Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 82

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind of announcements and news! From our Culture of Data Report to our Podcast LIVE event, to our new Talent Assessment Product Tool and yesterday we launched our Advisory Board. We have been so busy getting all these amazing ideas and launches together! But we are not stopping here, the next launch is Cohort 8 of the Driven By Data Mentorship!

Driven by Data: The Podcast

In Episode 49, the penultimate episode of Season 4, of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Maddie Armitage , Director of Data & AI Solutions at 英国电信集团 . They discuss how to build data products that get used to drive commercial benefits, including getting business stakeholders to adopt a product-led mindset, why everyone has to be focused on outcomes and benefits, prioritisation based on speed and value and much more!

Listen to the full episode here:

The Driven by Data Global Advisory Board

Yesterday we launched our Advisory Board, comprised of 16 leading Chief Data & Analytics Officers, who will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction and impact of everything we do at Orbition Group. Our mission is to ensure that every event, piece of content, and business initiative is designed to empower and elevate the data community.

As the Driven by Data community has grown, we felt now was the correct time to create a board that comes from a range of different organisations, sectors, backgrounds and experiences, who will serve as the voice of the wider community, ensuring we’re always remaining current and most importantly, continuing to aid our vision to make the Data & Analytics community and ecosystem a better place by sharing, collaborating and learning from and with each other.

By leveraging the diverse expertise and insights of our board members, we believe we will remain positioned at the forefront of industry trends, driving innovation and delivering unparalleled value to data professionals?worldwide.

TODAY: LinkedIn Live event: Putting the 'C' in CDO

Join us this afternoon 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

Podcast LIVE: New guest announcement

We are very excited to announce that Loretta Franks , Global Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Kellanova has joined our amazing lineup of guest speakers for our first-ever Podcast LIVE.

The already announced lineup includes:

• Ranil Boteju
• Aimee Smith
• Davin Crowley-Sweet
• Daniel Hulme

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!

Our Talent Scorecard Assessment

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

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.

Few weeks to go: Cohort 8 applications for the DBD Mentorship

This free programme connects participants with world-class mentors—industry thought leaders, business executives, published authors, and keynote speakers shaping the future of data and analytics.

We’re seeking experienced senior leaders in data & analytics to join us as mentors. As a mentor, you’ll have the chance to:

?? Shape the future of the industry

?? Share your expertise with enthusiastic learners

?? Expand your network with top leaders and emerging talent

Applications close on October 25th. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a significant impact and advance your career in data analytics!

Data Leadership Roles: Balancing Technical Skills & Strategic Vision

This week's insight blog is brought to you by Natalia Kurasinski

Are you looking for your next position in the data leadership space? Perhaps as a Head of Data or a Chief Data Officer?

If so, you might have noticed that in the ‘requirements’ section of many job adverts, there's still a need to be ‘proficient in Python or SQL’ and a preference for candidates to be ‘hands-on’ with coding. This can be frustrating for many, especially for those who have progressed in their careers and moved away from these responsibilities.

At Orbition Group , we engage in daily conversations with Data & Analytics leaders—whether they’re looking for their next career move or just chatting about market trends. One recurring theme is the frustration over the expectation for data leaders to remain technically involved. In most industries, as you climb the ladder, you tend to step away from hands-on tasks, whether it’s ‘building a pipeline’ or ‘designing a data lake.’ So why, in Data & Analytics, are so many employers still looking for technical skills at the leadership level?

Why Do Technical Skills Matter?

It’s true that having some level of technical understanding is important for data leadership roles. Leaders often support teams of Data Engineers, Architects, Analysts, and others, so understanding the tools and technologies they use is valuable. However, relying heavily on a senior leader’s technical expertise might not always be the best approach.

Technology is evolving rapidly—tools, programming languages, and platforms like Databricks or Snowflake change year on year. Many data leaders do keep up with these trends to inform their data strategy, but as they develop in their careers, the practical side of coding often becomes less familiar. Broad knowledge is more valuable in these leadership roles than deep technical expertise, especially when the organisation can afford to hire technical specialists.

The Role of a Data Leader: Vision Over Execution

Moving into a data leadership position typically involves stepping into a more strategic role. These leaders need to set the vision for how data is used across the organisation, aligning data strategies with business goals. Their focus shifts from day-to-day technical tasks to fostering a data-driven culture, influencing stakeholders at all levels, and managing resistance to change.

In smaller organisations or companies early in their data journey, it’s understandable that leadership roles might still require technical skills. These businesses may be searching for a ‘unicorn’—someone who can handle both strategy and execution. But as businesses mature and their senior leadership teams become more serious about leveraging data for business outcomes, they’ll likely shift away from this hybrid approach.

Navigating the Increasing Demand for Technical Expertise

The growing demand for technical skills in senior roles could stem from the complexity of modern data ecosystems. The rise of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and data products has added new layers of complexity that data leaders need to understand when building their strategies.

While CDOs were once primarily focused on data governance and quality, their role now encompasses innovation, product development, and driving new business opportunities. This shift has placed a premium on technical fluency, as leaders need to effectively communicate with technical teams and other business units.

Conclusion: Striking the Right Balance

In summary, the expanding technical landscape in Data & Analytics means that leadership roles must balance technical literacy with strategic vision. Yes, technical knowledge is an important part of successful data leadership, but organisations must remember that many senior leaders have moved away from hands-on technical tasks.

To attract the perfect candidate, it may be time to reconsider whether proficiency in Python or SQL is a necessity for a leadership role, or if the focus should be on broader strategic capabilities that drive business outcomes.

And of course our data joke of the week...

There are ten kinds of people in the world…

Those who understand binary and those who don't!

See you next week!