Our program for the World of Data 2025 is packed with exciting topics and inspiring speakers. We will add missing information soon – check back regularly to make sure you don't miss any updates!
Ted Sfikas is Amplitude’s Field CTO for the Go To Market team, delivering Digital Strategy, Martech, and Customer Data expertise to clients worldwide. Over the course of 20 years in the industry, Ted specializes in the architectures, integrations and data processing needs of the modern SaaS environment spanning all verticals and their supporting use cases. Amplitude’s critical role in the modern Digital environment has several avenues of value for organizations, which Ted articulates through advisory services and workshops that surface the tactics and techniques that make up a successful strategy. Ted’s design plans also fully consider the security and privacy implications of strategies in MarTech, AdTech and First Party Customer Data requirements. This leads to further collaboration with Data Science and BI teams that seek to solidify a dynamic delivery of new AI services based on a solid foundation of ground truth data that is fit for use in real time.
Gonzalo is Director of Data Engineering at Spark Networks, an online dating company. As a full-stack data professional, he has designed and implemented data analytics frameworks and Customer Data Platforms, leveraging event-driven architectures to enable scalable insights. Gonzalo brings over a decade of experience across BI, data architecture, and engineering in the Digital, FMCG, and Telco sectors throughout Latin America and Europe.
Marco Kramer is Sales Director at Denodo and advises well-known companies in Switzerland on challenging data projects. He previously worked at Databricks and NetApp and has extensive experience in data management, digital transformation, and cloud technologies.
Anton Huck is a Partner Solutions Engineer at Snowflake with a passion for emerging technologies, startups, and Big Data. He supports companies with effective data acquisition, governance, and developing innovative data solutions.
Nathalie Lavanchy-Prack is Head of AI Strategy & Projects at the Helvetia Group. Over the course of more than seven years at Helvetia, she initially worked as a Data Analyst and Data Scientist before shifting her focus to the strategic development of AI. Her team is responsible not only for further developing Helvetia’s AI strategy, but also for managing AI projects, implementing AI governance, and providing comprehensive support in the areas of AI change and AI literacy. Nathalie Lavanchy-Prack has a background in economics and data science.
Michael Wolf is a recognized expert in the field of data analytics and plays a key role in advancing this topic at WWF Switzerland. After graduating from ETH Zurich, he took a leading role at SWISS in shaping the predictive maintenance program. He then spent several years as a consultant, managing a wide range of projects across various industries focused on data, AI, and analytics. Privately, Michael lives with his family in Baden. In his free time, he can be found either on high mountain peaks or in deep waters – with or without his camera gear.
Franziska Tiefenauer is a consulting and digitalization expert with a strong passion for people and strategies. She has many years of experience leading teams and agile projects in the areas of data business development, digital transformation, organizational development, and strategy design. After studying social sciences and psychology, she led various initiatives at Migros related to data, AI, and analytics. Privately, she lives in the greater Zurich area and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as exploring the high mountains and the cultural life of the city.
Maks Kiamos Shah is a visionary tech strategist with 35+ years of leadership in AI, data, and digital transformation across sectors like agriculture, pharma, and biotech. A board advisor and speaker, she specializes in AI governance, data strategy, and IT risk, driving innovation, compliance, and efficiency in enterprise ecosystems.
Expert in data engineering, visualization, and analytics in cloud environments. Santiago has over 6 years of experience supporting companies during their digital transformation.
I’m passionate about turning AI into real business impact. As Data & AI Strategy Lead & Deputy Head at PostFinance, I’ve led enterprise-wide AI strategies, managed a million-dollar portfolio, and built governance that balances innovation and control. With a global academic background and research in ambidexterity, I bridge tech and strategy to drive transformation.
Karsten Nordick is Head of AI and Geo Analytics at Helvetia Insurance in Switzerland. With over seven years at Helvetia, he has held roles in data analysis and location intelligence, advancing to his current position in March 2023. Karsten leverages AI and geographic information systems (GIS) to drive innovation, improve customer insights, and optimize operations in the insurance sector. He holds a Bachelor’s in Geography from the University of Freiburg and a Master’s in Geoinformatics from Paris Lodron University of Salzburg.
