Delve into the role of data literacy in driving smarter decisions and building organisational confidence. In this interview with Mike Congdon, conducted by Vanessa Jalleh, we discuss practical strategies for engaging non-technical staff, the critical role leaders play in modelling data-driven behaviours, and how to overcome common challenges in embedding literacy at scale. We also look ahead to the next frontier—measuring impact and expanding into AI literacy—ensuring data remains a catalyst for growth, confidence, and innovation.
We define data literacy simply as the ability to read, work with, analyse, and communicate with data. It has become a core component of our Data Strategy because it seeks to fundamentally transform how we use data and make decisions with it. When our people can effectively leverage data, they move beyond intuition based decision making to evidence driven decisions, that typically yield a better outcome. We want to give our people the capability to more effectively identify and respond to emerging issues and opportunities, allowing for more proactive, rather than reactive, responses.
What strategies have you found most effective in engaging non-technical staff with data in a meaningful way?
I think the most effective method for engaging non-technical staff is rather than leading with technical concepts and tools, focus on demonstrating how data can solve problems, unlock opportunities, and ultimately make their work more impactful. Our ‘Be Data Empowered!’ data literacy programme was designed around this principle, positioning data literacy not as an additional burden or technical requirement, but as a great opportunity for personal and professional growth.
I’ve run various versions of ‘Be Data Empowered!’ over the years, and at different organisations, and have found that concepts like data storytelling and effective visualisation of data are of particular interest. Instead of presenting spreadsheets full of numbers, crafting compelling narratives from data and using simple but powerful visualisations can really make insights jump off the page. Ultimately its about transforming programme participants from passive consumers of reports into active storytellers who can influence decisions and drive change within their teams.
What role do leaders need to play in modelling good data use for their teams?
The role that leaders play is pivotal in establishing a data driven culture. They must demonstrate good data practices by making evidence based decisions transparently, showing their teams how data informs choices rather than relying solely on ‘gut feels’ and what may have worked last time. Leaders need to champion organisational data literacy programmes by actively participating themselves and encouraging employee involvement. This demonstrates commitment and removes barriers to learning. They need to foster an environment where data utilisation is valued and encouraged.
However, responsible leadership requires balancing data enthusiasm with governance. Leaders must emphasise safe data handling practices, ensuring teams understand privacy regulations and internal data policies. They should model appropriate data sharing behaviours and establish clear guidelines about what data can be accessed and how. Leaders also need to create psychological safety around data use, encouraging experimentation while maintaining accountability for compliance. This includes providing resources for proper training, and establishing clear escalation paths for data related questions.
From my experience implementing data literacy programmes in organisations over the last 10 years, several challenges have emerged that required careful navigation. The most persistent issue has been overcoming resistance from some employees who view data work as outside their core responsibilities, or feel intimidated by perceived technical complexity. Some people initially approached the programme with a little bit of scepticism, worried they lacked the mathematical background or would be judged on their analytical capabilities. We addressed this by deliberately framing data literacy as optional, but very much encouraged, personal development, rather than ‘mandated training’.
Another downside has occasionally been the uneven engagement across different departments and seniority levels. Senior leaders sometimes viewed data literacy training as unnecessary for their strategic roles, while some teams struggled to see immediate relevance to their daily work. We countered this by securing visible executive sponsorship, and where possibly tailoring the content to specific functional areas, and sharing great feedback on the programme by previous participants.
Resource allocation has also been challenging, as meaningful data literacy programmes require a sustained time investment. However, I’m fortunate enough to have had a network of passionate contributors to my data literacy programmes. With respect to my own time, given I’m the programme creator, coordinator, and primary convener, it does consume a lot of my time around the weeks it runs each year – but it’s worth it!
Looking ahead, what is the next step in your organisation’s data literacy journey?
Our next step involves transitioning from a foundational approach to a more rigorous, measurement driven methodology. Having successfully completed two iterations of 'Be Data Empowered!' over the past two years, we've deliberately kept the programme light on the assessment aspect to encourage participation.
We’ve incorporated a brief, fun, data literacy 10 question quiz that the participants take prior to the commencement of the programme, that loosely informs their current level of data literacy, which then informs the training topics most relevant to them. This approach has helped to build strong engagement and has helped reduced barriers to participation. However, our next iteration will likely incorporate a slightly more comprehensive before programme / after programme, capability measurement, to demonstrate tangible progress and justify continued investment.
Also, with the growth in AI, especially GenAI, over the last few years the area of AI literacy is becoming increasingly important. Thus, we’ll no doubt ensure that our next iteration of ‘Be Data Empowered!’ includes some AI essentials, particularly concerning ‘safe use’ of AI.
Mike Congdon is a speaker at CDAO New Zealand 2025. Interested in learning more about Data? Join us at CDAO New Zealand and Data Architecture New Zealand this November 3-4!
