Jordan Morrow, Global head of data literacy, Qlik

Path to power

 

My career started in a field different from data and analytics. My love and passion - my “nerdom”, you may say - lies in the fields of mathematics, statistics, data, and analytics. I eventually found my way into these worlds, helping to lead a business intelligence group, plus training users on how to utilise the dashboards and reports we were building. From this initial beginning in BI, my mind started to turn to helping individuals use data and analytics better. I made the jump to Qlik about two-and-a-half years ago to help build a new world of data and analytical learning, and building one of the world’s first data literacy programs, before data literacy was a common term. I currently am the global head of data literacy, where my time is spent building strategy in this new world, driving and building the curriculum and, my favourite, travelling the world and working with and meeting so many people and organisations, speaking at amazing events.

 

What has been the highlight of your career in the industry to date?

 

Overall, the absolute highlight of my career in the industry to date is all the people I have had the privilege of meeting in this fantastic industry. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world, meeting great organisations and individuals, and have found the people are amazing everywhere I have gone.

 

If you could give your younger self some advice about how to progress in this industry, what would it be?

 

To my younger self: continue to learn how to communicate, ask great questions of data, and analyse data. As you focus on these skills, you can become indispensable to your industry and the world, as data will become an extraordinary asset for all organisations and individuals everywhere.2018 was an amazing year and it turned out differently than hoped: it was an even better year than I could have imagined! It was even better because I saw the world of data literacy, data and analytics take off in ways I didn’t imagine or see coming. I met people all over the world and I saw such great advancements by so many that it excites me even more for the future. Data and analytics is more than here to stay: it is becoming the future.

 

What do you expect 2019 to be like for the industry?

 

I expect the world of data and analytics to take an even bigger stage in the world. Organisations and individuals are looking to adopt more data and analytical strategies, and to utilise data and analytics to stay competitive and to transform digitally. This will put individuals and organisations that have skills in these fields at the forefront of this, the fourth industrial revolution.

 

Talent and skills are always a challenge to find - how are you tackling this in your organisation?

 

The world of data literacy is in and of itself about the empowerment and education of individuals and organisations. Within our organisation and in my work with others, my entire role is to help everyone succeed with data and make data-informed decisions. To do this, we are building strategies, framework, curriculum, and more, for both an internal development and to help individuals and organisations succeed worldwide.

 

What aspect of data, analytics or their use are you most optimistic about and why?

 

This is a little different aspect, but I am the most optimistic with regards to the enthusiasm and drive individuals and organisations have to succeed with data and analytics. Passion and drive is a key element to succeed within the world of data and analytics. Data and analytics technology/service provider