Eva is a technology sales professional with academic background on both Computer Science and Business Administration plus 18 years of professional experience in multiple IT companies (System Integrators, Client Organizations, and Cloud Providers). The second half of her career she had been focusing only on Data & AI technologies and helping customers adopt and benefit from their usage.
Dani Arnold lives what others only dream of. With his passion for extreme mountaineering and extraordinary mental strength, he inspires people to question their usual thought patterns and explore new paths. In his talks, he takes the audience into the impressive world of the mountains - with powerful images and personal stories. It is about the courage to step into the unknown, about precision under extreme conditions, about failure and getting back up again - and always about personal growth. For Dani Arnold, the mountain is both a mirror and a touchstone. Those who face it not only encounter rock and ice, but above all themselves. For over 20 years, he has been searching for the most challenging routes in the most remote regions of the world: speed records on the Eiger, Matterhorn and Grandes Jorasses, first ascents in Patagonia, Pakistan and China, challenging mixed routes in Scotland. His drive always remains the same: living dreams, exploring limits - and never ceasing to be curious.
Philipp and his team of senior experts have been responsible for the cantonal data market at the Canton of Basel-Stadt since 2023. Since 2024, he has been responsible for the development and operation of the cantonal data and AI platform and the ICT learner homebase. He particularly enjoys using his experience as a lecturer in data science and AI at DHBW Lörrach and 15 years in various roles in the data environment, including at Siemens AG and Messe Schweiz AG, as a translator and networker at the interface between services and technology.
Christina Schack is the Head of Data Solutions at Bank Vontobel AG. In this role she leads the data platform and data architecture development for the bank. Her team implements and operates centralized and cloud-based data platforms and provides data analytics, management, and governance services. Christina has been in the financial service industry for more than 20 years. Before joining Vontobel, she worked for various asset management companies such as GAM, Bank Julius Bär and Reuters/Refinitiv where she was responsible for the data management, reporting and data initiatives. In addition to the operational aspects, she also takes care of proper change management as a key factor for business progress and growth.
Corinne is a Product Manager for Data & AI at SRF where she develops user-centric data and AI products, driving innovation in the media industry. With a Master’s degree in Business Innovation & Technology from the University of St. Gallen and AI studies at MIT, she leads the full product lifecycle—from discovery to delivery—ensuring impactful solutions. Passionate about shaping Switzerland’s tech landscape, she mentors, invests in startups, and advocates for diversity.
With 10 years of diverse experience in Brand Management, Business Intelligence, and Data Visualization across Vietnam, Germany, and Switzerland, Anh developed a robust business acumen paired with strong technical skills. Through her "Accelerate Career with Power BI" Training Program, she has trained and mentored hundreds of young professionals, helping them enhance their data visualization skills for better career opportunities.
Tajana Stankovic leads global end-to-end data and analytics initiatives, shaping strategy to streamline processes, enhance operational efficiency, and drive measurable outcomes. With expertise in data management, analytics strategy, and AI-ready architectures, she is passionate about democratizing data, fostering innovation, and enabling data-driven decision-making. Tajana drives scalable analytics solutions and data products across diverse markets and functions, bringing in-depth expertise across industries and the financial sector.
Sébastien has been Head of IT and Digital Transformation at the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) since 2020. In this position, he is responsible for the operation and development of the systems used as well as the in-house development of the specialist application for carrying out the SNSF's core activities and the data platform. The SNSF aims to harness the potential of data for evidence-based decision-making and to increase data and analysis expertise. Previously, Sébastien led various transformation projects as CTO and CFO for a Swiss logistics service provider in East Africa.
Martin has been responsible for the Swiss National Science Foundation's (SNSF) enterprise-wide data platform since 2020 and leads various initiatives to modernize the data systems. Due to the size of the team, Martin takes on several roles. As PO, he is responsible for the development projects in various initiatives, while as architect and developer he actively participates in the sprints. He is enthusiastic about platforms such as Databricks and AI-supported development processes and is impressed by the efficiency gains in the development and provision of services that they make possible.
Raphael is Business Lead for HR and Organizational Development at Swiss Post, where he promotes the “data culture”. He has extensive experience in organizational development and change management as well as various certifications, for example as People Analytic Specialist, Digital HR Specialist, Agile Coaching and Scrum Master. Raphael speaks German, English and French.
