Governing Body Spotlight

Ana Moya is enthusiastic about using data to answer questions and encouraging people and organisations to make data-driven decisions based on insights. She has experience in both industry and consulting and is active not only in the business world but also in academia.

Her career began with studies in statistics and data science, which culminated in a doctorate in statistics. She worked on a variety of data projects and roles during her more than 12 years at FUNKE Media Group. She was the director of Data Science and Marketing Analytics at FUNKE Data for the last two years.

In her current role as Head of Data Science & Analytics at Handelsblatt Media Group, she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and employs statistical and advanced ML models to analyse large amounts of user data and make strategic recommendations to different departments including sales, product, editorial. She has been teaching Data Science and Business Intelligence at the International School of Management in Germany since 2018.

Learn more about the DACH CDAO community here.

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

I have 20+ years of experience working across the automotive, energy and editorial industries as well as in research. Some key areas of focus include data governance and management, data integrations, customer-centric advanced analytics, the development of data and text mining algorithms, as well as the application of statistical and advanced ML models.

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Listen attentively, paying attention to team members' needs and concerns, as well as taking their feedback into account. Cultivate positive and meaningful relationships within the team as well as with stakeholders.

With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CDAO role going in the next 1-2 years?

CDAOs should be given increased strategic importance within enterprises. They should contribute to the broader business strategy and decision-making processes.

CDAOs should keep promoting the use of advanced analytics and predictive modelling.

CDAOs need to invest in talent development and foster an organisational culture that is focused on data.

CDAOs will give top priority to customer-centric data strategies, which employ analytics and data to better understand and respond to the needs of their customers.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CDAO?

Data and technology are just half of what it takes to be the head of data science and analytics. The real job is helping the company make better decisions based on the data they collect. The key to success in this profession is a combination of technical competence, strong leadership skills, and business knowledge.

Becoming a Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) and getting started can be an exciting and hard job. Here are some pointers for someone who is just starting out as a CDAO:

• - Make it a priority to fully understand the industry, business strategy, objectives, challenges and Data maturity that your company faces. The data and analytics strategy you create will be based on what you've learned here.
• - Define clearly how analytics and data will add value to the company. This vision has to be consistent with the overall business plan and objectives.
• - The success of data and analytics projects is dependent on effective collaboration. Therefore, it is important to promote the formation of close relationships with stakeholders, business unit leaders, and other C-suite executives.
• - Although it is important to achieve rapid triumphs to establish credibility, it is important to constantly remember the long-term strategic objective.

Tell us a few fun facts about yourself.

1. 1. Gardening, especially growing my own vegetables, is one of my favourite hobbies, because it allows me to connect with nature and improve my nutrition. I practise permaculture, which involves caring for the soil and biodiversity and at the same time demonstrating my commitment to sustainable and regenerative practices with the Earth. It is a great feeling to play a small role in promoting ecological responsibility and biodiversity conservation. 
2. 2. The process of fermentation, especially my own vegetables, is something I adore. It fascinates me to transform and preserve food.
3. 3. Being from the Caribbean, the sun is as important to me as the air I breathe.

What is the value of joining an Evanta community?

When we come together as a community, we can discuss the issues we face and share our experiences. This collaborative approach frequently leads to problem solving and new perspectives on issues in our respective fields. In addition, Evanta organises events, conferences, and workshops where industry experts and thought leaders can share their insights and expertise. Participating in gatherings facilitates me to gain knowledge and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in my industry.

Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
 

by CDAOs, for CDAOs
 

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