Data leaders are stuck in echo chambers
Conferences are staged. Panels are scripted. Webinars are shallow. And communities? Thinly veiled sales pitches.
The Data Leaders Executive Lounge is the antidote. A private circle where leaders speak freely, swap real stories, and connect with what actually works.
Data leaders need a safe space.
Now more than ever.
The pressure is rising and the role is shifting beneath your feet. Influence is being stripped. Results are being questioned and without the right backing, even the best CDOs are set up to fail.
CDO's are losing a seat at the table
Once a key C suite role, the CDO is being sidelined. Stripped of influence, excluded from strategy and quietly replaced by lower tier titles like VP and Head of Data.
Data initiative ROI is under scrutiny
Despite heavy investment, data leaders face growing pressure to prove impact. Dashboards aren’t enough and executives want clear links to profit, not just prettier reports.
No mandate.
No impact.
CDOs are often hired without real authority, blocked by internal politics and resistant teams. They’re expected to lead change but denied the power to make it happen.
Only the right people access the lounge
We keep the room small, because the right conversations only happen with the right people.
This isn’t a mailing list or a mass invite. It’s a trusted circle for those shaping the future of data.
You belong here if:
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You’re responsible for a data, analytics, or AI team or function
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You operate at the intersection of boardroom expectation and delivery reality
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You value discretion, depth and dialogue over sales pitches
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You’ve outgrown the usual circuits and know real progress happens offstage
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You bring experience, curiosity and candour to every room you're in
Trusted by Leaders Across Industry
From global banks to retail giants, the Lounge brings together the people shaping data and AI. Not just talking about it.
Closed Door Conversations
Online or in person we always run under Chatham House rules so data leaders can speak freely. No filters. No fluff.
No Sales Pitch Events
Live gatherings online and in person with hosted tasting experiences and zero PowerPoint.
Real-World Solution Sharing
Practical insights from peers solving the same problems you are, not just theory.
Always-On Peer Access
Continue the conversation after each meeting with private to peer groups on WhatsApp and LinkedIn.
Real Voices. No Filters.
Our sessions feature leaders who’ve done the work. Not just talked about it.
They show up not as speakers, but as peers, sharing the lessons you won’t find on slides.
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Lee Fulmer
Group CDO - UBS
DataIQ Lifetime Achievement Award winner, transformation leader, and creative force. Equally at home in regulatory strategy or behind the camera lens.
Rosanne Werner
Chief Data Literacy Officer - Coca-Cola
A globally recognised change leader, known for driving data and AI culture transformation. She led Coca-Cola's award-winning ‘Data in Action’ and Generative AI Masterminds programmes.
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Cornelia Schaurecker
Global Head of Data & AI - Vodafone
Cornelia is strategic innovator, driving ethical AI, data democratisation and large-scale transformation across Vodafone’s global footprint. No mean feat in 100,000 person company.
Orlando Machado
CDAO - Lego Group
Chief Data Officer at The LEGO Group and DataIQ’s #1 most influential data leader. He combines analytics depth with creativity to drive customer led, data powered transformation globally.
It didn’t exist. So we built it.
The kind of space we were looking for didn’t exist. So we created it.
We’ve spent decades in the data space, leading teams, delivering transformation and sitting through too many events that looked good on LinkedIn but offered nothing of substance.
The truth? Most 'so called' communities prioritise sponsors over people.
We wanted a space where data leaders could go off-record, speak freely and surround themselves with people who actually get it.
So we built the Lounge.
A circle we wanted to be part of. And a group we invite you into.
Dan Harris & Jez Clark
Apply for membership
The Lounge is built for data leaders who want depth, honesty and real peer connection.
No vendors. No pitches. Just the right people in the room. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
This isn’t right for everyone and that’s exactly the point.
Every application is personally reviewed, by a human. Not AI.
We’re curating a circle, not building a list.
