Driven by Data: The Podcast

Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Zachery Anderson, Former CDAO for NatWest Group. In this episode, they discuss how, for many people, the data work is great, but it's the people that suck. From nightmare managers who make you want to scream into a pillow, to everything now being branded AI. Zachery gives his takes on our dilemmas and shares some of his personal experiences of where people have sucked!

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to [email protected], and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Nick Blewden, Director of Data for Co-op. In today's show, they discuss all things data MESS! From sticky situations where someone goes and deletes things in prod, to the woes of a student in their first 3 months of "real-life" data work.

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to [email protected] and Catherine will put them to our expert guests to answer.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Lyndsay Weir, CDAO, Barilla Group. In this episode, they discuss the highs and lows of people management and how dramatically a culture can impact your work life, data team, and overall business value. They talk about 100% attendance at school, Lyndsay's 5 core values and why she's always going to ask "so what?"

Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to [email protected], and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.

Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.

In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The third panel discussion saw Catherine King joined by;

• Paul Hollands, Chief Data & AI Officer, AXA,
• Johanna Hutchinson, Chief Data Officer, BAE Systems
• Nick Blewden, Director of Data, Coop
• Sam Hancock, Global Head of Data Science, Octopus Energy

Where they discussed, Leading with a Legacy of Impact, How Data can Change the World, which includes;

• How to distinguish between short-term value creation and long-term impact when shaping your data strategy.
• The decisions made that will outlive tenure and define data leadership legacy.
• The boldest thing a CDO should be doing today, but most aren’t.
• The people-first principles that anchor leadership when making high-stakes data decisions.
• Experiencing the “this is why we do it” moment and the times when data work had a direct, unforgettable human impact.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half-day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The second panel discussion saw Kyle Winterbottom joined by;

• Ranil Boteju, Chief Data Officer, Lloyds Banking Group
• Loretta Franks, Global Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Kellanova
• Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer, Rightmove
• Aimee Smith, Director of Data, Metropolitan Police
• Jane Smith, Field CDAO, ThoughtSpot

Where they debated; Making Data Count by Providing Tangible Value the Business Can Touch, which includes;

• How you transform from a technological-centred data function, into a business value centred function? 
• How to decide which data projects get resourced, and what hard evidence do you use to show they are delivering business value? 
• Which projects you’ve killed because they couldn’t scale, and what did you learn from them? 
• Which action from; Building a brand identity, aligning capabilities to value levers, designing a fluid operating model and broadcasting data wins, moves the needle most?
• Where Agentic AI fits into the business value discussion?

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In October 2025, Orbition Group hosted Driven by Data LIVE, where they welcomed 120 CDOs/Data Leaders to Tobacco Dock in London for a half-day event, which included 3 panel discussions and some roundtable conversations.

The first panel discussion saw Kyle Winterbottom joined by;

• Davin Crowley-Sweet, Chief Data Officer at National Highways
• Kelly Hume, Lead Partner at Baringa
• Kinnari Ladha, Chief Data Officer at Merlin Entertainments
• Daniel Hulme, Chief Data & AI Officer at WPP

Where they debated; The Biggest Challenges in Data, Analytics & AI and How They're Being Tackled, which includes;

• Why perceived data quality challenges are actually data confidence and communication issues.
• Why business leaders need a stronger data vocabulary to drive better outcomes.
• How shifting from projects to products improves data ownership and accountability.
• Why lack of trust in data stems from unclear standards and outdated systems.
• Why hype has led to organisations chasing use cases without defining problems.
• Why Low-hanging fruit often yields superficial success.
• Why true business value from AI comes from addressing complex, strategic problems.
• Why organisations must rethink processes not just adopt new tools.
• How brave leadership unlocks better digital decisions.
• Why data leaders must simplify the AI conversation for executives.
• How a dual AI strategy balances innovation and control.
• Why AI regulation is necessary but only when thoughtfully designed.
• Why ethical AI depends on explainability, not intentions.
• Why traditional company values don’t guide AI ethics.
• Why building trust in data starts with being trusted as a data leader.
• Why orchestration, not capability, is often the barrier to delivery.
• How reframing data roles helps escape the ‘service desk’ trap.
• Why tension in organisations can lead to better outcomes.
• Why upskilling execs in data requires empathy, not just education.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 50, the season finale of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by James Benford, Director General of Surveys, Economic and Social Statistics at Office for National Statistics, where they have a candid discussion regarding the turnaround job at hand after recent public scrutiny and high-profile errors.

