This a profile from the 2019 version of the DataIQ 100.
To see the current DataIQ 100 please click here.
DataIQ 100
My first career was in the music industry - setting up and running a record label. My second career was in the travel sector - setting up a travel aggregator portal. So, I think that makes data my third career. I studied artificial intelligence at undergraduate and Master’s level. Back then, nobody was hiring graduates with AI experience, so I started out as a consultant at Detica (now BAE Applied Intelligence). It took me to telecoms, insurance, financial services and government to do both commercial and fraud/risk work. In 2009, I joined the Financial Times to help develop a new web analytics capability. The commercial focus of the team delivered results and grew quickly. The FT developed a reputation for leading the media industry in digital business models catalysed by data. I was fortunate enough to grow with the team, leading first the digital analytics team, then restructuring disparate analytics groups to form one central analytics unit. I spent two years working in education at Pearson to establish a new learner analytics capability in some of its educational businesses. Returning to the FT in 2015 as chief data officer, I was appointed to the FT board.
Witnessing first-hand the extent to which data can transform organisations. When I left consulting, I imagined that a client-side role might be a little pedestrian and may only hold my attention for a couple of years. Many years later, I still feel enormously privileged to work in an area which is having such transformative impact and offers unique, diverse and varied challenges.
Algorithms are cool, but ultimately our work is so often still about people. Communication, storytelling and influencing skills are king.
While so much focus and attention was paid to preparing for the evolving privacy legislation, some huge stories involving data rocked the world and dominated the headlines. Data breaches, lack of algorithmic transparency leading to the spread of misinformation and a distinct lack of governance in how data is being used to drive growth.
See above. More GDPR-like regulation emerging around the world. And, at the same time, more scandals involving how data is being used, more investigations and more interest in data from media, governments and regulators. On a more positive note, this will all help move towards more transparent uses of data with clearer exchanges of value and more easily explainable algorithmic approaches.
A specific focus on attracting talent from more diverse sources combined with significant focus on developing our people. I believe that organisations can differentiate themselves by developing empowered cultures, offering unique challenges and opportunities, and providing more flexible working conditions.
The technology we rely upon is continuing to become increasingly commoditised. I think that means it will continue to get easier to build more personalised and data-rich products. And more people will.
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