The podcast explores the need for modern data leadership in a world of constant change. It discusses challenges faced by data leaders, the importance of prioritizing customers, and shifting focus from data quality to business value.
A modern data leader focuses on refining data to make it usable for analytics and challenges the traditional concept of data quality.
A modern data leader prioritizes the needs of customers, integrates product management principles, and creates products that drive business value.
Deep dives
Refining Data for Business Enablement
A modern data leader views the refinement of data as an opportunity, not a burden. They understand that data exists in different states of fit for purpose and focus on refining data to make it usable for analytical purposes. They challenge the concept of data quality and recognize that data may be perfectly good for operational purposes even if it needs refinement for analytics. By seeing data refinement as an opportunity, data leaders can break down the us versus them mentality and enable better collaboration with the business.
Putting Customers at the Center
A key attribute of a modern data leader is their focus on putting customers at the center of everything they do. They view the business as having positive intentions and build a team and data culture that reflects this mindset. By prioritizing the needs of customers and integrating product management principles into their data management strategies, they create products that meet the needs of their customers and drive business value. They challenge the status quo and focus on creating products that customers want to use and would pay for.
Measuring Value and Enabling Business Outcomes
A modern data leader understands the importance of measuring value and tying their performance to business outcomes. They shift the focus from data quality to business value and measure their success based on their contribution to the organization's goals. By doing so, they align their efforts with the business priorities and create a stronger connection between data initiatives and business results. They view data governance as a business enablement function and look for ways to measure the business impact of governance, rather than seeing it as a change management burden.
Challenging the Status Quo and Customer-Centric Approach
A modern data leader challenges the status quo and questions traditional best practices. They recognize that many of the old ways of thinking and the focus on data-first approaches are not driving significant changes in the data landscape. They advocate for a customer-centric approach and prioritize the needs and outcomes of the business. They emphasize the importance of looking inward and continuously improving their products and processes to better serve the customer. By thinking differently and embracing innovation, these leaders drive positive change in the data space.
We live in a world of constant change and massive technical and social disruption, yet the way we manage data has largely remained the same. A continued focus on the same old and tired approaches to data management are no longer serving the needs of data leaders and they must be revisited. In this episode of the CDO Matters podcast, Malcolm explores what it takes to break free of old mindsets that limit the growth and tenure of data leaders, and to embrace more modern forms of data leadership.