The Data Chief

Treating data as a treasure is a foundational principle for Jan Sheppard, the Chief Data and Analytics officer at New Zealand’s Crown Research Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR.) This agency leads ongoing research in public health, environmental health, and forensics for the country of New Zealand. Like many other CDAOs, her role is relatively new. But the unique values she applies to data can be traced back many hundreds of years to the indigenous Maori people of her country. Through her work, Jan recognizes the profound impact data can have on people and their environments for generations to come. Learn more about the important climate and health policy challenges that ESR is working to solve with data in this episode, plus her take on data literacy vs. business savviness, and why her data strategy is just two pages long. Tune in to learn:How do you make vastly different data work together at ESR? (07:12)Data’s role as a treasure (11:43)How do government and private companies look at data differently (13:50)How do you guard against the misuse of data? (18:39)Dangers of misinterpreting the models and need for data-savvy. (21:16)Jan’s data North Star - recognizing the value of the data (25:10)Goal to create digital twins to help address climate change (30:13)Working around the difficulty of unstandardized ESG reporting (34:05)Maori values and data at ESR - the life force of data (40:35) Mentions: The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution book by Walter IsaacsonESR’s Data StrategyGet even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Jan on The Data Chief. https://www.thoughtspot.com/data-chief Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at https://mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

At French bank, Société Générale, providing the best customer experience in the modern digital world means rethinking everything about banking, including its corporate structure. Three years ago, Julien Molez, joined the bank’s leadership team to become the first Innovation Data & AI Leader. On this episode of The Data Chief, Julien addresses changes sweeping the banking industry, including higher customer expectations, tougher regulations, and the ESG revolution. He also reminds us that at the end of the day, fancy AI models and algorithms will only perform as well as the data that goes into them. Tune in to learn:Creating a value-driven data framework (06:31)How do you achieve customer personalization while adhering to GDPR? (15:29)How do you truly secure data at all touchpoints? (20:29)How is Société Générale leading in ESG reporting? (23:44)What were Société Générale’s unique challenges in scaling up AI use cases? (28:55)How do you educate business stakeholders about the best data possibilities? (35:56)What is a key data framework technique? (40:00)Get even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Julien on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

It is once again that time of year when our host, Cindi Howson shares her favorite data and analytics book recommendations. In this special annual episode, we feature three of the industry’s top data writers, thinkers, and fellow podcasters. Tim Harford comes to the conversation with his new book, The Data Detective, and big-picture ideas about how traits like curiosity serve data scientists so well. Zhamak Dehghani shares her concept of The Data Mesh, especially as it relates to sharing data across business verticals. Finally, in his book, Effective Data Storytelling, Brent Dykes compels readers to think carefully about the way they craft the message or narrative around the data they’re interpreting. Tune in to learn:Making sense of the world through a data lens with Tim Harford (05:18)Tim’s favorite of the ten data commandments (07:11)Guard against using data as a control mechanism (15:14)How does curiosity create a healthier relationship with data? (19:57) Data Mesh with Zhamak Dehghani (32:31)Blending centralized and decentralized schools of thought (36:39)Data Mesh isn’t for everyone (48:11)How do you begin your data mesh transformation? (53:28)Brent Dykes and the importance of data storytelling (1:02:17)Why do data scientists need to be better communicators? (1:11:13)The Venn diagram of data storytelling (1:15:14)Mentions:The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics by Tim Harford Data Mesh: Delivering Data-Driven Value at Scale by Zhamak Dehghani Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative, and Visuals by Brent Dykes Get even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Tim, Zhamak, and Brent on The Data Chief. Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

Who’s hungry? Thanks to delivery apps like DoorDash, it’s never been easier for modern consumers to satisfy almost any craving in just a few taps. At the helm of DoorDash’s data organization is VP of Analytics & Data Science, Jessica Lachs. With metrics guiding every decision at the company, a key part of her decision-making comes down to properly quantifying the value of each possible tradeoff. Learn more about her decision-making framework, plus how her career in finance evolved into entrepreneurship and ultimately led her to create the data and analytics organization at DoorDash.  Tune in to learn:Using data to move levers that balance tradeoffs (09:28)Managing an unpredictable and complicated supply chain (12:26)The confluence of personalization and consumer privacy (15:08)Strategy for data architecting by the DoorDash team (21:00Cultivating a creative team that also communicates effectively (26:59)Unlikely career journey: Lehman Brothers to entrepreneurship (33:00)Cultivating a positive response to failure (35:51)Lightning Round (40:15)Mentions:DoorDash Restaurant Online Ordering TrendsBuilding a Source for Truth for a Digital Inventory with Disparate Data SourcesHow To Drive Effective Data Science Communications The Rose Code: A Novel by Kate QuinnThe Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne JeffersGet even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Jessica on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

