How to Become a Data Strategist in 2024?

avcontentteam 22 Dec, 2023 • 5 min read

Introduction

Are you fascinated by the real-world challenges that data holds? Are you excited to uncover hidden insights and transform businesses with the power of information? If yes, becoming a data strategist is your right career path. Imagine being the hero of an organization, armed with the ability to turn massive data sets into game-changing strategies. You’ll be the go-to person, unlocking secrets and guiding businesses toward unprecedented success. In this article, we will discuss how to become a data strategist!

What is Data Strategist?

A data strategist is a skilled professional who plays a pivotal role in shaping data-driven organizational decisions. They excel at collaborating with stakeholders, gaining valuable insights into requirements and data sources, and crafting innovative data-driven solutions. As the importance of data continues to surge, companies are recognizing the indispensable value of data strategists for efficient and effective data management. With their expertise, businesses can confidently navigate the sea of data, unlocking the untapped potential for growth and success.

What is Data Strategist? 
Source: Dataroots

Why Do You Need a Data Strategist?

  • Aid in data-driven decision-making
  • Identify the opportunities capable of providing maximum value from data assets.
  • Aid in strategic planning to reach the organization’s vision and objectives.  
  • Integrate data systems and technologies to minimize inefficiencies. 
  • Data strategist is concerned with data-related challenges such as quality, data security and scalability. 
: Data-driven decision making
Source: Reveal

Job Role

The data strategist job description is as follows: 

  • Define the use cases for marketing data activation in the digital sector 
  • Understand the consumer and professional ecosystem and data model, including transactional, marketing and commerce data
  • Interact actively in works concerning data architecture designs and oversee their management 
  • Handle the project timelines
  • Maintain cross-functionality interaction and action across the departments 
  • Refine the institutional data capacity by data collection, analysis and dissemination of practices
  • Contribute to efficient designing of metrics 
  • Work on data visualization and analysis 
  • Utilize dashboard tools, outline processes, visualization of complex concepts, and generate business cases. 
  • Aid in strategic decision making 

Skills Required

Here are the skills required to become a data strategist:

Technical Skills

  • A Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline or another related field is necessary. A Master’s degree is preferable. 
  • Professional working experience in domains like Information technology, digital marketing, data governance, data strategy, quantitative and qualitative research methods and statistics or data analysis.
  • Creative visualization using Adobe Creative Suite 
  • Hands-on experience on dashboarding tools or business intelligence platforms such as Tableau or Power BI, SQL Server
  • Should be able to obtain security clearance and submit portfolio and work samples 
  • Experience working on Snowflake, DOMO, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, BlueConic Customer Data Platform
  • Familiar with agile methodology 
  • Ability to develop and implement data strategies 

Soft Skills 

  • Ability to handle multiple assignments with exhibited attention to detail 
  • Client-facing and communication 
  • An analytical and problem-solving approach 
  • Communication and interpersonal skills 
  • Adaptable to diverse culture 
  • Excellent project planning and management skills 

Steps to Become A Data Strategist

Time needed: 10 minutes

Here are some simple steps to build a career as a Data Strategist

  1. Education

    Start by obtaining an education degree in a relevant field, such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, business administration, or any other related area. A solid educational foundation will lay the groundwork for your data strategist career.

  2. Gain Skills

    Acquire essential technical skills in statistics, business analysis, data visualization, and other data platforms. Familiarize yourself with various tools and technologies that are commonly used in the data industry.

  3. Practise More

    Familiarize yourself with data strategy frameworks, best practices, and methodologies. Understand the principles of data governance, privacy, security, compliance, and data quality management. These aspects are vital for effective data management.

  4. Practical Experience

    Gain practical experience through internships or entry-level positions. Working under the guidance of experienced professionals or mentors will help you develop and demonstrate your skills.

  5. Build a Portfolio

    Build a portfolio showcasing your work and projects. Constantly seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills. Curate and present your projects effectively, and consider upskilling or pursuing an advanced degree to stay ahead.

  6. Network

    Network and connect with professionals in the data field. Building relationships with experienced individuals can provide valuable insights, mentorship and keep you updated on industry trends and opportunities.

  7. Apply for Jobs

    As you gain technical and soft skills expertise, actively seek job opportunities that align with your career goals. When applying for a job, highlight how you can contribute to the organization and fit into its data-driven culture. Emphasize your problem-solving abilities and how you can effectively analyze and interpret data to make data-driven decisions.

Salary

he salary of a data strategist can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and the size of the organization. The strategist’s salary in India is about INR 1,05,000 per month and about $113,957 per year in USA. Senior-level data strategists with extensive experience and expertise may command higher salaries.

Conclusion

The emerging role of data strategists in today’s digital landscape is gaining importance as organizations recognize the value of data-driven decision-making. Our Certified AI and ML Blackbelt Plus program provides comprehensive training in technical skills, statistics, and data strategy frameworks, empowering participants to tackle real-world challenges effectively. Our learners stand out in the job market, equipped to guide organizations towards data-driven success and a promising future. As data strategists, they play a pivotal role in driving business growth through data-powered insights and decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What do you need to be a data strategist?

A. Hands-on experience, technical and analytical skills, strategic thinking, decision-making abilities and business expertise are some of the key requirements to be a data strategist. 

Q2. What does a data strategist do?

A. Data strategist aids companies in achieving their goal through data analysis, interpretation, strategic handling of work and aiding in decision-making. They ease companies to leverage their data.

Q3. What is the difference between a data analyst and a data strategist?

A. Data analyst is concerned with analysis and gaining insights into data, while strategists ensure strategic data usage. Data analysis ensures tactical analysis and reporting, while strategists focus on defining data strategies, governance, collaboration and decision-making. 

Q4. How do I become a data expert?

A. Becoming a data expert requires gaining a strong foundation, pursuing quality education, developing technical skills, gaining experience and constantly seeking development and growth.

avcontentteam 22 Dec 2023

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