Welcome to another episode of the Making Better Decisions podcast! This week, host Ryan Sullivan sat down with Ash Tiwari, Managing Director – KPMG Tax Ignition, to discuss the importance of context for data professionals, the collaborative relationship between business and technology teams, the challenges of data siloing, and the transformative impact of low code and no code tools. They also explore the evolving role of generative AI in data analytics and its potential benefits across different industries. It’s an enlightening episode you don’t want to miss!

Takeaways:

• It's crucial for data professionals to understand the business context in which they operate to make more effective and relevant decisions.
• Business teams need to recognize the inherent complexities involved in integrating data to fully appreciate the efforts and challenges faced by their technology counterparts.
• A strong, collaborative relationship between business and technology teams is essential for developing efficient and innovative solutions.
• The use of low code and no code tools empowers 'citizen developers' to engage in data analytics without needing deep technical expertise, making data usage more accessible across the organization.
• Embracing generative AI and investing in continuous learning and upskilling are key strategies for leaders to balance centralization and democratization of data practices, thereby enhancing data processing and business insights.
• Investing in continuous learning, upskilling, and embracing new technologies is essential for improving data processing and deriving business insights.

Quote of the Show:

• “Understanding the bigger picture can sometimes get neglected because we, as data people, get overindulged in our technology side and forget the business side.” - Ash Tiwari

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashutoshtiwari/
• Company Website: http://www.kpmg.com/US

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PpvYXoXjAYl8auDpmShYi
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data/id1739178505
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5e2ec300-0c66-4e24-8b01-0586af60235c/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/making-better-decisions-leader-5672586
• Transistor: https://www.makingbetterdecisions.live/episodes
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakingBetterDecisions/podcasts

On this week’s episode of Making Better Decisions, host Ryan Sullivan sits down with Shawn Egan, Space Assortments & Systems Lead at the Boston Beer Company! Shawn and Ryan delve into the importance of asking the right questions in data analysis to make informed decisions, rather than just seeking data without clear objectives. Sean emphasizes the value of understanding the business behind the data and the distinction between serving a sales or leadership audience versus data analysts. They also discuss the evolution of data tools like Power BI and how they've changed the landscape of data analytics by enabling real-time decision-making. It’s an inspiring episode you don‘t want to miss!

Takeaways:

• The essence of leveraging data effectively lies in asking the right questions. Rather than seeking specific data points, understanding the problems to be solved can lead to more meaningful insights.
• A profound grasp of the business environment and challenges enhances the value derived from data. Sean underscores the importance of marrying technical data skills with business acumen to generate relevant outcomes.
• The conversation highlights the shift in data analytics brought about by tools like Power BI and Tableau, which have revolutionized decision-making by enabling real-time analysis and visualization. Embracing these tools can significantly enhance an organization's agility and responsiveness.
• Balancing technical expertise with business knowledge within teams is crucial. Identifying individuals who possess a natural curiosity and an aptitude for bridging the technical-business divide can lead to more cohesive and effective data utilization.
• Sean's personal journey illustrates the value of continuous learning and staying adaptable. Transitioning from sales to category management and eventually to leading a technical team showcases the importance of constantly acquiring new skills and embracing change.
• Leaders are encouraged to foster a culture of technical curiosity within their teams. Providing opportunities for team members to learn about and experiment with new data tools and methodologies can spur innovation and improve decision-making processes.
• The ability to make informed decisions on the fly, enabled by modern data analytics tools, is a game-changer. Cultivating the capability to analyze and interpret data in real-time can lead to more dynamic and successful strategies.

Quote of the Show:

• “Finding the right people, giving them leeway, and handing them the right tools is a huge time saver.” - Shawn Egan

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-egan-a34a959/
• Company Website: www.bostonbeer.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PpvYXoXjAYl8auDpmShYi
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data/id1739178505
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5e2ec300-0c66-4e24-8b01-0586af60235c/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/making-better-decisions-leader-5672586
• Transistor: https://www.makingbetterdecisions.live/episodes
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakingBetterDecisions/podcasts

On this week’s episode of Making Better Decisions, host Ryan Sullivan sits down with Jimmy Holmes, Director of Data Management and Business Intelligence. Ryan and Jimmy delve into the critical importance of data quality, with Jimmy highlighting the concept of 'garbage in, garbage out' and the challenges organizations face in prioritizing and managing data effectively. They discuss how to make better decisions using data, emphasizing the importance of aligning data strategies with business strategies and ensuring data reliability. They also touch on the evolution of data tools and the shift towards more efficient and accessible data processes. It’s a great episode you don’t want to miss!

Takeaways:

• Jimmy emphasized the axiom 'garbage in, garbage out', underscoring the imperative need for good data quality. Without quality data, decision-making processes are compromised, leading to potentially flawed business outcomes.
• Jimmy emphasized the importance of integrating data strategies directly with overall business strategies. This approach ensures that data initiatives support core business objectives, maximizing impact and value.
• The conversation touched on the advances in data tools and how they've become more user-friendly and integrated into common platforms like Excel. These tools have democratized data analytics, making it accessible to a broader audience within organizations.
• Jimmy highlighted the necessity of fostering a data culture within organizations, where data is valued as a key asset and its management is seen as everyone's responsibility. This involves training, empowering team members, and encouraging a mindset shift towards data-driven decision making.
• The discussion also covered the balance between having centralized analytics functions and empowering individual team members with the tools and knowledge to perform their analyses. Finding the right balance is crucial for harnessing the full potential of an organization’s data resources.

Quote of the Show:

• “Garbage in is still garbage out.” - Jimmy Holmes

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-holmes-b93030120/
• Company Website: http://www.valaris.com

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PpvYXoXjAYl8auDpmShYi
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data/id1739178505
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5e2ec300-0c66-4e24-8b01-0586af60235c/making-better-decisions-leaders-in-data
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/making-better-decisions-leader-5672586
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakingBetterDecisions/podcasts