Experian has come a long way from being seen as just a credit bureau. Today, it’s a global data, analytics, and software company helping businesses across industries make faster, smarter decisions. That evolution is being shaped by leaders like Laurie Schnidman, Chief Product Officer for Platforms and Software at Experian UK&I. Her team is focused on creating solutions that unlock the value from data and ultimately to simplify complexity and drive business growth.
Q1: What are you seeing in today’s market as the biggest challenge businesses are facing?
This year has brought another wave of change, economically, technologically, and in society. And one thing is clear: change isn’t slowing down. Businesses are navigating a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, an explosion of data, rising customer expectations, and the emergence of AI, all while trying to stay compliant in shifting regulatory landscapes.
Amidst this backdrop of rapid change, we’re hearing from many businesses today that they are rethinking how they operate to ensure they remain resilient, competitive, and ready for whatever comes next. And we are seeing many businesses drive an even sharper focus on sustainable growth.
Q2: What are the key priorities for businesses then in this period of change?
There’s a renewed strategic focus on data, technology, and analytics, but with a more critical lens. Businesses are asking themselves some big questions like what investments will deliver real, long-term value? How well do we trust our data to power our most important customer interactions, operational processes, and decisions? Are we ready to scale AI responsibly?
There are some clear trends when it comes to what technology to utilise. In a global survey we recently did with our clients, we found that nearly every client is on an automation journey, especially in areas like underwriting. In addition, cloud adoption is accelerating. And perhaps th biggest theme? Simplicity. More than half of respondents in that survey shared that they see managing multiple vendors as inefficient. They’re looking for unified platforms and ecosystems that will reduce operational overhead and help them move faster.
And it’s not just about the tools, it’s also about capability and culture. Businesses are asking whether they have the right skills and culture to unlock value in this fast-changing environment.
Q3. Your role brings together product, technology, and strategy. What does that look like in practice, and how is it helping businesses move forward?
It’s about solving real problems with practical, scalable solutions. We focus on building platforms that are powerful but intuitive, tools that help businesses move fast, make confident decisions, and adapt without friction.
That’s exactly what we’ve built with Experian Ascend. It’s essentially the gateway to all of Experian’s capabilities. Ascend brings data, analytics, and decisioning into one environment, so our clients can access credit, fraud, and identity solutions, build analytical models and prototypes in a sandbox, and deploy models quickly into production. In this context, the sandbox is a secure testing space where teams can trial models and strategies before deploying them, giving businesses the clarity and speed they need to act with confidence.
Q4: And if you had one piece of advice for leaders trying to stay ahead, what would it be?
Flexibility is key. The businesses that are thriving are the ones that can adapt quickly and scale without getting stuck in complexity or operational silos. That means investing in platforms that grow with you and making sure your teams have the tools they need to move fast.
And don’t underestimate the power of culture. Because ultimately, it’s people that use the technology and unlock its benefits. When an organisation’s data, systems, and people work together seamlessly, it’s really a game-changer. It unlocks speed, clarity, and resilience, and that’s what future-proofing really looks like.
