TALKING

Data is key in helping organisations of all sizes make confident decisions that drive certainty across their operations .

cloud before the pandemic , a key driver of enabling data decision-making at all levels of their operations . The cloud makes it easier to access and analyse data in real time and scales to meet evolving needs and challenges when unexpected events arise .

The other area is data literacy . Our latest research highlights the critical importance of data literacy . The research highlighted that C-level executives globally would offer a salary increase for candidates that could demonstrate their data literacy . However , just 11 % of employees feel fully confident in their data literacy skills . While some businesses may possess the necessary data to take decisive , meaningful action , often their team members lack the skills to understand what the data means and how they can benefit from those insights . This is a critical disparity that holds both employees and employers back from achieving their full potential .

As you break down data silos and make more data available to employees , businesses should assess where those employees are in their data literacy journey and put a plan in place to help employees fill their skills gaps . The most important thing to remember is that the plan needs to be tailored to the employees ’ specific needs and leaders should assess their staff ’ s abilities and proceed from there .

Which companies can benefit most from tools that empower data collection ?

The simple answer is every single one . There is not an organisation in the world , public or private , for-profit or non-profit , that can ’ t benefit from getting more value from data and solutions that enable the wider use of data . Sometimes , unlocking data can lead to unexpected and even more valuable impacts .

An example is a real-time data dashboard we recently delivered to the United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP26 ). Data was displayed live on screens during the event , allowing leaders and their teams to see the status of commitments from their allies and other countries . This created a groundswell of social capital that impacted commitments related to an entire range of issues , including deforestation , methane emissions and zero-emission vehicles , largely driven and enabled by the real-time nature of the data presented there .

What would you suggest is required to change a work culture to make it more data-driven ?

Data-driven work cultures are achieved from the top down . The C-suite can ’ t simply preach it or invest in solutions , they have to live it by embracing and showcasing the measurable benefits of data-driven decision-making to the larger organisation and its goals . A big sign of commitment to building a data-driven work culture is bringing on a Chief Data Officer to drive an organisation-wide data and analytics strategy across the business . These steps , breaking down data silos and investing in data literacy training at all levels , will help transform the culture over time from one that relies on historical excel docs , outdated insights and gut instinct to a truly data-driven organisation .

What have you learned on your journey to CEO through your other C-suite roles like CIO ?

In my early management days , I was fortunate to work with a team of helpful and patient individuals ; they allowed me to get my feet on the ground as a manager , which was pivotal in my later development .

My experience crystallised early on that humility is essential to being a good leader . I was fortunate to have great role models and leaders who helped me learn and grow and ultimately shaped my path . I have always been willing to ask for help and never be afraid to volunteer for the difficult jobs nobody else wants to take on .

Looking back on my career thus far , I often think of the words of JPMorgan Chase CEO , Jamie Dimon , one of the all-time great leaders . He said that there ’ s no substitute for hard work , and I agree with that 100 %. There may be some worlds in which things are just handed to you , but more often than not , the people who work hard get rewarded . p

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