CDO Matters Ep. 21 | Data Leaders Unplugged: Getting to Know Malcolm with Samir Sharma
CDO Matters Podcast
The Beauty of Life
I grew up in Western Canada, where it's like, minus 20. Eight months of the year. I can tell you a story of significant snow in June and significance of snow in September. The idea of spending five, six, seven, eight hours inside watching television when I could be outside is what kept me captivated. We're breaking off because of the middle of summer. Oh my goodness.
Acquiring expertise in any field is a tool that is sharpened over time, not overnight. This is especially true for the complex world of data and analytics. It takes drive, passion and experience to become a credible data leader.
For this episode, Malcolm joins datazuum CEO and Founder, Samir Sharma, on the Data Strategy Show podcast to answer personal and professional questions that provide insight into who Malcolm is as a data thought leader both in and out of the office.
Throughout their discussion, Samir asks a series of rapid-fire questions covering several topics including:
- Personal interests
- Memorable life experiences
- Professional insights
- Outlooks on the data space
- Sources of inspiration
- Leadership qualities
- Current trends and happenings in the world of data and analytics
And so much more!
Key Moments
[1:30] Rapid-Fire Questions with Malcolm
[8:30] Three Things Malcolm Can’t Live Without
[17:50] Current Inspirations in the Data Space
[24:45] Malcolm’s Professional Epiphany
[45:14] Advice for Data Leaders
[53:20] The Problems with Data Literacy
[57:55] Malcolm’s Highlight of the Year
[1:01:25] Malcolm’s Personal Leading Style
[1:03:05] Common Data Challenges
Key Takeaways
Current Data Inspiration with Blockchain (17:50)
“I know we’ve been talking about blockchain for years. Gartner put it on the data and analytics time cycle in 2019 as this rocket ship that is going up and then two years later, it fizzles and it’s gone. But I am bullish on blockchain in the service of data management and how business is run. It is coming. It’s slow and business adoption is lagging, but there’s something there. Is it going to solve all problems? Of course not…but there are some problems that are purpose-built for blockchain in the data management realm that, I think, are going to be very interesting, particularly when you fold in the notion of widespread data sharing. Blockchain is very good at creating ecosystems of shared data.” — Malcolm Hawker
Malcolm’s Professional Epiphany (24:45)
“I can vividly remember…when I was moving up the corporate ladder. I’d been getting slow and gradual raises. Interestingly, I was bound to one company during my process of getting a green card in the U.S.…what I figured out was that I had an epiphany that was professional and personal, which was that I’m in charge. I am in charge. Hard stop. Period. There is nothing being done to me. I cannot blame this person or this person…or this situation for things that are happening to me. Everything that happens to me is a direct result of conscious or unconscious actions.” — Malcolm Hawker
Essential Leadership Qualities (1:01:25)
“Inspire. I want to inspire people. That’s definitely one. I will say I am a hands-off leader. I hate being micro-managed which means that I am constitutionally required to be hands-off in my leadership style. And let’s say supportive. I think that a lot of that has to do with setting clear expectations. That is the kind of support that I need. To me, as a very hands-off person, as a very self-driven person, as a very self-motivated person, just tell me what my boundaries are. Tell me my budget. Tell me my timeline. Tell me my constraints. Tell me your expectations of me. To me, that is the ultimate form of support…that is how I try to manage as a leader.” — Malcolm Hawker
About Samir Sharma
Samir Sharma is the CEO and Founder of datazuum, a data strategy, and analytics consulting firm. Advising businesses on how to prioritize data activities, identifying growth possibilities and using data to boost revenue and profit. His clients span the UK, Europe and North America while ranging from medium-sized firms to major multi-national corporations. Prior to datazuum, Samir worked at Computer Sciences Corporation, Accenture, Christie’s and Vertex Business Services where he led the development of their data and analytics business. He writes on all things related to data strategy, roadmap development and how to execute the data strategy where he shares his experiences and lessons learned. He is a frequent keynote speaker and hosts the Data Strategy Show podcast, which was named one of the Top 10 Podcasts of 2022, as well as leading Ask Me Anything events with top data executives.
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