Datalytics with Debbie Botha
Executive Summary
The Datalytics and AI Conference in the Middle East aims to facilitate the planning and execution of a comprehensive multi-day event focused on advancements in AI and data management. This initiative includes strategic vendor engagement and thoughtful technology selection for businesses, while also prioritizing accessibility to ensure broader participation.
The conference will explore the significant impact of Datalytics on community development and address critical issues such as trust and data quality within the financial sector. Additionally, it will examine global disparities in data and AI applications across various organizations and countries, fostering a collaborative environment for knowledge sharing and innovation.
Webinar Details
Title: Datalytics with Debbie Botha
URL: https://youtu.be/GAap7SOYIGs
Date: 2024-12-09
Presenter: Debbie Botha
Meetup Group: DAMA SA Big Data
Write-up Author: Howard Diesel
Contents
Datalytics and AI Conference in the Middle East
Planning and Execution of a Multi-Day AI and Data Management Event
Vendor Engagement and Technology Selection in Business
Accessibility of Datalytics and AI Events
Impact of Datalytics in Community Development
Trust and Data Quality in the Financial Industry
Global Data and AI: Organisational and Country Differences
Datalytics and AI Conference in the Middle East
Howard Diesel opens the webinar to discuss the Datalytics Conference in the Middle East. Debbie Botha, a host and organiser of the conference, shares that it will focus on fostering strategic vendor engagement and enhancing technology selection for businesses in data management.
The initiative aims to improve accessibility and distribution of data-driven practices while showcasing the positive community impact of Datalytics. Key discussions will revolve around trust and data quality in the financial sector, as well as promoting global dialogue on the varied organizational and regional perspectives affecting data and AI deployment. The conference will also celebrate the growth of a vibrant community of over 150 data analytics and AI leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing knowledge sharing through various engaging events and experiences.
Figure 1 Datalytics Middle East
Figure 2 Dalebrook Media Middle East
Figure 3 "Introduction"
Figure 4 Datalytics Dubai
Planning and Execution of a Multi-Day AI and Data Management Event
The upcoming event in Saudi Arabia on December 12, hosted in Riyadh, promises to be an engaging experience focused on data analytics and AI, featuring active participation from attendees rather than traditional speaking formats. Debbie shares that notable sponsors include Credo as the lead sponsor, along with Data IQ, Snowflake, Mongo DB, Cap Gemini, and others.
The agenda includes a Credo Keynote, discussions on data governance and AI leadership facilitated by Tim Carmichael, a session on modern data management led by Bharat Patka, and a talk on data analytics strategy by Abdul Nabin Khan from Credo. Sona Saha will serve as the master of ceremonies, ensuring a lively and interactive atmosphere throughout the day.
At the recent Datalytics event, a keynote session focused on city sponsorship was well-received, promising an engaging and productive day ahead. Howard will facilitate a session on data and AI maturity, addressing challenges and business use cases with an emphasis on responsible AI. The day will culminate in a group photo and the "Wall of Fame" celebrations, featuring a coffee table book that highlights industry leaders from Datalytics Dubai and Riyadh, complete with their photos and bios.
A coffee book will showcase sponsors' logos and is set to be published between December and mid-January, with availability expected in January. Additionally, reflections from Douglas Laney, a judge at the first analytics awards, illustrate the thoughtful engagement expected in future events, including the resumption of awards.
Figure 5 Datalytics Dubai
Figure 6 Datalytics '24 Riyadh
Figure 7 Guest Speaker: Howard Diesel
Figure 8 Datalytics '24 Guest Speakers
Figure 9 Agenda
Figure 10 Data, Analytics and AI Leaders 2024 Coffee Table Book
Figure 11 Datalytics '23
Vendor Engagement and Technology Selection in Business
Debbie emphasises the importance of creating a safe and trusted space for leaders, where vendors like MongoDB engage in thoughtful conversations rather than selling their products. Sponsors are strictly prohibited from promoting their tools during sessions, focusing instead on sharing their expertise and insights.
Datalytics allows speakers to make a brief introduction of their company, but the main objective is to foster discussions about challenges, successes, and opportunities. Vendors remain in the room throughout the event, gathering insights and qualified leads, while follow-up communications occur post-event, ensuring that all conversations are confidential and focused on knowledge-sharing.
