CDO Matters Podcast

CDO Matters Ep. 31 | Are CDOs Set Up to Fail?

Aug 24, 2023

The podcast discusses the challenges faced by CDOs, the importance of effective communication and delivering business value. It also explores adding fun and excitement to data and analytics, the evolution of roles, the collaborative approach in problem-solving, and misconceptions surrounding data quality.

43:28

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Quick takeaways

CDOs should prioritize building relationships and forming alliances to drive success, adopting a collaborative and supportive mindset to address gaps and find common ground.

Data quality issues should be addressed with specificity and a focus on quantifiable measures, engaging in a collaborative approach to understand the underlying causes and drive positive change.

Deep dives

The Challenges Faced by CDOs

CDOs, or Chief Data Officers, are often set up for failure, especially in banks and regulated industries. Despite progress made in companies, survey results indicate declining scores in data culture and perceived success. CDOs tend to focus on what is left to be done instead of celebrating their accomplishments. The role requires both urgency and patience, but the emphasis on urgency often overpowers the need for patience in transferring knowledge and successes across different contexts.

Introduction

2min

Challenges and Expectations for Chief Data Officers (CDOs)

21min

Adding Fun and Spark to Data and Analytics

2min

Evolution of Roles in Data and Analytics

10min

Collaborative Approach and Addressing Gaps

4min

Challenges and Misconceptions Surrounding Data Quality

5min

Episode Overview:

While the CDO role gains prominence and importance across most organizations, many CDOs are set up to fail from poorly defined roles, a lack of trust, and an insufficient focus on business outcomes. In this 31st episode of the CDO Matters Podcast, Malcolm interviews Allison Sagraves, the founding CDO of M&T Bank, to ask why so many CDOs face these challenges, and what they must do to overcome them.

In reference to an insightful HBR article Allison recently published on CDO success, she provides her insights on how CDO’s can manage a critical balance between patience and urgency, and the importance of taking the time to recognize where positive strides are being made to deliver on a data strategy. Malcolm reminds CDO’s how important it is to ‘pound the drum’, a metaphor for the importance of marketing – and celebrating – all the strides companies are making towards becoming more data-enabled.

From data literacy, to data quality, to the next generation of data leaders, Malcolm and Allison have a wide-ranging conversation on some of the biggest issues facing data leaders today.