who should “do” MLOps How do you know you're doing it well When should it be implemented Why are companies getting it wrong The misconceptions about MLOps Successful case studies that have proved the tangible value How organisations and business leaders deal with the ever-changing tech/data/analytics landscape

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In Episode 31 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by, CEO at Herman Heyns where they discuss why most organizations struggle to maximise their data opportunity which includes: What’s the biggest obstacle/challenge for organisations trying to realise value through the use of Data & Analytics? Why the gap between the data we have and the data we need so big The solutions that are available to combat this Why so many organisations start at the wrong place How we tackle this problem Why Data Offices have struggled to close this gap

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In Episode 30 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steve Neat, GM EMEA at Alation, where they discuss the resurgence of Data Management, which includes: Why we are seeing a resurgence in organisations focusing on Data Management over the last 12 months How new tools coming to market are driving organisations to focus on their data management The role data plays in businesses today How businesses successfully create a data culture How Alation is helping organisations on this journey

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In Episode 29 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Survat Bansal, Founder and CEO of Clarista, where they discuss the challenges preventing value realisation, which include: The key challenges firms are facing in driving better value from data How the role of a CDO evolved about tackling those challenges How data utilization is changing in firms How data management tools/tech is driving a resurgence What is happening to the current approach to data management What is Data Culture What data leaders should always keep in mind? Why their is such a high turnover in data-related roles

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In Episode 28 of Season 2, of Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by David Bloch, Founder at SME2 where they discuss how to demystify data and AI for executives, which includes: Why CDOs don't view themselves as executives How to develop executive skills Why there is a need for Data Leaders to hold a commercial target The role timeframes and red-tape play in how successful Data Leaders are in demonstrating value realisation How business leaders are managing their decisions without any data representation How to transform organisational culture

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In Episode 27 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rob Wadsworth, Director of Enterprise Data for Kin + Carta Europe, where they discuss why now is the time to think differently about data, which includes: The difference between product thinking, data products and data as a product How these differences impact the value an organisation can drive How organisations are being held back by their inability to think differently How product thinking impacts investment and ROI How to build and structure your Data & Analytics team for product thinking The roles that are the most pivotal How to get started on the product thinking journey

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In Episode 26 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Niladri Shekhar Dutta, Global Director; Head of AI Innovation & Data Strategy at Ericcson, where they discuss how data operating models support digital transformation and operational excellence, which includes; How Data Strategy supports Digital Transformation What this means in regards to an organisation's DNA An insight into rule-driven decision-making How Ericcson achieves this The key components in achieving operational excellence What’s the role of Data and AI in overall DNA transformation to digital What the future of telco looks like in terms of the next generation of Digital Telco Where data monetization sit within this

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In Episode 25 of Season 2, on Driven By Data, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Helen Mannion, Global Data Director at Specsavers where they discuss: What Helen is tasked with achieving at Specsavers Specsavers Journey through Data-Transformation Pivotal movements within their journey over the past 3 years The biggest contributions to Helen's success Key competencies when building the best data-driven team Biggest challenges when building a data-driven team Advice for data leaders about to embark on the same journey What's next for Specsavers

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In Episode 24 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, our very own Kyle Winterbottom joins forces with Catherine King and appears on the Business of Data podcast, where they discuss the current trends in Data & Analytics, which includes; • The rise of the Data Engineer • The resurgence of Data Governance as an enabler • The role of personal brand & thought leadership • Tackling Diversity & Inclusion • The current talent market • Building Data & Analytics teams • Articulating a compelling narrative

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In Episode 23 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Jason Foster, Chief Operating Officer (CDO) at Cynozure Group where they discuss: Future Plans for The Cynozure Group The evolution of the role of a CDO What modern-day CDOs need to consider and where their priorities should lie Biggest challenges for a CDO Why the average tenure for a CDO is only 2 years The role an organisation plays in allowing the CDO to be successful

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In Episode 22 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Marika Roque, Chief Operating Officer at KERV Interactive where they discuss: The purpose of Kerv's technology The benefits of an organisation using Kerv's technology How Kerv is leveraging data to optimize the future of user engagement whilst shopping What the future of shopping looks like How cookies will affect what Kerv does How cookies will impact how organisations utilise video content Kerv's major success stories

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In Episode 21 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Robin Sutara, Chief Data Officer at Microsoft UK, where they discuss: How to get more data talent into the eco-system whilst ensuring it is diverse Why organisations struggle to hire a diverse workforce Why organisations have found it difficult to gain tangible results for being innovative with regards to Data & Analytics How to simplify and tackle; technology, people & process How we can use data to simplify some of our societal challenges What are the main challenges we can combat and how

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In Episode 20 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Simon Walker (CCO) and Tim Smeaton (CEO), Managing Director at Kubrick Group, where they discuss tackling the growing data talent gap which includes: The implications of the increasing talent gap in data on the industry as a whole The causes of the widening talent gap How organisations can combat the talent gap Why organisations expectations are too high How data leaders can help solve the talent gap Innovative ways to drive diversity in data Becoming the employer of choice for in-demand candidates

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In Episode 19 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Di Mayze, Global Head of Data and AI at WPP, where they discuss the future of data, which includes: The biggest challenges within Data & Analytics The evolution of Data & Analytics over the next 10 years How to strike the right balance between being data-driven and creative How WPP are using Avatars to make AI fun What skills you need to prepare for the future The importance of deep-skilling The opportunities the meta-verse will bring

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In Episode 18 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Somil Gupta, AI Strategy and Monetization Advisor, where they discuss the operating models required to monetize artificial intelligence which includes: His journey to becoming Data/Ai Influencer of the Year – 2021 How 70% of organisations have taken AI into production The typical gaps and challenges in AI adoption Why organisations have struggled to monetization data/AI What needs to change to make that happen The concept of Algorithmic Business Why algorithmic thinking is different from traditional management thinking Why we need Algorithmic Operating Models How organizations can start this journey? What are the key steps in the Algorithmic Business roadmap? What will quantify success?

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In Episode 17 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Catherine Wilks, Senior Director at Slalom at NED, where they discuss how to drive value through networking which includes: • The benefits of networking • How networking has evolved over the years • Networking post-pandemic • Why some struggle to network, and advice for those who do • The implications networking has on brand and reputation • Diversity challenges within networking • The outcomes you can expect if you don't network • The "ROI" of networking • Catherine's own story of networking success

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In Episode 16 of Season 2, on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Paul Jones, Director of Data, Analytics & AI at Baringa Partners, where they discuss how to drive value through alternative perspectives within data management, which includes: How Data Management has evolved over the last 20 years Different perspectives of Data Management What kinds of value creation opportunities do these different perspectives open up The role of technology within Data Management Why having different perspectives can break down silo’s and improve collaboration The importance of jargon-busting and applying common sense to Data Management Whether these various perspectives on Data Management will help people get their heads around these concepts or make it more complicated What companies could do to simplify these ideas for people

