Overcoming Challenges in Data-Driven Decision Making | Alan Cruickshank (Head of Data at tails.com)
On this episode of The Data Journey, we speak with Alan Cruickshank, Head of Data at tails.com, about his evolution from a manufacturing engineering background to a leadership role in data. Alan shares lessons from tails.com's growth using data-driven decision making, challenges of analyzing diverse customer data, and the importance of organizational culture and leadership buy-in for successful data transformation. Through insightful stories from his career, Alan provides practical advice on investing strategically in tools, driving change through experimentation and learning from failures, and integrating systems for personalized customer experiences.
Connect with us:
• Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476
00:08 - Introduction to Alan and tails.com
00:52 - Career background and entry into data roles
10:15 - Different approaches to using data in business
12:22 - Importance of data collection in manufacturing
34:57 - Building a data-driven culture within organizations
39:25 - The impact of leadership on data analytics success
47:55 - Leadership styles and decision-making in data roles
51:12 - Challenges and opportunities in expanding to new markets
59:37 - The importance of being adaptable in data analytics careers