Today marked the commencement of the two-day event, DataFestAfrica 2.0, bringing together professionals, experts, and enthusiasts from diverse data-related fields.
Themed “The Data-Driven Business: Unlocking the Power of your Data,” the event was a celebration of data in its myriad applications, from sports to sciences, and everything in between. OneBank, Katwig & Dale, Uber Infobip, TechEconomy, DataCamp, Berkeley, among others, are some of the event’s partners.
DataFestAfrica is a platform showcasing diverse careers within the data space, including Data Analysts, Data Scientists, Data Engineers, AI/ML Engineers, Low Code Developers, Students, Researchers, Data Managers, Data Consumers, and Recruiters. The event emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making across different sectors.
Data meets Soccer
Victory Ogbegbor, Data Scientist, United Kingdom, Ex Chelsea Football Club, shared insights into the growing influence of data in sports, specifically football. He highlighted how analytics and data-driven insights are reshaping the soccer landscape, aiding clubs, coaches, and players in making strategic decisions. His journey from data courses to the world-renowned football club highlighted the limitless possibilities within the data space.
“There is no just ordinary football club, they are all businesses and they have profit. I am saying this because I am in a community that has invested a lot in fintech data, agric data, health data, etc. If you can crunch fintech numbers, you can launch football data.
I had little experience and had not worked football data before so it was literally a conversation about how I can handle football data like business data that made me get into Chelsea.
Expand your possibilities, anything can happen. Don’t limit yourself to any sector. Do your research, take courses, keep learning. As the opportunity presents itself, you have to be able to learn on the job.”
From Molecules to Organisms: Data in Sciences
Zainab Ashimiyu Abdusalam, a Research Assistant at NIMR, discussed the applications of data in the sciences, focusing on fields such as computational biology, computational chemistry, bioinformatics, and drug discovery. She emphasized the significance of data in research and personalized therapy, highlighting the intersection of science and technology in these endeavors.
Adetokunbo Ajibola, Berkeley Data Strategists, reiterated the importance of data management, stating that data is about people, processes, and technology. He highlighted the need for trusted data, emphasizing data quality and governance, stressing that understanding the human element and organizational processes are essential in effective data management.
Panel Discussion: Building High-Performance Data Teams
Moderated by Ayodele Oluleye, Head of Data and Insights at ARM, the panel discussion explored building high-performance data teams in industries such as finance, technology, and machine learning, among others.
Panelists included professionals from leading organizations, sharing insights on team roles and dynamics – Olutoyin Ogunmola, Head of Enterprise Data and Analytics, Stanbic IBTC Bank in Nigeria; Olamide Jolaoso, Head of Data & Analytics, Wema Bank; Peter Olomolaiye, Data Engineer, Microsoft and Adejoju Ajani, Head, Data Analytics/Engineering, Interswitch Group.
Key Takeaways:
Ownership as a Critical Trait:
Panelist Peter Olomolaiye emphasized the importance of ownership as a defining trait of high-performing team members. Owning projects end-to-end, taking responsibility, and solving problems were identified as key indicators of a high-performing individual.
“Ownership is paramount within a team. When a team member owns a project entirely, they can make decisions confidently and handle issues efficiently. It’s about taking responsibility and ensuring the project’s success from end to end. This ownership mindset fosters accountability and high-quality work within the team.”
Soft Skills and Professional Mastery:
The panel stressed the significance of soft skills, such as communication, curiosity, and initiative. Employers were encouraged to look beyond technical skills and focus on candidates’ attitudes and willingness to learn. Organizations were advised to promote professional mastery, allowing employees to attend events, conferences, and engage in continuous learning.
Employee Engagement and Recognition:
To attract and retain top talent, organizations were urged to provide competitive compensation, focus on employee well-being, and foster an inclusive and psychologically safe environment. Recognition of employees’ efforts and skills within the organization was highlighted as crucial for talent retention.
Elaborating on the key roles needed for a data team to be highly effective, especially considering different sectors such as finance and technology, Olutoyin Ogunmola, Head of Enterprise Data and Analytics, Stanbic IBTC Bank in Nigeria said:
“In any enterprise data team, there are key roles that play vital functions. Data scientists are the core individuals who handle modeling and analysis. Data analysts interpret these analyses in the context of the business. Data engineers manage pipelines and ensure proper data infrastructure. Metadata engineers focus on data quality and governance. Data quality specialists ensure clean and accurate data. It’s essential to integrate these roles effectively within the organization’s structure.”
Soft skills are often overlooked but are vital for the success of data professionals. Adejoju Ajani highlighted the importance of softer skills such as curiosity, communication, and attitude. Speaking further, she shared more about how these skills contribute to the team dynamics and overall success.
“Soft skills are the bedrock of a successful team. Curiosity drives continuous learning and innovation. Effective communication ensures seamless collaboration and understanding between team members and stakeholders. A positive attitude creates a conducive work environment, promoting collaboration and creativity. When hiring, focusing on these softer skills ensures the team functions cohesively and achieves exceptional results.”
Attracting and retaining top talent is challenging, especially considering the trend of people leaving organizations swiftly. Olutoyin Ogunmola emphasized the importance of professional mastery, fair compensation, social recognition, and creating a psychologically safe environment. He also expanded on how organizations effectively implement these practices to retain their best talent.
“Implementing these practices requires a holistic approach. Organizations should invest in continuous learning opportunities for their employees, allowing them to master their skills. Fair compensation, not just in monetary terms but also in wellness benefits, ensures employees feel valued. Social recognition, both internally and externally, boosts morale. Lastly, fostering a psychologically safe environment encourages employees to express their ideas and concerns freely, leading to a more engaged and loyal workforce.”
These practices collectively create a work culture where data professionals thrive, ensuring their long-term commitment to the organization and fostering a high-performance data team.
DataFestAfrica 2.0 showcased the evolving system of data-driven decision-making across various sectors. The event emphasized the holistic approach to data management, focusing not only on technical skills but also on soft skills, employee engagement, and continuous learning.
This is an enabler for organizations to navigate the data-driven future, embracing these principles will be key to building and retaining high-performance data teams.
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