Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking with Sridher Arumugham, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at DigiKey. Sridher was recently recognized as one of the Top 100 Chief Data Officers globally by HotTopics. His approach to data strategy is refreshingly clear, focused, and real-world. Here are a few takeaways.
1. Data Strategy should align with 5 Business Goals
When asked about building a strategic data function, Sridher didn’t talk tools, dashboards, or clouds. Instead, he pointed to five questions every data team should ask themselves:
Does our work contribute to one of these?
- Revenue growth
- Customer growth
- Operational efficiency
- Compliance and safety
- World-class user experience
If the answer is “no,” it might be time to re-evaluate that project.
“Your data work should align to at least one of these outcomes. Otherwise, it might be interesting—but not important.”
2. Build Data Culture by Making It Visible and Shared
Sridher made the data strategy visual by turning it into a Zoom background for his team.
He also emphasized data literacy, but not in isolation. Campaigns that connect people, showcase wins, and build shared language across business units are the secret sauce.
3. Approach AI with Context, Not Hype
When it comes to GenAI, Sridher offered a cautionary but constructive message:
- Start with the business problem
- Ensure your data is clean, explainable, and contextual
- Don’t chase AI for buzz—solve for value, not novelty
He shared that it’s prudent to apply AI internally to automate IT and data tasks such as metadata extraction and test data generation, where the ROI is immediate and safe.
“A model trained on dirty data will automate the wrong decision. Context is everything.”
This conversation served as a valuable reminder that great data leadership is about trust, clarity, and sustained impact. Thank you @Sridher Arumugham for your time with us.
