Leadership in the world of MAD (Machine Learning, AI and Data) is critical to the success of organizations today. Leaders in this field need to have a unique combination of technical skills, strategic thinking, and effective communication to drive innovation and growth using data. In this article, I explore what leadership looks like in the world of MAD and provide real-world examples of effective leaders in this field.
Technical Proficiency
Leaders in the world of MAD need to have a strong technical background. They should be well-versed in data analysis and have experience with statistical modeling, machine learning, and programming languages such as R or Python. They should also have experience working with data management tools, data visualization software, and databases.
An excellent example of a leader with strong technical skills is Fei-Fei Li, a computer science professor at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. Fei-Fei Li has been a leader in the field of artificial intelligence and computer vision for over a decade, and her work has focused on developing algorithms that can recognize images and objects in photos and videos. She has also been a vocal advocate for the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the importance of diversity in the field.
Effective Communication
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be effective communicators. They should be able to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders, such as executives and clients. They should also be able to translate business objectives into technical requirements and communicate these requirements to their team.
An example of a leader with excellent communication skills is Dan Wagner, the founder, and CEO of Civis Analytics, a data science and analytics firm. Dan Wagner is a seasoned data scientist and has served in several leadership positions in the public and private sectors, including the Chief Analytics Officer for Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. He is also a frequent speaker on data science and analytics and has written extensively on the topic. Wagner’s ability to communicate complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders has been critical to the success of Civis Analytics and his previous ventures.
Strategic Thinking
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be strategic thinkers. They should be able to align data science projects with business objectives and understand how data science can create value for the organization. They should also be able to identify opportunities for using data science to drive innovation and growth.
An example of a leader with exceptional strategic thinking skills is Cindi Marsiglio, currently the SVP of Corporate Real Estate and previously the Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing and Sustainability at Walmart. Marsiglio had been instrumental in Walmart’s sustainability efforts, including the company’s commitment to sourcing 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. She has also been a champion of data-driven decision-making and has used data to identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve energy efficiency in Walmart’s operations.
Team Building and Management
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be able to build and manage high-performing teams. They should be able to recruit and retain top talent in the field of data science, and they should be able to create a culture of innovation and collaboration within the team.
An example of a leader with exceptional team building and management skills is DJ Patil, the former Chief Data Scientist of the United States. Patil was the first person to hold this role, and during his tenure, he was responsible for developing policies and strategies to advance the use of data science and analytics across the federal government. Patil’s ability to build and manage high-performing teams was critical to the success of this effort, and he was instrumental in recruiting top data scientists from academia and the private sector to work on data-driven initiatives for the federal government.
Business Acumen
Leaders in the world of MAD need to have a strong understanding of the business. They should be able to understand the organization’s goals and how data science can help achieve those goals. They should also be able to understand the organization’s industry and the competitive landscape.
An example of a leader with exceptional business acumen is Cathy O’Neil, a data scientist and author of the book “Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy.” O’Neil has worked as a data scientist for several organizations, including D.E. Shaw, a hedge fund, and RiskMetrics Group, a risk management firm. Her work has focused on developing algorithms and models for financial trading and risk management. O’Neil’s understanding of the financial industry and her ability to identify opportunities for using data science to create value for the organization have been critical to her success.
Innovation
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be innovative. They should be able to identify new technologies and techniques that can be used to improve data science projects. They should also be able to identify new opportunities for using data science to drive innovation and growth.
An example of a leader with exceptional innovation skills is Jeff Dean, the Senior Vice President of Google’s Research and Health divisions. Dean has been with Google since 1999 and has played a key role in developing some of Google’s most innovative products, including Google Maps and Google Brain, the company’s artificial intelligence research project. He has also been a vocal advocate for using data science to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change and healthcare.
Ethics and Privacy
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be mindful of ethics and privacy. They should be aware of the potential ethical issues that can arise from data science projects, such as biases in data or models. They should also be aware of privacy concerns and ensure that data is collected, stored, and used in a responsible and ethical manner.
An example of a leader who has been a vocal advocate for ethics and privacy in data science is Kate Crawford, a research professor at the University of Southern California and a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research. Crawford’s work has focused on the social and political implications of data science and artificial intelligence, including issues related to bias, fairness, and privacy. She has been a vocal critic of the way in which some organizations use data science and has called for greater transparency and accountability in this field.
Continuous Learning
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be committed to continuous learning. They should be able to keep up with the latest developments in data science and related fields, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. They should also be able to identify areas where they need to improve their skills and seek out opportunities for training and development.
An example of a leader who is committed to continuous learning is Hilary Mason, the Founder and CEO of Fast Forward Labs, a data science and machine learning research company. Mason has been a leader in the field of data science for over a decade and has worked for several organizations, including Bitly and Google. She is also an advocate for increasing diversity in the field of data science and has been a mentor to many young women and people of color who are interested in pursuing careers in this field.
Collaboration
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be able to collaborate effectively with others. They should be able to work with stakeholders from different departments and functions, such as IT, marketing, and finance. They should also be able to work with external partners, such as consultants and vendors.
An example of a leader who is skilled at collaboration is Kirk Borne, the Principal Data Scientist and Executive Advisor at Booz Allen Hamilton. Borne has over 30 years of experience in data science and analytics and has worked for several organizations, including NASA and the University of Maryland. He is also a frequent speaker and writer on data science and analytics topics and has been a vocal advocate for collaboration between data scientists and other professionals. Borne’s ability to work effectively with stakeholders from different departments and functions has been critical to the success of many data science projects.
Resilience
Leaders in the world of MAD need to be resilient. They should be able to handle setbacks and challenges that arise during data science projects. They should also be able to learn from failures and use those lessons to improve future projects.
An example of a leader who is resilient is DJ Patil, the former Chief Data Scientist of the United States. In addition to his strong team building and management skills, Patil also demonstrated exceptional resilience during his tenure as Chief Data Scientist. He faced several challenges, including resistance from some government agencies to adopt data-driven decision-making and data security concerns. However, he persevered and was able to make significant progress in advancing the use of data science and analytics across the federal government.
Conclusion
In conclusion, effective leadership is critical to the success of organizations in the world of MAD. Leaders in this field need to possess a unique set of skills and abilities, including technical proficiency, effective communication, strategic thinking, team building and management, business acumen, innovation, ethics and privacy awareness, commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, and resilience. Real-world examples of effective leaders in this field include Fei-Fei Li, Dan Wagner, Cindi Marsiglio, DJ Patil, Cathy O’Neil, Jeff Dean, Kate Crawford, Hilary Mason, and Kirk Borne. By following their examples and developing these essential skills and abilities, leaders in the world of MAD can drive innovation and growth using data and help their organizations thrive in the digital age.