Data Leadership Programme

In today’s data-driven world, organizations face a pressing challenge: too much time is spent troubleshooting data instead of using it to create value. To stay competitive, leaders must not only understand data but also harness automation, AI, and technology-driven change to create strategic impact.

This 9-day hands-on programme is designed to help participants:

• Transform Roles: Move beyond fixing data problems to becoming confident leaders who extract insights, apply AI tools, and unlock value through automation.

• Make Strategic Impact: Strengthen analytical and leadership capabilities to guide teams, shape strategy, and lead technological transformation.

• Enhanced Decision-Making: Foster a data-driven culture, leading to improved decision-making processes.
• Optimized Data Processes: Implement database automations and ensure data quality and governance for streamlined operations.
• Innovation and Competitive Advantage: Drive innovation through data analytics, gaining a competitive edge in the market.
• Data-Driven Leadership: Develop leaders capable of steering organizations towards becoming truly data-driven enterprises.
• Strategic Database Development: Acquire skills for strategic database development, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Competitive Advantage: Gain a competitive edge through improved analytics and enhanced organizational data maturity.

• Advanced Leadership Skills: Acquire skills in database development, automation, and data governance to lead teams effectively.
• Strategic Decision-Making: Learn to extract value from data, enabling more informed and strategic decision-making.
• Innovation Competency: Develop expertise in leveraging data for innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaborative Leadership: Enhance leadership capabilities to lead data teams and foster a collaborative, data-centric environment.
• Effective Communication: Master the art of data storytelling and presenting complex data to senior management with clarity and impact.
• Role Transformation: Move from data fixers to strategic leaders, capable of adding substantial value to the organization.
• Strategic Database Development: Learn to develop databases strategically, aligning them with organizational objectives.
• Competitive Analytics: Acquire skills to use data for competitive advantage, driving innovation and organizational growth.
• Leadership Development: Enhance leadership skills for effective data-driven decision-making.

• Senior managers responsible for data strategy
• Analytics managers aspiring to evolve into strategic business partners
• Business analysts and leaders interested in enhancing data-driven decision-making
• Data analysts seeking to enhance leadership and strategic analysis skills
• Professionals involved in data management and governance responsibilities

Our faculty comprises experienced database developers, data scientists, and industry leaders with proven expertise in successful data-driven transformations.

Zane Vārpiņa

Zane is Faculty Advisor at Bachelor and Executive MBA programmes and teaches the Research Methods course to both our Master and Bachelor programme students, as well as Market Research in Bachelor programme.

Zane is Associate Professor at SSE Riga as of 2020 and was Assistant Professor since 2013. Zane has broad researcher experience in the Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies (BICEPS).

Zane holds a PhD in Demography from University of Latvia and has a MA of Science in Mathematical Economics from University of Latvia, June 2003. She also has Inter University Diploma in EU Studies, Universite Nancy II, Ex-en-Provence Institute of Political Science, June 2004.

Edvins Elferts

Edvins is a technical team lead working across the digital landscape. He is focusing on consulting and development of BI, Low Code, intelligent automation and AI solutions for clients in the Nordics. Edvins has 10 years of international experience in project management and digitalization, and with a deep understanding of operational excellence and change management in sectors such as healthcare, supply chain, FMCG, and education. Before recently returning to Latvia, he spent 7 years working in Australia & New Zealand with Siemens Healthineers being responsible for deployment of digital health platform, delivering digitalization and supply chain projects.

Edvins holds a BSc in Economics & Business from SSE Riga as well as numerious technical certifications related to data, analytics and AI domains.

Alvaro Ager

Rihards is the Executive Education Managing Director at SSE Riga and lecturer in undergraduate and Executive MBA programmes across the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Russia, and Hanken Executive Education in Helsinki. He is the Course Director of the Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis and Business & Leadership Skills courses. He is also the Topic Lead for Digital Transformation at the SSE Riga Institute for Strategy.

Rihards runs a consulting practice that develops Business Intelligence, Data Strategy, Data & Digital capability building solutions; he helps companies & their employees advance in business analytics using the latest digital tools.

Rihards holds a double degree MBA in HEC Paris and National University of Singapore, a BSc in Economics & Business from SSE Riga as well as Data Science certification.

Anders Tallberg

Anders is a Senior Fellow at Hanken & SSE Executive Education. Tallberg's expertise and contributions focus on areas related to education, leadership, and executive development in the field of accounting and finance. He has previously worked as a professor of accounting and head of the Department of Accounting and runs a highly successful and long-standing Controllers Program and Finance Performance Academy. Currently, Anders is helping companies explore and wield potential of Generative AI.

Peter Zashev

Peter Zashev is an academic, business trainer and high-energy speaker on leadership, change and strategy. Peter has 18 years of executive education experience working with the management of big companies across Europe and mainly in the Nordic countries, the Baltic States and Russia. His combination of skills and experience features:

Academia - holding a MSc degree from the St Petersburg State University in Russia and a PhD from Hanken School of Economics in Finland, currently Peter is a Professor (adjunct) at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and a Program Director at Hanken&SSE Executive Education in Finland.

Business - Peter is a board member and investor. His consulting experience features many projects in leadership development and international business strategy for both private and public sectors.

Multi-cultural - Peter is Bulgarian by origin, Finnish by nationality, Estonian by residence, half Swedish by workplace and with an extensive Russian experience. He speaks English, Russian, Bulgarian and Finnish.

Day 1: Reporting & Data-Driven Decisions with Alvaro Ager & Zane Vārpiņa

• Turning data into impactful reports and visualizations

• Building confidence in data-driven decision-making

Day 2: Extracting Value from Data & Analytics Innovation with Alvaro Ager

• Unlocking insights through advanced analytics

• Using data as a driver for business innovation

Days 3–4: Data Modelling & Automation in Python with Anders Tallberg

• Data modelling and advanced analytics techniques

• Intelligent automation and practical Python applications

Day 5: Using GenAI for Insight with Edvins Elferts

• Practical applications of generative AI

• Turning AI outputs into actionable insights

Day 6: AI for Organizational Performance with Rihards Garančs

• Boosting productivity with AI tools

• Integrating AI into organizational processes

Day 7: Advanced Automation with GenAI with Edvins Elferts

• Automating processes using generative AI

• Scaling automation across functions

Day 8: Data Storytelling & Leading Tech Transformation with Rihards Garančs

• Communicating data with clarity and impact

• Strategies for leading technology-driven change

Day 9: Driving & Supporting Technological Change with Peter Zashev

• Leading people through digital transformation

• Building resilience and buy-in for change

EUR 2900 + VAT

The participation fee includes programme materials, catering, and a certificate of completion.

Special group rates are available. Contact us for more information.