Thoughtworks

Global Service Portfolio Lead for Data & AI Strategy services, including strategic enablement for Data & AI Governance, Data Modernization, AI readiness and other related client objectives.

Director, Data & AI Strategy

Leading our data strategy and data governance services, shaping the offering and approaches to create value-driven solutions for our clients in Europe

Principal Data & AI Strategist

DataQG

DataQG is the leading Data Enablement and Community Platform designed to help organizations upskill their workforce in data literacy.

Education Advisory Board Member

DAMA Germany

Lead marketing planning, execution and monitoring to grow and engage the community and to establish thought leadership and knowledge exchange in all things Data Management & Data Governance in Germany

Head of Marketing

Technics Publications

Author - "Humanizing AI Strategy - Leading AI with Sense and Soul"

Author - "Humanizing Data Strategy - Leading Data with the Head and the Heart"

Ambassador

adidas

Ensuring product data is consistent, accurate and available and making sure it’s used in a secure and meaningful way. We govern product data end to end, from data creation through data processing all the way to data usage and enrichment.

Senior Director, Product Data Governance

Lead in Social, PR and Voice of Consumer Analytics to integrate Consumer Insights from Social Media, PR, Search Behavior, Product Reviews and Experience NPS feedback into any decision-making in brand strategy, campaign planning and in-activation optimization.

Director, Digital Analytics - Social, PR & Voice of the Consumer

Lead in Voice of the Consumer Analytics with focus on integrated insights based on consumer feedback across digital channels (e.g. Digital Brand Perception on Social Media, Product Ratings / Reviews on Website, Search Behaviour on Google)

Director, Digital Analytics - Voice of the Consumer

Creation of Digital Marketing Performance KPI Framework to measure success within branding activities and consumer perception on strategic and operational level

Lead standardisation and alignment of eCom KPI definitions and reporting methodology across Digital Analytics, BI/Finance, Markets and Business Units

Governance of holistic eCom business performance KPI framework across digital and financial teams

Senior Manager, Digital Analytics

TD Reply

Project Manager of projects in Digital Strategy & Performance Optimization

adidas: On-site Project Manager and Product Owner of KPI Frameworks and Dashboard Visualizations at Digital Brand Commerce

Miele: Account Management of International Brand Marketing and coordination with over 10 markets

Support in Digital Performance Management projects of Coca Cola, Volkswagen and Döhler

Knowledge Management & Advisory between German and Chinese Office

Senior Consultant

Lead of projects in Digital Strategy & Market Research

Key account manager of VW brand marketing

Development of Social Media strategies

Setting up processes and guidelines for crisis management

Consultant

Junior Consultant / Master Thesis

Student Worker

Berlin Institute of Technology (Technische Universität Berlin)

Analysis of business models and market analysis of various industries

Research Assistant - Chair of Strategic Leadership & Global Management

I’m a Data & AI leader by day, a musician at night, and an optimist at heart. 

After 12+ years in data analytics, data governance, consumer insights, digital transformation and AI innovation, I grew fond of the human aspect - how to communicate, collaborate and get creative around data and AI.

My passion lies in making data and AI more approachable and fun, and I often use unconventional methods to do so - with music, humor or other creative outlets. 

Nice to meet you! 
Let’s have a (virtual) coffee?

Data quality has always been a little bit of a catch-all for all kinds of data complaints. Whenever data looks a little different than expected, it immediately must be a data quality problem. 

The rapid increase of AI-driven use cases for data now puts even more attention to the concept of data quality, because AI use cases often require expanded historical data, higher granularity, higher speed and a different focus - like unstructured data for context. 

One thing has not changed: the only way to manage data quality in the right way is to move away from generic complaints about it to detailed conversations about what "high quality" data actually means, and what currently is missing to get there - to then improve data quality together towards a defined state. 

When in doubt, dad jokes can also help - to not only break the ice, but to also exercise authority by positioning yourself as someone's dad. 😁 

Let me know if you need any help.

#dataquality #datagovernance #tiankaistuff

Tiankai Feng

Data & AI Strategy Director @ Thoughtworks | Author of “Humanizing AI Strategy” | TEDx Speaker | Data Musician

This is an appreciation post for everyone working in data governance.

