S4 | Ep 27 | Building a Group Data Function to Support Multiple Operating Brands with Tom Betts, Group Data Director at Kingfisher Plc

In Episode 27, of Season 4, of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Tom Betts, Group Data Director at Kingfisher Plc , where they discuss the complexities, challenges and opportunities of building a centralised data function at a group level to support multiple operating brands, which includes;His journey from DJ to Travel Agent to CDO Studying Artificial Intelligence in the early 2000sOrganising a centralised data domain to serve a multi-brand business Being the first data leader at group level The benefits and challenges of starting from a blank canvasThe challenge of attracting talent as a group company that people haven't heard ofBuilding a data-led customer experience as a pillar of a corporate strategyDeciding which capabilities sit within the operating companies versus what is centralised at the group level  Working out where the biggest opportunities lie across multiple brands Adopting different ways of working within different teams The importance of meeting each operating company where they are and not having a group approach to everything Dealing with different; cultures, literacy, adoption and maturity across the different brands The core use cases that are scalable and reusable across different operating companies  Building an orchestration framework for Generative AI tools Using gamification as a tool for education and upskilling The benefits of building working prototypes to drive buy-in and adoption Building a customer-facing generative AI solution Understanding and mitigating the risks of a customer-facing GenAi solution Considering the risks of inaction Why you’ll always learn more from just doingWhy the role of Chief AI Officer is not needed in isolation Why it’s important to have teams that are delivering DS/AI solutions to go as end-to-end as possible in a cross-functional way Why it’s faster to build things than it is to leverage what has been built 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.