Pascal Scherrer is Head Lakehouse Platform at AXA Switzerland. In this role, he leads the development of a company-wide Lakehouse on the Google Cloud to support the data driven company strategy, taking into account the Data Mesh approach. Previously, he was responsible for setting up and developing the data & analytics infrastructure in various roles.
Sven Bracklo is a platform engineer and has been designing an analytical data platform for the entire SBB since 2022. His focus is on implementing data mesh principles using infrastructure as code. Together with his team, he currently manages over 150 data products from a wide range of specialist areas.
Caroline Jacob has been a Release Train Engineer since 2021 and is responsible for setting up the SBB Analytics Service as part of the agile transformation according to SAFe. She is driving forward an organizational design that supports the development of a data mesh architecture and thus promotes domain-oriented development of data products.
Irfan Yasar is Head of Data & Analytics at AMAG Retail, where he leads the Data & Analytics team strategically and operationally. Since October 2021, he has been responsible for the development and maintenance of data systems, the provision of data analyses and reports, the integration of new data sources and the planning and implementation of projects. In addition, he works as an external consultant for SMEs and supports the development of reporting, controlling and acts as ad-interim CFO. He began his career in various project and management roles at Fritz Meyer Holding AG, where he set up and managed the controlling and project management functions. As an expert in accounting and controlling, he is also very familiar with the financial aspects and is a member of the audit committee for data management.
Dr. Sabine Österle leads the Semantic Strategy and FAIR Data Team at SIB. The group oversees the implementation of infrastructures to make health data FAIR within the Swiss Personalized Health Network. Her expertise lies in Semantic Web, Knowledge Graphs, and Health Data Management. She holds a Doctorate and degrees in Interdisciplinary Sciences from ETH Zurich, where she is currently a lecturer.
As founder and managing director of b.telligent, Klaus Blaschek has been advising customers on the topics of BI, data warehouse and customer intelligence for over 20 years. His project experience includes challenging international projects and the complete value creation process. As a Swiss by choice, he not only has the telecommunications and financial services industry firmly in focus, but also the Swiss mountains.
Sandro von Ins is the perfect mix of visionary leadership skills and extensive technical knowledge in the areas of data analytics and BI. As a highly motivated, passionate team player, it was clear that he also had to become the founder of b.telligent GmbH in Basel. His strength in empowering people to reach their full potential is what sets him apart. Sandro in three words: teamwork, passion and data!
As the founder of b.telligent GmbH in Basel, Caspar von Stülpnagel is the right contact for complex IT projects, steering committees and transformation projects. His strong analytical skills and his trained intuition for employees and colleagues round out his data analytics and management know-how. He is a team player to the core!
Marcus Bitterlich is responsible for Data Analytics and Data Science at Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG. Until August 2023, he was Head of Data & BI Solutions at the Swiss insurance group Zurich. Previously, he held positions in audit and consulting, helped establish the BI Center at Kabel Deutschland and Vodafone Germany, was responsible for the agile transformation of BI development at Robert Bosch Power Tools, and headed the business analytics division at Rohde&Schwarz and Knorr-Bremse.
Petr Beles has extensive experience in data warehouse projects in the telecommunications, financial, and industrial sectors. He was a co-founder of Datavault Builder and has been successfully implementing projects with Data Vault for several years. Today, he works as a Pre-Sales Engineer, supporting partners and customers in the successful launch of their Data Vault projects. Additionally, he trains teams in the application of this data modeling technique.
Marianne is People Lead in Data Analytics & AI at Swisscom and manages 80 internal and 20 external colleagues in Data Services. She has been working in the information and communication technology industry for around 15 years for companies such as SAP, Deutsche Telekom and Swisscom. She has already successfully implemented several transformations of organizations, technologies and products. She has many years of experience in managing people (up to 100 colleagues in a team) and over 60 million Euro profit and loss responsibility. She has lived in 7 countries and is half Chilean, half German.
