London, U.K., May 23, 2023

Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2023 London: Day 2 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit, taking place this week in London, U.K. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. You can read the highlights from Day 1 here.

On Day 2 from the conference, we are exploring how to address data lake failures, how chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) manage talent hiring and retention and what the key traits of a CDAO are. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

Key Announcements

Gartner Identifies 12 Actions to Improve Data Quality

Avoid Data Lake Failures by Addressing Modern Lake Requirements

Presented by Roxane Edjlali, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner

Most data lake failures result from underestimating project resources or omitting required technologies. Organizations underestimate skills, time, data volumes, design requirements, governance and adjusting their traditional experience to the new paradigm of the data lake. In this session, Roxane Edjlali, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, explained the many requirements of the modern, multiuse data lake, so organizations can avoid failures.

Key Takeaways

“Data lakes are important because they complement traditional data warehouses and enable advanced analytics.”
“As users realize the potential business value of the data lake, they are optimizing data lakes to support more use cases, beyond data science and data warehousing.”
“Watch out for operational dependencies - making your data lake the feed for operational systems may mean that you need to make it much more operationally robust.”
Data lakes will play a part in an organization’s overall data ecosystem.
“Focus on delivering business value: design your data lake for multiple use cases.”
“Staff and skill up for the data lake.”
“Make sure your lake doesn’t get muddy. Curate, govern and secure the data allowed.”

It’s not too late to join the conference!

How to Attract, Sustain and Retain Talent for Your Data, Analytics and AI Teams

Presented by Jorgen Heizenberg, VP Analyst, Gartner

Data and analytics leaders require the right people and skills to accelerate digital business and drive measurable outcomes. In this session Jorgen Heizenberg, VP Analyst at Gartner, shared some tips for managing and developing the entire skills mix necessary to build successful data, Analytics and AI teams.

Key Takeaways

“Get D&A talent from outside the organization by applying nonconventional approaches, such as hiring atypical employees. Hire for potential rather than experience.”
“Re-think tech-based approaches and build a D&A talent strategy that is more human centric.”
“Create a culture that prioritizes work-life balance, skills development and emotional well-being.”
A common misconception is that we need to train more people in D&A skills.The reality is that we need them to understand how to support business stakeholders in their goals and objectives.”
“It is not about finding an exact match for a role, but to identify resources with the right portfolio of D&A, technology, domain and soft skill experience and/or potential.”
Compensation is important to attrition, but the level of satisfaction is not the worst. If you can improve employee satisfaction with two or three secondary incentives, it can overcome or outweigh the importance of compensation.”
Retain D&A talent by creating more balance in the D&A team via diversity of people, roles and development paths.

So You Want to Be CDAO?

Presented by Sally Parker, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner

Data and analytics are essential for a modern enterprise to succeed, and an accountable executive is required to make data and analytics happen. In this session Sally Parker, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, shared the key traits a chief data officer (CDO) must embody (or account for), expectations of the role, what to do once in the role.

Key Takeaways

“CDAO refers to the business leadership role that has the primary enterprise accountability for value creation by means of the organization’s data and analytics assets, and the data and analytics ecosystem.”
A Gartner survey found that the top three responsibilities of a CDO are data and analytics strategy, overseeing data and analytics initiatives and creating and implementing information governance.
“CDOs that only focus on data will struggle to be effective and generate value.”
A CDO must embody three traits:
- Conductor — Lead the orchestration of the change to a data-driven culture. Often as the instigator
- Composer — Drive data-driven business innovation and monetization opportunities.
- Performer — Drive execution of steady, pragmatic business value through applied insight.
“CDOs who embody all three are heavily involved in digital transformation initiatives, and more effective at generating business value.”
CDAOs who base their D&A strategies on corporate strategies and vision are more successful than those CDAOs who are disconnected from corporate strategy.

Tune back in tomorrow for more updates.

View coverage from Day 1

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight that drives smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit gartner.com.