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In Episode 15 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ian Thomas, Chief Data Officer at Credera, where they discuss how to drive cultural change within an organization to make it data-driven. Ian provides great insight and tangible advice on how organizations can benefit from adopting a data-driven culture and how to achieve it successfully, which includes: What a data-driven cultural change means Why culture plays a crucial role in data-driven projects failing Who is responsible for leading cultural change The role humility plays in the journey to cultural transformation How to identify if your business is resistant to change The connection between data-driven cultural change and other cultural-workplace issues An example of the most successful cultural shift towards data

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In Episode 14 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Nicola Askham, The Data Governance Coach, where they discuss why it's important to address the human side of Data Governance within an organization, which includes: Why Nicola started her own business The importance of helping your employees understand the value of data governance How organisations can train internally Why there has been a re-surgence in the world of data governance within the last 12 months The biggest challenges facing the Data Governance community How to instil cultural change around the importance of data governance The importance of keeping it simple

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In Episode 13 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Neil Hoyne, Chief Measurement Strategist at Google, where they discuss how to build truly customer-centric organisations, which includes: What customer-centricity really means The shift from product-oriented strategies to a customer-centric strategy How to be truly customer-centric How to identify your best customers How to acquire, develop & retain customers How to build relationships with your customers The biggest mistakes organizations make that prevent them from being truly customer-centric Why is so much data collected by companies but unused The role of personalisation and experimentation How the pandemic has changed things in regards to customer valuations What drove him to write his book

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In Episode 12 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Nathan Hungenberger, CTO & EVP Science at Known where they discuss the importance of getting the balance right between science and creativity, which includes; The importance of data science in making better creative Why adopting the scientific methodology is crucial The tangible benefits of experimentation How to incorporate experimentation into an already hectic workload/schedule How focusing on the science methodology makes it easier to build data science teams The importance of optimizing creativity and what role data science plays in this How he built a successful team of 125 people The timescales to success Real-life success stories

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In Episode 11 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lyndsee Manna, EVP of Strategic Partnerships at Arria NLG, where they discuss how natural language technology is helping to humanize data, which includes: An introduction into Lyndsee’s background and journey to her role at Arria! The role Arria has in allowing data to reveal insights by automatically generating language content from your data. Why Lyndsee sees the importance of humanizing data! The importance of being insights-driven rather than data-driven! An insight into how our brain processes different types of data! How humans, working alongside technology provides the best value for organizations. How technology can allow us to be more human again! How Covid-19 has caused a revolution within data. The economic value Arria brings to organizations!

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In Episode 10 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is re-joined by Bill Schmarzo, Customer Advocate and Data Management Incubation at Dell Technologies, where they discuss how things have gone since his first appearance on the podcast, which includes: What his new role at Dell Technologies entails Why he's getting the chance to put his money where his mouth is Why the transition away from the CIO was required and has happened How his prediction that there will be a CDMO (Chief Data Monetization Officer) is unfolding How the Data Leader is now the person responsible for quantifying value from Data Dell's approach to motivating and guiding organizing to becoming data-focused The importance of an organization understanding their data Why storing data is not enough and prevents organizations from driving value from their data How are organizations applying data and analytics to drive quantifiable benefits

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In Episode 9 of Season 2 on Driven By Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Jason Fairchild, Co-founder, and CEO of tvScientific, where they talk about how data has disrupted the TV advertising sector which includes: Jason Fairchild's journey to becoming the co-founder and CEO of tvScientific! An insight into tvScientific, the first performance platform for connected T.V! How Digital advertising has evolved Why T.V marketing will outperform social media marketing! What the next few years have in store for Jason Fairchild

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In Episode 8 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Doug Laney, Data and Analytics Innovation Fellow at West Monroe and renowned Author of Infonomics, where they talk about driving the value of a business through monetizing their data, which includes: Doug Laney's journey including his previous work experience and his work now at West Monroe An insight into the value businesses can drive from data and being data fluent The influence of 9/11 on how businesses viewed their continuity plans and whole system resilience towards data The first steps a business should take to monetize their data and the level of investment it will take The benefits of data monetization and do the benefits outweigh the costs? What do the next 5 years have in store for the renowned Doug Laney!

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In Episode 7 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Jordan Morrow, VP of Data Skills at Pluralsight, where they discuss how to build a truly data-driven organisation, which includes: The true definition of data literacy An insight into Pluralsight How Covid-19 has allowed companies to understand the importance of being data literate when creating a competitive advantage The importance of understanding what companies want to do with their data and how to go about building out a road-map to do it! The importance of a companies ability to adapt and obtain a data strategy supported by leadership How he goes about changing a companies culture and his work with the UN What the future holds for world renowned Jordan Morrow!

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In Episode 6 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Benjamin Grinspan, Director of Cultural Strategy at Sparks & Honey, where they discuss how organisations are using Data & Analytics to understand and change cultures, which includes: What is culture Why organisations require help in understanding culture How better business decisions are made by understanding culture How to quantify and categorise cultural change How they’ve created a Cultural Intelligence Platform which uses AI & NLP to understand and predict cultural changes The importance of prediction Some real-life examples of how they’ve helped organisations understand culture The role of bias in culture The impact that cultural shifts and trends have on organizations The relationship between culture and change How to build more equitable organisations The relationship between external & internal culture The role of diversity & inclusion within a culture What the culture of the new normal looks like

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In Episode 5 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dylan Jones, Founder of myDataBrand.com, where they discuss the importance of personal brand for Data Leaders, which includes: People get excited about insights from people, not company updates Why you should aim to make other people look like a rockstar Why you should give all of your knowledge away Why individuals need to be the face of the brand The importance of marketing the effectiveness of what you do The role brand plays in rejecting the notion that data is a cost centre Data Leaders don’t promote themselves enough to be successful Why a D&A capability should operate like a data consultancy The role that brand plays in cultural change & transformation A tangible framework to use Why creating a brand means you don’t need to “sell” Brand = Resonate, Reach and Reaction The importance of identifying your zone of genius Why you should focus on the 6 P’s The benefits of creating a personal brand Why a personal brand gives you a security blanket Why transparency is a major differentiator

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In Episode 4 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rob Walker, Vice President of Decision Management & Analytics at Pegasystems, where they discuss the value of 1:1 customer engagement and how organisations are executing it, which includes: His journey with entrepreneurship and selling his business How they coined the term next best action The transformation to the 1:1 space Why the returns are amazing Why the current model of segments and/or averages isn’t working The link between trust, interaction and relevance Identifying the best thing to talk about with your customer right now Why the messaging can’t always be “sales” How personalizing 1:1 can increase conversion rate by 3-5x How organisations are making hundreds of real-time predictions within each interaction to predict next best action The importance of getting things into production Why attempting to perfect the data can come at huge expense in terms of revenue/profits Why trust in AI has led to the breakthrough of any organisations doing this Why you need to start the conversation with ROI Why 1:1 engagement makes ROI at a domain level unpredictable but very predictable at an enterprise level The change required to move away from pure sales messaging The role of responsibility in AI: transparency, fairness, robustness & empathy