In der Datenintegration und im Data Management liegt der Fokus oft auf Technologie – Datenbanken, ETL-Prozesse, Automatisierung, Reporting-Tools. Doch dabei verliert man leicht das eigentliche Ziel aus den Augen: den geschäftlichen Mehrwert. Warum passiert das? Welche organisationalen und technischen Hürden tragen dazu bei? Und vor allem: Welche Strategien können wir anwenden, Dateninitiativen stärker an den Zielen der Fachbereiche auszurichten? Diese Präsentation beleuchtet die Ursachen und liefert praxisnahe Ansätze, um eine datengetriebene Kultur mit klarem Fokus auf den Unternehmensmehrwert zu fördern.
Lakehouses sind gekommen, um zu bleiben – aber auch sie stoßen an Grenzen. Ob steigende Kosten, mangelnde Echtzeitfähigkeit, unflexible Datenquellenanbindung oder fragmentierte Governance: Viele Unternehmen stellen fest, dass ihre Lakehouse-Architektur nicht alle Anforderungen moderner Datenstrategien abdecken kann. Im Vortrag zeigt Marco Kramer von Denodo auf, wie logisches Datenmanagement genau hier ansetzt – und das Beste aus Lakehouse-Investitionen herausholt. Erfahre, wo typische Herausforderungen von Lakehouse-Strategien liegen, wie Du mit Denodo Kosten im Griff behalten und echte Daten-Demokratie ermöglichst, warum „Daten als Produkt“ der Schlüssel zu Self-Service und Effizienz ist und wie Du On-Prem, Cloud, ERP & Echtzeitdaten nahtlos integrierst – ohne Vendor Lock-in.
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Unlock the power of your data and accelerate AI development. This session dives into practical strategies and real-world examples of how to rapidly prototype and deploy AI applications and agents directly on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. Go from concept to a functional prototype in minutes, not months.
Data initiatives are often high in ambition but slow to deliver value. For CTOs and data leaders, the challenge isn’t just collecting information—it’s transforming that data into smarter decisions, better customer experiences, and ultimately, measurable return on investment. In this session, you’ll hear from Gonzalo Melosevich, Director of Data Engineering at Spark Networks, on how his team reimagined their data stack to drive faster, smarter business outcomes. Joining the conversation is Ted Sfikas, Field CTO at Amplitude, who will share how AI capabilities within Amplitude can accelerate this journey—removing bottlenecks, scaling insights across teams, and aligning data strategy with real business impact. This discussion goes beyond tooling—it’s about activating the strategic levers that turn your data investment into a competitive advantage.
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Ob Klimakrise, Biodiversitätsverlust oder Verlust der Artenvielfalt – die grossen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit sind datengetrieben lösbar. Der WWF nutzt Daten, um globale Systeme zu verstehen, zu beeinflussen und zu transformieren. Diese Keynote zeigt, wie wir Daten strategisch einsetzen – von Satellitenbildern bis zu ESG-Indikatoren.
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Syngenta is a leading science-based agtech company. We help millions of farmers around the world to grow safe and nutritious food, while taking care of the planet. Our goal is to discover new, more effective crop protection solutions that safeguard the world’s food against diseases, weeds and pests, while also protecting ecosystems. That is why we have put AI at the heart of our research and development. In this session we will explore how our data platform helped us go from data silos in R&D to integrated data and make what felt years away within reach. Join me in a personal retrospective of the challenges, joys and benefits of providing data@scale to the industry’s most productive innovation engine.
Helvetia setzt auf die gruppenweite Skalierung generativer Künstlicher Intelligenz: Bereits frühzeitig hat Helvetia das Potenzial generativer KI erkannt und setzt diese seit mehreren Jahren erfolgreich in verschiedenen Bereichen ein. Die Umsetzung einzelner, isolierter Use Cases in unterschiedlichen Unternehmensbereichen reicht jedoch nicht aus, um den vollen Mehrwert dieser Technologie zu realisieren. Mit einer überarbeiteten AI-Strategie, die den Fokus auf die Skalierung generativer KI, zentrale Grundlagenservices sowie die internationale Zusammenarbeit innerhalb der gesamten Helvetia Gruppe legt, sollen nachhaltige Innovationen gefördert und die Potenziale von GenAI umfassend ausgeschöpft werden.
