About

Not every data leader starts with a plan – some start by fixing things that were on fire! Or that nobody else will take the time to understand. In this fast‑paced, funny, and honest session, Phil will share the unexpected journey from building pipelines to shaping enterprise data and AI strategy across some of the most complex sectors in the UK and beyond.

From early days untangling chaotic datasets to leading Data Engineering, DataOps and enterprise‑wide initiatives across Insurance, Health Services, Care and Dental, this talk explores how curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to step into the unknown can forge a career far beyond your job title.

Phil will share real-life examples of learning the hard way, growing high‑performing teams, influencing executives, and helping unlock the AI potential of a global organisation, all while navigating the messy, unstructured reality of modern data work.

Whether you’re early in your career, mid‑pivot, or already leading teams, you’ll walk away with practical lessons on how to create opportunities, build credibility, grow resilience, and engineer your own superpowers. And remember, theres no perfect plan, perfect data, or perfect timing required.

Takeaways

• Your career doesn’t need a roadmap – just momentum – How stepping into messy problems, not perfect opportunities, creates the biggest growth moments
• Technical skills get you started – curiosity takes you further – Why asking better questions beats knowing all the answers
• Living in chaos is where careers are defined – How solving unglamorous, broken, real‑world problems builds credibility, resilience, and influence
• People > platforms. Always! – The shift from “writing code” to “growing teams,” and why human skills define great data leaders
• You can engineer your own opportunity – Practical ways to shape your path, create visibility, expand your impact, and level up