We’re definitely in AI hype mode at the moment largely driven by the evolution in generative AI.However, it seems like this progress is not necessarily driving lots of data-related innovation inside organisations that are not AI-first tech companies.A recent survey published by Randy Bean’s company, NewVantage Partners, confirms this. Here are the main findings compared to when the survey was last run 4 years ago:59.5% of executives say their companies use data for business innovation – the same as four years ago.A drop from 47.6% to 40.8% of executives say their companies compete using data and analytics.Fewer executives (39.5% down from 46.9%) say their companies manage data as a business asset.Only 23.9% of executives now say their companies are data-driven, compared to 31% before.Just 20.6% of executives report having a data culture in their companies, down 27% from 28.3% in 2019.These numbers spell regression, not progress.Why is it so hard to become a truly data-driven organisation?In this episode, Randy and I explore the challenges facing Chief Data & Analytics Officers and their teams, including:How organizations can create an environment that encourages innovation in data-driven initiativesExamples of organisations doing data well, and whyHow to set clear expectations around the responsibilities of CDAOsThe most important qualities for someone in the CDAO role, and much more.Randy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randybeannvp/ Randy's website and book, 'Fail Fast, Learn Faster': https://www.randybeandata.com/book

In this episode, data literacy expert Kevin Hanegan discusses the importance of data literacy, its impact on decision-making, and strategies for developing data literacy skills. They explore the significance of challenging assumptions and exploring multiple possibilities, as well as the application of data literacy in various industries. The podcast also delves into the importance of checklists and data-driven decision making, building a data-driven culture, and provides additional resources for further information.

This episode of Leaders of Analytics features Dhiraj Rajaram, the Founder of global decision sciences company Mu Sigma. Mu Sigma serves more than 140 of the Fortune 500 and the company’s mission is to simplify complex problems through the science of decisions.Dhiraj shares his views on problem-solving in business, and how Mu Sigma's three core beliefs have been instrumental in the company's success.At Mu Sigma, they believe in "Learning over Knowing", "Extreme Experimentation", and "The New IP". Their data-driven decision-making approach has helped solve some of the toughest business challenges and has set them apart from the competition.As an entrepreneur or business leader, you'll gain valuable insights into using data to solve complex issues, as well as an insider's perspective on Dhiraj's entrepreneurial journey.In this episode we discuss:Dhiraj’s entrepreneurial journey from a one-man band to leading thousands of employeesThe critical moments that led Dhiraj to become a founder and the key elements of entrepreneurial successMu Sigma’s unique recruitment and training strategyWhat you can learn from Mu Sigma’s three core beliefsHow to make better decisions for your organisation, and much more.Mu Sigma's websiteConnect with Dhiraj on Linkedin.

In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, I am joined by Ada Guan who is one of the most innovative minds in the field of credit decisioning.Ada is CEO and co-founder of Rich Data Co, a company that helps lenders make informed and accurate credit decisions by leveraging AI and machine learning.Listen in as Ada sheds light on the role that AI and machine learning can play in transforming the lending industry and what the future may hold for credit decisioning.In this episode, we'll discuss:Ada’s entrepreneurial journeyThe typical pain points lenders face and how RDC’s unique AI solution solves these problemsWhat makes RDC’s solution unique and why banks should buy rather than build themselvesHow to find product-market fit or an AI productThe additional benefits an AI solution brings over traditional credit scorecards or rules-based decisioning engines, and much more.Learn more about Rich Data Co here: https://www.richdataco.com/Connect with Ada Guan on LinkedIn.

Data is revolutionising our world, yet many companies fail to harness its value. What needs to be done for CEOs to see the value of having analytics as part of the executive inner circle?Unfortunately, many analytics teams struggle to move past the common challenges of fostering analytics literacy, getting executive buy-in for more investment in data and analytics and showcasing the value delivered into the business.How can analytics leaders make their discipline an indispensable superpower in their organisation? In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, long-time analytics C-suite executive Murli Buluswar gives us the formula for success.Murli is Head of Analytics, US Consumer Bank at Citi, and leads a team of almost 600 analytics professionals. He reports directly to the CEO and his team is responsible for supplying the rest of the organisation with insights and data-driven solutions that lead to better customer experience and engagement.In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, Murli explains:How to position an analytics function as a key strategic enablerHow Citi’s analytics department picks and validates the most valuable use cases to work onHow to foster the skills and organisational discipline to push analytics into the rest of the organisationHow to measure and communicate an analytics team’s impact on the company and its customersWhat’s required of analytics leaders to elevate their function to the C-suite, and much more.Murli Buluswar on LinkedInPrevious episode: Why Sport is Leading the Analytics Revolution with Ari Kaplan

“Being an entrepreneur is basically like going from one crisis to the next”. Those are the words of Michael Kingston, co-founder and CEO of Seeda.At a point in his career when Michael was thriving, he took the daunting plunge from successful executive to entrepreneur and start-up founder. Most people would be too scared to take such an enormous risk; however, this step has been Michael's key toward work-life satisfaction.Three years later, Michael and his co-founders have built Seeda, an AI-assisted marketing analytics product, purpose-built for Shopify-based eCommerce platforms. Seeda helps marketers make sense of the enormous amount of data coming at them from numerous sources and use it to optimise their marketing activities.Whether it’s SEO, email marketing or digital advertising, marketers are often stuck with a heavy burden of technical9 implementation and optimisation. Seeda’s product is the “AI analyst” that helps the world’s 5 million Shopify stores figure it all out, without needing to be a technology or analytics expert.If you’re curious about start-up life or are thinking about starting your own business, then this episode is for you!In this episode we discuss:How Michael gradually but surely made the shift from employee to entrepreneurHow Michael figured out what he wanted to work on as an entrepreneurHow Seeda’s “AI analyst” is a potential game-changer for Shopify-based businesses wanting more out of their marketing effortsThe scaled data architecture that allows small businesses to take advantage of data practices normally reserved for large corporatesMichael’s advice for anyone wanting to start their own business, and much more.Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kingston-35707217/Check out Seeda: https://www.seeda.io/ 