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In Episode 3 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Mike Bregman, Chief Data Officer at Havas Media Group where they discuss how the evolution of consumer data is providing competitive advantage, which includes: • How the marketplace for consumer data has changed • The rise of the walled gardens • Defining relevant use cases that deliver the most value • How to calculate effort versus value • Using Data Science to predict ROI • The emergence of cleanrooms • Consumer identity & privacy will be guarded commodity • People still do want to be targeted, what they don’t want is to be sold to • Why 10:1 provides greater ROI than 1:1 • How that reduces certain privacy concerns • Why an individual consumer journey is a “pipe dream” • Getting the balance right between privacy and innovation • The importance of successful use cases • The importance of collaboration between the CDO & CMO • Level of investment from lead to sale • The Rubik’s cube between brand advertising and performance media • Embracing the connected consumer journey • The importance of consumer experience • Why people will be the future of the modern-day data platform

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In Episode 2 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Peter Jackson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Exasol (and Carruthers & Jackson) where they discuss the pathway to CDAO and the key considerations, which includes: His journey to date Why he made the move vendor side The power of Exasol Why organisations should have a CDAO Why that person needs to be a "data professional" Why it’s only a matter of time before every organisation has a data office How to position yourself accordingly to become a CDAO The two things that organisations are looking for in a CDAO The importance of strategic thinking, execution, and storytelling How Data Leaders can identify whether an opportunity is genuinely a CDAO level role Why we’re seeing the age of CDAO’s reducing in comparison to other c-suite roles Can CDAO’s move across sectors? Does it matter who the CDAO role reports to? Do Data Leaders need to be “hands-on” Why most organisations get the expectations all wrong about what a CDAO can deliver The importance of self-awareness What the future holds for the CDAO persona Why CDO’s are future CEO’s

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In Episode 1 of Season 2 on Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by David Reed, Knowledge and Strategy Director at Data IQ where they discuss the value data literacy has within organisations, which includes: The work of the Data IQ Why he decided to write his new book How Data initiatives haven’t given organisations the return we all expected Why we need to convince businesses that it’s worth sustaining investment How most new initiatives within businesses fail, especially within product & technology We all know data has value to an organisation, we just can’t agree on what that value is Why it matters where the data office sits within a business Where it should and shouldn’t be situated The role that reporting structure plays Why viewing Data as a technology play will lead to less value recognition Why there will be a data native organisation one day Data Leaders need to learn the language of business The debate around technical skills versus commercial skills The benefit of retraining existing staff and bringing them into the data office How organisations can become data literate in its entirety The importance of communication and training Why capability doesn’t always equate to value

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In Episode 50 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Julia Shullman, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at TripleLift, where they discuss how the Big-Tech players have weaponised Data Privacy and the effects it’s had on the advertising industry, which includes; How the Big Tech players have weaponised Data Privacy The dysfunctional hamster wheel of privacy solutions How silos have impacted data privacy solutions How privacy solutions have stagnated for the last 20 years Anti-Trust V Privacy Why we’ve been addressing the same challenges for years How the big tech players are spinning up their own innovative solutions and products How Big-Tech have locked down the Data Ecosystem Balancing Innovation and Ethics The importance of translation between privacy and other business domains Strategic Risk V Compliance Risk The role of compliance between offensive & defensive strategies Who wins and who loses from weaponizing Data Privacy The birth of the new infrastructure players How technological advancement will change the privacy landscape in the future It’s not the death of advertising, it’s the 3rd wave

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In Episode 49 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Karen Jean-Francois, Analytics Manager at Cardlytics, where they discuss how people can craft the career they want in Data & Analytics, her humbling career journey so far and how she overcame imposter syndrome, which includes; Moving from the Caribbean to Paris to London Her struggles of living away from home & her family The transition from performing at the European Championships into the world of Data Why she hosts the Women In Data Podcast How she was awarded the 20 in Data & Technology 2020 Why she struggled to find her place & voice The importance of role models and networking on her career How she joined Cardlytics as the only female in the team Why she had a huge case of Imposter Syndrome and how she overcame it How she realised it was all in her own mind Why it prevented her from being promoted despite knowing she was doing great work The importance of opening up about Imposter Syndrome Why company culture is so important to deal with Imposter Syndrome How to go from diagnosis to action (to start addressing the problem) The journey from introvert with imposter syndrome to winning industry awards and podcast host The technical V commercial debate How she almost quit Data & Analytics to become a pastry chef That she realized that she had so far let others decide what my career would look like The importance of owning your own career and defining what you want it to be Her top questions for crafting your career:

Where are you at today? Where would you like to be and why? What's stopping you from getting there? How are you going to overcome these blockers?

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In Episode 48 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Natalie Cramp, CEO at Profusion, where they discuss the role of HR in driving a data culture within an organisation and the benefits of putting data into HR, which includes; How HR can drive a data culture Why the next hire into your HR team should be a Data Scientist How data can create a more objective, fair and all-encompassing HR Examples of how this worked successfully at the 2012 London Olympic games The impact on recruitment, career progression, remote working and employee engagement How data can be used to support diversity & inclusion initiatives The partnership between people and data Why HR Directors should be a key part of data transformation How HR can help organisations to improve data literacy across the organisation How data teams can support HR to be intelligent data customers The importance of data education and training Why it’s vital to create a north-star so everyone is gunning for the same purpose The many lessons that HR can learn from marketing The role of HR in Data Ethics

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In Episode 47 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steve Mattey, Managing Director at HH Global, Interactive, where they discuss the role of data in the new age of marketing, which includes; Data & Marketing, Post Covid The change in behaviours of consumers The schism in marketing between creative and data Top-Down (The Big Idea) V Bottom Up (Data-Driven) The importance of creating the perfect learning loop Why traditional agencies have “fallen asleep at the wheel” Digital Transformation can’t happen without Data The rise of data-driven creative Why we’re in the perfect storm for cultural transformation to occur Data is now common currency for decision making Why marketing teams are fearful of the new landscape The importance of having the right people How data is the engine room to deliver creative Digital transformation is not just tech it is mindset and behaviour too The relationship between Data, Marketing and Technology

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In Episode 46 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sameer Rahman, Director of Insight at The Royal Mint, where they discuss the role of data in the boardroom and how to get it there, which includes; Why you need to “show the money” The importance of showing the conclusion first Why simplicity is key The importance of understanding the people in the boardroom Answer 1 burning question Start with Strategy but not the Data Strategy Why middle-management can be more important than the boardroom The difference in obtaining buy-in between middle management and the boardroom Why you need to cater to people’s self-motivation Use cases & proof of concepts help conversations in the boardroom The importance of choosing your project where ROI is demonstratable Why you must define the metrics of success at the start of the initiative The importance of thinking time to drive innovation The role that maturity, literacy and trajectory play in defining an operating model Using external use cases to ‘get the penny to drop’ Why you need to take advantage of being the flavour of the month The importance of tracking the revenue you’ve generated for the organisation Why Evolution leads to Revolution The importance of communication to reduce scepticism Why you must demonstrate that data is commercial driver and not an enabler or utility Why Data Leaders need to welcome the advice of Data NED’s

