Getting Executives to Support Data Science

Tori Oblad

Enterprise Data & Analytics Officer at WaFd Bank

How to get executive buy-in for data science initiatives, how to communicate effectively across the business, and ways to build trust with departments like IT and compliance.

Clock showing 12pm on a laptop monitor on a desk framed by a computer terminal square

The Data Science Hangout is a weekly, free-to-join open conversation for current and aspiring data science leaders. An accomplished leader in the space will join us each week and answer whatever questions the audience may have.

We were recently joined by Tori Oblad, Enterprise Data & Analytics Officer at WaFd Bank.

Here are a few snippets from our conversation:

1:14 – Start of session

3:00 – How to build an internal data science community

11:40 – Showing the art of the possible

14:00 – How do you get others to lead topics and foster engagement?

26:17 – Writing starter scripts for new users

35:55 – When to use R or Python versus BI

36:38 – Building toy models in Excel to explain it to people / to build relationships with business

38:33 – Avoiding vendor lock-in, being technology agnostic

43:35 – How to build confidence with IT and compliance

49:15 – Working with business users and creating business value

53:21 – Getting business and executive support

1:22:30 – What data scientists should focus on when communicating with stakeholders: value

► Subscribe to Our Channel Here: https://bit.ly/2TzgcOu

portrait of smiling Rachael Dempsey standing in front of off-white wall

Rachael Dempsey - Host

Community Manager at Posit, PBC

I love connecting people across the data science community to share what they're accomplishing with data and help others do the same through community discussions, industry meetups, and more.

back view of woman sitting at a desk with plants on it and on the floor, woman is framed with computer terminal graphic

Tori Oblad

Enterprise Data & Analytics Officer at WaFd Bank

15 years of study, professional work, and team leadership in finance, mathematics, programming, analytics, and strategy. Primary business applications have been optimization of operational and financial decisions. Tori is Enterprise Data & Analytics Officer at WaFd Bank where she led the development and build-out of data science within the enterprise. Previously, she was VP & Market Intelligence Manager at First Hawaiian Bank.