Lufthansa Cultivates Data-Driven Leaders to Accelerate Transformation

Lufthansa is pioneering a new approach to data-driven transformation by focusing on developing its leadership ranks. Recognizing that organizational resistance and a lack of data literacy among leaders were hindering progress, the airline group has launched a dedicated data leadership program. This initiative aims to equip leaders across all levels with the skills and understanding necessary to champion data and AI initiatives, transforming their business units into front-runners of change.

Key Takeaways

• Data leadership is crucial for successful organizational transformation.

• Lufthansa identified a significant gap in data and AI literacy among its leaders.

• A data leadership program was developed to address this gap and foster a data-driven culture.

• The program defines six key roles for effective data leaders.

The Data Challenge at Lufthansa

Modern aircraft generate vast amounts of data, with a single plane producing a terabyte every 24 hours of flight. Lufthansa Group has been leveraging this data, alongside investments in AI, data quality, and specialized talent like data engineers and scientists, to drive business outcomes. However, by 2023, the company realized that technical advancements alone were insufficient. The primary obstacle was human: organizational resistance to change and a disconnect between data experts and business units, leading data professionals to feel like "lone wolves."

Cultivating Data Leaders

Lufthansa identified that empowering its leadership circle was the key to overcoming these challenges. Leaders have the unique ability to motivate teams, coach employees on data and AI use cases, and drive adoption within their respective business units. An internal assessment revealed a critical shortage of data and AI literacy across all leadership levels, from the C-suite to team leaders. The airline concluded that transforming its leaders into data leaders was essential for the entire organization's success.

Lufthansa's Data Leadership Program

To address this, Lufthansa developed a comprehensive data leadership program. This program is built on the understanding that data leadership extends beyond traditional tech roles like Chief Data Officers. It emphasizes the active involvement of business leaders in driving data-driven transformations. The program defines six distinct roles that leaders can embody to effectively guide their teams and business units through data-driven change, aiming to embed data literacy and foster a culture of innovation throughout the organization.