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In Episode 45 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by AI Author and Keynote Speaker, Calum Chace, where they discuss what impact Artificial Intelligence will have on human society in the future, which includes; His background in journalism and how he got onto the AI journey What Artificial General Intelligence is and how it will happen The big bang of AI in 2012: when it started to make money for organisations Why businesses that don’t deploy AI will be out of business in 10 years Why the technological singularity will be the biggest event in human history Why AI will eventually make us all permanently jobless Why this is the best and most exciting time in human history How it’s likely that within this century death will be optional The stark potential downsides of superintelligence Why we will need an economy of abundance: where costs of goods are close to zero Why a superintelligence will look at humans, as we do chimpanzees How humans will eventually live in virtual reality for most of the time Why we should share more data rather than less Aggregated data is where we get the most benefits from AI Why you can’t interrogate the decision-making process of a human In the short term, people who work successfully with AI will replace those who don’t Companies need to be ABLE Humans need to get REAL

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In Episode 44 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Amiel Shapiro, VP of Data & Insights at Eko, where they discuss how choice-driven experience will play a major part in the future of eCommerce and Digital Retail, which includes; How his Data journey started in the Israeli Special Intelligence Unit The transition from being a creative-driven organisation to being a results-orientated organisation The cultural transformation that occurred to achieve that Why the power of choice is key in the future of retail/eCommerce How major global brands are utilising these methods How they identified Data & Analytics champions within the organisation Why it’s the responsibility of the Data Leader to drive the data-driven culture How they used the companies’ creative resources to articulate better stories internally The importance of communication in driving cultural change How they’ve helped Walmart create a choice-driven shopping experience, online What does that actually mean for Eko’s Data & Analytics team, day-to-day Why choice-driven experience is personalisation on-the-go How they helped Walmart to achieve a 40% increase in “go to cart” in comparison to linear videos What the future of eCommerce will look like and the role of Data & Analytics within it

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In Episode 43 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Jon Cooke, Founder of Dataception, where they discuss the benefits of the data mesh and the value it brings, which includes; What is a data mesh How it differs from other data platforms Why it’s faster, cheaper and less risky The commercial value which a data mesh brings The type of organisations it suits How it improves Speed & Scale of capability Its relationship with self-serve, experimentation and data management Fail fast mentality The importance of organisational change The ownership considerations Build V Buy The talent requirements Success Stories to check out

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In Episode 42 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Doug McConchie, Head of Data & Analytics at HSO, where they discuss how to sell the value of your Data Strategy, which includes; The separation of data from technology Why companies start their Data & Analytics journey without a strategy The major risks of doing so The requirement of brutal prioritization The importance of continuously selling the value of your strategy How to articulate the value in different ways to specific audiences Any strategy should exist exclusively to support the business objectives Why you need to understand levels of maturity to articulate value The importance of incrementality in seeing the value of your strategy Why financials will often determine the strategy The timescales of developing the Data Strategy A framework of how to develop a Data Strategy Why the ability of data consumers is critical to a Data Strategy Why technology shouldn’t be your first conversation How to assess how you’re tracking against achieving value against the strategy The importance of culture within a Data Strategy The relationship between culture and maturity Why he wrote a book on this topic

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In Episode 41 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Daniel Hulme, TedX Speaker and CEO at Satalia, where they have a truly fascinating conversation about the current Artificial Intelligence landscape and what the future holds, which includes: His TedX experience Why organisations don’t have ML/Data problems, they have decision problems Asking machines to resemble human behaviour isn’t “intelligence” Why he hasn’t seen a single complex system in production The true paradigm of AI is systems that can adapt themselves in production Why there are less than a handful of companies in the world that can do this at enterprise level How AI has been wrongly synonymised with technology The concept of digital twins Why humans are trying to solve problems that they’re not capable of solving Why services companies are the walking dead The mistakes that most organisations make with AI Why you shouldn’t be hiring Data Scientists The scaremongering around AI Ethics Why you shouldn't invest in Data Lakes if you’re serious about AI Why the term “quick win” is an oxymoron The PESTEL singularity The goal of democratising innovation by open sourcing

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In Episode 40 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Jason Krantz, CEO/Founder at Strategy Titan, where they discuss how to demonstrate the business value and financial impact of our Data & Analytics initiatives, which includes: Our job is to create clarity on how data can help the business reach its goals Why we need to find a balance between data literacy and business literacy The importance of business context Why its impossible to translate how D&A initiatives benefit the business without business literacy Push Versus Pull: why you’ve got to embrace the pull model Why you need to get out from behind your keyboard to set yourself apart We are in a battle of hearts of minds, not technology Why you should start by creating demand and how to do so The importance of knowing how the score is kept and keeping score! How to quantify the financial benefits and/or business benefits before starting a project The importance of understanding the decision making culture within your organisation Why it reflects on you as a leader if change doesn’t occur The “cost” of data & analytics capabilities are simply table stakes to remain competitive Why we should calculate the financial value as opposed to ROI Why it’s on the organisation to gauge the financial value generated Why offensive initiatives are easier to quantify the financial value generated How to be in alignment with decision-makers that are acting on your recommendations to be able to claim added value

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In Episode 39 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Errol Koolmeister, Head of AI Foundation at H&M, where they discuss how to successfully productionize Artificial Intelligence at scale, which includes: Why they established the foundation as an external function and then integrated it into the business What the companies that are succeeding with AI are doing versus the ones who aren’t Why you should focus on incremental value delivery as early as possible The 3 key factors for scale: Value, Feasibility, Reusability Why you should start with the most flexible use case, not the best or most valuable The importance of creating infrastructure that supports AI How they returned all of the investment in AI within 12 months The importance of having clear ownership within the business Why Reusability is the key to success to scale AI Why the POV has replaced the POC Merging Long-term thinking with short-term gains How upskilling initiatives across the organization aided the evolution of AI How to get the balance of skills within your AI team What they did to create a compelling brand/narrative in the marketplace

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In Episode 38 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Christina Stathopopolous, Analytics Lead at Google, where they discuss how to build your personal brand to stand out in the crowded Data & Analytics market, which includes: Getting hired by Google The importance of positivity and persistence Why building a brand is overlooked and not taken an advantage of How to build a personal brand despite being an introvert Why consistency is key Why you should look at this as an investment in yourself The importance of contributing to the community Don’t try to learn all of the "hard" skills The importance of SQL in Data Science Take every opportunity to present in public The difference between, communication, people and commercial skills Why sharpening your commercial skills is beneficial even if you don’t need them just yet How we can tackle the gender imbalance within the world of Data Why she promotes the 'Book a Week Challenge'

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In Episode 37 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Cindi Howson, Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot, where they discuss how the CDO can create a data culture, which includes: 85% fail to achieve the full benefit, not fail full stop Only 14% of organisations are measuring ROI How to measure ROI: Leading Indicators V Lagging Indicators 61% of Data Leaders suggest that culture is the biggest barrier to creating a truly data-driven organisation 85% of boards have expectations to become data-driven The relationship between leadership styles and culture, and the success of Data & Analytics initiatives The evolution of the CDAO The differences in achieving cultural change between leaders and users So What – what’s in it for me? The perfect environment to create a truly data-driven culture Two sides of the same coin: The relationship between Technology and Culture Does it matter where the CDAO reports? The correlation between the team you build and the culture you create The relationship required for a CDO with other members of the C-suite

