Data Longevity

Data is becoming more and more critical to the success of modern businesses, making the role of a Chief Data Officer more important than ever. As a senior data leader, it's our job to ensure that our organization's data is treated as a valuable asset and that it is used to drive strategic decision-making.

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, once said, "Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves." This quote emphasizes the importance of treating data as a valuable asset, and it's a message that all senior data leaders should take to heart. Here are a few ways to make sure that you're treating data as the precious resource that it is:

1. Protect it - First and foremost, it's our responsibility to protect the data that we're entrusted with. Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and we must stay up-to-date with the latest best practices to ensure that our data is kept safe.
2. Manage it - Managing data is about more than just making sure it's properly stored. It also means ensuring that it's accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible. This requires a comprehensive data management strategy that covers everything from data entry to data governance.
3. Analyze it - As senior data leaders, we need to make sure that our organization is getting the most value out of our data. This means not only analyzing it but also presenting it in a way that's easy for stakeholders to understand.
4. Use it to drive decisions - Ultimately, the purpose of collecting and analyzing data is to drive better decision-making. Senior data leaders need to be able to use the insights gleaned from data analysis to inform strategic decisions that will move the organization forward.

In conclusion, as a senior data leader, it's our responsibility to ensure that our organization's data is protected, managed, analyzed, and used to drive strategic decision-making. Treating data as the precious resource that it is will help us to fulfill this responsibility and deliver value to our organizations.