Driven by Data: The Podcast

Orbition Group
  • 5.0 (16)
  • TECH NEWS
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Orbition Group is delighted to bring you this podcast series, which is designed for Data Enthusiasts, to hear from some of the most high-profile Data, Analytics and AI thought leaders from around the globe. Each episode will detail the guests journey to the top while bringing unique insights, drawn from first-hand experience on the industry’s most trending topics. This podcast was created as a way for our industry's most respected leadership figures from across the world to give back to the Data & Analytics community, by sharing; knowledge, experiences and ideas, to inspire, innovate and provide real-life use cases on the industries most pressing topics/challenges.

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  1. EPISODE 1

    S7 | Ep 1 | Accelerating the Speed of Value Delivery with Kevin Cassar, Chief Data Officer at TalkTalk

    In Episode 1, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Kevin Cassar, Chief Data Officer at TalkTalk, where they discuss how to accelerate the speed of value delivery, which includes; Why speed to value is becoming as important as ROI itselfThe macroeconomic and GenAI forces increasing pressure on delivery timelinesHow TalkTalk’s data strategy is focused on profitability, trust, and customer satisfactionThe “triangle of value”: data, business action, and financial outcomesWhy federated data operating models can accelerate adoption and executionThe balance between experimentation and implementation at scaleHow governance should act as an enabler, not a blocker, to faster deliveryThe pyramid framework linking ExCo priorities to data products and modelsWhy culture, psychological safety, and upskilling are critical to speedThe five pillars of organisational readiness for faster value creationReal examples of reducing delivery from 12 months to under 8 weeksKevin’s three practical leadership principles: vision, collaboration, and investing in peopleWhy ExCo maturity and sponsorship are the hidden drivers of speed to valueHow direct CEO access materially reduces time from idea to productionWhy poor data foundations still kill speed, regardless of AI ambitionWhy adoption velocity, not just build velocity, determines realised value

    45 min
  2. S7: E1, Data Debrief: Speed of ROI, The AI Land Grab & Are We Thinking Less?

    EPISODE 1 BONUS

    S7: E1, Data Debrief: Speed of ROI, The AI Land Grab & Are We Thinking Less?

    Welcome to the very first episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven By Data: The Podcast, where hosts Kyle Winterbottom and Catherine Dowden-King sit down every Thursday to unpack Tuesday's episode, share what's been on their minds, and discuss what's really happening across the data and AI market. In this debut episode, Kyle and Catherine reflect on Tuesday's conversation with Kevin Cassar, diving deeper into the themes that sparked the most discussion, and a few that didn't make it into the main episode. They cover: Why the data conversation is shifting from delivering ROI to accelerating it, and what that means for data leaders still stuck in output-factory modeThe growing pressure on organisations to be seen doing AI, regardless of whether it's actually delivering value, and why the optics of inaction are now costlier than wasting budgetThe internal land grab between CDOs and CIOs over who owns AI, and why the answer is often more cultural than technicalWhy rolling out enterprise ChatGPT to an entire bank doesn't necessarily mean your organisation is embracing AIKevin's people-first philosophy, and why understanding where your team actually sits on the AI adoption curve matters more than having an aggressive strategyThe evolving role of the data professional: from coder to builder, from report-puller to AI quality controller Plus, in their new Thoughts of the Week segment, Catherine raises a question that's hard to shake: are we over-optimising our downtime? From boiling water taps to washing up, she makes the case that friction isn't always the enemy, and that some of our best thinking happens precisely when we're not being productive. Kyle agrees and admits most of his best ideas arrive at 3am or are written on a shower panel. Like and subscribe wherever you listen, and if you've got a question or topic you'd like Kyle and Catherine to cover, email the team at community@orbitiongroup.com

    33 min

  3. EPISODE 2

    S7 | Ep 2 | Are we Splitting the CDAO Role in Two with Barry Panayi, Group Chief Data Officer at Howden

    In Episode 2, of Season 7 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was re-joined (over 2.5 years on) by Barry Panayi, Group Chief Data Officer at Howden, where they discuss, how the CDAO role continues to evolve and whether accountability is being diluted, which includes; Why the CDAO role is splitting between commercial outcomes and BAU leadershipWhy the biggest trade-off today is speed vs sustainable valueA pragmatic view on AI ownership: enterprise enablement vs bespoke buildThe risk of over-indexing on ROI and neglecting foundational data capabilityThe danger of the CDAO role being watered downWhy many organisations still hire CDAOs for the wrong mandateHow culture and incentives shape whether data leaders can succeedHow AI is making value measurement easier than traditional data workWhy proving quick wins can sometimes slow long-term progressWhy CDAO–CTO chemistry now matters more than job titlesThe leadership lesson: make the least bad decision with convictionWhy Barry wrote The AI of the Beholder as a leadership decision simulatorThe reality that there is rarely one “right” leadership choiceWhy future board opportunities for CDAOs require broader leadership breadthWhat boards actually value from ex-CDAO leaders in NED roles

    58 min
  4. Data Debrief: The CDO Crossroads - AI, NEDs and the Split Role Debate

    EPISODE 2

    Data Debrief: The CDO Crossroads - AI, NEDs and the Split Role Debate

    Welcome to another episode of Data Debrief, the companion show to Driven By Data: The Podcast, where hosts Catherine Dowden-King and Kyle Winterbottom sit down to unpack Tuesday’s conversation, share what’s been on their minds, and explore what’s really happening across the data and AI landscape. With Kyle away this week, Catherine is joined by Kinnari Ladha, CDO, Travelodge, to reflect on Tuesday’s episode with Barry Panayi, diving deeper into the themes that sparked the most discussion, and a few that deserve even more attention. They cover: Why the path from CDO to NED is becoming increasingly attractive, but remains unclear, relationship-driven, and difficult to break intoWhat boards actually expect from data leaders, and why being “the data expert” is only a small part of the valueThe growing lack of standardisation in the CDO role, and how differing mandates, ownership, and expectations are shaping success or failureThe emerging split between data foundations and value delivery, and whether the CDO role is becoming too big for one personThe ongoing tension between CDO, CIO, and CTO over AI ownership, and why no single function can truly own itThe challenge of balancing short-term ROI with long-term foundational investment, and why many organisations are still getting this wrongWhy strong collaboration between data and technology leaders is critical, and how misalignment can derail even the best strategiesThe widening maturity gap across organisations, from those deploying AI at scale to those still grappling with basic data challengesWhy data and AI literacy remains one of the most overlooked barriers to success, despite heavy investment in tools and platformsThe growing pressure on organisations to drive adoption, and the reality that without behaviour change, even the best technology fails Plus, in this week’s Thoughts of the Week, Catherine shares her perspective on the growing divide in organisational maturity and how the AI boom is widening the gap between leaders and laggards. Kinnari reflects on the often-overlooked challenge of data and AI literacy, and why organisations must prioritise workforce capability if they want to unlock real value from their investments. Like and subscribe wherever you listen, and if you’ve got a question or topic you’d like the team to cover, email community@orbitiongroup.com

    37 min
See All Season 7 (4)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Orbition Group is delighted to bring you this podcast series, which is designed for Data Enthusiasts, to hear from some of the most high-profile Data, Analytics and AI thought leaders from around the globe. Each episode will detail the guests journey to the top while bringing unique insights, drawn from first-hand experience on the industry’s most trending topics. This podcast was created as a way for our industry's most respected leadership figures from across the world to give back to the Data & Analytics community, by sharing; knowledge, experiences and ideas, to inspire, innovate and provide real-life use cases on the industries most pressing topics/challenges.

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