You’re building a data governance team. What skills do you need to prioritize?

1 Data literacy

Data literacy is the ability to read, understand, analyze, and communicate with data. It is a foundational skill for any data governance team member, regardless of their role or function. Data literacy helps you to interpret data sources, identify data quality issues, apply data standards, and use data to support decision making. Data literacy also enables you to communicate data insights and recommendations to different audiences, such as executives, managers, or customers. Data literacy is not a fixed skill level, but a continuous learning process that requires curiosity, critical thinking, and feedback.

2 Data ethics

Data ethics is the set of principles and values that guide the responsible use of data. It is a crucial skill for any data governance team member, as they have to deal with sensitive, personal, or confidential data that may have ethical implications. Data ethics helps you to respect the rights and interests of data subjects, such as customers, employees, or partners. Data ethics also helps you to comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA. Data ethics is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a context-dependent judgment that requires awareness, empathy, and accountability.

3 Data collaboration

Data collaboration is the ability to work with others to share, access, and use data effectively. It is a key skill for any data governance team member, as they have to coordinate and cooperate with different data stakeholders across the organization. Data collaboration helps you to establish trust and transparency among data users, data owners, and data custodians. Data collaboration also helps you to leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of your data community, such as data analysts, data engineers, and data scientists. Data collaboration is not a solo activity, but a team effort that requires communication, alignment, and feedback.

4 Data strategy

Data strategy is the ability to align data goals and actions with business objectives and outcomes. It is a vital skill for any data governance team member, especially for data leaders and managers. Data strategy helps you to define the vision, mission, and value proposition of your data governance program. Data strategy also helps you to prioritize the data initiatives, projects, and tasks that will deliver the most impact and value to the business. Data strategy is not a static plan, but a dynamic roadmap that requires adaptation, measurement, and evaluation.

5 Data innovation

Data innovation is the ability to use data creatively and intelligently to solve problems and create opportunities. It is a desirable skill for any data governance team member, especially for data practitioners and innovators. Data innovation helps you to explore new data sources, methods, and technologies that can enhance your data capabilities and performance. Data innovation also helps you to generate new data insights, products, and services that can improve your customer experience and competitive advantage. Data innovation is not a random process, but a structured approach that requires experimentation, validation, and iteration.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?