23: Transforming complexity into clarity through data: Insights from Dion Smith, senior vice president of worldwide partner ecosystem at Siemens

Dion Smith, senior vice president (SVP) of worldwide (WW) partner ecosystem at Siemens reveals how the 175-year-old and highly diverse organization, is transforming complexity into clarity by breaking away from historical silos with its "one tech mission." This strategic shift aims to unify their data, enabling Siemens to solve larger challenges and deliver better client results. He also highlights the strategic importance of collaboration and the use of marketing development funds (MDFs) and dual registration to foster alignment and measurable success for all sides. Dion offers clear advice to leaders navigating their transformations: prioritize the customer journey and let data guide every major decision. Through a candid account of how his dyslexia became a professional superpower, Dion urges others to see value in different perspectives, to fail fast, stay focused on the future, and embrace how AI is freeing people from repetitive tasks to tackle higher-value strategic work. From his perspective, using AI for smarter personalization and predictive insight must always be balanced with respect for consumer trust, ensuring outreach feels supportive rather than intrusive. In this episode, you'll learn: How finding commonalities in complex data leads to clarity and unified strategies Ways to connect marketing investments to measurable outcomes that drive more effective collaboration campaigns Strategies to balance AI-driven personalization with consumer trust for ethical, impactful engagement Key highlights: [00:00] Introduction [01:15] A near-death experience [03:30] Dion's path to Siemens [05:10] His role and the scope of the company [06:45] The "one tech mission" [08:00] Managing a large amount of complexity [10:15] Lessons learned through transformation [12:55] The role of MDFs and dual registration [16:20] Advice for leaders driving transformation [17:55] An experience that defines you: Embracing dyslexia [22:30] Advice to your younger self: Delay reactions until you have the data [24:00] A topic marketers need to learn more about: Finding clarity in complexity [28:55] Subcultures and trends to follow: Agentic AI [31:30] Largest opportunity and threat to marketers today: Consumer trust around AI practices Resources mentioned: Jeff Bezos "Why It's Always Day One" video INSEAD Business School Dreamforce Hewlett-Packard (HP) Garage Origin Story Follow the podcast: Listen on Apple Podcasts   Listen on Amazon Music  Listen on Audible  Listen on iHeart Radio Listen on Spotify   Connect with Dion Smith and Siemens Dion Smith on LinkedIn Siemens on LinkedIn Siemens on Instagram Siemens on YouTube Connect with Alan Hart and Deloitte Digital:    Alan Hart on X Alan Hart on LinkedIn  Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn  Deloitte Digital on Instagram  Deloitte Digital on YouTube  Deloitte Digital on Threads