The Joe Reis Show Why Most Chief Data Officers Fail w/ Malcolm Hawker
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Nov 13, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Malcolm Hawker, a seasoned data leader and author of The Data Hero Playbook, delves into the critical challenges facing Chief Data Officers. He identifies a 'limiting mindset' that leads to failure, emphasizing accountability over blame. Malcolm offers a practical three-question framework for new CDOs and argues that value should be prioritized over technical metrics. He also debunks the myth of 'AI readiness,' highlighting the importance of starting with what you have. Expect insights on transforming data leadership into a value-centric endeavor.
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Book Born From 1,500+ CDO Conversations
- Malcolm wrote a book after 1,500+ conversations with CDOs because he saw common failure patterns.
- He wanted to share practical lessons about mindset and delivering value to change outcomes.
Limiting Mindset Explains Most CDO Failures
- Many failing CDOs exhibit a 'limiting mindset' that blames external factors instead of owning outcomes.
- Malcolm Hawker found this mindset reinforced by analysts, consultants, and conferences across 1,500+ conversations.
Background Shapes CDO Mindset
- Technical-background CDOs were more likely to adopt an external-blame mindset than business-background CDOs.
- Business-minded leaders were more willing to take risks and accept probabilistic solutions.
