Speaker:  "I am really old but I have seen lots of stuff - that gives me a good basis for comparing things. I like working with inspired individuals. I am a horse-husband and a musician. I’m great with deadlines and agreements. I have deep expertise in IT-related areas and am happy to share it."

Peter Aiken, PhD is an acknowledged Data Management (DM) authority, an Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, President of DAMA International, and Associate Director of the MIT International Society of Chief Data Officers.  For more than 35 years, Peter has learned from working with hundreds of data management practices in 30 countries including some of the world's most important. Among his 12 books are the first on CDOs (the case for data leadership), focusing on data monetization,  on modern strategic data thinking and objectively specifying what it means to be data literate.  International recognition has resulted in an intensive schedule of events worldwide (pre-Covid).  Peter also hosts the longest running data management webinar series hosted by our partners at Dataversity.  Starting before Google, before data was big, and before data science, Peter has founded several organizations that have helped more than 200 organizations leverage data–specific savings have been measured at more than $1.5B USD. His latest is Anything Awesome.

Abstract: Too often we hear the question - can you help me with a data strategy?  Unfortunately, for most–this is the wrong request because it focuses on its least valuable aspect.  The more useful request is - can you help me apply data strategically in support of strategy?  Yes, at early maturity phases, the process is more important than the product!  Trying to write a good (must less perfect) data strategy on the first attempt is generally not productive–particularly giving the widespread acceptance of Mike Tyson’s truism:   “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”  By refocusing lesson learning on crawl, walk, run approaches to using data strategically, data is able to keep up with agile, evolving strategies.  This approach will contribute more to three primary organizational data goals than other efforts.  Learn how improving:

• Your organization’s data
• The way your people use data
• The way your people use data to achieve your organizational strategy

• A cohesive argument for why data strategy is necessary for effective data governance
• An overview of prerequisites for effective strategic use of data strategy, as well as common pitfalls
• A repeatable process for identifying and removing data constraints
• The importance of balancing business operation and innovation