Session Overview 

Many organisations describe themselves as data-driven, but in practice the culture — the habits, instincts and questions people think to ask often remains untouched. The result is often not better decisions, but data frustration.

In this session, Sebastian Wernicke will explore the transition from being merely data-driven to becoming genuinely data-inspired. Drawing on two decades of experience helping organisations use data to achieve breakthrough transformation, Sebastian will share a practical roadmap for moving beyond common pitfalls and turning data into a true competitive advantage.

The session will focus on why the hard part of building the future is not technology, but culture and how to build an organisational culture of inquiry, where data does not just refine what you already do, but sparks curiosity and creates lasting transformation.

Key takeaways

By attending this session, participants will:

• Learn the difference between using data to optimise what exists and using it to discover what is possible
• Understand why successful transformation depends on human psychology and organisational culture, not just tools and technology
• Explore how to move beyond the myth of “objective” data and use evidence to deepen understanding and push boundaries creatively
• Discover how to foster a stronger human-data partnership, where data augments expert intuition and domain expertise rather than simply dictating choices
• Consider how to build a cultural foundation of data literacy and psychological safety to support better, faster decision-making

About the speaker

Sebastian Wernicke – Partner, Oxera

Sebastian Wernicke is a leading expert in data and AI strategy and a former Chief Data Scientist. He currently serves as a Partner at Oxera, where he heads the Data Science and AI practice. For two decades, Sebastian has guided organisations around the world to achieve breakthrough transformation through the power of data.

His ability to make complex topics around data accessible, engaging and actionable has made him a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. His three acclaimed TED Talks have reached over 5 million viewers.

For more information, follow Sebastian on LinkedIn or visit www.datainspired.org.

Who should attend?

This session is ideal for:

• Leaders who want to make data and AI work in ways that go beyond incremental optimisation and inspire transformative innovation
• Decision-makers and teams looking to reframe what it means to be evidence-based
• Managers looking to fundamentally reshape their organisation’s relationship with data and AI

If you want your organisation to use data not just to measure the present, but to shape the future, this session is for you.