While most data governance people I talk to are really driven and passionate about making data better for their organization, they are also the most modest and self critical - believing they always can do more things better. 

Facing resistance and misunderstandings around what data governance even is trying to do, being a great empath and communicator became a necessity - making them great collaborators and people to hang out with (if you give them a chance).

Since data governance conferences very quickly turn into group therapy, I know we are not getting the attention and acknowledgement we deserve - and although the hype around AI has finally put us in the spotlight, we are now spending even more time and efforts clarifying requirements and objectives, and setting the right expectations.

So, to everyone working in data governance: you are doing your best and it’s awesome - just a little longer and you can recharge during the break. There’s a lot of exciting work to do in 2026.

Data governance rules. 

#datagovernance #appreciation #tiankaistuff

Fun with data literacy in Kindergarten?! 

Yesterday I was invited to read “The Data Detective at the carnival” to the kids at my son’s Kindergarten group - a book that I translated for the German community and donated to the Kindergarten before. 

I was first a little worried that talking to kids between 4 and 6 years old about qualitative and quantitative data would be too difficult - oh how wrong I was! 

We had the most fun letting the kids count and describe things not only in the book but also in the room and in their lives - and everyone was excited to get a “data detective certificate” afterwards! 

But the most rewarding thing of all is how proud my son was that his dad came to Kindergarten to read a book to everyone - showing up as his cool dad is probably my favorite speaking engagement ever. 

Thanks to Chandra Donelson and Jordan Morrow for writing such a wonderful book! 

#dataliteracy #education #tiankaistuff

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In a desperate attempt to make data jobs cool for the next generation, Fortnite launches the new “data squad” skins! 

They even come with their own signature powers: 

👉 the data engineer can build pipelines to move faster but everytime a pipeline breaks the player is teleported next to the pipeline to fix it for an hour

👉 the data scientist can predict other players’ movements but needs to clean data in a spreadsheet for 30 minutes first 

👉 the data analyst puts random dashboards all across the map to confuse other players with KPIs and metrics 

👉 the data product owner can build powerful products but with every minute without a RoI the player loses power 

👉 the data governor can change the rules of the game entirely but other players only have to comply optionally 

Can’t wait for the AI roles skins to drop with equally as much realism! 

P.S. this is satire and not real. 

#data #humor #tiankaistuff

Receiving this kind of feedback after my talk and musical performance at the Forward Data Conference is truly so rewarding.

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel”, the great Maya Angelou once said - that’s why sharing positivity and joy with others is for me equally as important as exchanging knowledge. 

After all, there are two things I love to spread: Happiness and germs. 

Just kidding, it’s Nutella. And germs. 😁

How we make people feel is our real legacy, y’all. Have a great weekend everyone!

#conference #mindset #tiankaistuff

Here are five reasons why you should buy my book "Humanizing Data Strategy":

👉 My mom calls it "better than expected"

👉 Critics call it "marxism for data" and "DEI Cr*p"

👉 It looks great on a book shelf

👉 That's why your kids will love to draw stuff onto the cover

👉 It's currently on Black Friday sales (but apparently only in Germany)

It's also about the human side of data and introduces the framework of the 5Cs (competence, collaboration, communication, creativity & conscience) to make data strategy truly human-centric, but those are just minor details. 😁 

Maybe those that read this book already can leave more reasons to buy it in the comments. Thanks in advance!

#datastrategy #author #tiankaistuff

“You’re too sensitive.” 

One of the worst things to say to someone who’s upset - and it never has made anyone less sensitive, ever. 

There’s always a reason why we are triggered by certain things based on our unique experiences, and this kind of statement shows ignorance to that. 

We can say many other things instead, like: 

“I’m sorry you’re upset - could you help me understand why this bothers you so much?”

“I think we can look at this from a different angle, what about…” 

“What can I do right now to make this situation better? I want to help make this right.”

It’s always easy to judge someone else, but trying to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is where real human connection starts. 

Be human, y’all! 

#empathy #collaboration #tiankaistuff

I’m really happy about anyone who voluntarily listens to my data music, but almost a thousand listeners from 51 countries is crazy! 

2025 was also very exciting because I’ve never performed music live so much as this year - I even got to play on a real concert piano thanks to the Inspari A/S data & AI day, and I got to write and perform a new original conference song for the Forward Data Conference! 

