Fractional CDO | Advisor | Data Interpreter | Data & Analytic Team Builder | Rebel | Myth-Buster
Ms. Madsen specializes in Data Strategy & Roadmaps, Data Governance, Team Building & Development, and Helping Organizations Gain Traction with their Data Initiatives.
What attracted you to data management or IT, and why did you choose to pursue this career?
I started in analytics. I have a degree in “applied psychology” which is a study of human behavior which uses observation and survey data to solve problems. Many people with this degree go into industrial-organizational psychology. I focused more heavily on stats and that brought me to data management (via reporting).
What has been your greatest career accomplishment so far, and why has it been important to your career?
The books I have written because they have forced me to think critically and clearly about the work that I do.
What are the two or three biggest challenges you face as a data management professional / CDO and how can we address them?
Expectation management, without a doubt that’s number one. From shiny brochures by vendors saying their tech is “easy” to case studies demonstrating the overnight success of a two-year project, the biggest challenge we all fight against in the data industry is unrealistic expectations.
The second thing is the level of work that’s required. It’s not shiny or fun, but the rewards come after an enormous effort and most organizations lose focus long before they see the benefit. Stay the course.
How do you see data management / the role of the CDO / IT changing in the next 2 – 3 years?
I see IT becoming more embedded in other functions because we’re losing the distinction thanks to a very educated workforce and SaaS stripping away a lot of the deep tech challenges. That means that many operational departments in larger organizations will have responsibilities that used to be considered “tech”.
With high failure rates of data programs, the role of CDO (or really any data leader) has a lot to prove. If the role is to be successful, I see a big trend towards DataOps, better alignment to organizational goals and communication; lots and lots of communication.
Data Management has a bit of reckoning coming. The technology landscape is changing so fast, and many people are now well-informed and capable with data-savvy tools the role of data management must shift to navigating through the shades of gray that are inherent to every aspect of the data lifecycle in modern, dynamic organizations. There is no right or wrong, just a lot of complexity and nuance. That’s why communication is so critical.
Do you have any planned next steps for your career?
Yes, I do.
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?
I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible mentors and leaders in my career. I remember once the venerable Jonathan Geiger told me “Just do the work. The rest will come,” that applies to so much more than just DM.
Can you share something about yourself as a person that people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m sort of an open book. But you may not know that I have many tattoos, I am a giant MCU nerd, and I love Halestorm (okay that last one everyone knows😊)
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