What’s one of the biggest challenges your team faced this year, and how did you overcome it?
I’ve been in my latest role for only two months! In that time, the team has grown rapidly—from one (me) to two after week two, then to four after week seven. So, by far the biggest challenge has been building foundations (tech platforms and data products) while simultaneously fostering a strong team culture at such a significant pace.
I think two main things are helping us on this journey: First, acknowledging that we won’t get it right the first, second, or probably even the third time. Each step is a learning experience. Second, and more importantly, we need to have fun (otherwise what is the point!)
What’s a skill that’s vital to successful D&A leadership?
Entrepreneurialism. If you view the data team as your own startup and its capabilities as your services, it frames things well. You think about when and where to spend money, what the return on investment will be, how to get more from your “investors” (and why), how to “sell” what the team does, and how to embed adaptability into the team. Let’s face it, a D&A leader has to wear multiple hats every day, just like an entrepreneur.
Name a song you always include on your holiday playlist.
My dad always told me he would listen to “Driving Home for Christmas” on his final commute back before the holidays. It stuck with me and has always been a favourite. Although it’s harder to relate to these days when the commute is mostly from the spare bedroom to “downstairs.”
If you could choose any destination to escape to in December or the New Year, where would it be?
My wife and I’s first holiday together, many years ago, was to Cornwall in the middle of December. It was amazing. We stayed in a small cottage, explored near-deserted little coastal villages, and discovered lots of Christmas markets. I’d love to do that again, but I’m not sure it would be quite the same now with a one-year-old and a three-year-old!
