Dee Samra: Data Governance Doesn’t Have to be a Dirty Word

Liberty Global Director of Data Dee Samra reveals how she’s
changing perceptions around data governance at the telecoms company

Less-data-driven organizations often view data governance as a
bit of a headache. But as Dee Samra, Director of Data at telecoms
firm Liberty Global, says, it doesn’t have to be that way.


In this debut episode of our brand-new Business of
Data podcast, Samra talks to Corinium’s Catherine King
about how she’s establishing data governance as a key value
driver at the company.


“[Data governance] is an enabler,” she says. “Focusing on the
benefits that data governance will bring to leverage new
technologies – that’s where you’ll get that buy-in and get that
‘sell’ to get [staff] to engage.”


“It’s people on the customer-facing parts of your workforce that
are going to notice [data quality] issues,” she adds. “The first
step is really just making people think about it.”


“Now, somebody has to be accountable for data,” she continues.
“That’s never had to happen before. Because that accountability
is there, it starts making people question the data that they
have.”
Key Takeaways

Data governance is a value creator – promoting data
governance as a key enabler for exciting new technologies such as
AI is the key to securing buy-in for it

Build a strong business case – focus on linking good data
governance to better business outcomes while also stressing the
company’s regulatory obligations

Raising awareness is key – establishing data ownership and
getting people to question where the data they’re using comes
from are essential data governance ‘first steps’