They dig into what went wrong, the impact on trust, and how new leadership is refocusing priorities, rebuilding quality, and resetting culture, plus more, which includes;

• How a turnaround mandate is reshaping ONS culture, leadership, and structure after the June review.
• Why transparent acknowledgment and correction of high-profile errors is central to rebuilding trust.
• How grand tech ambitions drift without clear use cases and why that must change.
• Why building a single data platform without a clear use case became a costly lesson in purpose-led design.
• How ruthless focus and prioritisation are creating space for excellence in core statistics.
• Why survey response rates are falling globally and how ONS is adapting to the new reality.
• How digital-first, user-centred survey design can lift completion and reduce bias.
• How alternative data sources add power and why third-party data quality and governance matter.
• Why multidisciplinary teams are non-negotiable.
• How recognising data and AI as economic assets will reshape national accounting.
• Why GenAI and ML can raise quality while saving time.
• How “Stats GPT” style access can make official statistics easier to find, query, and use.

Find more information on the general reset underway at the ONS, and the detail on the statistics and the surveys discussed in this episode.

If you wish to provide feedback on what ONS is currently doing, please use this mailbox: [email protected] 

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 49, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Adrian Estala, Field Chief Data & AI Officer at Starburst, where they discuss how to deliver successful AI innovation and transformation by letting 'the business' lead, which includes;

• Why we need to let business teams to lead AI innovation for meaningful transformation.
• How business-led approaches to AI translate into practical, real-world examples.
• The major differences that set AI apart from previous waves of technological business transformation like ERP, Cyber and Cloud.
• Why AI demands a fundamentally different approach compared to traditional IT-led transformations.
• How organisations are adapting to the rapid pace of change driven by AI advancements.
• Balancing the need for AI experimentation with the discipline of effective governance and control.
• Identifying high-impact AI use cases that deliver competitive advantage through targeted experimentation.
• Adapting delivery models and governance structures to meet accelerated AI project timelines.
• Why organisations need a (business) semantic layer in enabling faster and more responsible AI innovation.
• Why the era of migration is over and what that shift means for digital strategy.
• Rethinking data foundations to support AI-driven decision-making across the business.
• The concept of “big data, small agents” and its implications for the future of work.
• What will distinguish successful AI adopters from those who remain stuck in experimentation over the next 12 months.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 48, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Susan Laine, Chief Technology Officer (Data) at Quest Software, where they discuss the concept of building 'AI for AI', which includes;

• The state of data in the AI era and why garbage in equals disaster out
• How ‘AI for AI’ is helping organisations manage data at scale and speed
• Where AI is being used to optimise AI and why that matters
• Why most AI POCs still don’t make it out of production and what to do about it
• Balancing the race for speed with the realities of trust, governance, and risk
• Building a modern data trust model looks like and why it’s critical for AI success
• The key metrics that matter most when measuring trust in data
• The rise of the data marketplace and what it means for data sharing and adoption
• How data management convergence is changing the game for modelling and intelligence
• How user feedback loops are helping to mature data products over time
• Why context and semantic layers are essential for AI you can trust
• How GenAI is reshaping how we build and scale data products
• The structural and cultural shifts AI is triggering across data teams
• The changing roles and skillsets needed to succeed in AI-led data teams
• Why building your own capability is slowing you down and what to do instead
• Three smart steps to build trusted, scalable AI and data capabilities today

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.

In Episode 47, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Mike Leverington, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at Skyscanner, where they discuss the evolving landscape of data analytics in the era of AI, which includes;

• How AI and GenAI are transforming not only the way we work but the way we think, impacting creativity and originality across the workforce.
• Why the decline of junior and entry-level data roles is reshaping the traditional career ladder in data.
• The societal and ethical implications of AI-driven workforce changes.
• How the automation of foundational work could affect how the next generation of data professionals learn and develop.
• How leaders can strike the right balance between “future-fitting” now and managing the risks of waiting.
• The implications of AI becoming a key trainer of the workforce, and what that means for learning, upskilling, and talent development.
• The potential risks smaller businesses face in the AI race against well-funded competitors.
• Whether the industry is over-talking “data value” and what that means for real business impact.
• Why a persistent gap remains between how data teams define value and what executives actually care about.
• The lessons from the “bold claims” era when inflated ROI promises were needed to secure investment.
• How organisations can hedge their bets in a rapidly shifting AI landscape.
• What an “AI-ready culture” truly looks like and why it matters for long-term success.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.