Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it’d be wise for more companies to employ an executive data scientist.
They would never be listened to. Their purpose is to confirm whatever the execs want to believe in. Facts that don't agree must obviously be wrong.
It requires exceptional executives and an exceptional executive data scientist today, no doubt. Though, based on my experience it is possible given mutual due respect. Executives are domain experts, and I’m a business economist-statistician / econometrician. We work together to pool our understanding given our vantage points and differing abilities, skills and knowledge. By working together, and applying the right skills to important situations, it’s possible to avoid a lot of conformation bias it would be difficult to avoid otherwise (and the result is growth and smooth operation). ie- through analysis, it’s possible gain alignment & prevent all kinds of erroneous assumptions (resulting in increased growth).