Welcome to Datavyse

Good decisions need clear facts and honest conversations. Most teams are short on both; that’s where I come in.

I work with founders, C-suite and business leaders who know there’s value locked in their data, but don’t want a 6-month consultancy project to find it. You get senior Data & AI leadership that’s both strategic and hands-on, from shaping the roadmap to rolling up my sleeves alongside your team, always focused on measurable impact.

I’m Phil Thirlwell, founder of Datavyse and a senior data & analytics leader based in Durham, UK.

I studied maths at the University of Edinburgh because I’ve always been drawn to complex problems and the satisfaction of getting to a clean, well-reasoned answer. I’ve been fascinated by statistics, algorithms and how to model real-world systems ever since.

Most of my technical work has been on modern cloud data platforms and analytics tools, but what I enjoy most is the mix of hard problems and human decisions: using data to understand what’s really happening, have better conversations, and make decisions that lead to better outcomes.

Alongside learning on the job in fast-moving, regulated environments, I’ve also invested in my development as a leader and advisor (including an MBA) so I can work as effectively on strategy and change as I do in the detail. I’m motivated by continuous learning and putting that into practice to solve real-world problems, not just write clever slides.

Before starting Datavyse, I led analytics and data strategy in global fintech, working with executive teams on revenue growth, cost efficiency and regulatory change. That’s included uncovering multi-million-pound ARR opportunities, taking significant cost out of operations, and shifting organisations from “no one trusts the numbers” to “this is how we run the business”.

 After over a decade leading data, analytics and AI transformation in large, regulated organisations, I kept seeing the same patterns:

• Failed data and AI initiatives, because people, process and change were left as an afterthought.
• Big decisions made on poor-quality data, or no data at all.
• Hours of manual number-crunching every month just to answer basic questions.
• Fights over whose numbers are “right”, with different versions of the truth in each deck.

Meanwhile, plenty of money is spent on technology and consultants, without actually joining the dots and solving the underlying problems. 

I started Datavyse to give growing organisations a different option: someone who can sit with your leadership team, sit with your engineers, and leave you with solutions and capabilities you still trust long after the project is delivered. 

 Every engagement starts with a conversation to understand where you are today and what “better” looks like. From there, we’ll agree the lightest-weight way to make progress: whether that’s a quick discovery sprint, delivery of a specific solution, or a fractional/interim leadership arrangement for a defined period.

If I’m not the right fit, I’ll say so - and I’ll still tell you what I think you need and help point you in the right direction.

If you’d like fresh eyes on your data and AI decisions, or just want to sanity-check where to start, get in touch and we’ll take it from there.