Our data champion, Helen Mannion, is named one of the most influential people in data and analytics

Our very own Director of Global Data Management, Helen Mannion, has been chosen as one of the most influential people in data and analytics in the 2021 DataIQ 100.

Our global data team, led by Helen, helps Specsavers be more data-driven by using analytics to inform future strategy, as well as helping teams to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Although 2020 was a tough year for us all, the Covid 19 situation really highlighted the need for teams to understand performance at pace – and Helen’s team dealt with a surge of requests to understand data across the company.  All of this activity made huge progress in the team’s transformation journey, and started building data foundations to improve Specsavers decisions and strategies.

Specsavers’ vision is to change lives through better sight and hearing, and as an organisation we work closely with health organisations across the world to achieve this. A lot of the data and insights provided by Helen’s department to clinical teams will be shared with health organisations, such as the NHS and Glaucoma UK to help the wider population.

Most recently, insights shared showed glaucoma referrals were down by 66% during the first lockdown, highlighting the impact on a significant number of patients, who potentially unknowingly delayed the start of treatment, which would slow down the onset of a condition that causes blindness. This stat has since helped make the case to keep stores open for routine appointments which means we can help save the sight of many people.

Helen says “I now realise that I love making a difference. Whether that’s transforming how companies use and generate value from data, enabling wider data users to make smarter timely decisions, being a compassionate, curious leader who helps inspire and empower individuals to develop themselves or being an empathetic, kind and supportive mum, daughter, wife and friend.”

You can read more about Helen’s experience in Specsavers’ data analytics here