Driven by Data: The Podcast

In Episode 12, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Alexandra Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, where they discuss the practicality of building an award-winning diverse and inclusive, Data & Analytics team, which includes;Being in an organisation for 19 years Transforming from a traditional MI function to an end-to-end Data & Analytics function Moving everything back in-house Spending a lot of time externally to learn from others Having the job description of “deliver value through data”Why they’ve launched their 3rd data strategy Having internally focused and externally focused strategies 25% tech, 25% value and 50% people Putting a pound amount value to what they deliver Why the business doesn’t want to talk about risk or technology, they want to talk about value The link between D&A success and diversity Building an award-winning D&A team Why you need to destroy groupthink and promote positive challenge Doing 175 interviews and realising they were getting a lot of the same type of applicants What they changed to attract more diverse individuals and getting 170% more applicants Why this isn’t about ticking boxes How a diverse team is simply a by-product of doing the right things Why organisations mistake Representation and Diversity The power of apprenticeships and the two ways they’ve used them The benefits of growing your own talent Tackling skills shortagesChallenging yourself when identifying the essential versus desirable skills The misconception that technical data people aren’t able to communicate Why you don’t need a data translator The link between diversity and inclusion, and Data and AI ethics The AI ethics framework and ethical committee they’ve implemented The key trends predicted from being a governing body member for DataIQ and EvantaThanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

Dr. Raoul-Gabriel Urma discusses the role of education in Data & Analytics success, tackling industry hype, the need for commercial use cases, and investing in people for technological advancements. They explore the challenges of CDO tenure, balancing quick wins with long-term investments, and the impact of early education in data science programs. The podcast also covers comprehensive training solutions for organizations and career transitions integrating domain expertise with data analytics.

In Episode 10, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by David Castro-Gavino, Global VP of Data at HelloFresh, where they discuss, unboxing data maturity and insights from the HelloFresh growth journey, fuelled by data, which includes;Their focus on renewable and sustainable value to the customer Being recruited directly by the Co-Founder Removing complexity by having a unified data platformThe evidence that data has played a pivotal role in the huge growth trajectory of the organisation Why being “data-driven” is a company value Going beyond the what and understanding the why behind the data Tackling different levels of maturity across regions and breaking those silosThe symptoms of growth pains in a hyper-growth organisationDismantling certain capabilities that weren’t designed for scale Accelerating time to actionable insight The framework of 4 key pillars; People, Technology, Governance and Enablement Designing the data strategy so it was practical and linked to the business Implementing the four-pillar approach as a 6-Step recipe Talking in the language of food which the business would understand Building for the immediate requirements that needed tackling but also for the long-term visionThe importance of having the right structure, the right talent and the correct career frameworks Deciding the speed you hire at and how you’ll lose productivity The importance of data education and the HelloFresh Data UniversityBalancing build versus buy and its relation to maturity The four core dimensions of data enablement Monetising the work that has been done Walking through the 6-Step Data Recipe to get to relish feast Helping the business to adopt the technology Prioritising based on core business metrics Ensuring you’re delivering a return on investment  The importance of stakeholder application, not just usage, in realising value  Why you have to ensure you agree of the definition of a business metric The 4 key takeawaysMoving from data-driven to data-enabled The lessons learnt from the journey they’ve been on with implementing data-mesh Thanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

In Episode 9, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Aimee Smith, Director of Data at Metropolitan Police (probably known as Scotland Yard by most outside of the UK), where they discuss the opportunities that Data & Analytics presents to revolutionise policing and moving to prediction for prevention, which includes;Tackling Organised Crime GroupsChairing the national police data board bringing together 43 organisations Being one of the most complained about organisations to the ICOThe importance of executive sponsorship How investment is linked to your highest leadership level The biggest challenges Met Police/Scotland Yard have with data Why their people are genuinely their biggest asset and the challenge that creates for D&A investment Peelian principles; why data has always been used in policing What they have done to prove their value Using credible stakeholders within the organisations to tell the data story The different levels of data-led decision-makingThe opportunity to revolutionise policing through data and analytics The challenges of being judged based on media headlines Why the obsession with catching offenders could be the wrong approach Prioritising workload in potential life and death situationsHow the public help set the organisation's business strategy Why most people don’t connect data to their core role and missionWhy their data can be valuable to UK PLC but the challenges in articulating howHow the expectations of how data is used are different within the same organisation Fixing broken relationships with the black community while also trying to deploy DS/ML with biased data Tackling bias and ethics as an organisation that people love to scrutinise Using their own DS team to test for bias Choosing not to deploy certain solutions due to bias and ethical concerns Needing to build trust with the public before they can execute on predictive analytics A shout-out to Davin Crowley SweetThanks to our sponsor, Cambridge Spark;Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.They offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.Their unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that students are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.Get in touch to learn more - Cambridge Spark

In Episode 8, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by James Morgan, Chief Data Officer at The Crown Estate, where they discuss all of the facets involved in building a Data & Analytics capability for strategic transformation while managing the hype cycles, which includes;The importance of having the right information strategy Why D&A needs to be involved in strategic planning Why you have to identify which stakeholders deliver value for the organisation How too many data teams are focusing on solutions instead of objectives Choosing objectives that will deliver the best ROI  Why diverse teams are critical for success with D&A Balancing the immediate needs and the strategic visionDefining what your core capability needs to be Ensuring you enable the business so they don’t do it themselves Why all hype cycles only exist to help deliver an outcome  Why choosing the right tools can be critical Why some hype cycles have been hugely advantageous The importance of identifying where the nuggets of real change lie within any hype cycle Why the fundamentals of good data practice are still applicable today Why prototyping is beneficial but it can’t be your main approach Why AI isn’t the answer to everything Why not all hype cycles are created equally How people confuse operating model and team structure Trying to hire unicorns and writing 35 different job descriptions to build a team Why your data team should represent the population Why you have to truly believe in building a diverse team Why being obliged to fill a diversity quota or target is the wrong approach Why you’ll only ever gain credibility by delivering something that people want and use Needing to get your organisation to the place of believing that data is intrinsic to its success Attributing the value of your work before you deliver anything