I know that making music about Data & AI is not everyone’s cup of tea - but as someone who’s passionate about the human side of data & AI, isn’t that subjectivity what truly shows our humanity? 

As long as my music brings a net positive to the data and AI community, I’ll keep on doing it - thank you all. 

P.S. I have some very cool new music coming before the year ends, stay tuned! 

#music #personalbranding #tiankaistuff

What do virtual meetings and Disney movies have in common? 

Not a lot, but I created this musical parody anyway. You’re welcome. 

And now everyone: 
🎶 can you see my screen right now? 🎶

YouTube link in comments. 

#meetings #humor #tiankaistuff

Forward Data Conference, here I come! 

This year’s final station of what for me felt like the “humanizing data & AI world tour” will be in Paris - and it will be a doozy! 

I’ll be giving a talk about the key success criteria of truly scaling AI, and I can’t wait to meet data friends like Joe Reis, Eevamaija Virtanen, Jessica Talisman, Andrea Gioia and Gaëlle SERET! 

The forward data conference was an excellent experience already last year, and from what I’ve seen so far Yoann Benoit, François Laurain and the team took it to really the next level this year.

Oh yeah, the scarf indoors is protecting my voice because there may or may not be some never before seen or heard music by yours truly tomorrow… 🎶

à demain!

#conference #data #tiankaistuff

Congratulations to Greg Freeman on publishing The Data & AI Literacy Bible - a book that’s timely, important and truly insightful! 

I had the honor to review and endorse this book, and what I really love about it is the focus on human confidence, growth and actions - aspects that are often forgotten in conceptual and abstract conversations around literacy. 

This having said, I’ve had the chance to meet various Data Literacy Academy folks and they’re all awesome - you can talk to them and find out yourself 🙂

The book is now out on amazon, link in the comments! 

#dataliteracy #book #tiankaistuff

There are many reasons why AI governance is important right now, but the biggest undeniable reason for me is that we need to admit that human-beings aren't perfect and make mistakes, and that we should do everything we can do prevent machines from making the same ones - faster and on bigger scale. 

I was asked to contribute to the "Document automation trends in 2026" report by Rossum and focused on the importance and challenges of AI governance, and there are many other interesting trends to read about that are not only specific to document automation but to AI use cases in general.

On a side note, I love how we are all trying our best to predict the next year, when AI specifically this year showed us that many things are truly unpredictable. I guess we all want some certainty for comfort, and I'm not blaming anyone.

Link to check out the full report in the comments!

Huge thanks to Julie BIASION ✨ for inviting me to contribute!  

#aigovernance #trends #tiankaistuff

🎶 EXCITING NEWS!🎶  

As a token of gratitude for all the opportunities and encouragement I got this year for my data & AI music, I want to give back with something very special: MY FIRST EVER (VIRTUAL) LIVE CONCERT!

Join me in an exclusive livestream where I'll perform my most iconic songs about, data & AI and so much more - and since it's live, of course I'll engage with all of your questions and comments. 

My only question for you is: Which of my songs do you want to see me perform live? The setlist is not completely done yet so I can still make changes 😎 

See you there!

#data #music #tiankaistuff Thoughtworks

TIANKAI LIVE IN CONCERT - a musical end of year celebration

How do I make my AI strategy human-centric, and why does it matter?! 

I’m so excited to return to DataQG to give a community webinar exactly on that topic tomorrow. 

Everyone can join, and there will be a live Q&A - so if you want to visit one of the best data governance communities and watch me improvise answers to your trick questions, join us! 

Thanks to my friend Philip Black for the invitation!

Link to sign up in the comments. 

#aistrategy #webinar #tiankaistuff

I often think about Formula 1 races as best practice environment where actual data-driven decisions are being made - a lot of them at an incredible speed! 

Being able to do that requires not only a well connected ecosystem of machines, tools, and systems - but also an incredibly well-oiled (get it?) team that understands how to work together in a high stakes environment. 

This is why I’m very excited about this upcoming Alteryx webinar with the Lisa Jarman, PhD from the McLaren Group Formula Team to exactly discuss how data-driven decisions are being made there, and I can’t wait to learn and get inspired!

See you at the webinar?

Link to register here: https://lnkd.in/dJi4dKKi

#webinar #dataanalytics #tiankaistuff

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