By Kyle Langworthy, Head of AI/ML/Data Practice
3 Takeaways
- Data evangelists drive cultural transformation: Data evangelists promote a data-driven culture, ensuring data is accessible and used across departments to make smarter decisions.
- AI enablement complements data evangelism: AI enablement turns data strategies into actionable solutions, working alongside data evangelists to drive business growth.
- Attracting AI leaders requires data empowerment: Offering proprietary data and fostering a data-driven culture is key to attracting top AI talent and driving innovation.
When we think about AI leadership, one leadership type stands out as critical in today’s data-driven business world: the Data Evangelist. One of five key AI leader archetypes, this role is about pushing for data-driven decisions and turning raw data into useful insights that can make a real difference to the business.
In my work helping companies find the right AI leaders, I’ve seen firsthand how impactful a Data Evangelist can be—not just changing technology strategies but influencing the entire company’s approach to how they work and think about data.
Let’s dive into what the Data Evangelist does, why this role is important, and how AI leaders can use data to make smarter decisions. For more on key roles in AI leadership, our State of AI Leadership report offers detailed insights into what’s changing in AI teams.
The Data Evangelist: More Than Just a Technical Expert
At their heart, the Data Evangelist believes in the power of data. But their role goes beyond being a data expert—they actively promote data usage across the entire organization, making sure it’s part of how the business makes decisions. They’re the bridge between data and business impact.
- Why it matters: Today, businesses need to make decisions based on the best available data. A Data Evangelist works to make sure everyone—from teams in product development to company leadership—has access to data and knows how to use it. This role shifts the company culture to use data to improve how everyone works.
- In practice: A Data Evangelist doesn’t just manage AI systems—they encourage teams to think differently about data. They help connect different departments and ensure the company uses data wisely to solve problems and find new opportunities.
The Role of AI Enablement and How It Ties to the Data Evangelist
As AI teams grow, the AI Enablement role often becomes closely tied to the Data Evangelist. The Data Evangelist focuses on creating a culture of data-driven decisions, while AI Enablement takes those decisions and turns them into real, working solutions that can be used across the business.
In fast-moving companies, the Data Evangelist and AI Enablement roles often overlap. The Data Evangelist sets the stage by ensuring data is available and usable. Once that’s in place, the AI Enablement role ensures that those data strategies are implemented practically and efficiently across the business.
This isn’t a “handoff” between roles, but a natural evolution. The Data Evangelist works on making data more accessible and understanding how to use it, and then AI Enablement takes those insights and creates solutions that everyone in the company can use.
Why AI Leaders Must Champion Data-Driven Decision-Making
Businesses today don’t have a problem getting data—they have a problem making sense of it. With so much information coming from every direction, it can be hard to turn that data into something useful.
This is where the Data Evangelist steps in. They break down barriers between departments, encourage collaboration, and show teams how to turn data into insights that lead to better decisions
Making data useful: A Data Evangelist makes sure data is accessible. They take complex information and turn it into simple, clear insights that the company can act on.
Connecting the dots: Data is often spread across different departments—marketing, sales, finance, and so on. The Data Evangelist brings these pieces together to create a unified approach to data use across the entire company. Their goal is to make sure data flows smoothly and is used in every part of the business, not just in isolated areas.
Empowering teams: The best Data Evangelists teaches teams how to understand and use data. They help everyone in the company feel confident using data to make their own decisions.
The Power of Proprietary Offline Datasets: Unlocking Innovation
AI leaders are drawn to companies that offer unique datasets that others can’t access. These datasets allow teams to build more accurate models and discover insights that competitors can’t replicate.
Proprietary offline datasets allow AI leaders to experiment and innovate freely, without relying on generalized or publicly available data. By working with exclusive data, AI teams can find new insights that lead to better products, improved customer experiences, and more efficient business operations.
For AI leaders, having access to proprietary data is a powerful advantage. It’s a tool that allows them to push the boundaries of innovation and helps the company stay ahead of competitors.
How to Attract Top AI Leaders Who Can Drive Data Transformation
Create an environment where data is a valuable resource across the company: Top AI leaders want to know if they can make a real impact, not just tackle technical challenges.
Provide access to proprietary data: AI leaders want to work with data that gives them a competitive edge and drives innovation.
Foster a data-driven culture: The best AI leaders thrive in companies where data is central to the decision-making process. Build a company culture that encourages everyone to use data in their day-to-day work.
Invest in the right tools: Make sure your AI leadership team has the right tools to turn data into meaningful insights. Providing access to the right data analytics platforms shows that you are committed to data-driven growth.
Empowering AI Leaders to Drive Business Transformation Through Data
The Data Evangelist is the driving force behind how businesses unlock the full potential of their data. They transform data from just numbers into powerful decisions that fuel innovation. But here’s the question: Who’s leading that charge in your organization? Is there someone dedicated to making data not just accessible, but a core part of your company’s DNA? If you don’t have a Data Evangelist yet, it may be time to ask—who’s making sure your data is working as hard as it could be?
Explore the Data Evangelist archetype and learn how these leaders are changing businesses in our State of AI Leadership report. It provides a deeper look into the AI leadership roles that are driving change today.
Kyle Langworthy is Head of AI/ML/Data Practice at Riviera Partners. Connect on LinkedIn.
About Riviera Partners
Riviera Partners is a global executive search firm specializing in placing top talent in cybersecurity, AI, data, engineering, product management, and more. With a focus on understanding the unique needs of tech companies, we match organizations with leaders who can drive innovation and security in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. Contact us here.
