Skip to main content

Speakers

  • Kemi Phillips Headshot

    Kemi Phillips

    Head of Capability Building - Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Novartis

For Business

Training 2 or more people?

Get your team access to the full DataCamp library, with centralized reporting, assignments, projects and more
Try DataCamp for BusinessFor a bespoke solution book a demo.

Customer Story: How the Novartis L&D Team Scaled Their Data Training

July 2022

Slides

Share

The Novartis Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) Academy trains thousands of employees in data skills as part of an organization-wide data transformation program to "Go Big on Data and Digital".

In this webinar, Kemi Philips, Head of Capability Building—Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Novartis, presents her story of running a large-scale data academy. She discusses the challenges and successes of the program, along with practical tips for how to scale training at your organization.

Key takeaways:

  • Learn how to scale corporate training programs to thousands of learners

  • Learn how to set up and run a Data Academy

  • Learn about the data roles within the pharmaceutical industry

Summary

Novartis' Learning and Development team has effectively increased its data science training using a systematic approach. Kemi Phillips, who oversees the development of data science and AI skills at Novartis, leads the team. They use a centralized structure to identify training needs across various departments and develop programs that can be expanded throughout the company. The strategy involves a cooperative network of internal and external partners, using platforms like DataCamp for skill development. Key initiatives include the Data for Leaders program, low-code AI tools for non-data professionals, and a virtual learning space named Novartis Data City. These initiatives aim to improve data literacy universally, in line with Novartis' broader digital and data strategy.

Key Takeaways:

  • Systematic learning programs are necessary for increasing data science training across large organizations.
  • Collaborations with platforms like DataCamp facilitate flexible and thorough skill-development pathways.
  • Data literacy is vital for all employees, not only data scientists, to drive innovation.
  • Leaders play a vital role in maximizing the potential of data science teams by aligning business problems with data solutions.
  • Programs must be flexible to the unique needs of different departments while maintaining a consistent learning structure.

Deep Dives

Increasing Data Science Training

Novartis has developed a sturdy framework for increasing data science training, led by Kemi Phillips. The approach involves creating systematic learning programs suited to specific departments, which are then repeated ...
Read More

and expanded throughout the company. The goal is to democratize data skills across the organization, ensuring that every employee understands the importance of data literacy. "We're providing a model for programs that can be expanded quickly and effectively by others," said Phillips. This method allows Novartis to address unique departmental needs while maintaining consistent training quality.

Using External Partnerships

Novartis has collaborated with platforms such as DataCamp to facilitate scalable and flexible learning pathways. These collaborations provide access to a wide array of courses and resources, enabling personalized learning experiences. Phillips noted, "Our relationship with DataCamp allows us to use their tools in various ways, making it easy to adapt learning to specific needs." This collaboration supports Novartis' strategy to upskill employees in data science, creating an environment where learning is accessible and adaptable.

Improving Data Literacy

Enhancing data literacy across all levels of the organization is a priority for Novartis. Initiatives like the Data for Leaders program aim to align business problems with data-driven solutions. Leaders are encouraged to bring real-world challenges to the table, where data analytics tools can be applied to find solutions. Phillips highlighted, "We need to impress leaders with the potential of data science to solve business problems." By engaging leaders, Novartis ensures that data science capabilities are fully utilized to drive strategic goals.

Building a Cooperative Network

Novartis has built a cooperative network involving internal and external partners to support its learning and development goals. This network includes Yammer communities for knowledge sharing and a centralized hub for accessing resources. "It's about creating an environment where people can easily share and learn from one another," said Phillips. Through this network, Novartis creates a culture of continuous learning and innovation, encouraging employees to develop their data skills in a supportive environment.


Related

white paper

The L&D Guide to Data Literacy

Find the appropriate distribution of data skills across your organization.

white paper

What 300+ L&D Leaders Have Learned About Building Data Fluency

Learn all about how to build a data-fluent culture and the wins you can unlock.

webinar

Scaling Data Science At Your Organization - Part 3

Learn how to organize your data science team to scale effectively.

webinar

How L&D Leaders are Shaping Data Literate Workforces

Successful data literacy upskilling programs from a variety of industries

webinar

Panel: Learning and Development for the Data Driven Age

Learn upskilling best practices from L&D leaders at Bloomberg and NatWest Group

webinar

Train Your Workforce to Thrive in a Data-Driven Age

Develop a scalable data training program and measure its effectiveness.

Hands-on learning experience

Companies using DataCamp achieve course completion rates 6X higher than traditional online course providers

Learn More

Upskill your teams in data science and analytics

Learn More

Join 5,000+ companies and 80% of the Fortune 1000 who use DataCamp to upskill their teams.

Don’t just take our word for it.