Helping data leaders drive real business change.

I work with data leaders who want to influence decisions, shape direction, and move beyond being seen as a service function. Whether you’re newly accountable for outcomes or carrying responsibility for an entire data function, this work helps you to start shaping how decisions get made across teams, leadership, and the organisation.

book a free call

Trusted by data leaders from

Arise Health logoArise Health logoArise Health logoEphicient logoThe Paak logo2020INC logoOE logo

Moving from delivery to influence.

Most data professionals don’t struggle with the technical side of the job. The work gets done, the analysis is sound, and the dashboards do what they’re supposed to do. What tends to be harder is everything that sits around that work.

Insights get shared, discussed, sometimes even praised, but very little actually changes. Decisions stay the same, priorities keep moving, and new requests continue to pile up. Over time, the role starts to feel vague and the impact harder to point to.

At some point, expectations change. You’re no longer just expected to deliver outputs. You’re expected to influence direction, help others think more clearly, and make judgement calls with incomplete information. Very few people are taught how to make that shift, especially while still carrying the same workload.

My work focuses on that gap. It helps data leaders think more clearly, have better conversations, and operate with confidence as trusted partners inside real organisations.

Who this is for.

Image of plant growing

You’ve stepped into leadership

You’re managing people, expectations, and priorities for the first time. You want to feel more confident in conversations, make better decisions, and understand what good leadership looks like in practice.

Image of a bouncing ball

You want more influence at work

You’re respected for your skills, but you want to shape decisions, not just support them. You’re thinking about what comes next and how to start operating more like a leader, even if your title hasn’t caught up yet.

Image of a target

You’re leading a data function

You’re dealing with complex challenges like influencing executives, setting direction, building a team, and being recognised for the impact you create, not just the work you deliver.

Image of a lightning bolt

You’re responsible for a team or organisation

You want your data capability to operate with more confidence, stronger communication, better partnership with the business, and a clearer sense of direction.

Ways to work together.

Leadership Coaching

For data leaders who want space to think clearly, work through difficult situations, and build confidence in how they lead, communicate, and make decisions.

Best for individual leaders navigating complexity, uncertainty, or transition in their role.

view coaching

Data Team Accelerator

A facilitated group programme that helps data teams improve how they communicate, influence stakeholders, and operate as trusted partners rather than report factories.

Best for teams who want to shift how they show up inside the organisation, not just what they deliver day to day.

view accelerator

Business and Data Strategy Workshop

A focused workshop for leadership teams who want alignment on priorities and a shared understanding of where data can create real value.

Best for organisations facing ambiguity, misalignment, or stalled progress around data and decision-making.

view workshop
Profile photo of Tris J Burns

About Tristan.

I work with data leaders who want their work to have real influence inside their organisations.

I’ve led global data teams as a Head of Data in a Fortune 500 company, working closely with senior leaders through periods of change and growth. I’ve seen first-hand how often data teams do good work without shaping decisions, and how frustrating that gap can be.

Today, I support emerging, developing, and senior data leaders who want to move their work onto a more strategic footing. People who are expected to influence direction, make judgement calls, and help others think more clearly, often without a clear playbook.

My work combines real-world experience, structured thinking, and practical tools to help people step back, make better decisions, and take action in situations that don’t have simple answers.

More about me

Strategies for Effective Data Leadership.

A weekly newsletter for data professionals who want to grow their influence, communicate more effectively, and lead with confidence. Short, practical ideas drawn from real situations.