Ross Simson: Developing a Successful Charity Sector Data Strategy

Ross Simson, Global Chief Data Officer at CDP, shares how he’s
advancing the non-profit’s data strategy and tackling the unique
challenges facing charity sector data leaders

With climate change in the spotlight following the UN Climate
Change Conference (COP26), Ross Simson, Global Chief Data Officer
at environment-focused non-profit CDP, joins us this week on the
Business of Data podcast.


In this episode, he talks about developing a successful data
strategy at CDP, building a data team with the right skills and
the need for a global standard for data management accreditation.
Futureproofing CDP’s Data Strategy

CDP helps organizations and governments measure and disclose
their environmental impact. To develop CDP’s data strategy,
Simson had to take a holistic approach that considered a range of
factors, including people, resource allocation and the business
environment.


“Being a charity, and as we get more organizations disclosing to
us, we can’t just add more staff,” Simson explains. “We have to
invest in technology where we can automate certain tasks and
still use data science and machine learning.”


One of the methods Simson uses when planning CDP’s data strategy
is McKinsey's Three Horizons Model. The model aims to help
businesses manage innovation and growth goals by grouping
initiatives according to when they will come to maturity.


He says: “We’re facing this dilemma where you've got horizon
thinking, but everybody wants everything done now. For example,
‘data-driven’ seems to be the newest buzzword. But to be a truly
data-driven organization, you need to understand the value of
data. We have all these tools and technologies, but we aren’t
well organized where data’s concerned.”


“One of our challenges now [at CDP] is that we’re updating our
data model,” he continues. “But there are 15 global standards
that we can adhere to and each of those can have up to 25 data
points. So the question becomes, how do you create a model which
underpins not only what you need now, but for the future?”


“You want to develop a data strategy that’s as futureproof as
possible,” he adds. “The past year has shown us that you can’t
ever be truly futureproof. We must become more nimble [and]
change the way we think because, when it comes to technology, one
size doesn’t fit all.”
Investing in Data Team Talent

Simson would like to see a common global standard for
accreditation in the various data fields, as well as a focus on
nurturing young talent. While there are many organizations
working on creating global data standards, he says the industry
needs to focus more on accreditation.


He chairs the Customer Data Council in the UK, an advisory arm of
the Data and Marketing Association. The association provides
recognized accreditation and training in areas such as data
management. The challenge going forward, he says, is in setting a
global accreditation standard for the va