Why comms teams fail, even with great tools | Dino Delić

What if the problem is not your tool? In this episode of the Data Malarkey podcast, Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, speaks with Dino Delić of Meltwater, the global leader in media intelligence. Sam and Dino cover data, comms, capability-building, AI, and why too many teams are still using powerful tools to produce underwhelming outcomes. Dino is sharp, direct, gloriously opinionated, and obsessed with helping people stop hiding behind "best practices" and start solving the right problem. They explore why data often fails to drive action inside organisations, how comms teams can become more strategically useful, why AI is creating both huge opportunity and total chaos, and why capability matters far more than buying the latest shiny thing. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Dino hates the phrase "best practices" Why most teams are not held back by their tools How to start with the real moment of frustration, not generic advice Why the CEO's priorities should shape your data communications strategy How to turn reporting into decision-making Why AI can massively help, but only if you know what good looks like already Why most people are still "the cat chasing the laser pointer" How Dino thinks about capability, experimentation, and constant improvement   Topics we cover: Dino's background from Bosnia to Australia to the US Sales, persuasion, and making ideas land Why "tool + skills + resources" matters The difference between collecting data and using data Why AVEs and lazy measurement still hang around AI hype, maturity, and common mistakes Meltwater's Run Club, newsletter, and open learning approach Why communicators need debate, not just agreement About the guest: Dino Delić is Strategic Customer Advisor at Meltwater. He works at the intersection of communications, data, measurement, enablement, and customer success, helping teams turn information into action and become more effective, persuasive, and data-driven in the work they do. Links and resources mentioned: Meltwater's Data Driven Communications Run Club and newsletter - https://community.meltwater.com/p/ddc Follow Dino Delić on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinodelic/   Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com