Governing Body Spotlight

Dan Reaume has over 25 years of experience leading the development and delivery of analytic solutions and strategies for several of the world’s largest and most iconic companies.

After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, Dan joined General Motors Research and Development (R&D), where he was awarded GM’s top technical award on three occasions, rose to the rank of technical fellow and led GM’s Senior Leadership Technical Council. He subsequently held leadership positions with Dow Corning, Dow Chemical and Revenue Analytics before assuming his current role as Chief Analytics Director for Caterpillar Digital.

Learn more about leaders in the Chicago CDAO community here.
 

Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.

The intersection of mathematics, computer science, innovation and big business has always held an interest for me. I discovered operations research as an undergrad and then undertook a Ph.D. in industrial and operational engineering to explore this exciting field.  

After graduation, I joined General Motors R&D - a dream job for someone who grew up near Detroit.  There, I had the opportunity to explore the application of analytics to virtually every facet of the business, including: design, product development, HR, manufacturing, sales, marketing, planning, finance and public policy.  

While working, I obtained a management degree and became an attorney to become more adept at applying analytics to drive business results. This led to a switch from technical fellow to an executive career path that culminated in my current role with Caterpillar. Here, I have the honor and pleasure of leading a large, world-class organization that drives analytics innovation on several fronts to grow sales and profits.

What is one of your guiding leadership principles?

Be like Switzerland - be neutral.  We don't just deliver numbers, we deliver answers people can trust.
 

With disruption being a key theme of the past year, where do you see your role as a CDAO going in the next 1-2 years?

Analytics literacy and interest continues to grow across the corporate landscape, leading to an increased need for senior analytics leaders to integrate analytics investment across the enterprise. While technological disruption will surely continue, experience and understanding of what analytics can and cannot do will be even more critical to manage the cultural disruption.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the role as a CDAO?

Focus on quick wins to build trust as you develop a suite of solid foundational capabilities.

Tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.

1. I love mid-century modern architecture and design.
2. My dog appears to be the world's largest Pomeranian.
3. I proposed to my wife in an elaborate plan involving painters, horses, the Eiffel Tower and satellite imagery.
    

What is the value of joining an Evanta community?

Analytics is about integration and crossing boundaries. The more different perspectives you have, the more effective you can be.

Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.

by CDAOs, for CDAOs

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