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Was braucht es, damit Daten in Organisationen wirklich Wirkung entfalten? In diesem Vortrag sprechen wir über den Aufbau einer nachhaltigen Datenkultur: Was genau verstehen wir darunter, warum ist sie so wichtig – und woran scheitert sie oft? Anhand von Erfahrungen bei der Schweizerischen Post zeigen wir, wie sich eine Datenkultur entwickeln lässt – mit allen Höhen, Tiefen und Learnings.
At Swiss Re, data democratization is not just about access—it’s about enabling every employee to understand, trust, and act on data. This session explores how foundational components of the data stack were built to support scalable data products, how a company-wide Data & Analytics Hub connects people to the right tools and insights, and how GenAI-powered assistants help users navigate the analytics landscape and access insights with ease. Learn how tailored training paths and user-first design have driven real adoption of both data and analytics across the organization.
The main goal of this talk is to give an insight into our work with hospitals and universities in Switzerland, where we're building an infrastructure that enables the interoperable sharing of medical data — all to support and strengthen research efforts across the country.
AI’s glittering promise—agentic assistants hinting at personalized budget tips or proactive fraud alerts—can distract us from the hard plumbing underneath. In this 20-minute session, we’ll dive into an end-to-end example: from value creation in the customer interface all the way through our lean, privacy-first pipeline and into a tiny data-mesh node. You’ll see how we stand up a domain-scoped data product, stream real-time features, and enforce consent—all without “boiling the ocean.” Along the way, we’ll touch on why banking has lagged (legacy systems, privacy constraints, fragmented data) and how our current “grow & scale” phase keeps us grounded in small, use-case builds while still thinking big. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of how to lay the foundation now—so that when AI glitter arrives, it truly shines for customers. What You’ll Learn: 1.) How to translate a simple customer question (“How much can I spend tonight?”) into a domain-scoped data feed and real-time feature pipeline. 2.) The essential governance guardrails (consent, pseudonymization, policy-as-code) required to power an AI interface in Swiss banking. 3.) A 3-step, lean approach to evolve a single data-mesh node into a broader mesh—delivering early wins without drowning in complexity.
In dieser Präsentation zeigen wir, wie wir bei der AMAG Retail unsere gesamten Finanzreports durch ein iteratives Vorgehen erfolgreich in Power BI umgesetzt haben. Dabei nutzen wir weiterhin SAP Datasphere als zentrale Datenquelle und wickeln die komplette Planung mit Budget und Forecast mithilfe der Write-Back-Funktion sowie externer Visualisierungen in Power BI ab. Wir teilen unsere Erfahrungen, wie wir Schritt für Schritt von Excel-basierten Reports zu einer integrierten Finanzplattform migriert sind, ohne die bewährten SAP-Strukturen aufzugeben. Der Fokus liegt auf praktischen Erkenntnissen: Wie funktioniert die Write-Back-Integration technisch, welche Herausforderungen sind bei der SAP-Datasphere-Anbindung entstanden und wie haben wir das Change Management erfolgreich umgesetzt? Anhand konkreter Screenshots und Beispiele zeigen wir, wie Planungsdaten direkt in Power BI eingegeben und über unsere Architektur zurück in die Systemlandschaft integriert werden.
Data Engineering is not all about technology, it has already become clear that it requires distinct soft skills. We will present our approach towards “sensing the internal market”, how to manage stakeholders by being extremely proactive, asking questions rather than receiving orders. The data platform we are building at Pilatus is increasingly becoming a platform for exchange of ideas and business development, a sandbox for product development fueling a data-inspired culture.
Der Vortrag beleuchtet, wie Werte – auf individueller, unternehmerischer und gesellschaftlicher Ebene – unseren Umgang mit Künstlicher Intelligenz prägen. Anhand anschaulicher Beispiele und überraschender Aha-Momente wird deutlich, warum Werte für uns Menschen so entscheidend sind. In interaktiven Übungen reflektierst Du Deine eigenen Werte und prüfst, wie gut sie zu Deinem beruflichen Umfeld, Deiner Organisation und Deinen Entscheidungen – insbesondere im Kontext von AI – passen.
