John Wernfeldt’s Post

A few years ago, I was in a meeting, staring at a dashboard that didn’t add up. Sound familiar? We were trying to make a critical decision fast. But the numbers were off. Different teams had different versions of the same data. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, but trust in the data was gone. As a consultant working with data, analytics, and AI strategies, I realized that without a solid foundation, even the best tools and smartest teams won’t deliver. That’s when I started diving deep into data governance not just as a compliance exercise, but as a way to unlock real business value. I came across the DAMA Framework and saw how powerful it could be when applied step by step: 1️⃣ Understand where you are: Assessing data maturity is like checking the foundation of a house. 2️⃣ Highlight what matters most: You can’t fix everything at once. Prioritize for impact. 3️⃣ Create a roadmap: Clear milestones make the journey manageable. 4️⃣ Build the team: Data stewards, architects, and governance leads everyone has a role to play. 5️⃣ Upskill and empower: People need the tools and training to bring governance to life. 6️⃣ Track progress: Measure improvements and celebrate wins like more accurate decisions, faster access, and trusted data. Today, I help organizations take their data from chaos to clarity. I’ve seen firsthand how strong governance transforms not just data but decision-making, trust, and culture. If you’ve been in that same meeting frustrated with the lack of good data know this: It’s fixable. With the right framework, you’ll start small and build something that scales. Data governance isn’t about rules; it’s about enabling better decisions, faster. What’s your biggest data challenge right now? P.S: Save this post as a reminder: Good data governance starts small but makes a BIG impact.