Driven by Data: The Podcast

S5 | Ep 40 | Two Streams of Transformation; Accelerating Value While Building for Scale with Carlos Soares, SVP Data, Analytics & AI at Brenntag

Sep 2, 2025
Carlos Soares, SVP of Data, Analytics & AI at Brenntag, discusses the transformative power of data in global operations. He emphasizes the critical importance of defining problem statements and tackling dual streams of transformation. Soares reveals how hiring 'purple' teams fosters innovation and why AI will augment human decision-making. He shares insights into building a data culture that impacts EBITDA and the necessity of quick wins for credibility. The phenomenal success of their 'Customer Growth Engine' showcases the tangible benefits of a data-driven approach.
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INSIGHT

Start With The Right Problem

  • Defining the problem statement is the highest priority before building models or deploying AI.
  • Work backwards from a 12-month vision to surface true root causes, not symptoms.
ADVICE

Build Purple Teams

  • Hire or create 'purple' people who combine business acumen and technical analytics skills.
  • If you lack them, form purple teams to bridge business and data expertise.
ADVICE

Make Data Usable Not Just Centralized

  • Make data usable, trusted, and well-governed rather than just centralized.
  • Choose appropriate platforms and structure both structured and unstructured data for rapid, governed use.
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