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Ellen Nielsen

Ellen Nielsen, Chief Data Office, Chevron

Describe your career to date

I am the Chief Data Officer at Chevron, focusing on creating a data-oriented culture partnered with value chain thinking. As a multi-disciplinary leader, I have over 30 years of global experience as an executive in IT, Digital, Data, Procurement, and Supply Chain roles. I have worked with industry leaders in Oil and Gas, FMCG, Automotive, Manufacturing, Retail and Banking and Insurance.  

I am a regular speaker for the data industry, and have presented for PPDM Association Data Expo, Evanta CDAO, MIT CDOIQ, and the Houston CDO Executive Summit. I have received numerous awards and recognitions including Corporation of the Year by Women Leaders in Data and AI, Global Data Power Woman by CDO Magazine, and DataIQ 100 – being named the 5th most influential person in data in the USA. As a firm believer in giving back, I serve on a variety of boards, including: PIDX International – Petroleum Industry Data Exchange, and Women Leaders in Data and AI (WLDA). 

How are you developing the data literacy of your organization, including the skills of your data teams and of your business stakeholders?  

We created a common data language across the company, defined data roles, created a data is in my DNA motto and campaigned around it. We then defined five behaviors everyone in the company should demonstrate, spotlighted many success cases from businesses and functions around data and artificial intelligence (AI) with links to the right behaviors, ran events and summits internally to showcase data and AI, and enabled data in citizen development program

What role do you play in building and delivering conventional AI solutions, including machine learning models? Are you involved in your organization’s adoptions of generative AI? 

I have a broad outlook that encompasses everything from data to insights. Our company has been using data science for decades, and over the past three years, we have successfully measured the value generated by the Data Analytics and Data Science departments. We are now moving towards generative AI (genAI), and we have set up a dedicated cross-functional team to focus on use cases.  

Two years ago, I initiated Responsible AI in the company, which includes a framework, principles, assessments, and an understanding of relevant regulations. It is important to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly, and I am proud to say that our company is taking steps to do so. Additionally, I am chairing the job family in Data, which means I need to make sure that supply meets demand for talent, including the right talent mix. 

Have you been able to fix the data foundations of your organization, particularly with regard to data quality?  

Two years ago, we started to execute on data productization. We implemented a data marketplace where data producers meet with consumers. We have over 600 data products available and are measuring consumption to understand patterns and need.  

We are currently implementing our Data Quality program for the most relevant data which includes data quality metrics for key data sets. It started with process and people, and we are now in the final step of technology. 

Ellen Nielsen
Ellen Nielsen
has been included in:
  • 100 Brands 2022 (USA)
  • 100 Brands 2024 (USA)
  • No. 5 100 Brands 2023 (USA)

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