We all like to say we represent the needs of business teams. We advocate for them, working to get them the right data, at the right time, for the right purposes. But what do they see when they look at you? How would they describe you if they were asked to pick a stereotype?

This matters, because data governance is 20% data work, and 80% people work. And people are busy. They're influenced by first impressions, memes, labels, nicknames - thoughts that color how they interact with you. Luckily, you can influence this. You can cultivate personas that make you successful, and you can even have fun with it.

This fun session looks at a variety of roles/personas we play: Teacher, Negotiator, Peace-Keeper, Pathologist, Family Counsellor, and more. We'll discuss ones that are helpful when preventing data issues, ones to don when facilitation/collaboration is needed, and ones to adopt during times of change. Mostly, we'll highlight how to be yourself at heart, while still reaping the benefit of a cultivated style.

Speaker: Gwen Thomas

Data Strategist, The Data Governance Institute

As the primary author of the DGI framework and guidance materials published at DataGovernance.com, Gwen has influenced hundreds of data programs around the globe. She spent 20 years working in IT shops and providing data management and data governance consulting services, before spending 10 years as an in-house data strategist for the World Bank Group's private sector arm. Much of her time there focused on translating between executives, program leaders, data governance teams, lawyers, architects, modelers, policy writers, auditors, and data quality teams. While she is a technician, her special focus is on helping non-technical teams become stronger advocates for their own needs.