Implementing a data-driven approach
AA: In trying to overcome some of these challenges, if you were to give some advice to an organization that’s beginning its journey to become data-driven, what would you tell them as regards how to begin, how to prioritize the different stages (people, tech, culture, and so on), and how to implement their approach? In addition to that, how should they structure the team?
KS: When I address start-ups, or I work for bigger boards, I only advise one thing:
“Place the data team closest to the decision-maker.”
So, wherever the person who makes the biggest decisions in the company is, that’s where the data team sits. It’s as simple as that. If the chief financial officer (CFO) is making decisions, place the data team in their team. If it’s the chief executive officer (CEO) making the decisions, place it in their team. If it’s a tech company and the chief technology officer (CTO) is making the decisions...