International Literacy Day had me thinking about literacy, not just the reading-and-writing kind, but the kind we need now: Data Literacy.  This got me thinking further and who came to mind wasn’t a data scientist or a tech leader, it was Dolly Parton.  Yes, Dolly. Sequins, Songwriting, Storytelling Dolly, but also, the Dolly who quietly […]

I’ve been travelling and decided to wander (well cruise actually) up to the Baltic, and Gdańsk absolutely floored me. Gdansk was flattened during World War 2 but with effort and care was reconstructed using the fallen bricks and mortar. But, in addition it was redeveloped to embrace modern methods and designs.  And, that’s the perfect […]

Opening positionArtificial intelligence has changed the conversation about data, but it has not changed the foundation.Across organisations, leaders are asking how they can use AI to improve productivity, customer service, decision-making, automation and insight. These are important questions. However, a more basic question often needs to be asked first: Is the organisation's data ready to […]

Working with data is no longer confined to specialists; almost every role now involves interpreting, using, or collaborating with data. Organisations expect faster, evidence-based decisions, yet lack staff with the ability to work speedily with data. Taking messy information, interpreting, structuring it, cleaning it, identifying patterns and trends, creating reports, and communicating findings in a […]

Does your organisation fully appreciate how important data capability is to success?Does it appreciate the need for all employees to have a minimum level of data-related competency? Data is no longer a specialist skill; it is a core business capability. Many organisations understand that data is the foundation on which their processes operate.  However, translating […]

Customer Centricity Those of us who were around in the 90’s and early 2000’s will remember the focus that most organisations started to place on Customer Centricity. Suddenly everyone in the business had customers, not just the sales personnel who dealt with the buying public. The realisation that every person in the organisation was producing […]

Yikes! What can I say about 2025 except that it’s been life changing. When you get to my age, sometimes you feel like there’s not much more to learn but guess what; that’s just not true. I am blessed that I am still learning. Being by default a teacher, I have always been interested in […]

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) reshape how we manage data, it’s tempting to think everything about Data Quality has changed. Think Differently In this context, thinking differently does not mean replacing people with technology, thinking differently means understanding it’s about partnership. Organisations that get this right invest in both: the tools and […]

Training courses and formal education are essential steps in learning and development. Thinking differently about how you train can unlock far greater value for your team and your organisation. Instead of sending individuals to courses, train as a team. Shared learning will realise many extra returns, which are often overlooked or forgotten. Training as a […]

In today’s data-driven world, organisations increasingly depend on the quality, accessibility, and reliability of their data to make sound business decisions. Behind every successful data initiative stands a committed Data Steward — a professional who ensures that data is properly managed, trusted, and used responsibly. While many individuals now carry the title, not all fully […]