When data speak: from evidence to decision-making

"This isn’t just about data or systems, it’s also about people changing some of their habits so that data can be produced and leveraged as much as possible for the organisation. This is no mean feat. Cultural change, in general, is always a sensitive issue within organisations and takes a long time."

You may listen to this episode using automatic dubbing in other languages (not generated or reviewed by the Banco de España), by selecting the preferred audio track in the YouTube settings icon.

Are we really aware of the impact that the data we generate every day have on public, economic and social decisions?

In our daily lives, every time we unlock our mobile, make a payment or check a route, we’re generating and consulting data without realising it. Perhaps more obviously, in our day‑to‑day work we’re also continuously creating and using data and information. Are we aware of data's impact on our organisation or on others? What does data governance mean and why is it key to institutions like the Banco de España being able to fulfil their mission? This CIENxCIEN episode casts the world of data in a different light.

Ana Comellas chats with Sergio Padilla, the Banco de España’s Chief Data Officer, to understand how a simple figure can be transformed into information, how that information becomes knowledge and how that knowledge ultimately guides decision-making that affects firms, households and public administrations.

We start from the idea that a single bit of data tells us nothing. Just as a single word doesn’t tell a story, data are only meaningful when put into context and in relation to other data and when properly interpreted. From there, Sergio walks us through the data life cycle using simple examples, from the origin of the data to their end-use.

We also delve into the relationship between data and artificial intelligence, looking at the opportunities it offers as well as the responsibilities it entails, especially in a digital environment where decisions must be made constantly and be based on quality information.

To put all this into context, Sergio explains how data from the Banco de España and other administrations were decisive, for instance, during the 2024 flash floods. They helped to identify the hardest hit areas and communities, steer support measures, monitor the recovery and even ensure that people could continue to carry out basic transactions like withdrawing cash.

This episode invites us to see data as a strategic resource, not only to improve internal processes, but also to contribute to more informed and efficient decision-making for the benefit of the economy and the public at large. A reminder that, when managed well, data don’t just speak, they speak volumes.

Transcripción (126 KB)

Sergio Padilla

• An engineer by training, Sergio is the Banco de España’s Chief Data Officer and Head of the Data Office. He previously worked at Accenture and joined the Bank in 2009, combining his responsibility for international technological projects with his role as the Bank’s CISO. He has received various accolades in his career and collaborates with a number of business schools and universities. He currently leads EIP’s Cyber Security Department and the Cyber Security Programme of Garrigues.