Dr. Sue Tripathi, Partner, Data, Analytics, Technology, Transformation, and AWS Alliance Leader at IBM, speaks with Derek Strauss, Chairman, Gavroshe, in a video interview about her professional journey, the role of data in business, and building and leveraging data product models for delivering data-driven products.

Tripathi begins by expressing her delight in being part of the network and remarks on her experience as a consumer of the CDO forum, magazine, and other networks. She goes on to share her background, mentioning that she has worked with companies such as IBM, Accenture, Entity Data, and U.S. federal and state governments. In the healthcare space, she has worked with Elevance Health and United Health Group.

Further, Tripathi shares that she has a doctorate in healthcare and statistics, and when she first began her studies, there was no concept of artificial intelligence. Despite this, the foundational pieces on which large language models have been built have been around for a long time, she adds.

From a leadership POV, says Tripathi, it is critical to understand what makes sense for customers and how to use data to make processes better and derive value from it. She maintains that companies, both big and small, are trying to serve their clients better and enhance the customer experience.

In addition, Tripathi emphasizes that data has always been around, and it is critical to understand which data makes sense to customers. She highlights generative AI as an enabler that helps businesses make more data-driven decisions that have an impact on their costs, efficiency, and customer experience.

Moving forward, Tripathi stresses that data is and should be consumed, digested, and distributed by everyone in the business, not just those in data-focused roles. She states that each individual is an asset regardless of the role and believes that being inclusive brings out hidden organizational gems and helps with transformation.

Furthermore, Tripathi notes that data is not just an asset but also a product. Delving further, she discusses the data product model, a framework for developing and delivering data-driven products within an organization.

According to her, the model outlines the various stages, components, and activities necessary for leaders to create data-driven products that leverage data assets. Citing an example, she states how a CDO is responsible for data management, governance, and utilization.

Tripathi suggests that a CDO must orchestrate data-driven decisions and extract value from existing data. Further, a CDO’s approach must be strategically aligned with the goals of the business, keeping customer experience at the center, followed by growth, revenue, and efficiency, she affirms.

Additionally, Tripathi states that efficiency is a key component to consider when developing data products. She explains that efficiency can be achieved through the use of a systematic framework that maximizes resources, eliminates waste, and reduces redundancies. Tripathi refers to this as a lean management approach that increases efficiency to deliver value from the right sets of data products to customers.

Thereafter, she suggests that leveraging a data product model or framework in a commercial space helps monetize data. This, in turn, requires the CDO to find innovative ways to deliver data products.

In conclusion, Tripathi highlights the necessity of adhering to data governance principles, regulatory requirements, quality standards, privacy laws, and ethical standards.

CDO Magazine appreciates Sue Tripathi for sharing her insights with our global community.