Mit seiner Leidenschaft fürs Extrembergsteigen und einer außergewöhnlichen mentalen Stärke inspiriert er Menschen, gewohnte Denkmuster zu hinterfragen und neue Wege zu gehen. In seinen Vorträgen nimmt er das Publikum mit in die eindrucksvolle Welt der Berge – mit starken Bildern und persönlichen Geschichten. Es geht um den Mut, ins Ungewisse zu treten, um Präzision unter Extrembedingungen, um das Scheitern und das Wiederaufstehen – und immer um persönliches Wachstum.
Many dashboards fail — not because the data is wrong, but because users don’t use them. In this talk, you’ll discover why design is often the missing link between data and decision-making. Whether you’re a data analyst, developer, or product owner, you’ll leave with easy-to-apply best practices to design dashboards your users will actually love and use.
Wie gestalten sich die IT-Geschäftsprozesse der SBB, um täglich über 7.500 Züge zuverlässig durch die Schweiz zu steuern? Welche Rolle spielen unsere Daten in der strategischen Entscheidungsfindung für die Zukunft? In unserem Vortrag bieten wir einen umfassenden Einblick in die Organisation und die Technologien unserer Datenplattformen bei der SBB, um aufzuzeigen, wie unsere Teams mit einer starken Datenkultur im Zeitalter der Künstlichen Intelligenz neue Chancen nutzen und Herausforderungen erfolgreich meistern können.
What does it take to scale a regional data platform into a collaborative, national solution across an entire organization? This session outlines the journey of transforming SRF’s internal usage data platform into a shared, strategic asset for SRG. I will share insights into our approach—what we aimed to achieve, what we accomplished, and what we would approach differently in hindsight. Rather than offering a universal blueprint, I will present a “Not-To-Do List” of key learnings, organizational pitfalls, and practical considerations. The goal is to provide strategic guidance for those leading data initiatives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
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Wie sich die Modernisierung unserer Analytics-Plattform zu einem vollständigen Neubau unserer BI-Landschaft entwickelt hat — basierend auf einer klaren Datenstrategie und angetrieben von Databricks, dbt und einer Portion generativer KI. Wir werden aufzeigen, wie wir eine moderne Datenvision und -strategie definiert haben, unser Data Warehouse gezielt auf Databricks neu aufgebaut haben, über 500.000 Zeilen Legacy-SQL-Code mit Hilfe von KI übersetzt haben und Data Science sowie Self-Service auf einer modernen Plattform etabliert haben.
In dieser Präsentation wird die Entwicklung der AXA Schweiz hin zu einer Data Driven Company vorgestellt. Dabei wird erläutert, wie die AXA Schweiz auf der Google Cloud eine leistungsfähige Plattform für die Umsetzung von Data & AI Use Cases geschaffen hat und durch die Implementierung von Data Mesh die Governance der Data Products in einer dezentralisierten Umgebung sicherstellt. Die erfolgreiche Transformation wurde mit dem „CIO des Jahres 2024, Sonderpreis AI“ gewürdigt. Die Präsentation bietet einen tiefen Einblick in die Architektur der Self-Serve Data Platform auf der Google Cloud, beleuchtet die organisatorischen Rahmenbedingungen und skizziert die Schritte der Transformation.
Angesichts isolierter Systeme und fragmentierter Prozesse wollte Helvetia, eine führende internationale Versicherungsgruppe, Effizienz und Innovation steigern. Erfahren Sie, wie die Verbesserung der Integrität von Standortdaten, ihre Zentralisierung auf einer skalierbaren Plattform und die Automatisierung von Arbeitsabläufen zu einer bedeutenden geschäftlichen Transformation führten. Durch die nahtlose Integration von räumlichen Abläufen in die Preisgestaltung und das Underwriting konnte Helvetia manuelle Arbeiten eliminieren, die Reaktion auf behördliche Vorschriften beschleunigen, neue Cross-Selling-Möglichkeiten erschließen und eine höhere KI-Relevanz und Genauigkeit ermöglichen.
In this session we will discuss what is a Data Strategy and key trends of Data Strategies nowadays. We will then focus on how AWS can support corporate customers on building and delivering a Modern Data Strategy, including the engagement options, best practices workshops, investment programs and the latest technical launches that help organizations innovate and become more data driven.