You want to start a consulting business in Data Governance. How can you make sure it's successful?

Know, absolutely, which are your target and niche markets and whom your client/prospects are. This type of offering requires more, not less customer/client intimacy and partnering. In order to be successful in this highly niche, nuanced scenario, becoming the ultimate Trusted Advisor is also required. Don't let the complexities which secured the need for your role come between you and your client. An element of mystery may be effective in romance- not here.

It is essential that either you or some of your team have experience in the chosen industry niche, as this will help you to know your client needs better. Being a "data only" "universal" consultancy will not help you build your business, leave it to the giant market players.

Data governance is vast, so specializing helps you offer more value & differentiate from other consultants: 1. Self-Assess: Analyze your skills, interests, and values to identify areas you excel and truly care about within data governance 2. Analyze Needs: Research market trends, competitor strategies, and client conversations to understand unmet needs and potential gaps. 3. Define Your Niche: Choose a focus based on specific data domain (e.g., data quality), industry (e.g., healthcare), a combination of both, or technology expertise 4. Leverage Your Niche: Deepen your knowledge, refine messaging & build a portfolio showcasing your expertise. Finding your niche allows you to become a trusted advisor offering targeted solutions.

Data Governance is more about a culture that every company need to embrace to be able to be achieve the vision, mission and excellence. Data is an asset that an enterprise need to protect and preserve to establish it's integrity, veracity, volume and volatility. Inherently, People, Technology, Processes, Principles, Regulatory Framework, Policy Rules are the KPI's that needs to be governed as part of instituting Enterprise wide Data Governance Programs.

Even though, you need to find your niche, at some point you want to be big enough to cover all data governance topics. Otherwise the customer will experience frictions in his/her data governance efforts. All efforts taken need to integrate seamlessly, therefore being a niche player should only be a starting point for every consulting business. Oftentimes it is not necessary to differentiate oneself from others, as data governance is becoming a commodity. Therefore only pricing will make a difference at some point.

Building a consulting practice needs time and expertise. Above all, one needs to be considered a trustworthy advisor and have a portfolio of past successes, exemplar case studies and client testimonials. Showcasing those via a website , blog or even linkedin is needed for the world to know about your services. This is applicable to not only Data Governance but all service areas that you are trying to establish a consulting business in.

Showcase your expertise and past successes through a comprehensive portfolio that highlights your capabilities and the value you bring to clients. Include case studies, project summaries, and testimonials that demonstrate your ability to solve data governance challenges and deliver tangible results. Additionally, consider contributing articles to industry publications, participating in speaking engagements at conferences, and sharing relevant insights on your website or blog to further establish your credibility and expand your portfolio. Regularly update your portfolio with new projects and accomplishments to keep it current and reflective of your evolving skills and experience in data governance consulting.

In the age of Generative AI, portfolios and anonymous customer reviews could be generated on your website in seconds. But they are becoming less and less valuable. Honest feedback from real customers and colleagues on your LinkedIn page would be worth much more.

Free webinars are becoming an increasingly important part of the B2B marketing of consultancy services. This is the most efficient way to gather leads and attract prospects by showcasing your team's unique skills and capabilities.

Webinars, Events, Blogs, Whitepapers are the best ways to increase your network and showcase your knowledge. Join online forums and groups to learn and also show your findings and research

Engage with the data governance community by attending industry events and joining online forums. Showcase your expertise on platforms like LinkedIn by sharing valuable content and participating in relevant discussions. Proactive networking and strategic online presence will help you build relationships and establish credibility as a trusted data governance consultant.

Constant learning, updating knowledge and sharing your knowledge with the industry is much more important than simply "keeping the head down and doing the job". This is due to rapidly evolving data industry and landscape. With more organizations adopting the modern data stack, expanding internal data literacy programs , making security and privacy a top goal while making strides towards becoming "data-driven", the data governance professionals have to keep up to date and show their clients the path forward with reinforced data governance practices suitable for the future.

Investing in professional development not only elevates personal expertise but also boosts business credibility, attracting clients seeking knowledgeable and proficient consultants. The commitment to growth ensures the delivery of superior services, driving success in the dynamic field of data governance consulting.

Continuous learning is paramount. Stay tuned to evolving trends, regulations, and technologies relevant to your niche. Seek feedback from clients, peers, and mentors to identify areas for improvement. Invest in professional development through courses, certifications, and coaching.

The era of Generative AI opens up many opportunities for us, the data governance people. The potential of using GPTs in data governance is waiting to be unleashed.

Learning is never ending . Read as many as books, blogs , white papers and attend podcasts to increase your knowledge. And also do certifications to empower yourself for new roles

It requires field expertise and experience. As a trusty advisor, you should be able to share previous assignments lessons learned so your current customer/client/partner does not repeat the same mistakes. If you build a strong methodology based on that, you should be able to reassure your clients and push them towards success.

Data Management is evolving fast. And so is Data Governance. Databases, data lakes and data repositories are nowhere like before. Knowledge Management is taking on new forms with corresponding impacts on data governance. LLMs come to mind. AI Governance is now a thing. With formalization of best practices and regulations across EU and US making headway in this area, every DG professional needs to be familiar with this space. Keep up to date with data trends. The pace of change is unforgiving.

Instead of just following the crowd, pioneer fresh ways to secure data and protect privacy, using cutting-edge encryption or privacy-preserving tools. Customize risk evaluations for each client to build trust and resilience. Specialize in teaching and supporting various industries, creating a network of data-savvy companies. Picture your data governance consulting firm as the "Data Custodians"