Hub & Spoken.

What's in this podcast?

In this episode, Jason talks about the role of Chief Data Officer (CDO), and how to effectively balance the many different responsibilities that come with the job. 

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One Big Message

Data leadership can sometimes seem like an almost impossible juggling act between many roles and responsibilities. But if you can prioritise and dedicate certain proportions of time to your different responsibilities, you can get manage it all efficiently – and more effectively.

[00:21] Introduction

[01:03] The factors that impact a way a Chief Data Officer allocates their time and focus

[02:37] The 40-30-20-10 rule for data leaders

[07:35] Conclusion to how a CDO should spend their time

The 40-30-20-10 Rule

Unlike most C-Suite roles that have certain expectations, the CDO role is relatively new; which means it often needs to be defined by the CDO themselves. This can be both a good and bad thing: on one hand you are able to carve your role and make it unique, but on the other hand you risk wearing too many hats and juggling too many tasks. 

The following is a framework that you can use and adjust as a CDO, to help block time out for certain tasks. 

40% Engagement with others, creating community and understanding the organisation

When people think of “data leadership,” they often think in terms of quantitative skills such as data analysis and modelling. While it’s certainly important to have strong technical abilities, there is another critical skill that is just as important: the ability to engage with others and create community. 

Get involved in the data community. Connect with other data professionals online and in person, share your ideas and insights, and collaborate on projects. 

To build engagement and community, strive to create an amazing team and develop team culture. 

30% Define strategy and vision

As a data leader, it’s important to have strategy and vision in order to effectively guide your team. 

Strategy is about making choices that will achieve a desired outcome, while vision is about identifying long-term goals and aspirations. Both are key components of successful data management, and by understanding the organisation’s vision, you can create a roadmap for success. 

20% Data execution

Too often CDO’s fall into the trap of dedicating the most time to data execution, when in fact it is a job that should be delegated out. While this is not always possible in smaller data teams, as a CDO you still need to be aware of what falls within your role as a strategic leader – and not get too wrapped up in the day-to-day execution.

10% Personal and professional development

Effective data leaders continuously grow and develop both their personal and professional skills. 

Some tips for how you can achieve this growth… 

First, make sure you’re always learning new things. Seek out training and education opportunities, read articles and books on data-related subjects, and attend conferences and workshops. 

And aim to be a leader in your field. Demonstrate your expertise by writing blog posts or articles, speaking at conferences, leading meetups or user groups, or authoring books or whitepapers. 

To summarise

The Chief Data Officer is a relatively new role in the business world and can often be overwhelming. Hopefully the 40-30-20-10 guide can assist you in prioritising tasks as you build your role as a stand out CDO.