CDO Matters Podcast CDO Matters Ep. 77 | From Rollercoasters to Real-Time Insights: Managing Disruptions with Data
May 30, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Gavin Hupp, VP of Technology at United Parks and Resorts, shares his passion for leveraging data and AI to transform business decisions and guest experiences. He emphasizes the delicate balance between long-term planning and short-term agility in theme park management. Key topics include the importance of financial alignment for data initiatives and building resilient, diverse teams. Gavin also critiques the minimal viable product approach, advocating for more developed prototypes to enhance customer value and satisfaction.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Balancing Long and Short-term Strategy
- Balancing long-term strategy with short-term adaptability is crucial in theme park management.
- Being metric-driven and having capabilities for quick reaction enables responsiveness to market changes.
Advancing Near-Time Data Usage
- Improving near-time data capabilities enhances faster decision-making.
- Large legacy organizations face ongoing challenges but progress steadily with increased data accessibility.
Data Driven by Business Value
- Capturing vast data must align with improving guest experiences and operational goals.
- Asking the "so what?" question ensures data efforts drive business value, not just storage.