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In Episode 36 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Adrian Kingwell, CEO of Mezzo Labs, where they discuss what the future of insight looks like and if we've seen the death of the dashboard, which includes: His journey into running a successful Digital Analytics business How staff churn was his biggest problem in the early days Why actionable insights are the crown jewels of analytics The importance of the presentation of insights Why we spend too much time on Data Visualisation How there is something missing “in the final mile” which makes insight actionable How to be more data-driven by getting insight immediately to the point of action Why self-serve is only as successful as the appetite to find insight Push V Pull Culture The Analytics Exoskeleton – delivering insights that empower individuals to make data-driven decisions Why shift from traditional consultancy to a product-based business Have we seen the death of the dashboard? What the future of insights looks like Why we should create a warehouse of insights that act as a playbook for stakeholders

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In Episode 35 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Caroline Worboys, Data, Digital & AI NED, where they discuss why the Data, Analytics and AI industry needs independent NED's, which includes: Why we need to be creative as well as analytical The need to be outcome-focused but understanding how you'll get there The Art of the Possible: Why business leaders often want us to provide insight to identify the opportunity The role of corporate bias Why budget ownership can create constraints for CDO’s The golden question: What do you wish you could predict? The importance of keeping it high-level for as long as possible The role structure can play on how successful we are The importance of helping business leaders prioritise What it takes to be a successful NED The benefit of being free from day-to-day constraints Why you reap what you sow with regards to culture Why context is so important even at the execution level

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In Episode 34 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Graeme McDermott, Chief Data Officer at Tempcover, where they discuss one of the most debated topics in the industry right now; how hands-on should a data leader be, which includes; Defining what we mean by “hands-on” The two types of Data Leader: Hands-on V Agent of Change Why being hands-on will get you buy-in and credibility from D&A teams The benefits of remaining hands-on The role that scale plays in making the decision Why the industry needed that agent of change What areas outside of “technical" or “strategic” should Data Leaders focus on The relationship between Data Maturity & Data Leadership How to quantify "better questions" and why we need to ask them Why Data Literacy is a journey and not a destination Why context is important to provide solutions Utilising nudge theory and the 5 Why’s How to develop diverse friendly recruitment practices Is Agile fit for purpose in Data & Analytics How much time is split between being hands-on versus strategic

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In Episode 33 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Marie Hense, Data & Product Strategy Director at Lumina Intelligence where they discuss what needs to be considered when acquiring data, which includes: The importance of providing the right data, in the right format for every kind of data user The importance of using data to contextualise your own data Why it’s imperative to think about how you’ll integrate external data Whether purchasing data will be worth the investment How many organisations often purchase the same data sets over and over again Why having good Data Management makes your investment go further How silo’s within an organisation can increase the money that’s spent on data acquisition Why organisations spend money on acquiring data even though they’ve already got it internally The relationship between wastage, investment and data management What you need to understand to make sure your data gets used properly How the format of data has implications on usage and storage

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In Episode 32 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Andrew Burgess, Founder of Greenhouse AI, where they discuss how to build an AI strategy to get people onto that journey, which includes: Why you need an AI strategy Why it’s important to try and make AI boring for people What AI can’t do but what everyone thinks it is What most organisations are using AI to achieve The importance of understanding AI maturity before committing to it The framework in how to talk about AI to business leaders The correlation between Data Maturity and AI The mentality leap required to move from Analytics to AI Why there are often 40-50 opportunities for AI Data Strategy versus AI Strategy How to prioritise AI implementation The risk of over dependence on AI Why most people give AI more credibility than it’s due How to figure out the art of the possible The process of developing an AI strategy Why you need to think big but act small Why organisations fall into the never-ending proof of concept loop The growth of MLOps

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In Episode 31 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lynne Bailey, Chief Data Officer at KPMG, where they discuss why the industry needs a taxonomy, which includes: Why we can’t assume that just because we are talking about the same word, that you mean the same thing Why we need a Data Taxonomy How she is going about building one and where to start The typical terms that are often confused How to validate definitions across the organisation The need for segmentation within Data Literacy The benefits of building a taxonomy Why we still require some optionality The need for an industry culture that creates acceptance around not knowing what these terms mean Could our industry thought-leaders help to create standards around terminology and definitions? The relationship between Data Mapping and Data Literacy and Data Culture How AI/ML should be the ambition for all organisations but not many are ready for that The cyclical resurgence of Data Management How to balance the foundational aspects alongside innovation The importance of how you articulate the significance of Data Governance

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In Episode 30 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Daryl D'Cruz, Founder & Director at Hexdon, where they discuss how creativity and literacy play their part in humanising data, which includes: Why people are an asset just as much as data & technology The importance of the storytelling narrative Why we must make data more relatable to the masses The Data Literacy spectrum The role that Learning Management Systems can play within organisations The importance of creativity to change the mindset Translating 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' into Humanising Data Why your Data & Analytics team should spend time on the front-line The relationship between Culture, Literacy, Creativity and Maturity

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In Episode 29 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Edosa Odaro, Head of Data at AIG, where they discuss the role that speed plays when determining value, which includes: Understanding what we mean by "value" Why there are a least 4 ways to think about value How you should prioritise Who is responsible for providing value Why focusing solely on value from a commercial perspective can have detrimental consequences How value does not have to be a "zero-sum" game How speed ultimately underpins value The relationship between speed, impact and value Why organisational structures increase the time it takes to achieve change Why the cost of change isn’t always financial Why we need to think about speed from an internal and external perspective Why culture is imperative for success with AI Why we need to talk more about the resistance towards AI and not just the benefits

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In Episode 28 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tom Spencer, Head of Customer Data Science at Aviva (and Data IQ 100 No.9) where they discuss the relationship between customer-centric and data-driven, which includes: His experience of working in different cultures in Asia Why he thinks he was listed at Number 9 in the Data IQ 100 2021 Why your insights are only as good as the change you can drive Why he focuses on shifting from "Reactive Servants" to "Proactive Partners" How he lives by the quote; "You tell us what you want and we’ll tell you what you need” The importance of understanding the real question Why there is still a place for instinct despite being data-driven Why customer-centric and data-driven aren’t mutually exclusive Why being truly customer-centric only works if it’s ingrained into the company culture The danger of conflating customer-centric with doing anything for the customer Why it’s equally important to identify the customers you don’t want as it is understanding who your best customers are The importance of hiring in the quest to be customer-centric The 3 phases by which to measure the success of the customer-centric approach Why measuring the impact your work has on your customers is better than attempting to measure ROI The difference between a customer-centric organisation versus a product/service-centric organisation The role of the board in being customer-centric Why connecting what’s important to the customers to what’s important to the stakeholders is critical

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In Episode 27 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Steen Rasmussen, Founder & Director at IIH Nordic, where they discuss how to activate data to drive business value, which includes: How he ended up as a keynote speaker in Silicon Valley Why dashboards don’t facilitate action How data activation correlates action and the bottom line Why reporting has become an alibi in analytics How many organisations calculate costs to the point of insight but fail to factor in the cost of change Why we often underestimate the value lifecycle in analytics How and why we should calculate the cost of inaction Why customer lifetime value is one of the key metrics in business The importance of focusing on margins and not just value Why we are obsessed with revenue and not profit The importance of understanding the end to end cost structure to sell your products Why marketing agencies can’t add value to the bottom line, only the top line Why the notion of “sell more to earn more” is a fallacy Data isn’t the new oil because it doesn’t retain value, it’s more like meat because it spoils What companies need is a data-driven business developer but what they often hire is a “number accountant”

