Last week, we had the pleasure of actively participating in the Chief Data Officer Forum 2025. This year’s edition was held under the theme: All about data – Back to the roots: data governance as the foundation of success.

Taking the stage: building a flight plan for data governance

Once again, BitPeak proudly served as a substantive partner of the conference. Together with our client, LOT Polish Airlines, we had the opportunity to take the stage and deliver the presentation: From chaos to order: how to develop a flight plan for data governance.

At BitPeak, we believe data governance extends far beyond a simple set of rules — it’s a strategy that requires clear direction, a strong commitment, and a well-defined action plan. But how do you build such a plan within the complex environment of a large organisation?

During our session, Michał Kołodziejski, Consulting Manager at BitPeak, and Marcin Wojszcz, Head of the Data Governance Team at Polish Aviation Group, addressed key questions:

Can data governance be introduced where data operates independently and change is often resisted?
Do data assets always need to remain locked under strict ownership?
How to gradually establish data order in an organisation that has never operated within such a framework, without ideal conditions, but with determination, mistakes, and valuable lessons that can’t be found in textbooks?

Our case study clearly demonstrated that well-designed data governance is not a restriction — it’s a competitive advantage.

Valuable conversations at the BitPeak booth

Throughout the conference, our team — Sebastian Kamiński, Bartosz Nazaruk, Michał Kołodziejski and Ilona Florek — engaged with participants, discussing their most pressing data-related challenges, such as:

Initiating work on data strategy
Adjusting existing data strategies and architectures to meet growing business needs
Navigating challenges related to data processing regulations
Addressing the lack of tools and resources for data management
Meeting new reporting demands and the need to streamline and centralise reporting processes

Expert insights from BitPeak

Bartosz Nazaruk shared his perspective:

In the era of AI, data leadership is no longer just about understanding technology – it’s about mastering what humans do best: creating clarity, building trust, and managing relationships. This message was strongly reflected in the presentations by Winfried Adalbert Etzel (Data in Orbit) and Tristan J. Burns (The Evolving Landscape of Data Leadership). One point from Tristan particularly resonated with me — we often recruit data leaders for their deep technical expertise but later expect them to function as business leaders. That gap requires greater attention.

Ilona Florek commented:

The road to success always leads through well-organised data, which enables sound decision-making and builds trust in technology — this idea resonated throughout many conversations during the event. Data strategy is now becoming a key element in creating a competitive advantage. There were many inspiring talks and great discussions at the BitPeak booth. I’m glad I had the opportunity to take part in this exceptional event once again!

The CDO Forum provided us with a fantastic platform to exchange experiences with data professionals during roundtable discussions and expert panels. As every year, we also participated in the General Meeting of DAMA Poland Chapter, a leading not-for-profit organisation promoting the development of information and data management practices.