Listen

Description

We are surrounded by data. But just because we've become proficient at collecting it doesn't mean we're good at understanding it or using it to its full advantage. How do you know if your company is reading data correctly? What should you be doing differently to make the most of it? 

To answer that question, we sit down with Arnaud Petriolle, the Senior Director of GTM Finance at Xero in the UK. Arnaud has a background in finance and strategy and consulting and finds himself at the intersection of finance, go-to-market strategy and data. So, he's well positioned to help us with this timely question.

Rapid-fire recommendations

    • Software: Spreadsheets (Excel and Google Sheets)
    • Book: Deep Work by Cal Newport
    • Key takeaway: The goal isn’t to collect more data; it’s to make better decisions. Data only creates value when it changes behavior. You can have the perfect dashboard, but if it doesn’t lead to different actions, it’s basically just cosmetic. Obsess over clarity. Don’t try to read all the data; learn to read the data right, ask better questions about it, and have the courage to act on what the data tells.