Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 97

Hello February! With January done and dusted, we have lots in store for you with our Q1 event this week and an upcoming LinkedIn Live hosted by our Senior Talent Partner, strap in, as February is going to get busy!

Today's episode of Driven By Data: The Podcast

In Episode 10 of Season 5 of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Peter Everill , AI, ML & Data Product Leader, for a LinkedIn Live event discussing the actual framework used to quantify value. Their conversation explores how data can significantly impact P&L performance, why the unique value of a data team lies in identifying where to focus and what actions to take, and the importance of metrics in making performance observable and driving better decision-making.

You can also watch the video recording of the LinkedIn Live episode here:

Have you registered for our next LinkedIn Live?

?? Featuring: Kamran Ashraf , Head of Digital Lab, National Highways

Hosted by our Senior Talent Partner here at Orbition Group , Natalia Kurasinski , this session will dive into Kamran's unique career journey, his transition from financial services to government, and his first 12 months at National Highways .

?? What to expect:

• What attracted Kamran to National Highways and the role he took on.
• Insights into the interview process and overcoming the nerves of joining a new organisation.
• Reflections on his achievements, challenges, and lessons learned over the past year.
• A deep dive into the National Highways Digital Lab: its purpose, goals, and impact.
• Kamran’s approach to self-promotion and career growth, as well as his vision for the next 12 months.

?? Join us for 45 minutes of engaging conversation, insights, and a Q&A session where you can ask Kamran your burning questions.

Have you taken our FREE assessment yet?

We’ve taken our in-depth, industry-benchmarked employer value proposition audit—typically a comprehensive, paid service—and productised it into a free, self-serve version. While not as detailed, it still provides valuable insights into how well your organisation attracts and retains top Data & Analytics talent. It’s especially useful for those new to a role who are planning to hire but may not yet understand their company’s positioning. The assessment is multiple choice and takes just 8 minutes to complete—why not give it a try?

We need you!

Cohort 9 is fast approaching and we’re thrilled to be approaching 300 partnerships and welcoming over 500 participants to the programme.

Many mentorship programmes in data focus on graduates or business users, but what about those already in the industry? At Orbition, we provide development opportunities for professionals looking to upskill and progress. With most Data & Analytics teams being small and lacking structured growth programmes, our goal is to support the brightest minds on their path to leadership. This programme is designed for those at the senior manager level and beyond.

Navigating the Future of Data Leadership: Insights from Chris Daniels, CDO at Deutsche Bank

In last season of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom sat down with Chris Daniels , Chief Data Officer of the Corporate Bank at 德意志银行 , to discuss his journey into data leadership, the evolving role of data in financial services, and the impact of emerging technologies on data strategy.

A Journey Through Data and Business Architecture

Chris’s career at Deutsche Bank spans nearly two decades, during which he has moved across various roles in process reengineering, project management, business architecture, and, ultimately, data leadership. His journey reflects a broader trend in the industry—where data leaders often emerge from diverse backgrounds rather than purely technical domains.

He initially joined Deutsche Bank to focus on process improvement within derivatives operations before transitioning into strategic projects and business architecture. Over time, he recognised the increasing importance of data as a strategic asset, leading him to establish data governance frameworks and revenue-generating analytics initiatives. Today, as CDO of the Corporate Bank, Chris oversees data management, governance, and the expansion of AI and analytics capabilities within one of the bank’s most complex divisions.

Understanding the Scope of the Corporate Bank

Many people are familiar with Deutsche Bank as a global financial institution, but fewer understand the intricate structure of its Corporate Bank. The division spans a wide range of services, from institutional cash and trade finance to security services and digital asset custody. Each area generates vast amounts of data, making effective data management critical to operational excellence.

One standout insight Chris shared is that Deutsche Bank processes 100 million payments daily in Germany alone, underscoring the importance of high-quality data for efficiency and risk management. Unlike businesses that operate on a transaction-by-transaction basis, Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank builds long-term client relationships, meaning data plays a fundamental role in ensuring seamless service delivery.

The Role of the Modern CDO: Beyond Governance

Chris emphasised that the traditional view of the CDO role—primarily focused on governance and compliance—has evolved. While data lineage, ownership, and regulatory compliance remain foundational, modern CDOs are now deeply involved in business strategy and technology enablement.

Key priorities for his team include:

• Building a Cloud-Based Data Ecosystem: Transitioning from legacy infrastructure to a cloud-based, multi-tenant data platform that improves scalability and accessibility.
• Reducing Data Complexity: Simplifying data architectures to minimise unnecessary transformation and duplication, ensuring data remains a first-class asset.
• Scaling AI and Advanced Analytics: Moving beyond proof-of-concept AI applications to industrial-scale deployment, ensuring models generate tangible business value.

Breaking Down Barriers Between Business and Technology

One of the recurring challenges in data leadership is ensuring alignment between business objectives and technical execution. Chris stressed that successful data initiatives require breaking down traditional silos between business and IT teams.

“In data, you can’t have a purely centralised or purely decentralised approach,” Chris explained. “The best model is a hub-and-spoke structure, where data ownership is pushed closer to business units but with centralised support, governance, and enablement.”

He also noted that while engineers thrive in tech-driven environments, business leaders must become increasingly data-literate to fully leverage data-driven insights. This requires ongoing education, collaboration, and an embedded culture of data-driven decision-making.

The AI Revolution: Rethinking Business Processes

With AI and automation accelerating at an unprecedented pace, Chris highlighted the need for organisations to rethink traditional processes. Rather than simply layering AI on top of existing workflows, businesses should adopt a “process reengineering” mindset—redesigning operations from the ground up based on AI’s capabilities.

However, he cautioned against short-term fixes that create long-term technical debt. “If you use AI to mask underlying inefficiencies rather than address them at their core, you’ll create a backlog of issues that will be much harder to resolve in the future.”

Final Thoughts: The Future of Data Leadership

As organisations continue to grapple with the challenges of data complexity, regulatory scrutiny, and AI-driven transformation, Chris believes the role of the CDO will only become more integral to business success.

“Data strategy should never exist in isolation—it has to be an embedded part of the broader business strategy. If we get this right, we move from being a reactive function to a proactive enabler of growth and innovation.”

For data leaders looking to drive change in their organisations, Chris’s advice is clear: understand the business, speak the language of your stakeholders, and align data initiatives with tangible business outcomes. By doing so, CDOs can elevate their role beyond governance and become true strategic partners in the digital age.

And of course, our data joke this week...

Why did the database administrator break up with the data scientist?

Because they had too many queries and not enough commitments! ??