Paul Ballew is Chief Data and Analytics Officer at the National Football League (NFL), where he leads the league’s data and analytics strategy. With more than 30 years of experience building and scaling data and analytics organizations across multiple industries, he is recognized for aligning analytics capabilities with real business outcomes.
Throughout his career, Paul has focused on helping business leaders drive operational excellence while using data to better understand and connect with customers. He views the two pillars of improving how organizations operate and deepening customer relationships as central to transforming analytics from a “nice to have” function into a strategic capability.
By combining strong technical foundations with commercial focus, Paul has consistently helped organizations move from insight generation to meaningful action. At the NFL, he continues to advance a modern data organization designed to support innovation, strengthen internal decision-making, and enhance how the league engages with fans and partners.
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?
“Be smart, nice, and curious – these are must haves. It is also essential to understand the business.”
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?
“Stay curious as the field is continuously changing.”