Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Benekiva
Specializes in digital transformation, process optimization, and re-engineering which have resulted in improved client satisfaction, increased return on revenue (ROI), and improved operational efficiency for my organizations.
Bobbie has predominantly worked for Fortune 100 companies and for the last three years, her focus has shifted to coaching teams and managing large enterprise-level initiatives to deliver innovative products and solutions in the marketplace.
She is currently affiliated with over 3 start-ups and a thought leader on entrepreneurship, startups, digital transformation, project management, women in tech, and claims automation.
What attracted you to data management or IT, and why did you choose to pursue this career?
When I was in high school, I was enamored by how you can create experiences using web technologies. The maker in me loved building solutions to help solve problems hence one of my majors in undergraduate was Information Systems. After graduation, my first role was with a large consulting organization where I was exposed to several areas of IT from system configuration, system administrator, and project management. I fell in love with the challenges and the opportunities in this vast industry.
What has been your greatest career accomplishment so far, and why has it been important to your career?
My greatest career accomplishment has been to be part of the founding team of Benekiva. I have led the product and delivery side of the organization and the ability to take a pain point and turn it into a product that allows carriers to fulfill promises during the time of claim is the most rewarding feeling.
What are the two or three biggest challenges you face as a data management professional / CDO and how can we address them?
Couple of big challenges that I have faced as a technologist in the field of data management are:
- Seeing data as a new gold and building use-cases that are data driven to fuel automation, decision making, and predictive analytics.
- Investing in the right skillset and tools to advance your internal data team.
- How to trust the various sources of data and data models to integrate with our platform. Just like AI, these models may have bias built-in or may not have the accurate variables.
How do you see data management / the role of the CDO / IT changing in the next 2 – 3 years?
- We are starting to see Chief Data Officers in organizations. This will be the norm in the next 2 to 3 years across various industries. Companies are realizing data is the new gold and with the right skillset and tooling, advanced models can be developed or integrated to help find bottlenecks, new business opportunities, etc. quickly and backed by data.
- There will continue to be a high need of data scientists that have AI/ML skillsets and vice versa.
- Do you have any planned next steps for your career?
- My goal is to continue to focus on strategy and execution on bringing new software solutions to solve real problems in the Insurance industry in the marketplace.
What is the single best piece of advice you have received in your data management / IT career so far? Why has it been so important to you?
The best piece of advice I was given was earlier in my career when I was figuring out whether I should go deep into DB architecture and administration or move into technology and people management. My mentor shared this insight: “The closer you are to the customer; the more career opportunities will be presented”.
There wasn’t a right or wrong answer – it was a perspective based on years of his experience. I made the decision to move more into technology management, which took me down the path of enterprise-wide initiatives that I led and managed, people management, and working with end-users to understand pain points and develop solutions that provide the highest value.
Can you share something about yourself as a person that people wouldn’t know about you?
I enjoy cross fit and I’m part of a global Insurtech #fitfam group on twitter. If you want to join – follow me at @bshrivastav and I can add you to our growing community!
If you have any questions about this interview, or if we can be of any service, please do not hesitate to contact us info@ewsolutions.com