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In Episode 26 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Chris Bannocks, Chief Data Officer at Danone, where they discuss the trials and tribulations surrounding the current CDO role, which includes: Why the average tenure of the CDO is only 2 years That many boards haven’t realised this needs to be a strategic priority How the eagerness to obtain a CDO role is contributing to the tenure How most boards are dipping their toe into the water The type of questions you should be asking to gauge the readiness for the role in the organisation Why it’s important to recognise the difference in scale Why coming from a technical background is advantageous, but that alone isn’t enough Why the appointment of "Non-Exec Data Leaders" will be an indication of maturity How the consultancy organisations are playing their part in this Why some businesses won’t need a CDO How ROI can be seen within 6 months & it could cost up to 200m Why it’s essential to have an official communication strategy & budget to drive change What those type of comms strategies could consist of Why experimentation and innovation are essential but seen as the nemesis within the business What organisation should be considering to decide whether to appoint a CDO The key things Data Leaders should be thinking about before taking a CDO role

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In Episode 25 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Dan Raine, CEO & Founder at Unlocked Data where they discuss how to monetise data through building sellable products. After being responsible for monetising data through sale at a large global brand, Dan decided to start his own business in that space. We discuss: How he became responsible for commercialising data as an asset to be sold in the corporate world How they build data products and services which help organisations productise their data as a sellable asset How this is applicable to every type of organisation, not just data or tech businesses Why you should commercialise data both internally and externally, simultaneously The importance of changing how you think Why it's an easier conversation to have to obtain buy-in Why it’s hard to quantify commercialising data internally versus externally How it gives you the ability to win new customers for the business The importance of making the customers the hero in your data storytelling The barriers to entry Why you have to focus on "pain relievers" and "gain creators" Why most organisations aren't set-up to deliver this themselves

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In Episode 24 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Helen Brown, MD of ITK where they discuss how to make the most of your data assets by optimising data utility. After spending many years working for the NHS where she took a national role to advance data, governance and intelligence capabilities, Helen decided to start a training business focused on helping organisations improve data utility. We discuss: Why organisations tend to fall into one of three categories How to find the middle ground Why many organisations are diluting the effectiveness of their data without even knowing The importance of understanding what you need to use your data for Why you need to do a Data Protection Impact Assessment The importance of choosing the correct controls for specific situations Why there needs to be more collaboration between governance and analytics teams Why it's easy to create unintended bias The relationship between data privacy and data accuracy Why skill-sets need to merge to better understand utility constraints The importance of minimisation How you can use training as a control measure How the application of privacy controls can affect the utility of your data The importance of minimising data the right way, at the right stage of the lifecycle

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In Episode 23 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by fellow podcaster and CEO of Datazuum, Samir Sharma where they discuss the need to be communicating about decisions and not data. In this episode, Samir highlights some of the challenges he sees within the industry and how we communicate is halting our progress, which includes: How the relationship between technology and data prompted him to start a business focusing on Data Strategy Why he decided 2020 was the right time to launch his own podcast ‘The Data Strategy Show’ The importance of starting with the outcome in mind Why we need to create a decision culture and not data-culture Why “data” is the wrong conversation Where the decision intelligence framework came from and why How Data & Analytics is nothing more than evidence-based management Why we need to change the narrative to stop data & analytics projects from failing Why businesspeople are starting to question the validity of Data & Analytics The critical elements missing from many Data & Analytics teams Why "Data Leaders" no longer have the budgets which they once had How Tech will help but it will only get you so far Real-life use cases including £1m savings

NOTICE: when we recorded this episode the UK was hit by a storm and as such, the connection was a little slow in spells which has affected the audio in certain spots

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In Episode 22 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lauren Walker, Global COO and Head of Digital Transformation at Dentsu International where they discuss how the big-tech organisations are starting to play a huge part in digital transformation. In this fascinating conversation, Lauren outlines some of the key points around the importance of understanding your customer to stay relevant and how the big-tech players are contributing to that, which includes: How she started her career in the White House Her presence in the Data IQ 100 every year since 2014 Why the CDO role shouldn’t be the pinnacle for Data professionals Why Digitial Transformation is so much more than just having a website Why it is imperative that consumers have a unique experience Why everyone's eyeballs are no longer on individual brands How organisations will partner with big-tech to stay ahead of the competition Why all consumer data in the world ultimately exists in only a handful of companies Why organisational structures have been inhibiting digital transformation How to identify what data is available from big-tech and the associated costs How to understand whether this is worth considering Why Data can’t be in silo’s for successful digital transformation

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In Episode 21 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Hywel Benbow, VP Global Data & Analytics at GEMS Education where they discuss the journey of establishing a centralised Data & Analytics capability across a global, fragmented organisation from scratch. Hywel provides fantastic advice and insights into the journey he has been on and the key points to consider, which includes: The challenge of consistency Where to start and why The importance of being ruthless with prioritisation Why you need to take the business on the journey to shift the culture Why communication is key Why you need to talk about outcomes rather than data The importance of quick wins Why you should think of yourself as an internal consultancy Why the role of a D&A capability is also a “sales role” Some of the commercial benefits GEMS have seen as a result The importance of setting the correct foundations The link between business priority and foundations Why managing expectations is critical The timescales to deliver genuine value to the business What you should be looking for in people who are joining your team Why problem-solving, communication & critical thinking skills trump technology skills

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In Episode 20 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kat Holmes, Global Director of Data Governance at Travelex, where they discuss whether the end is near for Data Governance. In this episode, Kat outlines her thoughts around the current landscape surrounding Data Governance, which includes: Why organisations often wrongly conflate Governance & Protection Why we've seen a resurgence in Data Governance How Data Governance doesn’t have an end point Why Data Governance should be as invisible as possible Why Data Governance doesn’t belong in a Risk function Why you need to remove humans as much as possible How an AI data catalogue is a fundamental piece for seamless Data Governance Why you need to integrate Data Governance into the data integration process Why she doesn’t believe in traditional Master Data Management Why we need to change the vocabulary Why it was the right time to “come out” in relation to an invisible disability she suffers with

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In Episode 19 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Simon Hayter, Partner & Group Head of Data at Knight Frank, where they discuss some of the major problems the Data & Analytics industry is currently facing. In a world where most organisations require data professionals to be many things to many people, Simon outlines some of his concerns and the role which academia plays, which includes: Why you should be customer-driven, not data-driven Why you need to understand what you need from your data function The importance of "pulling" and not "pushing" How all data roles are equal Why most organisations put "big-tech" companies on a pedestal Why you should view data as you do money That the grass isn't always greener Why you'll never have a finished product How the lines have become blurred in regards to skill-sets Why the same person can't own Analytics & Compliance The need to bring data literacy to all academic subjects Why "data courses" are setting up the future generations for failure How consultancies instigated the data hype

