The Strategic Data Leader: Build Influence, Credibility and Real Impact

By Tristan Burns

Turn data into a strategic driver of business performance, not just a reporting function.

In many organizations, data is still brought in too late, limited to reporting on performance rather than driving it. The Strategic Data Leader by Tristan Burns is a practical guide for senior data leaders, CDOs and analytics directors who want to move beyond dashboards and delivery to shape business strategy and influence decision-making at the highest level.

This book shows how to reposition data as a core strategic capability by aligning it with business priorities, speaking the language of leadership and embedding it into decision-making processes from the start. Through real-world examples across industries including shipping, investment banking, SaaS, education and consultancy, this book demonstrates how to elevate your role and impact.

You will learn how to:
- Position data as a strategic business partner, not support function
- Influence senior stakeholders and shape high-impact decisions
- Build business-focused data strategies, not technical wish lists
- Engage earlier with insight-led recommendations, not just analysis
- Connect data initiatives directly to measurable business outcomes

Whether you are leading a data function or shaping enterprise-wide strategy, discover how to drive influence, credibility and long-term competitive advantage.

Themes include: data strategy, data leadership, business alignment, decision-making, stakeholder influence, analytics transformation

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1398631094
• ISBN13: 9781398631090
• Release Date: May 2027
• Publisher: Kogan Page
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 2.0" x 6.1"