Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MVW), a leader in the vacation ownership and leisure travel industry, operates an extensive portfolio of resorts in some of the most desirable destinations worldwide. With a global team serving hundreds of thousands of owners, members, and guests, MVW combines high-touch hospitality with data-driven decision-making to enhance the vacation experience and drive business growth.

In Part 1 of this interview series with Andy Gress, Sales Executive at AMEND Consulting, Jackie Guan, SVP Global Data Analytics (CDAO) at MVW, discussed how the organization is evolving its data strategy to deliver transformation and business impact. Part 2 explored scaling global data initiatives, the company’s BI unification drive, and how AI is shaping business outcomes.

In this final installment, Guan speaks about building high-performing data teams, ensuring alignment with business goals, and fostering a culture of continuous learning in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Hiring for more than just technical skills

For Guan, the foundation of any high-performing analytics team starts with technical excellence, but that’s only the beginning. “Technical skill is the foundation or the starting point,” she says. “As part of our recruiting process, candidates must pass the technical assessment report for the areas that they’re applying for, but that’s only a starting point.”

Beyond technical ability, Guan looks for a “business-aligned mindset” — people who are driven to solve problems and deliver measurable results. “It’s not about developing the coolest and latest model. It’s about developing solutions that solve the business problem most effectively,” she explains.

A third key quality is curiosity. “We like candidates who are interested in learning new techniques and approaches, as well as learning the business area they support,” she adds.

MVW’s ACE Award encapsulates these values. “A” stands for an agile mindset, “C” for collaboration and communication, and “E” for excellence. “These are the qualities we want in our associates,” says Guan, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and consistently delivering outstanding results.

Keeping the team aligned with business goals

Guan believes alignment starts with bringing in the right people, but sustaining it requires a strong culture and a clear strategy.

“A clear data analytics strategy must be aligned with the business objective,” she notes. “We always try to translate the business goal into data analytics priorities, with a clear roadmap and definition of short- and long-term goals.”

One way MVW deepens this alignment is by embedding analytics team members directly within business units. “This helps our team members truly understand the business knowledge of the area they support, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-to-day basis,” Guan explains.

Communication is equally important. “Constantly measuring our impact and communicating that impact is critical,” she says. “It’s important for our associates to see and appreciate the difference they’re making through their hard work.”

Creating a culture of continuous learning

In the fast-moving world of data and AI, Guan sees continuous learning as non-negotiable. “Our field is always changing. There are always new technology disruptions, new tools, new modeling techniques that become available for us to leverage,” she says.

She also highlights the role of the analytics team as transformation leaders. “We are the change agents for the organization. The organization gives us the responsibility to transform how they do business, how they operate — utilizing AI and data.”

For Guan, maintaining agility, encouraging experimentation, and fostering curiosity are key to keeping MVW’s data teams ahead of the curve while delivering real business value.

CDO Magazine appreciates Jackie Guan for sharing his insights with our global community.