S5 | Ep 39 | Successful AI Adoption with Alex Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, Indhira Mani, Chief Data Officer at RSA and Greg Freeman, CEO at Data Literacy Academy

Driven by Data: The Podcast

In Episode 39, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Alex Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, Indhira Mani, Chief Data Officer at RSA and Greg Freeman, CEO at Data Literacy Academy where they discuss how to successfully adopt AI inside organisations, which includes;

• Why AI adoption is a business transformation journey, not just a technical implementation.
• How aligning AI with core business priorities drives meaningful outcomes and stakeholder engagement.
• The importance of clearly defined use cases to avoid over-engineering and misaligned efforts.
• Why cross-functional collaboration between business, data, and IT is crucial for scalable success.
• How solid data foundations and governance underpin responsible and effective AI deployment.
• The importance of developing AI literacy across all levels to support confident and informed decision-making.
• Why focusing on business value and outcomes, not algorithms, helps demystify AI and gain broader support.
• How adjusting the language used around AI can make it more accessible and reduce resistance.
• The importance of embedding ethics and transparency from the outset of AI initiatives.
• Why mindset, culture, and change management are the true enablers, or blockers, of successful AI adoption.
• How leadership curiosity and openness accelerates cultural readiness for AI.
• The importance of managing expectations to prevent fatigue and maintain organisational trust in AI efforts.
• How continuous storytelling and iteration help build momentum and credibility throughout the AI journey.

Thanks to our sponsor, Data Literacy Academy.

Data Literacy Academy is leading the way in transforming enterprise workforces with data literacy across the organisation, through a combination of change management and education. In today's data-centric world, being data literate is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.

If you want successful data product adoption, and to keep driving innovation within your business, you need to start with data literacy first.

At Data Literacy Academy, we don't just teach data skills. We empower individuals and teams to think critically, analyse effectively, and make decisions confidently based on data. We're bridging the gap between business and data teams, so they can all work towards aligned outcomes.

From those taking their first steps in data literacy to seasoned experts looking to fine-tune their skills, our data experts provide tailored classes for every stage. But it's not just learning tracks that we offer. We embed a deep data culture shift through a transformative change management programme.

We take a people-first approach, working closely with your executive team to win the hearts and minds. We know this will drive the company-wide impact that data teams want to achieve.

Get in touch and find out how you can unlock the full potential of data in your organisation. Learn more at www.dl-academy.com.