"Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves." – Tim Berners-Lee To align data governance with strategic goals, focus on: 1. Define Clear Objectives – Map governance policies to business outcomes. 2. Get Executive Buy-In – Ensure leadership supports and funds the initiative. 3. Identify Key Data Assets – Prioritize what drives decision-making. 4. Establish Ownership – Assign data stewards for accountability. 5. Measure Impact – Track KPIs like data quality, compliance, and ROI. 6. Foster a Data Culture – Educate teams on why governance matters.

I’ve seen so many Data Governance initiatives fail due to unclear business objectives and lack of patience. Data Governance initiatives need to be linked to business objectives and it needs to be clear how the initiative supports the overall business strategy. Also Use Cases need to be linked to the initiative so it is clear how they benefit from data governance. Last and most important is stakeholder management, value need to be shown for different stakeholders, otherwise the initiative will be shut down.

The question you should be asking here is why your DG initiatives would be anything other than aligned with the firm's strategic objectives? If DG is not working to deliver the firm's North Star then you are clearly working on the wrong things. Equally if the firm has objectives which cannot be rationalised against accepted DG best practices, it's time to question the Board on the suitability of the strategy and decide whether the firm is setting itself for success or disaster.

Appointing data governance champions/stewards/representatives within each business unit who can act as liaisons between data governance and their respective departments for cross-functional alignment. Integrated roadmaps will need to be developed to show how data governance initiatives support the broader business strategy. This includes aligning data projects with business objectives and ensuring that data governance efforts are not siloed but are integrated into overall business plans.

To ensure success, I start by clearly understanding the organization's strategic objectives. Then, I map data governance goals directly to these objectives to create alignment. I engage stakeholders across departments for buy-in and collaboration. Next, I implement policies and processes that support both governance and business needs. Finally, I establish metrics to monitor progress and adapt as necessary.