#226: Strategies for Strengthening Data Team Relationships with the Organisation, with Sandra Hogan Data Science & Analytics Leader and Co-founder, Amperfii

This week’s guest is a true veteran of the data industry (and one of the first people we interviewed on the Data Futurology podcast!). Sandra Hogan has some of the deepest and most experienced views on how data teams can effectively engage with their organisations. Fifteen years ago, she was the Director of Customer Intelligence at Telstra, and in the years since she has seen data grow as a priority, and the status of data teams within those organisations that look to take a disruptive and leadership position in the market increase in-kind. Sandra is now the Co-Founder and Data Analytics Lead of Amperfii, an organisation that provides analytics that helps data teams measure and articulate their value back to the organisation. In this podcast, she shares insights on how she has managed teams and encouraged their deeper participation in the organisation.  Sandra also talks about how data teams can be motivated, where they should be focusing their energies within increasingly busy organisations. She discusses how critical it is for data teams to be involved as early into the process as possible. “You need to pick the areas where you say ‘okay, these are the big strategic things, and these are the pieces of work that I actually think really make a difference to the business,’ and focus on them,” Sandra explained in the podcast. “Even if it's only 20, or 30 percent of what you do, it's going to actually be a lot more than what you're trying to show otherwise.” To hear more from Sandra, we are privileged to have her speaking at our Advancing AI conference in Melbourne. Click here for more information and to register to attend what will be an insightful and thought-provoking event in Melbourne, from May 3-4. Thank you to our sponsor Talent Insights Group! Connect with Sandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-hogan-9409421/ Learn more about Amperfii: https://www.amperfii.com/ Join Sandra at Advancing AI Melbourne: https://www.datafuturology.com/advancing-ai-melbourne Join our Slack Community: https://join.slack.com/t/datafuturologycircle/shared_invite/zt-z19cq4eq-ET6O49o2uySgvQWjM6a5ng WHAT WE DISCUSSED 0:00: Introduction 2:16 Reflecting on Sandra’s experience in the industry, including lessons learned in analytics and leadership. 09:51: What are the drivers and motivators that are behind the dynamics within analytics teams at the moment? 15:32: What are the main hurdles and challenges that data teams face when aiming to maximise their impact on the organisation? 25:33: How can data teams become more involved earlier in the process, and why is this important for outcomes and team motivation? 34:15: How can organisations prove and track the value of the analytics team? 40:21: Why a “conga line” is a great analogy for the role of data teams. 43:45: Why being able to capture and articulate the value of projects is so critical to data teams. 46:02: Conclusion and final thoughts.