Debbie shares on the previous conference held in Dubai. The benefits of Vector Databases for Large Language Models and Generative AI were spoken on, showcasing their relevance in data analytics. Participants appreciated the non-sales approach, focusing on collaboration and learning rather than competition. Overall, the emphasis is on the need for companies to share knowledge and drive progress effectively.
Accessibility of Datalytics and AI Events
The event is designed for leaders and decision-makers in data analytics and AI within industry organizations, specifically those responsible for budgets and teams, to facilitate intimate peer-to-peer discussions. It is not open to the general public, but insights from the event will be shared through platforms like Data Fest in South Africa, which caters to a broader audience interested in data analytics and AI.
There are plans to bring this experience to the Middle East at the end of next year. Additionally, outstanding speakers from the event may be invited to present in community webinars or at public events, ensuring valuable knowledge is disseminated beyond the initial attendee group.
Impact of Datalytics in Community Development
The recent data science webinar, hosted by Craig and featuring insights from Debbie, gathered a diverse global audience from the DAMA community interested in analytics and AI. Attendees included both seasoned professionals and those newer to the field, with a particular focus on networking benefits within the local Saudi community and insights from the Middle East and South Africa.
Debbie highlights the importance of fostering open, honest conversations among senior data professionals rather than relying solely on high-level presentations. This approach revealed that many participants shared similar challenges in data maturity, governance, and quality, which helped dispel the misconception that they were far behind their peers. The intimate, invite-only format of the event allowed for meaningful exchanges that emphasized shared experiences and collective learning.
The focus of Datalytics and related events is on fostering community engagement and addressing the people and cultural aspects of data analytics, rather than merely presenting information in large conferences. With a keen emphasis on deep conversations, especially in regions with growing data maturity such as the Middle East, these gatherings encourage professionals to share insights on data governance, quality, and organizational culture.
The success of these events is reflected in the vibrant communities formed, exemplified by Debbie's WhatsApp group in Dubai, which facilitates ongoing discussions and support among members. Overall, Datalytics aims to empower professionals by creating platforms for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual assistance within the field of data analytics.
Trust and Data Quality in the Financial Industry
An attendee emphasises the importance of trust in the financial services industry, viewing it as the primary currency for successful partnerships and understanding shared challenges. They mentions the value of collaborative efforts within working groups that coordinate responses to regulatory demands, citing GDPR as an example of industry-wide timelines that often require a collective voice to address delays caused by outdated systems and personnel shortages.
Craig Steward highlights the potential for vendors to leverage their experience with various clients to anticipate and solve common problems, suggesting that key findings should be shared beyond the immediate group to benefit the wider industry. In Switzerland, there’s an increasing focus on data quality, as cloud solutions continue to evolve in data engineering and AI.
The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has led to increased scrutiny regarding data quality and the importance of robust data governance processes. Organizations are recognizing the need for structured teams dedicated to ensuring high data quality, implementing proper testing measures, and embedding these practices within data pipelines. Additionally, this trend is expected to grow, with a potential global impact originating from regions like South Africa and the Middle East. Switzerland stands out as a pioneer in data residency, known for its protective stance on data management, necessitating trust in adherence to stringent security standards and policies to alleviate concerns related to data security, duplication, and leakage.
Global Data and AI: Organisational and Country Differences
Debbie emphasises the importance of data maturity and usage over geographical disparities in data capabilities. She shared insights from her work with the Chief Data Officer community across Europe, the UK, Australia, and the US, noting that while some countries lag significantly in data usage, many organizations, regardless of location, struggle with data governance and quality due to outdated practices and lack of executive support.
She closes by highlighting the potential for meaningful conversations within the community, focusing on value rather than the size of events. Additionally, Debbie mentioned her EMBA research on data analytics and AI leaders in the UAE, revealing that their success rates were comparable to Fortune 500 companies, suggesting a universal trend that could inform future studies in South Africa and beyond.
If you would like to join the discussion, please visit our community platform, the Data Professional Expedition.
Additionally, if you would like to be a guest speaker on a future webinar, kindly contact Debbie (social@modelwaresystems.com)
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