The Insight-Driven Leader
How High-Performing Companies are Using Analytics to Unlock Business Value
1st Edition
Published on 12. June 2025
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-394-30888-0 (ISBN)
Description
How to harness the data already in your company to solve your business problems
In today's fast-paced world, data is everywhere-but only actionable insights can drive real success. The Insight-Driven Leader offers a practical guide to transforming raw data into powerful workforce insights that solve critical business challenges. Through clear frameworks, compelling case studies, and proven strategies, Jenny Dearborn and Kelly Rider reveal how high-performing organizations combine business and workforce data to innovate, engage employees, delight customers, and exceed financial goals. Readers will also find:
How to move beyond traditional rear-view HR metrics to actionable insights
Real-life case studies from leading organizations, as well as cautionary tales
Recommendations for becoming an insights-driven organization using workforce analytics
This book empowers leaders to align data with strategy, build a culture of insight-driven decision-making, and unlock the full potential of their HR and leadership teams.
Whether you're a CEO, CHRO, or first-time manager, The Insight-Driven Leader will elevate your leadership, equipping you to tackle perennial business challenges and deliver measurable impact in your organization.
In today's fast-paced world, data is everywhere-but only actionable insights can drive real success. The Insight-Driven Leader offers a practical guide to transforming raw data into powerful workforce insights that solve critical business challenges. Through clear frameworks, compelling case studies, and proven strategies, Jenny Dearborn and Kelly Rider reveal how high-performing organizations combine business and workforce data to innovate, engage employees, delight customers, and exceed financial goals. Readers will also find:
How to move beyond traditional rear-view HR metrics to actionable insights
Real-life case studies from leading organizations, as well as cautionary tales
Recommendations for becoming an insights-driven organization using workforce analytics
This book empowers leaders to align data with strategy, build a culture of insight-driven decision-making, and unlock the full potential of their HR and leadership teams.
Whether you're a CEO, CHRO, or first-time manager, The Insight-Driven Leader will elevate your leadership, equipping you to tackle perennial business challenges and deliver measurable impact in your organization.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
574 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-394-30888-0 (9781394308880)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Jenny Dearborn | Kelly Rider
The Insight-Driven Leader
How High-Performing Companies are Using Analytics to Unlock Business Value
E-Book
06/2025
1st Edition
Wiley
€20.99
Available for download
Jenny Dearborn | Kelly Rider
The Insight-Driven Leader
How High-Performing Companies are Using Analytics to Unlock Business Value
E-Book
06/2025
1st Edition
Wiley
€20.99
Available for download
Persons
JENNY DEARBORN is an experienced executive leader in enterprise technology sales and human resources. She's also a board director, advisor, and investor, and currently serves as the Chief People Strategy Officer at BTS Group, a global consulting firm.
KELLY RIDER is a talent and learning strategist with over ten years' experience on leadership teams. She specializes in connecting business needs with measurable outcomes, and in finding ways to use real-world data to drive leadership decisions.
KELLY RIDER is a talent and learning strategist with over ten years' experience on leadership teams. She specializes in connecting business needs with measurable outcomes, and in finding ways to use real-world data to drive leadership decisions.
Content
Acknowledgments ix
Foreword xi
Preface xv
Introduction xix
Case Studies xxvii
Section 1: Change What You Measure, Transform What You Can Manage 1
1.1 Commit to Insights, Not Metrics 2
1.2 Embrace Workforce Insights 20
1.3 Let HR (Get Better at) Help(ing) You 34
1.4 Act on the Insights 42
1.5 Key Takeaways 45
Section 2: Enabling Workforce Analytics 47
2.1 Get with the (Workforce Data) Program 47
2.2 Support Data Integration 53
2.3 Fall on the Sword of Data Governance 62
2.4 Understand Workforce Analytics Capabilities 72
2.5 Key Takeaways 87
Section 3: Moving the Goalpost 89
3.1 Remember Yesterday's IT 90
3.2 Know and Demand Excellence 98
3.3 Take Your Preference 106
3.4 Accountability as a Two-Way Street 113
3.5 Key Takeaways 119
Section 4: Become Truly Insight-Driven 121
4.1 Why "Insight-Driven" Matters 122
4.2 Making Culture Your #1 Strategic Asset 124
4.3 Upleveling HR 129
4.4 Creating Your Insight-Driven Culture 146
4.5 Key Takeaways 163
Section 5: Higher Math-Workforce Analytics at the C-level 165
5.1 All About the CHRO 165
5.2 CEO: Be a True Partner, Get a True Partner 174
5.3 Evolve the Power Structure 187
5.4 Integrate HR into the Business 198
5.5 Key Takeaways 211
Conclusion 213
Notes 215
Appendix A: Guide to Workforce Data 233
Appendix B: CEO+CHRO Survey Results 243
Appendix C: Interviewees 249
About the Authors 255
Index 257
Foreword xi
Preface xv
Introduction xix
Case Studies xxvii
Section 1: Change What You Measure, Transform What You Can Manage 1
1.1 Commit to Insights, Not Metrics 2
1.2 Embrace Workforce Insights 20
1.3 Let HR (Get Better at) Help(ing) You 34
1.4 Act on the Insights 42
1.5 Key Takeaways 45
Section 2: Enabling Workforce Analytics 47
2.1 Get with the (Workforce Data) Program 47
2.2 Support Data Integration 53
2.3 Fall on the Sword of Data Governance 62
2.4 Understand Workforce Analytics Capabilities 72
2.5 Key Takeaways 87
Section 3: Moving the Goalpost 89
3.1 Remember Yesterday's IT 90
3.2 Know and Demand Excellence 98
3.3 Take Your Preference 106
3.4 Accountability as a Two-Way Street 113
3.5 Key Takeaways 119
Section 4: Become Truly Insight-Driven 121
4.1 Why "Insight-Driven" Matters 122
4.2 Making Culture Your #1 Strategic Asset 124
4.3 Upleveling HR 129
4.4 Creating Your Insight-Driven Culture 146
4.5 Key Takeaways 163
Section 5: Higher Math-Workforce Analytics at the C-level 165
5.1 All About the CHRO 165
5.2 CEO: Be a True Partner, Get a True Partner 174
5.3 Evolve the Power Structure 187
5.4 Integrate HR into the Business 198
5.5 Key Takeaways 211
Conclusion 213
Notes 215
Appendix A: Guide to Workforce Data 233
Appendix B: CEO+CHRO Survey Results 243
Appendix C: Interviewees 249
About the Authors 255
Index 257