Tim Carmichael, Chief Data Officer at Chaloub Group, discusses servant leadership in Data & Analytics success. Topics include: first CDO in the British Army, enabling evidence-based decision-making, shifting mindset for servant leadership, playing to people's strengths, context of decisions, trusting partnerships, moving away from 'them and us', the difference between leadership and line management, Gen AI and data literacy, ruling through fear stifles innovation.

In Episode 6, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Ciara Moore, Chief Data & Digital Officer at Bank of Ireland, where they discuss how to sell your data story and why you have to be customer-obsessed, which includes;Why language is importantWhy you need to be customer-obsessedThe relationship between data and providing better customer experiencesData-Driven or Customer Obsessed Why you should never start with the data Why customer experience is very “touchy-feely” The importance of protecting your customer's data in a way they want it to be used The importance of first principlesUsing AI to measure the emotions of your customersWhy it’s on Data Leaders to quantify the value of the work we do Why it’s never enough to build foundationsPicking the appropriate use cases as a starting point Why you have to deliver “little and often”  Why it’s always a tough journey for 12-18 monthsWhy you need to tell the story and tell it in a way that resonates with your organisation Why you need to be cautious about how you frame the art of the possible The importance of using different channels of communication to tell and sell your story People get it when the language changes The importance of letting your D&A team present to business stakeholders Why you need to take a hands-on approach to storytelling as a Data Leader The power of creating more capacity for your team to do more interesting work

In Episode 5, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kate Sargent, Chief Data Officer at The Financial Times, where they discuss the importance of getting data into the boardroom to ensure D&A success, which includes;Why data strategies often articulate the role that data can play and not often what it will playWhat should be included in your data strategy Understanding the business strategy and objectives if it’s not obvious Why D&A teams need to constantly reinvent themselves Why you need to befriend your commercial/finance colleagues Transcend D&A into the boardroom by meeting people where they are Why it’s imperative that you’re easy to work /do business with The need for a voice in the boardroom for D&A to be successful Why very few other functions have or need a strategy but data still does Why new tools and techniques should be additive, not substitutional Why the “old school” work is still where the most value is derived Why finding the right balance of the team structure will underpin the success of any Data Leader  The importance of staying alert to disengagement Identifying the issues and choosing the solution to fix themWhy ‘data product’ demonstrates the growing-up of data as a discipline The differences between ‘data product’ and ‘data as a product’ and why the differentiation mattersDriving top-down and bottom-upWhy data is viewed as important but not urgent (and how to create urgency)The power of demonstrating the risk of missed opportunities to drive change

In Episode 4, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Kinnari Ladha, Chief Customer Data Officer at Manchester Airport Group (MAG), where they discuss what it takes to make the move from leading Data & Analytics teams, to becoming a CDO, which includes;The major differences between leading Data & Analytics teams and being a CDOWhy you have to leave your Data Analytics hat at the door and focus on business strategy Why you need to manage your leadership style to handle emotions and politics The importance of trust and empowermentCulture, Change and Relationship Building Why you have to measure the impact of the business outcomes you’re supportingThe telltale signs that you’re ready to execute Why operating as an executive requires a totally different skillsetThe importance of diversity of thought and resilience Understanding pain points and value levers Why you need to have a growth mindset to step up to become a CDOHow to assess whether a CDO title is actually a CDO role Do we really need a voice at the table?Why you need to move the perception of your team from service provider to partner The importance of understanding how your stakeholders mange their P&LWhy you need a communications plan to dictate your own narrative Striking the balance between strategy and execution Why you’ve got to hold yourself to account for milestones and deliverablesThe art of data storytelling as a CDOCommunicating your vision in a way it resonates to different audiences The impact of being seen as a ‘thought-leader’ and why it’s important Learning to read the room

In Episode 3, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Sanjeevan Bala, Group Chief Data & AI Officer at ITV, where they discuss the future of the Board and ExcCo, and the role the CDO plays in the future, which includes;Why data drives an offensive growth strategy at ITVThe importance of having a value-driven strategy The importance of the PLC board and ExCo on signposting the strategic importance of data Making data a strategic business initiative and not a technical one The future possibilities for CDO's on their next career moveWhy the CDO is less about the task and more about building relationships Why the technicalities are the easiest part of the D&A equation to crack The role of data in board advisory If reporting lines/structures have an impact on successWhy insight isn’t the problem, unlocking the last mile isBeing an offensive, value-driven function versus being an enabling function Why being an enabler means you’re a cost centre Why the D&A voice is often missing from ExCo The role of diversity in the boardroom and the relationship with how D&A is viewed Why many boards are asleep at the wheel and are not fit for purpose for the future The difference between “value potential” versus “value capture” How “value-driven” versus “data-driven” can be measured The benefit of bringing in outside thinking and perspective to build next-generation capability  Why technical skills alone won’t help you winHow to get onto a board without board experience