10 Data Science Skills that C-Suite Leaders Should Know in 2022

Data science skills are crucial for both leaders and employees for the growth of businesses

The majority of businesses today have realized the importance of data-driven business strategy and the need to culture advanced technologies and talented individuals who can leverage these technologies to provide the most accurate insights from the constant streamflow of collected data. While the need for accurate data science skills is growing, more and more companies are coming to the domain to deploy analytics and data science technologies. So, to make sure that the collected data is properly streamlined according to the business needs, leaders should not only deploy skillful individuals but also inculcate those skills among themselves as well. Like all scientific inquiries, analytics needs to start with a question or problem in mind. So, quite similarly, C-suite leaders should take the lead in identifying the key data problems in businesses. Executives, after all, are the ones who have to make the final decisions, so eventually, they play a central role in determining what to measure and what number will help the companies grow. Inculcating industry-centric, top data science skills is crucial. In this article, we have the most essential data science skills that C-suite leaders should possess in 2022.

Analytics and Modeling

Dara is only as good as the people performing the analytics and model based on it. A skilled data science professional is expected to possess high proficiency in this area. Based on the foundation of critical thinking and communication, leaders have to learn to analyze data, run tests, and create models to gather new insights and predict possible outcomes.

Programming

Obtaining programming skills is essential in data science. Most businesses will expect their leaders to know basic programming skills in Python and R, as well as other necessary programming languages. Object-oriented programming, basic syntax, and functions, flow control statements, as well as knowledge about language libraries, are essential skills for business leaders to possess.

Data Visualization

Data visualization is the key to effectively communicating messages and getting buy-in for proposed solutions. Understanding how to break down complex data into smaller pieces and using a variety of visual aids is a skill that data science professionals should be proficient in. They should be able to create charts, graphs, and other such things to help enable other data science employees to find out errors while presenting and rectify them.

Leverage Self-Service Analytics Platforms

C-suite leaders should not only gain insights on utilizing such advanced technologies but also understand the challenges involved in utilizing them. They have to possess the basic knowledge of market solutions, know and apply the best practices and techniques, and the ability to share results through self-service dashboards or applications. Self-service analytics platforms can help data professionals process the explore the data and also effectively communicate the results with the less-technical employees, enabling efficiency across all business platforms. 

Maths and Statistics

Coding, maths, and statistics play a critical role in data science. Data scientists deal with mathematical and statistical models and must be able to apply and expand on them. Besides, having a strong knowledge of statistics will enable the professionals to think critically about the value of various data and the types of questions it can or cannot answer.

Machine Learning Models

Data experts say that while being an expert in machine learning might not be that necessary, for C-suite leaders, it is essential to be familiar with machine learning. Decision trees, logistic regressive, and more key elements like machine learning enable potential C-suite leaders to access critical information that might accelerate the company's growth potential.

Social Media Mining

Social media mining refers to the process of excavating data from social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others. Skilled data professionals can identify useful patterns and filter insights that a business can use to develop a greater understanding of the audiences' preferences and social media behaviours. This kind of expertise is also essential to develop an enterprise-level social media marketing strategy. 

Microsoft Excel

Data professionals trained in Excel can use VBA to develop pre-recorded commands that can make routine, and make frequently-performed tasks like updating payroll, accounting or project management easier for human administrators. Well, leaders might be proficient in Excel, but it is crucial for them to choose the right tools that go with Excel to quickly assess and distill conclusions from raw data. 

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a valuable skill that easily transcends to any profession. In the domain of data science, leaders can see through all angles of problems, examine the data source, and constantly stay curious about seeking new solutions and products to develop business strategies.

Business Expert

C-suite leaders can be experts in data science technicalities, but how would they drive their businesses forward? Be it a leader or a data employee, in the end, everyone is working towards moving towards taking the company to new highs. Business-minded leaders can apply their technical skills more efficiently if they have a clear vision as to what will facilitate more success and revenue.