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The CDO Chronicles Composed: Data Governance as a bottleneck

The CDO Chronicles Composed: Data Governance as a bottleneck

Unlock the realities of modern data leadership in The CDO Chronicles Composed: Data Governance as a bottle neck - an unfiltered, peer‑to‑peer conversation between Shruti Sharma (Chief Data & AI Officer, Save the Children UK) and Loulou van Ravensteijn (Chief Data Officer, Provincie Gelderland).

This snippet of the launch episode of The CDO Chronicles dives into the toughest challenge facing today’s data leaders: making data governance work in the real world.

Senior data leaders will gain practical, hard‑won insights on:

  • Selling data governance to the board - including how to answer the critical “So what?” that unlocks investment.
  • Building organisation‑wide accountability - from defining roles and responsibilities to embedding impact frameworks that make data ownership tangible. “Our policies say that all directors are actually data owners… but then how do we make that more strategic?”
  • Operationalising governance at scale - including data catalogues, metadata standards, lineage, and role‑based access models that actually work. “If you don’t know what data you have, how can you hold people accountable?”
  • Using AI to automate the ‘boring but critical’ foundations - and turning governance from a burden into an enabler.

This is essential readings for CDOs, CDAOs, and senior data leaders navigating first‑generation data strategy, organisational alignment, and the pressure to deliver AI responsibly. Download the full transcript to learn how two leading CDOs are transforming governance from plumbing into strategic power ahead of the CDO BFSI Exchange UK. 

The First 100 Days: Maximising Value as a Data Leader - 1st or 2nd Gen CDO

The First 100 Days: Maximising Value as a Data Leader - 1st or 2nd Gen CDO

Unlock powerful insights from two leading voices in data and AI transformation in The CDO Chronicles – Part 3. In this snippet, Shruti Sharma, Chief Data & AI Officer at Save the Children UK, and Loulou van Ravensteijn, Chief Data Officer at Provincie Gelderland, dive deep into the real-world challenges and opportunities facing today’s data leaders.

Explore how first‑generation and second‑generation CDOs build data strategies from the ground up, establish governance frameworks, and drive organisation‑wide data literacy. Learn how they navigate the first 100 days, create non‑invasive data governance models, build communities of practice, and deliver quick wins that prove value fast.

This episode offers practical guidance on stakeholder management, data ownership, operating models, and the resilience required to lead data transformation in complex environments. Whether you're a new CDO, an aspiring data leader, or a business executive looking to understand the evolving role of data, this conversation delivers actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Ahead of the highly anticipated CDO BFSI Exchange UK - there's no better reading to be done. 

Bridging the Gap: From Data to AI Literacy

Bridging the Gap: From Data to AI Literacy

In this opinion piece, Dizem Ozalp Sari – Head of Global Investment Data Services at BNP Paribas – discusses why an increased focus on AI literacy should not come at the expense of its predecessor data literacy.

Communicating the Value of Data Initiatives: 5 Steps to Secure Support for Data Transformation

Communicating the Value of Data Initiatives: 5 Steps to Secure Support for Data Transformation

The highly regulated BFSI sector is often cautious with data strategies. Yet, with innovation enhancing efficiency and decision-making, data leaders must master effective storytelling to highlight the value of data initiatives to stakeholders. In this interview, RSA’s Chief Data Officer, Indhira Mani, offers practical insights on championing data initiatives that drive innovation and value.

The Fallacy of the Single Source of Truth

The Fallacy of the Single Source of Truth

A “single source of truth” (SSOT) is often seen as the gold standard of data governance strategies. However, is an SSOT really the best option for every organisation? Ovo Gharoro, CEO and Founder of DataSync, shares his view on why an SSOT is not a silver bullet and what other data governance strategies organisations should consider.

Prioritising Data Initiatives for Maximum Business Value: A Guide for CDOs

Prioritising Data Initiatives for Maximum Business Value: A Guide for CDOs

Data leaders today are grappling with significant challenges like attracting and retaining talent, securing buy-in for data transformation initiatives, and navigating a crowded landscape of technology solutions. With limited budgets and competing priorities, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. In this article, Bhushan Kokate, Data, Analytics & AI Lead (Chief Architect) at MS Amlin, provides practical strategies to help data leaders prioritise the right data initiatives, demonstrate value, and manage change effectively.