In Part 2 of this series, we met the Vigilante, the client-oriented professional focused on their daily work, who often eschews internal policies to move quickly and deliver results for the firm. Although Vigilantes may not pay much attention to data discovery or governance, they perform well when governance has their back.
Now, in Part 3 of The Dark Data Discovery League, we focus on a very different hero: The Mastermind.
The Mastermind is the underrepresented or disempowered voice in the firm. They often hold information governance or compliance roles, with a close understanding of the day-to-day realities of how data is managed. Unlike the Vigilante, they clearly see the risks (such as data sprawl, unmanaged archives, and over-retention), but they usually lack the authority or influence to drive change.
Common Mastermind traits include:
Masterminds don’t remain silent out of apathy. In fact, they may have more interest in addressing the challenges than anyone else. But without representation in decision-making or visible support from leadership, their insights rarely lead to action. Over time, silence and hesitation can worsen the risks, causing costly discovery issues, compliance gaps, or damage to reputation.
The reality is that firms cannot achieve Zero Dark Data without the perspective of the Mastermind. Their awareness of the “street-level” reality is critical. When given a seat at the table and the chance to be heard, Masterminds often become catalysts for practical, sustainable change.
In our next post, we’ll examine the Sidekick, the IT team member who holds the tools, budgets, and power but lacks the data knowledge they need to act effectively without guidance.