Most data projects don't collapse because of the tech. They collapse when stakeholders aren't involved in the right ways.

In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, Jess Carter sits down with  Veronika Durgin, VP of data, to explore why stakeholder engagement makes or breaks a data strategy.

Veronika also shares lessons from two decades in data, from troubleshooting transactional databases to leading enterprise-wide initiatives. She reflects on the moment she recognized data as a true business asset, explains why curiosity and a growth mindset are foundational habits for data leaders, and outlines how to design solutions that deliver value more than once.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to keep stakeholders aligned and invested in your strategy

• Why data leaders should always think about the exit plan

• What to do to make unused data valuable to the business

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Veronika Durgin

(02:25) Learning through doing and building a foundation for strategy

(05:35) Plan B thinking and lessons from a sledgehammer story

(09:04) Early career memories from Y2K to database administration

(12:55) Discovering Infonomics and seeing data as a business asset

(15:43) Why treating data with a product mindset changes outcomes

(19:16) The hidden costs of data hoarding and storage waste

(23:33) How to keep stakeholders engaged and aligned on priorities

(30:38) Using Six Sigma to frame problems and business impact

 

"Infonomics" by Doug Laney: https://www.amazon.com/Infonomics-Monetize-Information-Competitive-Advantage/dp/1138090387 

Veronika's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdurgin/ 

Veronika's Medium: https://medium.com/@durginv

Veronika's Substack: https://thinksolverepeat.substack.com/