On this episode of The Data Journey, we speak with Alan Cruickshank, Head of Data at tails.com, about his evolution from a manufacturing engineering background to a leadership role in data. Alan shares lessons from tails.com's growth using data-driven decision making, challenges of analyzing diverse customer data, and the importance of organizational culture and leadership buy-in for successful data transformation. Through insightful stories from his career, Alan provides practical advice on investing strategically in tools, driving change through experimentation and learning from failures, and integrating systems for personalized customer experiences.

Connect with us:

• Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476

00:08 - Introduction to Alan and tails.com

00:52 - Career background and entry into data roles

10:15 - Different approaches to using data in business

12:22 - Importance of data collection in manufacturing

34:57 - Building a data-driven culture within organizations

39:25 - The impact of leadership on data analytics success

47:55 - Leadership styles and decision-making in data roles

51:12 - Challenges and opportunities in expanding to new markets

59:37 - The importance of being adaptable in data analytics careers