Talk Data To Me - 1st Edition

Creating value for the data analytics community across MEA has always been at the heart of what we do at Dalebrook Media. We're happy to have extended this beyond just our impactful events into creating our new newsletter - Talk Data To Me.

The Talk Data To Me newsletter will share articles, videos and interviews with you from thought-leaders across the region. Our aim is to make this a valuable source of insight as you navigate the ever-changing world we operate in. 

In this launch edition we cover:

• Modernizing Data Management with Dr Sizwe Gwala (Absa)
• Data Literacy with Zjaen Coetzee (Telkom) and Alois Nyamarebvu (The Data Literacy Program Manager)
• Cloud Remediation with Alina Timofeeva who is an Associate Partner at Oliver Wyman Digital, UK
• AI in Healthcare with Pravir Ishvarlal (Netcare)
• Automated Data Governance with Kamohelo Motaung (Experian)
• Data Quality with Syed Gaffar who leads Data Architecture at NEOM - an exciting future city in Saudi Arabia
• and Data Storytelling with Vukosi Sambo (AfroCentric Group)

Thanks again to our amazing contributors for this outstanding content.

Enjoy the first edition of the Talk Data to Me Newsletter...

Recently, most businesses have broadly proclaimed their intentions of being data-led, data-driven or data-centric, often with limited delivery timelines. Some even forged ahead with procuring expensive technologies to which they were assured will ‘embed timely, contextual insights in their daily business operations, with absolutely no effort required from them’. Absurd as it sounds, this is the reality that most businesses are confronted with, some with dire damages to deal with. The question that most rational individuals are probably asking themselves is why such situations were permitted from the onset. And in addressing this question, I will provide a brief overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technological in the DM context. Read more...

Data literacy should not be considered in isolation. If you are not having conversations about strategy, data value, data health, data maturity, analytics capability, data asset management, value creation, innovation et cetera alongside data literacy, you should strongly reconsider why data literacy is on your radar! Read more...

Cloud is moving from being the platform on which a business runs to the product of the business. Much of the value inherent in a company’s operations can now be delivered in the form of a cloud service, rather than packaged into the kind of products and services organizations have traditionally sold. Even short of this, using cloud reduces capital investment by allowing companies to focus budgets on value creation rather than building data centers, maintaining hardware, or operating infrastructure. Read more...

ONE. Taking the culture factor lightly. Multiple studies including those from HBR and Gartner point to the cornerstone nature of the people dynamic. A lack of buy-in and excitement about what the Data Literacy program can deliver, especially at the individual level, can sink the initiative. The right culture can power results beyond expectations. Creativity and persistence is the name of the game here. Read more...

Enter a world of healthcare where illnesses are diagnosed by machines, medical outcomes are predicted by computers, and data saves lives. With the ever-evolving presence of AI, healthcare is no longer bound by the constraints of human intelligence and decision-making. Read more...

As we train algorithms and make decisions, data may be biased or incomplete, resulting in biased or incomplete AI and ML systems. Data governance’s role is to assist in mitigating these issues by ensuring that the data used to train AI and ML systems is accurate, representative, and unbiased. Read more...

Syed Gaffar, Data Architecture and Governance Head at Neom, a Saudi Arabian smart city megaproject, joins us for a chat around the major challenges facing modern data leaders today. Read more...

In this article I explore a dimension of storytelling which I consider to be the most important; structuralism- a method of intellectual inquiry that provides a framework for organizing and understanding areas of human study concerned with the production and perception of meaning. We are all looking for meaning in data, the hidden structure within, rather than merely describing the way the data appears. This ability is what turns data into insights and inspires action from an end user. All data leaders should care about this. After all, we all desire for our organisations to be data-driven, or as I call it, value-driven through data. Read more...

Wait, before you go - have you heard about DataFest?

Featuring world-class speakers, DataFest is a two-day conference packed with exciting sessions, including:

• The Power of ChatGPT
• All Things LLMs
• The Future of AI
• Data For Social Good
• Career Development Keynotes
• The Convergence of Business Literacy & Data Literacy
• And many more!

Meet and network with top data professionals, learn about the latest trends in data, and enjoy entertainment from our amazing DJ.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of data. Visit datafest.co.za to view the speakers, download the agenda and register.

Thank you for reading the first edition of the Talk Data To Me Newsletter. Make sure to follow Dalebrook Media on LinkedIn to be the first to read our latest content, and subscribe to the newsletter to be notified when we release the second edition.

Craig Steward