How is a best-in-class data-driven organization like a symphony?
Leading the organization is “like putting together a performance,” said Manav Misra, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Regions Bank.
“You’ve got to have a composer who’s got the vision of seeing what that music should sound like, you’ve got to have a conductor who brings together the musicians and then is able to get them to work together, and then you’ve got the individual musicians who are actually playing the violin or playing the piano, etc. And as a leader of an organization, you have to be able to do all three of those.”
Misra shared with David Wright, host of the Innovative Disruptors podcast, that he first saw this description in an article by the consulting firm Gartner. He believes it is an accurate comparison to how his teams come together to create beautiful music – or in his case, data products.
“What really differentiates leaders in technology and analytics is your ability to lead teams of people to be able to do great things.”
Manav Misra, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Regions Bank
Misra discussed his career journey with Wright and how it has helped shaped the way he approaches leading his teams at Regions since his arrival in 2018.
Earlier in his career – which took him through academia and several startups before coming to Regions – his focus was very much on the technical foundation and knowledge needed, as he believed that was most important in order to be successful. However, as he began to grow as a leader, his focus shifted to team building and relationships.
“You’ve got to be strong in the technical aspects of what you do,” says Misra, “but what really differentiates leaders in technology and analytics is your ability to lead teams of people to be able to do great things, and that is much harder than the technical knowledge that you gain.”
Listen to the full podcast below to learn more from Misra, including the advice he would give his younger self.
Related Article on Doing More Today