CDO Matters Podcast

CDO Matters Ep. 88 | Building Allies, Not Frameworks

12 snips
Oct 31, 2025
Guest
Rebecca O'Kill
Rebecca O'Kill, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Axis Capital, reveals how to transform skeptics into data allies through listening and delivering value. She discusses the importance of prioritizing data initiatives based on business needs and evolving delivery models to incorporate agile practices. Rebecca also highlights the role of AI champions in driving adoption while balancing central control with federated innovation. Emphasizing a growth mindset, she advocates for experimentation and continuous learning in data governance.
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ANECDOTE

Turning Skeptics Into Allies

  • Rebecca describes converting skeptics into allies by building relationships and delivering value.
  • She credits listening to business needs and producing initial solutions that demonstrated tangible value.
ADVICE

Embed Domain Experts In Data Teams

  • Spend time with the business and embed domain experts in your team to translate needs.
  • Recruit or develop hybrid data-insights leads who combine domain knowledge with data skills.
ADVICE

Prioritize By Value And Logical Sequence

  • Prioritize work by estimated business value and logical sequencing tied to core data building blocks.
  • Align foundational platform work with immediate business needs so governance and ingestion progress together.
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