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In Episode 18 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Annie Hou, SVP of Data Science at GroupM, where they discuss bias in data science; which includes: Why data isn't a commodity Where bias comes from and how to mitigate it Why we need a call to arms of critical modelling How data is not the sole answer to all our questions, nor can it ever be The importance of human judgement & critical thinking The need for better design of data collection Real-life use cases of bias The commercial impact of bias within an organisation The importance of understanding the context by which the data exists Why ML/DS degrees aren't helping How we are starting to understanding the impacts of Data Ethics Why we shouldn't automate everything

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In Episode 17 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Robert Bond, Senior Counsel at Bristows Law, where they discuss what really happens when Privacy, Compliance and Ethics issues arise within an organisation. Robert is not our atypical guest, but with over 20 years of experience in working within Data Protection law, Robert is able to give us some truly unique insights into the consequences of getting this wrong. This includes: How being kept awake by his next-door neighbour at 3am resulted in his career to date How companies have been collecting data since the early 80's The importance of being able to articulate to your customers what the value exchange is of having their data Why recent breaches have made the public more aware of the value of their data How the sum of the fine doesn’t come close to the damage to brand and reputation Why the “I Accept” button is built on lies That a single notice on your website won’t suffice Why you don’t necessarily require consent to legally collect and use peoples data Why your data in the public domain (social media) is fair game The impacts your data estate can have on investment Real-life examples of the common mistakes and the consequences they caused How to translate compliance into ROI Why there will be increasingly more focus on governance and ethics over the next 5 years

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In Episode 16 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Roberto Maranca, VP of Data Excellence at Schneider Electric where they discuss what is required for organisations to achieve Data Excellence. Roberto is one of the most influential people in Data (Data IQ 100 Top 10) and provides fantastic insight and an abundance of metaphors to outline what it takes to truly win with Data, which includes: Why achieving Data Excellence is exactly the same as working out Why the traditional way of doing things isn’t delivering How organisations have become subject to peer-pressure Why as a data professional you’re a change agent & disruptor The importance of the element of faith to believe in something better Why Data has to go viral to change the DNA of a company The 3 "M’s" you need to address to achieve Data Excellence Why tribal data is; inconsistent, unmeasurable and unmanageable How to erode a portion of the “data debt” Why we are on the second wave on failed digital transformation How data accessibility is an issue but why no one wants ownership Why quality can only be measured through the eye of the consumer The importance of agreed Data Meanings How you'll know you’re moving in the right direction

Happy New Year! We wish you all a very prosperous and safe 2021!

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In Episode 15 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Peggy Tsai, VP of Data Solutions at BigID, where we discuss how Artificial Intelligence is being used to drive governance, management and privacy initiatives. Having spent 18 years working for some of the biggest names in the financial services industry, Peggy decided she wanted to join a business where she could build products which would have solved a lot of the problems which she encountered throughout her career. In this episodes she highlights: How they have built a product which;

Uses AI to discover all data that an organisation has How it can classify data automatically How it provides a single source of reference

Why every business wants to know:

what data they have where it is the quality of it

Why everyone's version of the truth is different How 80% of your data is below the surface and not visible Why every business is trying to create a complete asset inventory How AI/ML is being used to expedite that process The relationship between technology and data governance Why focusing on building your data assets allows you to drive more value How doing things right from the start allows organisations to be more scalable, flexible and agile Why analytics often duplicate a lot of work that’s already been done How Privacy and Governance should work together

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In Episode 14 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Susan Walsh, The Classification Guru. Susan is one of the industry's most recognisable faces when it comes to fixing dirty data. She talks us through the key considerations which allow organisations to drive more value from their data, which includes: Why quality is a people issue and not a data issue Why you should always start with the end in mind The benefits of customised taxonomies Why it is an investment and not a cost The importance of standardisation Why maintenance is one of the biggest issues The benefits of classification Why data cleansing is viewed as a low-skilled job but isn't The importance of making it as easy as possible How showing your staff the path of the data and how their input affects the journey Why the different data sets need to be the right version of accurate for the people that are using it

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In Episode 13 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Scott Taylor, Founder of MetaMeta Consulting, where they discuss the importance of Storytelling for Data Management. Scott has recently released a book on this subject and consults on how to raise the profile/importance of Data Management within an organisation, which includes: How it differs from traditional Data Storytelling Why obtaining support for Data Management is a challenge Why 60% of business objectives won't happen without better Data Management How the vocabulary/terminology needs to change The need for Data Science & Data Management to collaborate better Why Data isn't useless without Analytics How you can SEE Analytics, but FEEL Data Management How "scale" immediately brings you into the conversation Why customer relationships are the most important thing to your business The similarities between the CDO and CMO Why your story is a "sales pitch" designed to drive action The three V's of Data Management and how to use them

Link to Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Telling-Your-Data-Story-Storytelling/dp/1634628950/ref=asc_df_1634628950/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463023885319&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15561163113273700392&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046663&hvtargid=pla-1032186806364&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Telling Your Data Story: Data Storytelling for Data Management

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In Episode 12 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Bill Schmarzo (The Dean of Big Data) the Former Chief Innovation Officer at Hitachi Vanatara. Bill is a published author, honorary professor and executive fellow, as well as holding influencer status across a number of industry subject matters. Bill specialises in the field of Data Monetisation and talks us through the key considerations (plus we chat about a bunch of other things) which includes: How "Forest Gump" moments defined his career Why he wrote his 4th book Why organisations need a Chief Data Monetisation Officer That empowerment is the secret to unlocking value in Data Analytics Cultural transformation is the key to Data/Digital Transformation Why everyone should think like a Data Scientist How Data Science is like a game of Final Fantasy II Why value created by selling data is minuscule in comparison to the value you get from using it How Data is an economics problem, not an accounting one Why use cases are the only way to generate value Why economies of learning are greater than economies of scale

Link to book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Economics-Data-Analytics-Digital-Transformation/dp/1800561415

The Economics of Data, Analytics, and Digital Transformation: The theorems, laws, and empowerments to guide your organization's digital transformation

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In Episode 11 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Andrew Jones, Founder of Data Science Infinity, where they discuss how to be successful with Data Science. Andrew comes from a non-technical background but established himself as a very credible Data Scientist, eventually taking leadership roles at organisations such as Amazon and Sony where he was responsible for building Data Science teams. In this episode, Andrew outlines the key considerations of success for both Data Scientists and organisations that are on that Data Science journey, which includes: Why he started Data Science Infinity The disconnect between DS courses and the needs of the real world What skills you need as Data Scientist to land a great job Why the tech you use is somewhat irrelevant How the real art is learning how to problem solve The importance of being able to translate & story tell What differentiates a good data scientist and great data scientist Why nobody will pay you JUST to code and build ML models The “Grey Area” between Data Engineering and Data Science What organisations should expect of Data Science Why having a minimal viable product is great to manage expectations Why you’ll never attract the best talent by advertising solely on technical skills The questions you need to ask when interviewing Data Scientists

