7 key takeaways from a data dinner: building a data-driven culture

We’ve been talking about building data-driven cultures for much of AND’s history, but rapid AI advancements have changed the context and upped the stakes. Recently, as part of our Data Peer-to-Peer network, we brought together digital leaders in Leeds to discuss these changes.

This event, alongside our session in London, explored the evolving challenges and opportunities facing organisations in data & AI.

Here are the key takeaways from our Leeds session:

A data-driven culture delivers value in a range of ways. It improves customer experiences through personalisation; it drives improved decision making based on deeper insight; and it increases productivity and innovation. Yet there’s no escaping the fact that when it comes to gaining buy-in from senior leaders, it’s financial value that’s top of mind. Here too, however, a data-driven culture delivers. As one leader from the automotive sector shared, there’s nothing like delivering £500 million in value to open leadership’s eyes to the power of data.

 

"If you can show the financial impact, even sceptics will become your biggest advocates."

2. Cultural change is as important as technology

A data-driven culture can be a critical catalyst for organisational growth, but cultural change is the critical catalyst for enabling a data-driven culture to deliver; it's what drives employee buy-in, and empowers them to use data.

One leader at the Leeds event reflected on how changing organisational habits was even more challenging – and ultimately more rewarding – than increasing revenue: 

 

"Changing the culture is harder than moving the financial needle."

 

How do you embed data in your culture? Among numerous other steps, it’s about ensuring buy-in starts at the top (see above). It’s about offering simple, robust proofs of concept that are easy for everyone to get behind. It’s about taking data beyond the traditional remit of the data scientist, and ensuring it’s a role of a much broader pool of code and data-literate employees.

The group also noted the power of success; starting small and demonstrating the potential of data can drive wider enthusiasm.

"It started with one team, and now the entire company wants in," said one attendee who saw a single successful data initiative spark curiosity and momentum across the business.

3. AI augments, it doesn’t replace human expertise

AI was inevitably a hot topic of conversation. But the overwhelming takeaway from attendees was that AI can accelerate processes. It can be an ideas generator and can take on repetitive, resource-heavy tasks. Perhaps counter-intuitively, it can enhance creativity.

"Our engineers want to solve problems themselves first," said one leader. "They use AI to speed things up, but it doesn’t take away their creativity."

But…

• AI cannot replace human expertise and critical thinking; and
• AI can only be of real value once organisations understand it. "You can’t solve problems with AI if you don’t understand the fundamentals," as one participant put it.

So education and skills development are critical before you attempt to integrate AI into workflows.

4. Good data is essential for good AI

"AI is exciting, but if your data's a mess, you're hitting a wall," said one attendee.

The group agreed that investing in the 'invisible' layers of data management, like semantic data layers and governance, is crucial for AI success.

The group also noted the importance of tailoring data solutions to organisational maturity.

 

"It’s all about meeting the organisation where they are," noted one participant, who reflected that some companies may have the data to dive into AI and machine learning, while others first need to build the digital skills and data literacy from which the data-driven culture can grow.

5. The public sector and SMEs need accessible AI

It’s no surprise that larger and private organisations tend to have an advantage with data and AI than smaller or public sector ones. Budgets are typically bigger, and data maturity tends to be greater. Culturally too, there’s often a greater readiness for data and AI in larger organisations compared with smaller ones. So if small or public sector organisations are to reap the same benefits as their larger/private counterparts, they need help.

 

"We created an AI Adoption Accelerator to help small manufacturers see the benefits of AI without huge investments," shared one participant.

 

It’s just one example of the growing number of initiatives helping to bridge the gap and make AI accessible to organisations with limited resources.

6. Governance and ethics must evolve with AI

The group voiced concerns about the ethical implications of AI, particularly the risks of using ‘black-box’ models where decision-making processes are unexplained, and inputs and operations are concealed from the user.

"You can’t use black-box AI in regulated industries – it’s just too risky," said one attendee. Explainable AI (XAI) and transparent governance frameworks are increasingly necessary, especially in sectors like finance and healthcare.

7. Data must tell a story

A recurring theme of the evening was the ‘so what?’ of data. To deliver impact, data needs to tell a compelling story. That story needs context (e.g. is data’s job to improve financial performance or shape customer experiences), and it needs to resonate with decision-makers. As one attendee put it:

"The rest of the business doesn’t care about data – they care about what it means for them."

Successful data-driven cultures focus on using data to tell stories that align with business goals, not just showcasing the data itself.

Data as the catalyst for transformation

Among the many insights from the dinner, a common theme emerged. Data can be purely a tool. But when you operate a data-driven culture, it becomes more than that; it becomes an enabler of AI. Paired with transparency and effective governance, AI and data can be a catalyst for innovation and success.

That’s where the true value lies.

Our ‘Data Peer-to-Peer’ roundtables are intimate events that bring together senior leaders from multiple industries to network and discuss core topics around data. If you’re interested in joining us at a future event, please contact us here.