In Episode 7, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Edward Chenard, Fractional Chief Data and Analytics Officer, where they discuss how data leaders can break free from the cost centre trap and drive measurable, quantifiable business value, having personally delivered over $2.5 billion in revenue across Fortune 500s and start-ups alike, which includes;

How a career in product management at GE laid the foundation for an outcome-first approach to data leadership.
Why not having a seat at the table is not an excuse and why the biggest commercial wins came from several levels below the C-suite.
How to read the type of organisation you are in and choose your influence strategy accordingly.
Why the shift from AI-as-tool to AI-as-strategy matters for how data leaders position themselves now.
Why data teams are correctly perceived as overheads.
Building a personalisation platform at Best Buy that generated over $1 billion in revenue.
Why identifying the metrics the C-suite actually obsess over is the only way to get and keep their attention.
Why delivering what the job description says is the riskiest career move a data leader can make.
How a predictive shipping tool built in four months turned a century-old logistics company into a recognised innovator.
Why agreeing attribution with business stakeholders before the work starts is the only way to get the credit you deserve.
Why the individual contributor mindset of doing what you are told actively works against data leaders when they step into leadership roles.
Why data leaders need to think like intrapreneurs, owning a P&L and speaking the language of finance, VCs, and private equity rather than just tech.
Why a background in international business and theology turned out to be better preparation for data leadership than a technical degree.
Why philosophy and physics majors often outperform computer science graduates in data roles because thinking through problems without solid facts is the real differentiator.
Why IT cultures that lead with process are structurally incapable of delivering transformation.
Why training your team on AI regardless of what the C-suite thinks is a leadership obligation, not insubordination.
How Edwards frameworks for moving data teams from dashboard builders to decision-makers are publicly available.
Why it is human as the loop, not human in the loop, and why AI will quickly expose those who have been faking it.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data & AI Literacy Academy.

Data & AI Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data & AI literacy first.

At Data & AI Literacy Academy, they don't just teach data skills. They empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. They're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data & AI literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that they offer. They embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

They take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.