In this episode of The View on Data, hosts Faith McKenna, Paige Berry, and Erica 'Ric' Louie, along with new co-host Jerrie Kenny, explore the intricacies of data-driven decision-making, the importance of data quality, and effective communication of data insights. They discuss the challenges of working with imperfect data, the significance of asking the right questions, and the balance between intuition and data analysis. The conversation also delves into visualization techniques and the importance of tailoring data presentations to different audiences. The episode concludes with valuable advice for data practitioners on navigating their careers and improving their data communication skills.

Takeaways

• Data-driven decisions vary in definition across organizations.
• Understanding the purpose of data quality is crucial for effective decision-making.
• Asking the right questions can lead to better data insights.
• It's important to recognize when data doesn't need to be perfect.
• Empowering stakeholders to make decisions with available data is key.
• Experimentation with data can lead to innovative solutions.
• Effective communication of data requires understanding the audience.
• Visualizations should tell a clear story and highlight key insights.
• Data practitioners should not shy away from pushing back on unrealistic expectations.
• Summarizing data insights effectively is a valuable skill.

Perfectionism. Over-engineering. Spending way too much time on regex code that should’ve just been a copy-paste. In this episode of The View on Data, Faith, Ric, and Grace swap stories about the times they brute-forced their way through data work, and the lessons learned when they finally stepped back.

They discuss:
Why “good enough” is sometimes the smartest path
How automation (and dbt) can actually free you up to focus
The messy reality of context switching and burnout
Making space for life outside of work (improv, pottery, and laying on the floor count)

It’s a candid look at what it takes to do data work without letting it consume you.

Created by Bolaji Oyejide, produced by Katie Chubb, and edited by Jeff Fox.

In this episode of The View on Data, hosts Lauren Benezra, Faith Lierheimer, Erica Louie, and Paige Berry get real about a feeling so many data professionals experience but don’t always talk about—imposter syndrome.

Through honest reflections and personal stories, they explore:
• The pressure to constantly prove your worth
• How feedback, even when hard to hear, can be a sign of trust
• The emotional labor behind self-doubt
• The tools and support systems that help rebuild confidence

From grad school to leadership roles, and therapy to group chats, the conversation covers what it’s really like to navigate feelings of inadequacy and how community, self-awareness, and reframing your story can make a difference.

Whether you’re new to data or years into your career, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone, and you’re not the only one who sometimes feels like an imposter.

Created by Bolaji Oyejide, produced by Katie Chubb, and edited by Jeff Fox.

Welcome to the very first episode of The View on Data, a new monthly roundtable podcast from dbt Labs.

In this kickoff conversation, we get to know your hosts, Lauren Benezra, Paige Berry, Grace Goheen, Faith Lierheimer, and Erica Louie, as they share their journeys into the world of data.

You’ll hear how theater majors, political science buffs, and Excel lovers all found their way into data careers, and how mentorship, resilience, and a lot of learning (sometimes even on the fly) helped shape their paths.

Highlights include:
• How COVID changed career plans
• Why "Excel is a gateway drug"
• The power of mentorship (and second chances)
• How storytelling skills can make or break a data career
• Life lessons from wearing costumes at conferences (!)

Throughout the conversation, the hosts create the safe, unfiltered space that The View on Data is all about, sharing real experiences, real lessons, and the realities of working in tech today.

New episodes drop once a month. Subscribe and stay tuned!

Created by Bolaji Oyejide, produced by Katie Chubb, and edited by Jeff Fox.