Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 62

I hope the sun has been shining where you are!

We have a lot coming your way - we have been very busy behind the scenes putting together Edition 2 of our DBD Magazine and receiving all of our great mentorship programme applications. Let's take a look at what's been happening!

Driven by Data | The Podcast

In Episode 29, of Season 4, of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Evie Dineva , Group Head of Data Engineering & Data Science at Gymshark . They discussed how to balance delivering commercial value through data, analytics and AI products responsibly and ethically, which includes being driven by the purpose of improving business performance, articulating the commercial value of what Data & Analytics teams do, the importance of supporting people to be better at what they do and much much more.

Give it a listen here:

The Driven by Data Mentorship

There's just over a week left to submit your application for our FREE mentorship program. If you're interested in demonstrating your expertise to aspiring data leaders and would like to contribute to the community and industry, then this program is for you. Mentors have also learned a great deal from mentees. Thank you to Mentor Anthony Spence for his contribution!

If you're interested in becoming a mentor and want to learn more, click here:

Have you watched the 20 Rising Stars Judging Day video yet?

In 2 weeks we will be announcing the 20 Rising Stars in Data & Analytics, proudly sponsored by Data Literacy Academy , in the latest edition of the Driven by Data Magazine. Take a look at this video from the Judging Day, featuring our fantastic panel of judges: Katy Gooblar , Helen Blaikie , Tolu Adebekun , and Kyle Winterbottom . You can learn more about the selection process, the challenges, the level of talent, and much more. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming second edition of the DBD Magazine!

TOMORROW: Orbition Group at Digital Transformation EXPO Manchester (DTX)

If you are in Manchester tomorrow, drop by our Orbition meet-up at DTX 360 .

DTX is one of our community partners, and they feature industry leaders from some of the biggest brands, where they take centre stage offering insights on how they plan to leverage future technology to drive the data/digital agenda forward.

Kyle Winterbottom will be making his return to DTX too and he will be leading the meetup for our Northern community on the Data & AI stage, on 22nd May from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm.

Full information and registration details can be found here:

The Power of Data Culture

This week's insight blog is brought to you by Sophie Muscat

We seem to hear the term "data culture" being used a lot lately, and how it should have a central role in data-driven decision-making. Creating and promoting a data culture within an organisation is increasingly crucial, and everyone in the organisation should embrace it. Organisations are beginning to realise that data is more than just a resource; it is a foundational element that everyone, regardless of their position, needs to be involved with.?

There are key pillars to data culture. The first is data literacy. Data literacy is crucial for fostering a data culture. It ensures that everyone, from junior staff to senior leaders, can read, understand, and discuss data. Addressing this gap is important so that everyone within the organisation can understand data and be involved. This way, there can be a shared understanding of the significant role data plays.?

The next pillar is data-driven decision-making. Data should be the basis and building block for all decisions, ensuring efficiency, performance, and planning at all levels.?

The third pillar is data accessibility. Data should be readily available to relevant teams within the company. However, accessibility does not mean compromising on security. Data needs to be safeguarded for privacy reasons and should only be used to make data-driven decisions.?

The next pillar is data trust. Employees should be able to track the data they are using, which enhances the data culture. You cannot encourage something if it cannot be trusted. Implementing robust data governance measures ensures accuracy and responsibility in data capturing, promoting data practices through trust company-wide.?

The final pillar is leadership commitment. Strong leadership is essential for fostering a data culture. Leaders should actively support and advocate for data usage, helping employees to understand and utilise data effectively.?

There are many benefits to these pillars. The first and perhaps most obvious one that comes to mind is informed decision-making. Informed decision-making allows for accurate and quick decisions based on real evidence, leading to better outcomes and a competitive edge. Streamlining methods can reduce time-wasting activities and maximise available resources, increasing efficiency and output. These efficiencies can lead to increased profits and better customer satisfaction by identifying and seizing opportunities.?

Empowering employees to engage more with data and make data-backed decisions boosts their confidence and encourages them to take ownership of projects. When employees see the positive results, their trust in data grows, making them feel encouraged and empowered.?

As we have seen, having a strong data culture set up in the workplace can bring about many benefits for both employees and the company as a whole. Investing in and promoting a strong data culture within the workplace brings significant benefits for both employees and the organisation. Does your organisation prioritise and foster a data culture??

And of course, the data joke of the week:

Why don't data scientists ever get lost?

Because they always follow the data trails!

See you next week! ??

Team Orbition