Xu Cheng: Making Data Accessible to the People Who Need It Most

Xu Cheng, Head of Business Intelligence and Insights at Ascot Group, discusses her mission to democratize data access and bridge the gap between data strategy and delivery

Our Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics interview this week features Xu Cheng, Head of Business Intelligence and Insights at the reinsurance and specialty risk assumption firm Ascot Group.

Xu Cheng is passionate about bridging the gap between business colleagues and the data team and building a collaborative data culture. We’re proud to share an expanded interview with her from our Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics report, released in October.  

Be sure to check back with us soon for more insights from our network of globally recognized data leaders.  

C: In a professional context, what achievements are you most proud of in the past year, and why?

XC: One of things I am most proud of is building a platform called DAISY, which stands for Data Analytics Insights Services for You. 

When I joined Ascot, I took my time to listen and understand the pain points of my business customers. It took several months to talk with everyone, understand their needs, and bridge the gap in skill sets. The past year was focused on solving the problem of data delivery. 

Previously, everyone obtained data from various sources, which was confusing. With DAISY, people now have a clear and easy-to-navigate platform for accessing and using data. The emphasis is on service, ensuring customers understand the data, its quality, and providing resources like videos and blog posts for their convenience. This has resulted in faster decision-making, increased adoption, and reduced ad hoc requests to the data team.

C: What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing data and analytics leaders today? And how do you think they can be overcome?

XC: One challenge is not losing sight of data strategy and the foundation of our data ecosystems. Amidst all the exciting developments in the field, it's important to prioritize building a solid data management infrastructure. 

Another challenge is managing the increasing demand for data analytics within organizations. To address this, leaders should build teams with diverse skill sets, including ‘unicorn’ staff who can try new things, connect with business customers, and understand their problems. 

Balancing time between foundational work and exploring new tools is crucial. Negotiation skills are also essential in managing expectations and setting priorities, allowing for incremental progress while delivering value.

C: In your experience, what does it take to be a successful leader in the data and analytics space? What characteristics or skills should aspiring data leaders focus on cultivating?

XC: Successful leaders in the data and analytics space possess three key qualities: curiosity, listening skills, and negotiation skills. 

Curiosity is essential for understanding customer pain points and finding innovative solutions. Listening skills ensure leaders ask the right questions, dive deep into problems, and align solutions with business needs. Negotiation skills help manage priorities and expectations, allowing for incremental progress. Cultivating these qualities will help data leaders thrive in their organizations.

C: What are you most passionate about when it comes to data and analytics? What do you think is too often overlooked or misunderstood?

XC: I'm passionate about helping companies harness their internal insights effectively. 
While external search engines like Google provide answers to many questions, companies often struggle to share and utilize the valuable knowledge and insights they possess. 

It takes effort to bridge gaps and create a culture of sharing and collaboration within teams. Infrastructure should support sharing knowledge and ideas, making it easy for people to unlock and discover insights on their own. The power of internal insights is often overlooked, and creating a culture of knowledge sharing is key to unlocking their full potential.

Download the full Corinium Top 100 Global Innovators in Data and Analytics 2023 report, here