Episode 4: Building the Skillset

By my third week in the Data Governance Office, I’d started to see the bigger picture. The shadowing sessions with my teammates had shown me how everything, data quality, metadata, and policies, connected to create a foundation of trust in the bank’s data. But while I was beginning to grasp the concepts, the technical side of things still felt like a wall I couldn’t quite climb.

The team used words like SQL queries, ETL pipelines, and data lineage tools effortlessly, but I struggled to keep up. I often found myself zoning out in meetings, frustrated by my lack of technical knowledge.

One afternoon, after yet another meeting where I felt like I was playing catch-up, I decided to speak with Tola.

?“Tola, can I talk to you about something?” I asked hesitantly as I approached her desk.

“Of course, Ada,” she said, looking up from her notebook.

“I’ve been feeling... behind,” I admitted. “I understand the concepts, but when it comes to the tools and technical details, I’m completely lost. I feel like I’m holding the team back.”

Tola leaned back in her chair, giving me her full attention. “First of all, Ada, I’m glad you told me this. Second, let me tell you something important: no one starts in governance knowing everything—not even the technical side. What matters is your curiosity and your willingness to learn, and you’ve already shown that.”

Her reassurance eased some of my anxiety. “So, where do I start?” I asked.

She smiled. “Let’s make a plan to build your skillset. You don’t need to master everything at once, but we can break it into manageable steps. Ready?”

I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope.

The Skill-Building Plan

Tola pulled out a sheet of paper and started jotting down areas for me to focus on:

Basic SQL

Goal: Learn how to retrieve and manipulate data from databases.

Plan: Start with an online course for beginners. Practice simple queries like SELECT, WHERE, and JOIN.

Data Quality Tools

Goal: Understand how to analyze and measure data quality metrics.

Plan: Shadow Ayo as he works on the data quality dashboard. Practice interpreting the metrics and identifying trends.

Metadata Management

Goal: Learn how to document data lineage and manage metadata using tools.

Plan: Spend time with Chike and ask questions about how the data catalog works and how lineage is tracked.

Data Visualization

Goal: Create clear, effective visualizations of governance metrics.

Plan: Explore Power BI with Maryam to learn the basics of building dashboards.

Governance Frameworks

Goal: Deepen your understanding of governance frameworks like DAMA or DCAM.

Plan: Read recommended materials and participate in discussions during team meetings.

Over the next week, I started tackling the first item on my list: SQL. Tola had recommended a beginner-friendly online course, and I dove into it every evening after work. At first, it felt intimidating, but as I completed the exercises, I began to understand the power of querying data directly from databases.

On the third day, I successfully ran a query to filter customer records by region, and I couldn’t help but smile as the results appeared. This isn’t so bad after all, I thought.

I even practiced during lunch breaks, and Ayo, ever the helpful teammate, reviewed my queries and gave me tips. “SQL is like asking a question,” he explained. “Once you know what you’re looking for, the query is just the tool to get the answer.”

The following week, I spent more time with Chike, who patiently walked me through the data catalog tool.

“Metadata is the glue that holds everything together,” he said, pointing to a lineage map on his screen. “See this report? It pulls data from three different systems. If something’s wrong in the report, this map helps us trace the issue back to its source.”

He even let me document the lineage for a smaller dataset, guiding me through each step. “It’s not about memorizing tools,” he said. “It’s about understanding the process—where the data comes from, where it goes, and how it’s used.”

By the end of the week, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I wasn’t mastering everything overnight, but I was making progress. Each skill I practiced—whether it was writing a simple SQL query or mapping data lineage—felt like a small step forward.

Tola checked in with me before heading out for the weekend. “How’s the plan going?”

“It’s going well,” I said, smiling. “SQL was a good place to start. I feel like I’m beginning to understand how everything works together.”

She nodded approvingly. “That’s what governance is about - connecting the dots. Keep going, Ada. You’re doing great.”

As I packed up for the day, I realized that Tola was right. I didn’t need to know everything right away. All I needed to do was keep learning, one step at a time.

And I couldn’t wait to see what I’d learn next.