In this edition of “The Executive Outlook“, we are thrilled to introduce Eshwarya Agarwal, the Director of Insights and Analytics at Busuu. With over 12 years of experience, Eshwarya has become a key figure in driving data-driven strategy across many industries. He is more than just an analytics leader; he’s an innovator, pushing boundaries and transforming the way businesses think about data.
Eshwarya’s journey isn’t one of overnight success but rather a constant evolution, from analytics enthusiast to a data strategy visionary. His experience spans tech, retail, financial services, gaming, and even the fast-paced world of edtech. So, he continues to disrupt industries by showing companies how to achieve the hidden potential of their data.
But here’s the twist: Data alone is not enough. Eshwarya has learned the hard way that without the right leadership and business mindset, data can be a double-edged sword. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about how you use them. And in today’s competitive world, most businesses are missing the point.
Why Most Companies Fail in maximising value from data
Eshwarya remembers the early days when he first dove into data analytics. His first big challenge? Convincing people that data wasn’t just a buzzword—it was the future of business development. “The hardest part wasn’t getting access to data or technology; it was getting people to understand that data isn’t the solution, it’s important to use it right,” he says.
In one memorable experience, he worked with a major gym and hospital chain in the UK. The company’s marketing team had been using intuition based campaigns to reduce membership churn. Yet, despite their best efforts, churn rates remained high. When Eshwarya introduced a churn prediction model, he assumed that the team would jump on it immediately. But there was one big problem: trust.
The marketing team was skeptical. They didn’t trust the model at first. It wasn’t until they saw the results in action, with tangible impacts on the business, that they began to shift their mindset. It wasn’t enough to just deliver the data; Eshwarya had to guide them through a journey of change management, building relationships and showing quick wins along the way.
The Big Data Myth: Why More Data Is Actually Making You Weaker
Here’s the shocking truth: Most businesses don’t have a data problem; they have a leadership problem. Eshwarya points out that companies often think more data is the answer to their challenges, but in reality, they’re lacking a clear, actionable strategy to make the data work for them.
“I’ve worked with numerous companies that had mountains of data but couldn’t make sense of it. They were swimming in data, but drowning in confusion,” Eshwarya explains. The real challenge wasn’t the technology or the data—it was getting leaders to understand the value of data driven-decisions and align it with the business strategy.
He believes this is where many businesses fail: they treat data as an afterthought, something to add on at the end, rather than integrating it as the core of their strategy. And this is where the controversy lies: Companies that don’t treat data as their most valuable asset are doomed to fail.
Data Without Leadership Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen
Eshwarya has become a champion of leadership in the data-driven world. He emphasizes that data is only as good as the people behind it. In his view, data leaders are the key to transforming raw data into valuable business insights.
“Data strategy isn’t just about numbers. It’s about having the right people in place who can turn those numbers into actions,” says Eshwarya. In his experience, the most successful data strategies are led by individuals who understand both the technology and the business implications. These leaders know how to navigate the complexities of change management and align teams around a unified goal.
But here’s where it gets controversial: A company can have the best tools and the most sophisticated data infrastructure, but without the right leadership, it’s all meaningless. Too many companies invest in advanced technology only to find themselves stuck in a data quagmire because their leadership can’t make sense of it. Leadership is the missing link, and without it, no amount of data will ever move the needle.
Will AI Transform Your Business — or Expose Your Data Weaknesses?
As AI continues to evolve, Eshwarya is at the forefront, exploring how artificial intelligence can take analytics to the next level. But here’s the catch: AI is only as good as the data you feed it. Eshwarya explains that many companies are rushing to implement AI, thinking it will magically solve their problems. But they’re failing to realize that bad data equals bad AI results.
AI is helping analysts move from basic descriptive analytics to more sophisticated predictive and prescriptive models. Eshwarya is especially excited about AutoML tools that allow analysts to build machine learning models without deep coding expertise. “AI is making it easier for businesses to use data for forecasting, decision making, and even automation,” he says. But again, the secret isn’t in the AI tools, it’s in the data infrastructure that supports it. AI can create a good impact on your business strategy, but only if businesses are prepared. Without the right data culture, structure, and governance, AI will just be another shiny object that fails to deliver real results.
Common Mistakes Companies Make: Data Isn’t Just for Policing
Eshwarya has seen it time and time again: companies treat data as a “policing” tool, a way to check boxes or prove their actions. But this is a major mistake. Data should be a catalyst for innovation, not a way to justify past decisions.
“Data is an enabler of growth,” he says. “It should be used to explore new opportunities, not just to prove that you’re meeting goals. When companies start using data in this way, that’s when the magic happens.”
But the hard truth is this: Many businesses are stuck in the past, using data to validate outdated decisions instead of using it to shape future strategies. Until this mindset changes, businesses will remain trapped in a cycle of inefficiency, never truly realizing the real potential of data-driven strategy.
Preparing for AI: The Steps Businesses Need to Take Now
Eshwarya believes the first step in preparing for AI is to build a strong foundation. “You can’t just jump to AI,” he warns. “If your data infrastructure isn’t ready, you’re setting yourself up for failure.”
But the most critical factor in preparing for AI? Data culture and literacy. Eshwarya is a staunch advocate for educating teams on the importance of data, creating a culture where data is understood, trusted, and utilized effectively at all levels. He also emphasizes that standardization is key to having a consistent language and approach to data across the organization is essential for AI to work.
“The days of disparate data systems and unstructured data are over,” he says. “If you want AI to work, you need to start with the basics: clean, well-organized data, and a team that understands how to make the most of it.”
The Truth About Building Analytics Teams
When it comes to building a high-performing analytics team, Eshwarya looks for more than just technical expertise. He values curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and the drive to make data actionable. “The best analysts are those who aren’t just good at what they do, they’re driven by a desire to solve real business problems,” he says.
But here’s the kicker: Data expertise alone isn’t enough. In a world where AI and automation are changing the landscape, it’s the entrepreneurial mindset that will separate the leaders from the laggards. Data leaders need to think beyond the numbers and focus on how data can fuel business development and innovation.
Conclusion: Data Is the New Currency—Are You Ready to Harness Its Power?
Eshwarya Agarwal’s story is a testament to the power of data-driven leadership. His journey proves that data isn’t just a tool, it’s a strategic asset that can drive business development, shape business strategy, and transform industries. But here’s the most controversial point: If you’re not treating data as a core part of your business strategy, you’re already behind the curve.
“The future of business will belong to those who understand the value of data and the leadership required to make it work,” Eshwarya concludes. “Businesses that fail to understand and utilise the full potential of data always struggle to compete in the digital age.”
Data strategy isn’t optional anymore. It’s a must-have. And the leaders who embrace this truth will be the ones shaping the future of business.
Click here to explore more insights and inspirational journeys in our next edition of The Executive Outlook.
Editor Bio
I’m Isha Taneja, serving as the Editor-in-Chief at "The Executive Outlook." Here, I interview industry leaders to share their personal opinions and provide valuable insights to the industry. Additionally, I am the CEO of Complere Infosystem, where I work with data to help businesses make smart decisions. Based in India, I leverage the latest technology to transform complex data into simple and actionable insights, ensuring companies utilize their data effectively.
In my free time, I enjoy writing blog posts to share my knowledge, aiming to make complex topics easy to understand for everyone.
