In this preview conversation, Aaron Back and Acceleration Economy Data Modernization Host Wayne Sadin discuss Acceleration Economy’s upcoming Digital CIO Summit, which takes place April 4-6. In today’s Road to Digital CIO Summit preview discussion, Wayne discusses how the role of the chief data officer (CDO) was created and how it has evolved up until now. He also explains why it’s important to hear about technology solutions from customers rather than vendors, which is a chief focus of the CIO Summit programming.
Highlights
01:11 — Aaron asks Wayne for his thoughts on the collaboration between the chief information officer (CIO) and the chief data officer (CDO). How has it evolved in light of the continued blurring of lines among AI, cybersecurity, data modernization, and more?
01:33 — Twenty years ago, there was no CDO position, explains Wayne. There was a CIO, and maybe a chief information security officer (CISO). The CDO emerged out of either financial planning and analysis (FP&A) or out of the marketing department. Somebody said, “Hey, somebody needs to be in charge of this, because data sitting all over the organization isn’t very useful.” They realized that data is a commodity, a product, and a differentiator.
Which companies are the most important vendors in data modernization? Click here to see the Acceleration Economy Top 10 Data Modernization Short List, as selected by our expert team of practitioner analysts.
02:10 — If you think about the CDO’s mission, it’s to ensure that the data is accessible, accurate, and actionable — and to drive innovation through the company. These two goals go hand in hand. If they’re not seen that way, then the company is pretty much doomed.
02:42 — Aaron remarks how all organizations are data-driven today, and that many of the speakers at the CIO Summit represent customer companies that will share their stories about how they use technology, and how they get data-driven insights. What does Wayne think about the importance of customer stories versus vendor stories, when it comes to sharing data and technology solutions?
03:41 — Wayne says that when a vendor tells a story about customers using its technology solutions, it usually goes like this: “We bought a product, it was wonderful, saved us a lot of money. Next client.” You just hear the good parts and we know they’re cherry-picked. He likes the Acceleration Economy format, where you hear the real story. Customers share how they came to a decision around a specific solution, and why. This is particularly helpful if you’re a CIO, CDO, or any other member of the IT sphere.
To hear more data modernization, AI/hyperautomation, cybersecurity, and growth strategies from CIO practitioners, tune into Acceleration Economy’s Digital CIO Summit, which takes place April 4-6. Register for the free event here.