Link to the Data Science Infinity page: https://data-science-infinity.teachable.com/ (https://data-science-infinity.teachable.com/)

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In Episode 10 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Lisa Allen, Head of Data & Analytical Services at Ordnance Survey, where they discuss how to execute upon the data strategy once it's been formulated. Lisa gives us a fantastic insight into the process she has followed in relation to executing a data strategy and some of the key considerations, which includes: Why having a plan is so important How to implement your data principles against your data strategy Why your data needs to be trustable, accessible and useable How to make it as easy as possible for people to "do the right thing" Why people are key to executing on the strategy The framework of; Data, Process/Policy, People and Technology Why our people should be the last line of defence not the first Achieving a balance between control and innovation How to prioritise where to start Identifying what good looks like and a process to do so Why it's imperative to show progress quickly The major challenges that you'll face How to obtain buy-in

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In Episode 9 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Alex Golbin, Chief Data Officer at Morningstar, where they discuss how to maximise value by connecting Data & Analytics to a business. Having worked for a number of high-profile financial institutions including Lehman Brother, BlackRock and now Morningstar, Alex articulates the key components of how a CDO connects an organisations Data & Analytics initiative to the core business, which includes: Why you always to start with your "clients" How everyone that comes into contact with your data is a "client" The importance of defining "moments that matter" Why a CDO function is an internal service provider Why data should "tell the truth" and "predict the future" How to define Defence V Offense How to connect disparate data to tell a story Why data should be available, discoverable and trusted How to create zones of readiness for data discovery Why data quality isn't always about accuracy The importance of creating data quality dimensions/taxonomies Why creating business partnerships is the key to being a great CDO

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In Episode 8 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Caroline Carruthers, CEO of Carruthers and Jackson, where they discuss the key components of a successful Data Transformation. Caroline shares how she helps organisations to transform to be "data enabled" which includes: Why taking the first step is the hardest How the focus should be on our people and literacy Why "looking in the mirror" is so important How to find the balance between "the foundations" and the "sexy stuff" The need to define what value means to your organisation How to fix the wrong behaviours The importance of starting with the purpose The power of curiosity How "what's in it for them" is the all important question Why most data strategies focus on technology and governance The importance of celebrating success Why the 2nd edition the CDO Playbook

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In Episode 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Oguzhan Gencoglu, Head of AI at Top Data Science, (a Data Science Consultancy that is ranked as one of the best Artificial Intelligence consultancies in Finland) where they talk about how to go beyond the proof of concept cycle with Artificial Intelligence. Oguzhan has given over 40 "talks" on the subject of AI, has numerous publications and has delivered over 60 AI solutions into production, and he shared the key considerations of productionising AI, which includes: How FOMO is a driver behind many AI projects The importance of how data is collected How to check the pulse of commitment within the business Why "top down" commitment is key How the cost implications are more than just the implementation cost Why POC failure is a good thing How to build a production level solution even in a disparate environment Why most POC's are successful but rarely make it to production Why you need more than just Data Scientists & ML Engineers How mindset and culture determine success

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In Episode 6 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Helen Tanner, Founder and CEO of Data Cubed, where they discuss how organisations can get to the eternal, single source of truth. Having helped numerous organisations to establish a single source/view of their reality, Helen takes us through how she guides her clients to get there and some of the common challenges/findings she uncovers, which includes: Why it's become the "holy grail" What the key benefits of obtaining it are The obstacles/challenges in getting there What the process of establishing it looks like How much investment is required The timescales to do so Why most executives have misconceptions about their business How to overcome those difficult conversations Why it's nice to be bale to tell executives things they don't know about their business

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In Episode 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by (Best Selling Author) John Thompson, Global Head of Advanced Analytics & Artificial Intelligence at CSL Behring, where they discuss the competitive advantage that businesses who have adopted Data & Analytics have and how they are leaving their competitors behind. Having worked on both sides of the pond, and wrote two best selling books, John articulates how to get the most of Data & Analytics within your organisation, which includes: The realistic cost/investment required to get it right, first time The timescales to see genuine business value How to manage stakeholders to ensure action is taken Why analytics professionals are fundamentally different How to manage high-performance analytics teams/people Ways to test if you're organisation is ready to adopt Why it's difficult to move analytical models and applications from development into production Whether speed of adoption determines success If there is such thing as first mover advantage Why he decided to write his books

If you're interested in purchasing John's books then please use these links: Building Analytics Teams - https://www.amazon.com/Building-Analytics-Teams-intelligence-improvement/dp/1800203160/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 (https://www.amazon.com/Building-Analytics-Teams-intelligence-improvement/dp/1800203160/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8) Analytics: How to win with Intelligence – https://www.amazon.com/Analytics-How-Intelligence-John-Thompson/dp/1634622375/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= (https://www.amazon.com/Analytics-How-Intelligence-John-Thompson/dp/1634622375/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=)

Building Analytics Teams: Harnessing analytics and artificial intelligence for business improvement

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In Episode 4 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kate Sargent, Director of Data & Insight at Collinson, where they discuss how to maximise value by combining research and analytics. Having had success by combining the two throughout her career, Kate was able to provide great insight into the key considerations of merging these two capabilities, which includes: The purpose of a research team How it aids the wider Data & Analytics capability Why they are often housed separately How to identifying the gap (between what customers do & what they say they do & why) The potential of leveraging these two disciplines 'under one roof' The common challenges of using this hybrid model The specific opportunities to add value Where to begin

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In Episode 3 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by James Miller, Head of Data, Analytics & Insight at Intu, where they discuss how to build a Data Strategy in a (Data) greenfield environment. Having found himself leading various Data & Analytics capabilities in greenfield data environments over the years, James provides some really great insight and tangible advice on how to design and deliver on a data strategy, which includes: How to get a seat at the top table Why the business strategy must come first The need to be a salesperson Why a data strategy is about action How to focus on culture & literacy Why you need a multidisciplinary team How to utilise Data Governance The key things to avoid What makes a good 'data pioneer'

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In Episode 2 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Rachel Pillsbury, Head of Insight at Riviera Travel, where they discuss how she has built, best in class analytics teams. Fresh off the back of her triumph at the 'Data IQ Awards' where she collected the award for 'Data Analytics Team of the Year', Rachel provides fantastic insight and tangible advice into the key considerations of how to build great Data & Analytics teams, which includes: How she built the team from scratch Why (she thinks) they won the award The importance of Experimentation How to build a well-rounded analytics team Acquiring talent in a remote location Sourcing talent from within & when to go external Upskilling internal talent The importance of your degree Why our education system is creating a problem Alternative areas of study to explore Why you shouldn't focus solely on knowledge-based skills What skills are often overlooked? The business value

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In Episode 1 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ed Child, Head of Enterprise Data at Studio Retail, where they discuss how Experimentation has added value to the businesses he has worked, while developing his team in the process. Ed provides some really great insight and tangible advice on how organisations can benefit from adopting an experimentation culture, which includes: Why having a growth mindset is a must How to empower your team to be creative Why it aids the teams development and performance How to execute within controlled parameters The investment required How to structure for best results Impact on engagement scores The business value

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Driven by Data: The Podcast: Recent Episodes

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