Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 81

Hello October! As we welcome the autumnal month of falling leaves and pumpkins, we are busy launching quite a few new things ourselves. From the Podcast LIVE event to our new FREE Scorecard product and more news on the way this month.

Driven by Data: The Podcast

In Episode 48, of Season 4, of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Rachel Purchase , Director of Data & Analytics at Admiral Group Plc . They discussed some of the unintentional challenges associated with having an organisation that has such an appetite for data, which include taking responsibility for an enterprise D&A capability after several unsuccessful external attempts, the mandate is to fix the issue that the business and IT aren’t working effectively together, why being data-driven doesn’t necessarily mean you are data-mature and much more.

Listen to the full episode here:

Our Talent Scorecard Assessment

Benchmark your talent attraction and retention efforts against the Industry Scorecard Assessment.

Yesterday we launched our free Data, Analytics & AI Talent Scorecard Assessment which provides organisations with a comprehensive analysis of their ability to identify, engage, assess, attract, and retain industry-leading talent. With a focus on three critical areas, we assess how your data and analytics function operates and is perceived both internally and externally.

Interested in taking the assessment for your organisation? Get in touch with us or message Kyle Winterbottom and we will send you the link.

Next week: LinkedIn Live event: Putting the 'C' in CDO

Join us next Tuesday for an insightful LinkedIn Live event to uncover why the average tenure of a CDO is still circa 2 years, and why only 1 in 3 data leaders feel “very confident” in their ability to communicate the business impact of investments in their function and why only 50% of data leaders are tracking the business value that data and analytics provide.

?? Speakers

• Simon Ferriter , CEO, Anmut
• Kinnari Ladha , Global Chief Data Officer, Merlin Entertainments
• Martin Houghton , Group Data Director, Kier Group

Expertly hosted by Kyle Winterbottom , this dynamic panel will delve into this discussion and discover the ins and outs of this issue.

Register now, save the date and mark your calendars for this can't-miss event!

Kyle Winterbottom at DTX 360 tomorrow

Kyle will be moderating a discussion titled "Investing in talent not just tech: Why you need to bring talent to the top of your transformation masterplan" tomorrow at 11:35 am, alongside a panel consisting of

• Matthew Doucette , Global Tech Talent Strategy, Deliveroo
• Neil Marley , CEO & Founder at Qualyfi
• Andrea Williamson , Interim Director, Retail, CPG, Grocery and Travel, 谷歌

Find out more here:

Closing this month: Cohort 8 applications for the DBD Mentorship

Driven by Data: The Mentorship offers valuable insights and connections with some of the world’s top data and analytics leaders.

This free programme, featuring over 200 partnerships, is designed to upskill and advance the next generation of data professionals. Participants gain access to elite mentors from the Orbition Group community, including high-profile business leaders, published authors, and keynote speakers who are recognised thought leaders in the global data space.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with influential figures who are typically out of reach.

Sign up today to join the programme. Hurry applications close at the end of the month!

Have you signed up for the Podcast LIVE event yet?

As we near 4 incredible years, 4 seasons, and over 200 episodes of Driven By Data: The Podcast with almost 60,000 listeners across 160+ countries, we’re excited to announce our first-ever live event!

This event will feature live podcasts, including case studies, 1:1 interviews, and panel discussions, covering some of the most pressing topics in the industry.

Tickets will be available soon, with all ticket sale proceeds going to charity. Join the waitlist today to be among the first to secure your spot once tickets are released. Being on the waitlist guarantees early access before the general release.

If you’re a fan of our podcast or our industry-leading events, this is your chance to hear from top experts, ask questions, and engage in live polls as part of the audience. Don't miss out!

5 Skills You Need To Know To Thrive In The Age Of AI

This week's insight blog is brought to you by Sol Rashidi, MBA

In a world where artificial intelligence is no longer the stuff of science fiction, but a driving force in our daily lives, it's crucial to equip ourselves with the right skills to navigate this new landscape. Whether you're a fresh graduate, a seasoned professional, a technical person or can barely use a smartphone, these five skills will help you transform from an AI novice to a veritable AI ninja, ready to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.

