Make your CDO role
unassailable in 12 weeks
From a fellow traveller in the CDO network who carries everything alone, to a C-level sparring partner with a clear board narrative, visible results and a stronger position in your organisation – or your next one.
You probably found this through the CDO podcast. This is the program we discuss there.
Prefer to read up first? Subscribe to the Briefing →CDO podcast: "We call each other fellow travellers"
Being heard
Authority
Setting direction
Strategy
Clear rules of engagement
Mandate
Visible Data Office
Position
Visible results
Evidence
Do you recognise this as a CDO or data leader?
Everyone is "a bit into data", but nobody actually has the mandate to make organisation-wide decisions.
You formally report into IT or sit in an unclear box, yet everything lands on your desk.
The board wants quick AI wins, while the fundamentals (data quality, ownership, governance) are still shaky.
Your calendar is packed with escalations, definitions and reports, but you struggle to show tangible breakthroughs.
You feel more like a fellow traveller than a leader: high responsibility, limited authority, isolation at your level.
You have a data strategy, governance documents, maybe even a 90-day plan – but nobody reads them. The narrative does not live internally.
CDO podcast: Without mandate you remain at the mercy of others
The position you actually want
As a CDO you do not want to run yet another reporting factory – you want to set direction: clear at the board table, recognisable across the organisation and with enough evidence to retain your role – or make your next move easier.
A board that listens – because they have heard your narrative, not just read it.
3–5 breakthrough projects you can defend out loud on impact, priority and feasibility.
Mandate everyone understands – governance and ownership in plain language, shared in a format that lands.
A dossier that strengthens your hand in performance reviews, promotion rounds and job applications – the evidence of what you have built.
CDO podcast: The helicopter view every CDO needs
CDO Board Impact in 12 Weeks
A 1-on-1 engagement for CDOs and senior data leaders who want to strengthen their role instead of just firefighting.
You build 6 assets that transform your position
No stack of theory, but concrete deliverables and formats you can share internally – with all templates included as a bonus.
CDO podcast: Making governance tangible for the business
What the 12 weeks look like
Week 1–3
Building authority
- AI voice scan and intake – mapping your playing field
- Sharpening your role, mandate and board narrative
- Result: a narrative that makes your board listen instead of just read
Week 4–6
Claiming strategic position
- From a long list to 3–5 breakthrough projects you can defend out loud
- Alignment with strategy, organisational politics and achievable buy-in
Week 7–9
Anchoring mandate
- Making critical data, quality agreements and ownership clear and explainable
- Governance in plain language – concrete enough to share broadly
Week 10–12
Visibility & evidence
- Designing your data office operating model – everyone knows who does what
- Recording your narrative yourself and making it shareable internally
- Finalising the 90-day plan and Career Leverage Dossier
In between: personal 1-on-1 sessions and all templates to prepare your narrative. Fully online; you record your episodes yourself with your phone, laptop or Teams.
Who this is (and is not) for
This is for you if:
- You are a CDO, interim CDO, Head of Data/Analytics or senior data manager at a mid-size or large organisation.
- You already have a data strategy or AI ambition "on paper", but it has not truly landed yet.
- You are looking for less technology and more mandate, narrative and results.
Not a fit if:
- You work in a startup or small company.
- You are mainly looking for more dashboards or extra hands.
- There is no serious executive attention for data, AI or governance.
Investment and guarantee
The CDO Podcast
Hear how CDOs and data leaders talk about mandate, position and the day-to-day reality of their role.
"80-90% van je AI governance is eigenlijk data governance" — Mustafa Akpolat
Who guides you
Sonny van Bergen
Founder Databewuster & Power BiSon Data Consultancy
From BI consultant bridging business and IT to CDO sparring partner. Over 10 years of experience in data management, governance and dashboarding at organisations such as Waternet, Van Oord and KVL. Built an internal data podcast and governance framework at Waternet that strengthened the data team's position – the Data Strategy Manager went on to become CDO.
- Host of the Databewuster podcast covering CDO themes and guests
- Member DAMA NL, DAMA Adoption Committee & Data Quality group (CDMP-certified)
- Microsoft Azure Data Engineer & MCSE Data Management
- CDO program completed (2024–2025)
Mission: make the CDO role "stick" – respected, effective and career-enhancing.
Also proven at organisation scale
The same format also runs as a multi-month Data Office & Governance Enablement engagement inside large organisations: governance that lands on the actual data roles, so the Data Office becomes self-steering instead of depending on one person.
8,200+
LinkedIn followers
6+
Certifications
17
Podcast episodes
10+
Years of data experience
Frequently asked questions
Ready to make your CDO role unassailable?
Schedule a no-obligation 30-minute Board Impact Call. We will discuss whether the program fits your situation.
Prefer to start with a low-threshold connection?
Join the Databewuster community for data management professionals. Free, with theory modules on data quality, governance and data office, and space to exchange ideas with peers.