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Steven Henson-Tyers, Head of Data Visualisation, Sainsbury’s

Steven Henson-Tyers, Head of Data Visualisation, Sainsbury’s

Describe your career to date

With 15 years’ experience of using technology to drive processes and decision making, I have built a career in democratising technology and empowering colleagues to drive data into the heart of decision making.

At ASOS, I worked in multiple functions of the business: building social media contact management applications, working on the start of their journey into big data as part of the customer insights teams and gaining my first look into how cloud computing could drive technology to provide data-led answers.

At Tesco, I worked within the clothing commercial function, looking at its reporting ecosystems and providing the applications and BI platform to best serve its needs. This was my first experience at enterprise-wide scale solutions to data democratisation.

I moved to Sainsbury’s in 2018 and was tasked with delivering data-based applications and reporting for finance in analytics. In 2020, I moved to the technology function in the applied data analytics team, focused on driving data-led decision making, single version of the truth BI platform and democratising the data for the whole business. I am currently heading up a 70-strong data visualisation team, building a culture of destination reporting through personalised role-based dashboarding, measuring the right thing at the right time.

Tell us about the data and analytics resources you are responsible for

I manage a team of over 70 data visualisers who are split over eight squads. We focus on maintaining a back catalogue of 2,000 reports that are accessed over one million times a week by 15,000 colleagues, as well as building new strategic role-based dashboards tailored around the role and process. We also focus on measuring the right business metric which drives action orientated products. We package this up by offering a “destination reporting” ecosystem, simplifying access and content.

As advocates behind a single semantic layer, we mature the ability for the business to explore the same data in new ways. We democratise data, making it accessible with a single version of truth to anyone irrespective of their technical skills.

Tell us about any ambitions you have in terms of becoming a data leader

I was an early adopter of technology and have always had the “hacker” mindset with the technology that is around me. Progressing my career has opened more opportunities to get the most out of technology to benefit my peers and, most importantly, our customers. When used correctly, data is a brilliant non-biased way of understanding complex problems and a main driver behind improving the customer journey and the efficiency of the business.

I want to continue to drive the use of technology and data for everyone, irrespective of their role, technical skill or experience. Delivering a strategy that creates step changes in the business with innovative concepts, improving processes and repositioning manual effort that’s put into maintaining legacy processes into effective decision making.

What key skills or attributes do you consider will be essential to your success in this role?

Keeping the “why” and “vision” in every decision you make. Being connected to both customers and the processes that serve them.

Receptive to the ever-moving picture of technology and data. Be willing to review current data strategy and pivot where necessary.

Innovate and be prepared to fail fast and learn from your mistakes to empower further innovation.

How did you develop – and continue to develop – your current skills or attributes?

Growing up, I have always had technology around me, from working with dial-up modems to playing with friends or figuring out early VoIP technology, I have been curious on how to get the most out of it; this often didn’t come with a manual or training video to show how to achieve it. By giving it a go, I removed the wall a lot of people put up when they see technology.

Actively learning from my peers and customers around applications of data and lessons learned. Awareness of trends, attending events and actively talking and understanding the communities’ challenges and drivers are important activities.

And what about the skills of your data teams and of your business stakeholders? How are you supporting their data literacy?

Training is an essential part of our strategy. We have a comprehensive library focused on all avenues required when using data. From technical training on specific platforms, to process training on how to build or upskill on data biases. We focus on a clear holistic approach that works not only for our team, but for the entire business.

We use the central learning platform to full effect by creating multiple training pathways for the business. This helps with increasing the team’s literacy in data tools and techniques and helps bring our functions closer.

We have created an analytics community within Sainsbury’s which is focused on helping each other progress our technical skills, data literacy and ensuring dynamic career pathways.

Our approach in offering best practices on analytics and insights is crucial in ensuring data is a key player in decision making. We drive a product led organisation focused on defining the right metrics to measure and offering innovative ways to embed data into their everyday processes.

How do you keep pace or stay in touch with your peer group? Do you see it as important to have an active professional network?

Having a strong peer network is pivotal to keep challenging your strategy and vision. Being active in communities on LinkedIn, going to networking events and talking to people about the challenges and successes is a brilliant way to help understand the common hurdles and innovations to overcome them.

Keeping a good relationship with previous colleagues is also great, especially as they are often the people who truly understand the forward steps you take in the industry.

Steven Henson-Tyers
has been included in:

Future Leaders 2023 (EMEA)

The trusted global collaboration and intelligence platform for data leaders.

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