This is a profile from the 2022 version of the DataIQ 100.
The latest list is available here.
Hywel Benbow, senior vice president, global data and analytics, GEMS Education
What has been your path to power?
Despite not directly looking for roles in data at the start of my career, I have always worked in analytics and research. I’m an analyst at heart and have spent my career utilising those skills in a variety of different roles in both public and private sectors. I’ve been lucky to have worked with and for some excellent people who have given me the opportunities to progress into different roles.
I have an inquisitive mind and I enjoy problem-solving and delving into “why” things happen. That’s probably the reason I was drawn to and have stayed in the sector. I’ve enjoyed working in different organisations with different challenges and requirements, every day is a learning experience and from this I’ve been able to translate and utilise those skills in different scenarios to make an impact.
What impact has the pandemic had on the role of data in your company/organisation?
There’s certainly been an increase in focus on how data and analytics can help people understand the impact the pandemic is having on different parts of the organisation, be it student learning outcomes or student numbers.
Data teams need to be agile, which has only intensified throughout the pandemic. This agility has been critical in delivering in a changing environment. With an increased demand on the team we have taken on more transformation projects alongside our BAU, but the over-arching goal hasn’t changed: to deliver actionable insights across the organisation.
DataIQ is a trading name of IQ Data Group Limited
10 York Road, London, SE1 7ND
Phone: +44 020 3821 5665
Registered in England: 9900834
Copyright © IQ Data Group Limited 2024