Join Chris Bruman, Dow's Chief Data and Analytics Officer, and Dan Futter, the Chief Commercial Officer, as they discuss the revolution of data in business. They delve into the hub-and-spoke model for data management, emphasizing its ability to balance governance with agility. The integrated data hub is unveiled as a game-changer, reducing data analysis time dramatically. They also stress the importance of data literacy and collaboration in enhancing customer experiences, making data a cornerstone of successful modern business.
51:14
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
CDAO Role Creation
Chris Bruman became Dow's CDAO after leading enterprise systems.
Combining the data team with the analytics team created this role.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Data is Fundamental
Ground yourself in the importance of data quality.
Recognize that AI is exciting, but data is fundamental.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Customer Experience Focus
Dan Futter focuses on customer experience in B2B at Dow.
He aims to create a coherent experience across digital and personal interactions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Join host Cindi Howson alongside Chris Bruman, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Dow, and Dan Futter, Chief Commercial Officer at Dow, as they explore how data-driven innovation is reshaping business and customer experiences. From the hub-and-spoke model for data management to the power of real-time insights, they discuss the role of data literacy, leadership, and AI-driven decision-making in driving success. Don’t miss this conversation on the future of AI, data strategy, and innovation.
Discover the innovations that inspire Chris Bruman and Dan Futter, how data has shaped their careers, and which tech leaders they admire most.
Key Moments:
Revolutionizing Data: The Hub-and-Spoke Model: The Dow team highlights the shift to digital, while Cindi Howson reflects on IT’s evolution. They explain Dow’s decentralized hub-and-spoke model, balancing governance with agility for faster insights, accuracy, and career growth. (9:04)
Why Data & Business Literacy Matter: Our guests stress understanding business needs, defining clear roles within the hub-and-spoke model, and supporting skill development. This approach simplifies processes, builds confidence in analytics, and drives value for Dow. (18:02)
The Integrated Data Hub: A Game-Changer: Dow’s data hub slashes data science time from months to a day. Prioritizing quality over speed prevents tech debt, ensuring strong governance. Now the go-to source for innovation, it plays a crucial role in Dow’s data strategy. (28:03)
Balancing Competing Demands in Industry: Our knowledgeable leaders in the industry underscore the importance of prioritizing data projects for impact. Decentralization eases bottlenecks, but demand remains high. Dow now requires senior sponsorship to ensure measurable value and optimize resources. (36:06)
Key Quotes:
"Too often, we wait until the project's done to figure out how to get the value and who’s going to sponsor it. We have to flip that around and secure senior sponsorship before we even start." – Chris Bruman
"If I talk data mesh to my business clients, there’s going to be a blank stare, right? So we use hub and spoke—it’s more visual and makes a lot more sense. At the end of the day, it's really about decentralization." – Chris Bruman
"Instead of just showing a data sheet or marketing collateral and making the customer hunt for insights, we now surface specific text, data, and even language customization—getting them straight to the front door, not just the right street." – Dan Futter
"It’s not just about finding data—it’s about ensuring its integrity. Where is that data? How does it get created? Which processes generate it? How do we train people so that, from the start, it stays high-integrity?" – Dan Futter
Chris Bruman is the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Dow, a multinational company with operations in 31 countries that serves customers in a wide range of markets.
Dan Futter
Dan Futter is the Chief Commercial Officer for Dow. Through his leadership in Customer Experience and Marketing/Sales disciplines, Dow is on track to become the most customer-centric material science company in the world. He was the program lead for the design, development, and launch of the company’s groundbreaking Dow.com e-commerce platform and is passionate about the role digital technology plays in transforming customer journeys. Dan serves on the Executive Committee and is Chair of the Medals Committee of the Society of Chemical Industry America.
The Data Chief