Swiss RE’s SVP of P&C R&D, Jerry Gupta is a firm believer in the revenue-generating potential and AI and machine learning. On this episode of The Data Chief, Jerry offers his view on innovative data model, frameworks for building and operationalizing these models, what makes a good data scientist, and why it will always be more challenging for data teams to maintain existing models vs. innovate new ones. Tune in to learn:The difference between ost cutting versus revenue-enhancing initiatives 03:20 More about the Data Model framework 07:50 Why the quality of your output depends on the quality of your input 11:35 How to address the shortfall of data scientists in the job market 13:48 How to set more clear value statements for models 27:56 More about informing the regulation of ethical AI and machine learning 45:33Mentions:McKinsey Global Survey: "The state of AI in 2021" "Unreasonable effectiveness of learning neural networks: From accessible states and robust ensembles to basic algorithmic schemes" Tom Davenport International Risk Governance Center - EPFLGet even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Jerry on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

Chief Data Officer at American Express, Pascale Hutz, shares insights on managing data as a product, importance of decommissioning tech, fighting imposter syndrome, and embracing diversity in tech. She discusses her career journey, staying tranquil during transformation, and the evolving data landscape at American Express.

How can data be activated to create better healthcare outcomes? Dr. Victoria Gamerman, the Global Head of Data Governance and Insights at Boehringer Ingelheim, offers that part of the answer is that data is changing to be thought of as part of the broader healthcare “ecosystem.”  Listen in for how some of the philosophical frameworks concerning data can help to improve healthcare.Tune in to learn:Changes in how data is being used in healthcare (07:00)How a system could be set up to share health data safely and wisely (13:05)How design thinking can apply to healthcare (25:41)What data mentality needs to change (28:26)Mentions:HBS Professor Linda Hill Says Leaders Must Engage with Emotions as Never BeforeClayton Christensen - "Jobs to be Done" theory“Coded Bias” (movie)Get even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Victoria on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.Show Notes for YouTube:How can data be activated to create better healthcare outcomes? Dr. Victoria Gamerman, the Global Head of Data Governance and Insights at Boehringer Ingelheim, offers that part of the answer is that data is changing to be thought of as part of the broader healthcare “ecosystem.” Listen in for more of Victoria’s takes on how data can improve healthcare.Key Moments:00:00 Getting to know Victoria and her career journey04:26 What sort of work does Boehringer Ingelheim do?07:00 What are some changes in how data is being used in healthcare?10:24 Is sharing health data becoming easier?13:05 Creating a system to Share health data safely and wisely16:42 Will wellness data become more integrated?19:47 Are regulators behind technologically?25:41 How does design thinking apply in healthcare?28:26 What mentality about data needs to change?30:37: Data and academia36:54 How can we bring people along in terms of data?38:33 Learning from data disasters42:11 How does Victoria continue to learn new things?Mentions:HBS Professor Linda Hill Says Leaders Must Engage with Emotions as Never BeforeClayton Christensen - "Jobs to be Done" theory“Coded Bias” (movie)Get even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Victoria on https://www.thoughtspot.com/data-chief. Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at https://mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

What does it take to turn a new position that never existed into one that delivers transformation for an entire organization? As the first Chief Data Officer at Prudential Financial and the initial Chief Data Analytics Officer at a prior career stop at State Farm, Kjersten Moody knows the answer. Tune in to learn how being a constant learner has consistently allowed her to see challenges as opportunities for growth.Tune in to learn:How Kjersten’s role model influenced her life and career (04:08) How Prudential is thinking differently about its strategy and data (32:28) About the role that a good culture can play in supporting transformation (36:19)How Kjersten has elevated data science at Prudential (42:33)How to meet stakeholders in a place that’s helpful to them (47:38)Mentions:“The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right” by Atul GawandeGet even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Kjersten on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

How do you make innovation truly come alive? For Abhi Bhatt, the AVP, Technology, Data & Analytics at CarMax, innovation is about using data to change “business models.” Abhi also describes the need to train up teammates and others who use the data concerning technological advances. Additionally, he shares his career journey and how his positive experience as a CarMax customer initially activated his interest in the company.Tune in to learn:How did Abhi end up working at CarMax? (13:00)How can companies make the most of their internal data? (17:18)How do you train up relevant parties concerning new technology? (23:41)How does Abhi find talent? (27:56)How does Abhi keep up with so much innovation? (37:07)Mentions:Top Trends for 2022Get even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Abhi on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

How has the Chief Data Officer role changed? Heidi Lanford, CDO of Fitch Group, shares that “it’s gone from stewarding and protecting data to monetization of data.” She explains how CDOs can be effective by working together with other company leaders and communicating simply. Learn from Heidi why there can be great career value in being willing to be uncomfortable.Tune in to learn: How does Heidi work with the leadership team? (10:03) How does Heidi suggest CDOs communicate to CEOs?(13:05) How can a CDO work with the technology side to update the tech stack? (18:58) How is Heidi helping her workers become more data literate?(27:50) What’s the benefit of choosing to be uncomfortable in one’s career journey? (37:48)Mentions:“Getting to ‘Yes And’: The Art of Business Improv”Building CDO Influence in the C-SuiteGet even more insights from data and analytics leaders like Heidi on The Data Chief.  Mission.org is a media studio producing content for world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.