Gabriel Straub is Vice President of Data and Chief Data Officer at the LEGO Group, where he is responsible for evolving how data and AI are used to improve experiences for both builders and colleagues.
He began his data career at Tesco, where he built the organisation’s data science capability. Initially focused on demand forecasting for general merchandise, he quickly expanded the remit into a broad, multi-disciplinary team delivering search and recommendation engines, pricing optimisation, last-mile and in-store fulfilment optimisation, and data-led input into strategic decisions such as category space allocation.
Gabriel later joined the BBC as Head of Data Science and Architecture, where he helped deliver the organisation’s first algorithmically driven product. That foundation enabled the rollout of recommendation capabilities across major BBC platforms, including News, Sounds, and iPlayer.
He then spent five years as Chief Data Officer at Ocado Technology, building a data organisation designed to make data and AI a durable competitive advantage. During that time, the team delivered around 150 AI use cases and redefined the company’s approach to analytics and business intelligence, introducing standardised analytics structures and a Looker-based self-service capability.
Across his career, Gabriel’s perspective has been shaped by a consistent lesson: sustainable impact from data and AI comes from a focus on value rather than technology, and from deep listening that enables data leaders to become trusted partners to the business.
As a data and AI leader, which traits and skills do you think matter most, and which of those have been most influential for you in your current position?
“I think the ability to communicate clearly about what is and isn’t possible to non-technical stakeholders is important, as well as a strong business interest. The job of a data leader is the same as the job of any other leader in the organisation: to improve the business.
“Being able to help people understand what you are proposing will positively impact them and bring them success, and how you will be able to support them, matters a lot.
“The ability to show different stakeholders that you are on their side and helping them drive their agenda through the work you are doing and having them cheerlead your efforts is key.”
Reflecting on your career, what is one non-traditional piece of advice (outside of technical skills) you would give to an aspiring data or AI leader aiming for the C-suite?
“Become obsessed with the business and how it makes money. Become obsessed with the customer and how they use your products and the pain points and delights that that product brings. Become obsessed with the industry you are in and what separates the winners from the losers and how marker dynamics are shifting. And become very good at making friends and getting people to help you.”