Barry Green is a future-focused transformation leader, passionate about harnessing data, AI and technology to drive digital efficiency – in business and in life.
With a career that includes several CDO roles, Barry believes that resilience, cognitive diversity and people are the real drivers of successful change. He is the co-author of Data Means Business: A practical guide to creating value from data and AI, alongside data strategist Jason Foster.
In this interview, Barry shares what he’s learned from leading transformation at scale – including why agility × collaboration is the winning formula for every future-ready organisation.
Hi Barry, welcome to ‘Unlocking Leadership’. You’ve led digital and data transformation across several major organisations. In your experience, what does effective leadership look like during times of rapid change – and how has your own leadership style adapted along the way?
Effective leadership is not one thing. It depends on the base culture of the organisation, what the change is, and how it is impacting people. I don’t think there is a right style, but there is a right style for the organisation you’re working with. This can be challenging when your own approach is different. Regardless of how skilled you are, sometimes you’re just not right for an organisation. And as an individual, you can only adapt your style and approach so much. However, I always advocate for diversity in thinking, as this is how complex problems are solved best by a team. Too often, I see leadership and organisations trying to get people to think the same way.
You’ve written about how business capability mapping is key to aligning data platforms with long-term goals. Can you unpack what that looks like in practice – and why it’s such a powerful approach for future readiness?
The practice of understanding what capabilities are needed to be a successful organisation has three core benefits: 1. understanding the common themes in terms of need (i.e. reporting), 2. simplifying the complexity into a level where everyone can understand and in a common language; and finally, 3. prioritising based on value to the organisation through a set of capabilities rather than a political or ‘shiny thing’ approach.
In Data Means Business, you and Jason Foster frame adaptability as ‘agility x collaboration’. Can you share an example of where you’ve seen this formula in action – where collaboration really unlocked transformation success?
In my time at Alliance, I witnessed the team go from working against each other to becoming solely responsible for issues. This change meant we cancelled meetings where everyone attended and were fighting against each other (passively), to using this time to solve problems and lead change across the data team. This eventually started to work in the broader organisation as we began to solve some of the long-standing issues previously seen as unsolvable.
Many organisations struggle to scale their data platforms effectively. Where do you see businesses typically go wrong – and what advice would you give leaders to course-correct?
Too often, data professionals fall into the trap of focusing on one thing, ‘data governance’, rather than a balanced set of capabilities. The organisation falls into the trap of thinking there is a silver bullet and that change by individuals is not required, but someone else needs to change. This requires strong communication upfront, so everyone is clear that it will be hard; that change is broad (across process, operating structure, technology, and people) and that every conversation needs to be about value. The thing with value is it is often not black and white, so you need to agree on how it is measured and get agreement up front. I often describe value as ‘contingent value’, like a contingent asset or liability in accounting.
You’ve talked about the importance of cognitive diversity in teams. What does that look like in a data-led organisation, and how do you build that kind of culture from the ground up?
I think the first thing is to show as a leader you can accept being wrong and learn from your team. It is also about difficult conversations and being able to challenge each other. This is becoming more complex. As a society, we are becoming scared of words. It takes a level of maturity, consideration and thought. Not everyone will like everything that’s said – and that’s okay. What matters is how the team responds: using different perspectives to shape a broader, more coherent understanding that everyone can get behind.
What’s one tool, method or mindset shift that’s transformed the way you work?
Know what you don’t know, learn from others and focus on building that skill or capability. If you are unable to change and adapt, how can you expect others to follow you?
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of AI and data in business — and what should leaders be doing right now?
Our ability to solve problems using AI and quantum computing is very exciting. However, my concern is that people are almost outsourcing their thinking, thinking AI is a silver bullet. This will only lead to models learning content it created. AI can’t replicate whole body thinking (head: rational; heart: ethics; gut: experience) in the way people can. We need to be more challenging, thoughtful and ensure we don’t take the easy way every time.
Who (or what) has been your biggest inspiration?
For me, Arnold Schwarzenegger because he never saw himself as a victim or entitled. He simply set out a plan and was resilient in his approach. To be super successful in a sport, business, and politics is not something anyone else has achieved, that I am aware of.
For aspiring data leaders reading this, what career advice would you give?
Firstly, you can’t do it by yourself, no matter how much talent and resilience you have. Secondly, understand yourself. Accept your kryptonite and try to focus on improving. No one is perfect, so accept others’ kryptonite too. I strongly believe that we need diversity of thought more than ever now, but that requires us to be resilient, listen and understand.
Finally, a favourite quote or motto that you live by?
Be grateful everyday for who you have and what you have learned.
