Abhijeet Kumar
Head, Marketing Analytics
Providence
Abhijeet Kumar is a thought leader within the analytics space, having built a successful career with B2B and B2C companies within the Healthcare, Financial Services, Insurance, Consumer, and Retail industries. He specializes in building analytics teams and transforming the way businesses and consumers utilize data, with a focus on improving customer journey, optimizing marketing mix and turning business needs into cutting-edge analytics solutions.
Learn more about the Southern California CDAO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
From an early age, I was deeply intrigued by the potential of data in shaping business decisions. Armed with a dual degree in economics, emphasizing econometrics, I began my journey at AC Nielsen where I constructed media mix models for P&G. This passion propelled me across various sectors, harnessing predictive data models to guide marketing strategies, assess credit risk defaults, and steer marketing acquisition and retention campaigns, healthcare patient journeys and revenue optimization initiatives. This cumulative experience paved the way to my current role.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
A culture of openness and feedback is one of my top guiding principles. Cultivate an environment where transparency reigns supreme. Promote a culture where supportive feedback is valued, and honest communication is the cornerstone, ensuring continuous growth and collaboration. There are 3 other principles that I always keep in mind while leading my team and the work: empowerment and autonomy, resourceful excellence and entrusting team members with strategic context.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CDAO role going in the next 1-2 years?
In the upcoming 1-2 years, I envision my C-level role primarily emphasizing the reevaluation and refinement of our strategic roadmap, particularly to accommodate and bolster generative AI initiatives. The intent is to simultaneously be transformational while nurturing innovation, aligning with the evolving landscape of analytics and AI. Our stance is clear: we are more committed to embracing and leveraging generative AI rather than resisting or sidelining it.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CDAO?
Navigating a C-level role in the dynamic world of data analytics and AI requires a multifaceted approach. First and foremost, forge strong partnerships and nurture relationships with internal stakeholders and board members. It's crucial to keep them informed about emerging technologies and assess their implications together. Maintain transparent and candid dialogues. Encourage your team not only to adapt but to be frontrunners of change, and challenge them to continuously upgrade their skill sets. Finally, articulate a clear vision, plotting both immediate and long-term strategic initiatives, and remain steadfast in its pursuit.
Tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.
- I'm an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys a wide range of ball sports.
- My passions include traveling and hiking, and I relish the chance to meet new people.
- When I'm yearning for some quality time closer to home, you can find me immersed in cooking or tending to my garden, cherishing moments with my family.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Joining an Evanta community offers a unique opportunity to engage with fellow data aficionados. For me, the primary allure lies in collaboratively addressing business challenges and gleaning insights from peers. It provides a platform to network both socially and virtually, fostering discussions about emerging technologies. By sharing successes, challenges, and journeys in the data and AI domain, we facilitate mutual growth and innovation.
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