#135 Building the Case for Data Literacy

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Apr 24, 2023

Valerie Logan, CEO and Founder of The Data Lodge, is a pioneer in data literacy, promoting it as a vital skill in today's workforce. She discusses the growing recognition of data literacy's importance for effective decision-making and organizational culture. Valerie highlights the challenges of securing executive buy-in and the need for strategic communication to foster a data-driven environment. With innovative approaches like pilot programs and community insights, she reveals how to enhance and measure the impact of data literacy initiatives.

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INSIGHT

Data Literacy Challenges

Organizations struggle to prioritize data literacy because it requires changing human behavior.
Defining what data literacy means within your organization is crucial for success.

ADVICE

Securing Executive Buy-in

Secure executive buy-in by connecting data literacy to strategic objectives and demonstrating ROI.
Frame data literacy as an "insurance policy" for existing data investments.

ADVICE

Leading by Example

Encourage leaders to actively model good data literacy behaviors, like open questioning and data humility.
This reinforces the importance of data literacy and creates a learning culture.

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Data literacy is becoming increasingly recognized as a valuable skill in today's workforce. We all interact with data on a daily basis, and organizations are now realizing the tremendous benefits of having a workforce that is well-versed in data, from interacting with dashboards to data analysis and data science. But, it all starts with data literacy.

In this episode, we speak with Valerie Logan, CEO and Founder of The Data Lodge. Valerie is committed to data literacy, she believes that in today's digital society, data literacy is a life skill. With advisory services, bootcamps, a resource library and community services at The Data Lodge, Valerie is certifying the world’s first Data Literacy Program Leads and pioneering the path forward in cracking the data culture code. Valerie is also known for helping popularize the term "Data Literacy." In this episode, she shares insights on what a successful data literacy journey looks like, best practices for evangelizing data literacy programs, how to avoid siloed efforts between departments and much more.

Valerie sheds light on the difficulties organizations face when trying to prioritize data literacy and data culture. She suggests that this is because humans are still at the center of organizations, and changing their behaviour is a challenge. She also talks about what data literacy means, and how the definition adapts to use cases.

Valerie offers guidance on how to secure executive buy-in for data upskilling programs, explaining that finding a sponsor for the program is the first step. She also talks about the importance of extending buy-in to people who are less directly involved with data and upskilling, emphasizing how the program will help strategic objectives.

Valerie also provides insights on the hallmarks of an effective pilot program for data literacy, suggesting that organizations go where there's already interest and that a good pilot is one where before and after effects can be measured. She also shares tips on how organizations can ensure that their data literacy program helps them achieve their strategic business goals.

Throughout the episode, Valerie outlines the benefit and scope data literacy can have on an organization, with one of the most pertinent pieces of wisdom being a warning to organisations that risk ignoring upskilling and investing in data.

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