Hub & Spoken: Data | Analytics | Chief Data Officer | CDO | Data Strategy

How to make your team visible as a data leader

Jan 22, 2026
In this conversation, Lindsay Mason, a data leader with two decades of experience in retail and the public sector, shares insights on making data teams visible to leadership. She discusses her journey from Debenhams to government, emphasizing how telling compelling stories and defining clear visions can elevate a team's value. Lindsay advocates for understanding stakeholder needs, prioritizing use cases, and engaging citizens to build trust. Her practical wisdom highlights that without visible impact, a team's worth may go unrecognized.
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ANECDOTE

Retail Frustration Sparked A Data Career

  • Lindsay moved from merchandising into data after frustration with poor product data at Debenhams.
  • That practical pain drove her to stand up the first data team and focus on fixing product data quality.
INSIGHT

Constraints Force Outcome Focus

  • In government you must prove impact because you cannot 'buy' solutions everywhere.
  • That constraint forces clarity on outcomes and prioritisation in data work.
ADVICE

Lead With 'Why' And Retell The Vision

  • Set the why before the what and focus on outcomes not outputs.
  • Regularly retell a clear vision tailored to different audiences to keep it alive.
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