"There's no AI without data, and there's no success without people."
In today's data-driven business landscape, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage—it's a necessity. For business owners in the tech and data industries, Doug Llewellyn, CEO of Data Society Group, offers valuable insights into bridging the gap between data capabilities and workforce skills. His unique perspective, combining over 25 years of experience in digital transformation with leadership of a fast-growing data transformation company, provides a roadmap for organizations looking to unlock untapped potential.
Llewellyn emphasizes the critical intersection of people and data. This approach recognizes that while data is crucial, it's the people who interpret and act on it that truly drive value.
Key areas of focus include:
- Democratizing data skills across organizations
- Navigating the complexities of AI integration
- Optimizing the role of data leadership, particularly Chief Data Officers
For business owners seeking to maximize their AI investments and transform data challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation, Llewellyn's perspective offers a valuable guide to navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of data and AI in business.
The Intersection of People and Data
At the heart of Data Society Group's mission is the recognition that people and data are an organization's two most valuable assets. Doug Llewellyn emphasizes this point, stating, "We are at the intersection of people and data. And that intersection is even more important now when you throw in what I don't even think is a buzzword anymore of AI, right?"
This perspective is crucial because:
1. Data alone is not enough: Organizations can have the cleanest, most accessible data, but without people who can interpret and act on it, its value is limited.
2. Skills are essential: Even the best data analysts and scientists can't create value if they can't access clean, relevant data.
Llewellyn introduces the concept of a value graph, where the X-axis represents data infrastructure and the Y-axis represents analytics capabilities. The 45-degree line between these axes represents the "V" or value creation. This model illustrates the need for balance between technological capabilities and human skills to drive business impact.
Democratizing Data Skills
One of the most striking statistics mentioned in the podcast is that only 11% of employees feel confident working with data. This gap presents a significant challenge for organizations aiming to become data-driven. Data Society Group is addressing this issue through a multi-faceted approach:
1. Data Literacy Programs: The Data Lodge offers advisory services, executive sessions, and change management programs to help organizations build a data culture.
2. Instructor-Based Training: Data Society provides hands-on training ranging from "Gen AI 101" to advanced topics like R and Python programming.
3. Community Building: CDO Magazine facilitates knowledge sharing among data leaders through events, summits, and intimate executive dinners.
A notable example of this approach in action is Data Society Group's recent project with a 100-year-old publisher, where they trained 7,000 non-technical employees on generative AI. This initiative demonstrates the growing recognition that upskilling existing workforce is often more effective than trying to hire new data science talent.
The Evolving Role of the Chief Data Officer
Llewellyn sheds light on the challenges faced by Chief Data Officers (CDOs), a role that has gained prominence in recent years but often struggles with high turnover rates. He points out that the average tenure for a CDO is less than 2.5 years.
According to Llewellyn, key factors contributing to this issue include:
1. Misaligned Expectations: Many organizations hire CDOs expecting them to solve all data-related problems, without recognizing the complexity of the role.
2. Lack of Business Acumen: Some CDOs excel in technical aspects but struggle to translate data initiatives into business value.
3. Overwhelming Demands: CDOs face pressure to address multiple priorities simultaneously, from data governance to AI strategy implementation.
To address these challenges, Llewellyn suggests that CDOs need to be empowered to collaborate across the organization. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication channels, particularly with roles like the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to ensure data security.
By focusing on these three aspects – the intersection of people and data, the democratization of data skills, and the evolving role of the CDO – organizations can better position themselves to create value from their data and AI initiatives. As Doug Llewellyn aptly puts it, " "There's no AI without data, and there's no success without people."
You can get more hands-on strategies direct from Doug at RevvedUP 2025, where he’ll be joining us as a speaker!
RevvedUP, coming February 25 – 27 in Sarasota, is your pit stop for premium networking, cutting-edge insights, and practical strategies that'll put you ahead of the curve. Fuel your enterprise growth with data and AI-driven strategies, and position your organization for success.
Join us to network with Doug Llewellyn and other industry leaders at RevvedUP!
About the Author
Heather Holst-Knudsen boasts deep roots in B2B media, events, data, and SaaS sectors. With beginnings in her family business, Thomas Publishing Company (now under Xometry), she brings years of expertise and passion for multi-faceted business models, data analytics, revenue, and profitability. As the founder and CEO of H2K Labs, Heather helps clients boost revenues, enhance profitability, and increase enterprise value by strategically activating data, digital technologies, and AI.
Her latest venture, Revenue Room™ Connect, is a professional network for CEOs and their revenue-critical teams to learn and execute the core foundations required to reshape, modernize and transform their organizations into scalable, high-performing, data-centric entities ready to compete and win. Revenue Room™ Connect will host its first face-to-face summit, RevvedUP 2025, on February 25-27th, in Sarasota FL.
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