Digital transformation is rapidly changing the way we live and work, and governments should be leading the way forward, according to Victor Dominello MP.As the Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service in the State Government of New South Wales in Australia, Victor believes government should be playing a central role in fostering a digitally-enabled economy across government, private enterprise and individual consumers.Victor is a true servant leader and an inspirational figure in Australian politics, having served almost 15 years in the State Parliament of New South Wales, and 12 of those as a Minister. He has spent this time turning his vision for data and digital enablement into reality across a large number of ministries and government agencies.In this episode we discuss:How Victor went from reluctant politician to long-serving minister and the sign from above that made him enter politicsWhat the Digital Government is and how it will help change our lives for the betterGovernment’s role in digitising small businessesImminent initiatives to protect consumers against identity theft and cyber attacksWhat true servant leadership and customer service looks likeHow to provide leadership and collaboration across a complex web of government entitiesThe biggest leadership lessons Victor has learned as a top politician and executive leader, and much more.Victor Dominello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordominello/

As the digital landscape evolves, privacy concerns and regulations are becoming increasingly important for advertisers. With the decline of third-party cookies and the rise of individual data usage consent, measuring advertising attention is more crucial than ever.One of the biggest challenges for advertisers in a cookie-less world is being able to accurately measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. Without cookies, it's harder to track user behaviour and understand how their ads are performing.However, measuring advertising attention through alternative methods such as viewability, brand lift studies, and surveys can be helpful, but they provide vague and delayed signals about advertising effectiveness.How can advertisers measure the attention and effectiveness of their advertising in real-time?To answer this question, I recently spoke to John Hawkins, Chief Scientist at Playground XYZ. Playground XYZ provides a machine learning-based platform for measuring and maximising attention on digital ads.The company’s Attention Intelligence Platform is a unique technology that uses over 40 different signals to track user attention as it happens.In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, we discuss:How Playground’s attention measurement platform works in practiceThe importance of attention time in a world without cookies, where privacy and consent are increasingly of mandated importanceDealing with the complexities of multi-layered machine learning pipelines and convincing stakeholders of their valueHow data science professionals can foster the right non-data science skills that will make them true unicorns, and much more.John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hawkinsjohnc/John's book, Getting Data Science Done.

Inflation is rising, interest rates are up across the globe and cash is king again. How will this impact the flow of venture investments in start-ups and emerging technologies?While traditional investments may suffer during a recession, the venture capital industry has historically been able to weather the storm and even thrive. One reason for this is that venture capital firms typically invest in early-stage companies that are not yet generating significant revenue.In fact, some of the most successful companies in recent history, such as Uber, Airbnb and Snapchat, were founded during economic downturns. The downturns created opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate and create new solutions to problems caused by the economic conditions.Mendoza Ventures is one such investor, but with a unique approach. Mendoza’s investment strategy is focused on the verticals of AI, fintech and cybersecurity and 80% of their investments go to founders from diverse and minority groups.I recently caught up with Scott Heyes, CFO at Mendoza Ventures to understand how a venture capital firm works in practice and how he and his colleagues think about investing in the current economic climate and beyond.In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, we discuss:How Scott became the CFO at Mendoza Ventures and what a week in venture investing looks likeHow the firm decides which companies to invest inWhy Mendoza Ventures specifically back founders from diverse and minority backgrounds.Which segments within AI, fintech and cybersecurity will win or lose during a period of uncertainty, inflation, reduced access to funding and higher borrowing costs.The trends in AI, cybersecurity and fintech worth watching in the next 2-5 years, and much more.Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottheyes/Mendoza Ventures: https://mendoza-ventures.comLearn more about Annual Recurring Revenue in this episode.

30 years of “corporate social responsibility” has left our planet in dire straits.Biodiversity loss, climate change, water pollution, micro-plastic pollution, air pollution, species collapse, ecosystem collapse…the list goes on.What can we all do individually and collectively as business leaders and responsible humans to turn the situation around?According to Simon Schillebeeckx from Handprint.tech it is possible to create incremental financial value while regenerating the ecosystems we rely on.Simon and his colleagues at Handprint have written a manifesto for saving the planet, called Regeneration First, that tells us exactly how this can be done.In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, we discuss:The current state of the many environmental issues facing us.The “Regeneration First” manifesto and the 7 action shifts needed in our approach to sustainability.Whose role it is to deal with climate changePromising climate technologies that will help us solve the negative impacts we’re having on the planetHow we create more short-term environmental incentives to deliver long-term impactWhat we can do individually to contribute to environmental regeneration, and much more. Links:Simon on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonschillebeeckx/Some promising carbon removal solutions discussed on the A16Z podcast.The Road to 100 Percent Renewables in Australia via Energy Insiders.