AI isn't just for tech gurus — it's a game-changer for everyone from business executives to real estate agents and even busy parents. Whether you're a seasoned professional or simply curious about AI, mastering these five practical skills will help you harness the power of AI without needing to write a single line of code.

Practical AI Skills

1. AI for Productivity

AI tools can significantly boost your productivity, helping you work smarter, not harder. From creating birthday party invitations, your next class syllabus or your board of directors’ agenda and outline, there are many practical day-to-day applications of artificial intelligence. Explore AI writing assistants like TextCortext or ChatGPT to help write emails, reports or social media posts. Or, instead of using Zoom or Microsoft Teams recorded features for your next meeting, try Otter.ai or Supernormal for meeting notes, transcriptions and an email with action items ready to be sent. The possibilities are endless.

Pro tip: Start with one tool and integrate it into your daily routine. Once you're comfortable, add another. Small steps lead to big changes.

2. AI for Decision Making

You don't need to be a data scientist or an IT person to make data-driven decisions. AI tools can help you understand and visualise data easily. Learn the basics of data interpretation with free data courses. Or if you want an accelerated path to learning the basics and get a list of suggested tools to analyse your Excel spreadsheet, business sales or personal finance data use, here’s a great blog that’s easy to follow.

Pro tip: Start with familiar data, like your business sales or personal finance data. Seeing AI insights on familiar information makes the learning process more relatable.

3. AI in Customer Service

AI can help you provide better, faster customer service without increasing your workload. Simple things like implementing a chatbot on your website or Facebook page using AI tools. A simple Google search on “AI tools for chatbots” will provide hundreds of tools. Just pick one that seems the easiest to use and gets you started quickly.

Pro tip: You’ll need to have learned the basics of AI and integrated at least one or two tools in your daily life before moving on to something like chatbots. While the AI tools have made it easy, it still requires some familiarity so you don’t get overwhelmed. Also, start with an area like frequently asked questions for your chatbot. This is an easier dataset to work with, and it frees up your time to help answer more complex customer interactions.

4. AI for Marketing

Whether you want to develop your brand, do a better job in sending emails to your team or create content that is more eye-catching for your next Fantasy League Football party, AI can help you create more targeted and effective content without a huge budget or technical know-how. You can either google “AI marketing tools” to get a list of free options, or you can use Canva's AI-powered Magic Write to create creative marketing content, copy and designs.

Pro tip: Aim for progress over perfection. Test your AI-generated content against your regular content. See what resonates best with you before you proceed.

5. AI Ethics Awareness

As AI becomes more prevalent in our lives, understanding its ethical implications is crucial, even for non-technical users. Consider the ethical implications of the AI tools you use. Are they respecting user privacy? Are they potentially biased? Developing this awareness will make you a more responsible AI user.

Pro tip: Do not use personal or private data when first starting out. Exclude individual names, company names and anything that may be deemed sensitive. You can always add that later when you’re authoring the real content.

Beginner Project Ideas

With the resources provided above, you have a head start on how to integrate AI into your day-to-day lives. But if you’re still struggling with some ideas, here are some non-techie project ideas to get you started:

• Use an AI writing assistant to draft your next important email or report.
• Use an AI writing assistant to create a class syllabus or PTA agenda outline.
• Use an AI writing assistant to start your first blog.
• Create a chatbot for your business’s Facebook page to answer common customer queries.
• Analyse last quarter's sales data and present the insights to your team.
• Use AI-powered image generation to create unique visuals for your next presentation.
• Set up an AI-powered social media campaign to market your nonprofit on key channels.

Remember, becoming an AI ninja doesn't mean becoming a programmer. It's about understanding how AI can enhance your work and life and knowing which tools can help you achieve your goals. Start small, be consistent and don't be afraid to experiment.

As you embark on this AI journey, remember your human skills. While AI is a powerful assistant, you're learning to be its director. So dare to take the first step on this journey. Search what you want to do, pick a tool, sign up for the free trial, give it a try and start exploring today.

Originally published on Forbes on September 2, 2024. Republished here with permission of the author Sol Rashidi, MBA .

And of course our weekly data joke:

Why should you take a data scientist to the jungle with you?

They can take care of Python problems.

See you next time!