Driven by Data | The Newsletter, Edition 94

We hope January has been kind to you so far and everyone has settled back into the routine. We have lots to share with you this week, so strap in!

Today's episode of Driven By Data: The Podcast

In Episode 7, of Season 5 of Driven By Data: The Podcast , Kyle Winterbottom is joined by Matt Stebbings , Petcare D&A Transformation Director at Mars , where they discuss the importance of the first and last mile in change & transformation, which includes transitioning from an engineering and IT background to a growth function at Mars Petcare and how it is one of the world’s largest family-owned businesses, accounting for 60% of Mars' operations, the history and significance of Mars' five principles and their role in shaping the company’s culture and much much more.

Join us for our first LinkedIn Live of the year!

Peter Everill will be joining Kyle Winterbottom for an engaging LinkedIn Live event as we delve into the core challenges and opportunities for modern data functions in driving real business value 🚀

🗣 Peter has operated across 17 organisations, delivering tangible, commercial business benefits.

What we'll explore:

• The Goal: How data can contribute £100 million+ annually to an organisation's bottom line.
• The Method: A systematic framework for data teams to deliver demonstrable impact financially
• The Challenges: What makes it hard to practice and what are the approaches to overcome these challenges?

This dynamic session will uncover how data leaders can align their functions to deliver measurable impact and navigate organisational obstacles.

🗓 Save the date and register to join this insightful discussion

Did you catch Kyle last week on the DIG Data LinkedIn Live with the NHS?

Our community partners over at The Data Inspiration Group hosted an expert panel that explored how data and analytics are transforming healthcare, driving innovation, and creating opportunities for future talent. The NHS Data and Analytics Academy is launching in April and this Live helped us discover how it aims to inspire the next generation of data professionals. Watch the replay on demand here:

The Driven by Data Mentorship

Empowering the next generation of data analytics leaders through insight and connection with the world’s most respected professionals. With nearly 300 partnerships and 500+ participants, this free programme is dedicated to developing and upskilling professionals by pairing them with elite mentors from the Orbition Group community.

Our mentors include:

• High-profile business leaders
• Published authors
• Renowned keynote speakers

This is a unique opportunity to connect with, engage with, and learn from influential figures who might otherwise seem out of reach.

Check out what mentor Graeme McDermott had to say about his mentorship experience:

Ready to take the next step?

Our Q1 event has reached full capacity

We're excited to say that our upcoming Q1 event has reached full capacity! The overwhelming response from our community has been incredible, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone who secured their spot. For those who missed out, don’t worry—stay tuned for updates, event highlights, and announcements about future opportunities.

Redefining A-Players: Data-Driven Solutions for D&A Talent

This week's blog post is from Sophie Muscat

The current reality of hiring in the D&A space is that despite being data-driven in many areas, most organisations don’t use data when making D&A hiring decisions.

For example, in sports—where metrics clearly define top performers (e.g., LeBron in basketball, Messi in football)—the corporate D&A world is different. There is a large misconception around the word “A-players” – is said “A-players” have big-name company experience on their CV, like Google, Microsoft or Amazon, and we automatically think that this person will excel in our organisation. But that is not always the case. Just because they were a great fit in Google does not mean they may be a great fit in your company.

An "A-Player” does not have a strict definition but their success depends on many factors such as environment, culture, leadership, team dynamics, processes and structure and many others. One organisation’s star performer might struggle in another due to differences in these variables.

In a world of talent, there are sometimes elements of quantitative data used, such as

• Number of people with certain skills
• Geographic availability
• Experience levels
• Diversity metrics (e.g., gender split)
• Market salary ranges

However, qualitative data is rarely used, even though it may be important for understanding whether a candidate may be a fit potential.

There are run-of-the-mill assessments that exist like generic leadership evaluations, but they don’t address specific challenges in D&A hiring.

There is a gap in understanding what makes the best candidate. Many organisations struggle to define what "the best" looks like in their unique context. Without clarity, it’s impossible to measure or identify candidates who will thrive.

But there is a solution to the problem: Data-Driven D&A Talent Decisions. We’re tackling this problem by helping organisations:

1. Assess the conditions for success: Is the environment conducive to high performance?
2. Define key activities for value creation: What will this role need to achieve in practice?
3. Identify the right skills and experience: What specific expertise is needed to drive results?
4. Create a mechanism for tailored assessment: How can we evaluate candidates against these unique needs?

By applying data and insights to hiring, organisations can:

• Reduce guesswork in recruitment decisions.
• Align hiring with organisational goals.
• Increase the likelihood of long-term success for both the individual and the business.

And of course our data joke:

Why do programmers prefer dark mode?

Because light attracts bugs! 🐛💻

See you next week!