037 - Build vs Buy in the Modern Data Stack: Stories, Frameworks & Pitfalls
On this episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, Harry Gollop sits down with Hugo Lu, co-founder of Orchestra, to tackle one of the most common debates in modern data teams: should you build your own tools or buy off-the-shelf solutions? Hugo shares his experiences on both sides of the decision, practical frameworks for evaluating cost, opportunity, and long-term value, and real-world examples of when building or buying was the right call. Whether you’re a Head of Data, an engineer, or just curious about tooling strategy, this episode provides actionable insights to help your team make smarter, strategic decisions.
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036 - From Meta to Statsig: Driving Business Impact Through Experimentation
This week, I’m joined by Timothy Chan, Head of Data at Statsig.Tim has a fascinating background — he started his career as a scientist developing life-saving drugs before pivoting into data. He went on to become a Staff Data Scientist at Meta and now leads the data function at Statsig, one of the world’s leading experimentation platforms, recently acquired by OpenAI.In this episode, we dive into the power of experimentation and how Meta embedded it into every aspect of product development.We unpack:⚙️ What great experimentation really looks like🏗️ How to build a world-class experimentation function💬 How data teams can use experimentation to influence business decisions⚖️ The balance between speed, rigour, and impact👥 Why stakeholder collaboration is the true differentiator of high-performing data teamsTim shares brilliant insights from his time at both Meta and Statsig — including how to think about experimentation as a cultural capability, not just a technical one.If you care about driving real business impact with data, this is a must-listen.
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035 - How to Be a Strategic Driver of the Business - Senior Director of Wise
Welcome back to the Stacked Data Podcast — where we explore what it really takes to build impactful data teams in the modern world.This week’s episode is all about stepping out of the ticket queue and into the strategic driver seat.I sat down with Adam Cassar, Director of Analytics at Wise, to explore how analytics teams can break free from the reactive reporting cycle and become genuine business partners. This conversation is packed with real-life examples, practical strategies, and hard-earned lessons from Adam’s experience leading high-performing teams.We cover: ✅Why many analytics teams end up in a service-provider role — and how to shift that perception ✅The biggest barriers to becoming more strategic (and how to overcome them) ✅How to proactively influence business decisions (not just report on them) ✅What skills, mindsets, and relationships actually matter if you want your team to have impactWhether you're an IC or leading a data team, this episode is for anyone who wants to stop being a dashboard factory — and start driving real change in the business. 🔁Share it with someone who’s ready to level up their data career#StackedDataPodcast #AnalyticsEngineering #ModernDataTeam #DataLeadership #Wise #DataStrategy
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034 - Beyond the pipeline - Tracking the true impact of Analytics Engineering
𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 – 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠Analytics Engineering has become one of the most in-demand roles for modern data teams in recent years. The role goes far beyond just building clean data pipelines and data models, but how do we actually measure that impact?In today’s episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, we're joined by Ross Helenius, Director of Analytics Engineering & AI Transformation Engineering at Mimecast, to unpack one of the most important (and overlooked) questions in data:👉 What does success look like for Analytics Engineering: beyond the technical?𝚆̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚎̲𝚡̲𝚙̲𝚕̲𝚘̲𝚛̲𝚎̲:̲✅ The true role of Analytics Engineering in modern data teams✅ Why measuring ROI is so hard and how you can do this✅ How to define and track impact beyond pipelines, models, and dashboards✅ Practical KPIs and strategies to showcase business value✅ Pitfalls to avoid when proving the value of your data functionRoss brings deep experience from the intersection of data, engineering, and AI, and offers actionable insights for data leaders and practitioners alike.Whether you're leading a data team, building one, or looking to become a better AE this episode is packed with value.
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033 - Digestible, Defendable, Actionable – How to drive impact with Data
Digestible. Defensible. Actionable.What does it really take to drive impact with data?Too often, analysts are left wondering:“Why didn’t anyone do anything with that insight?”This week on the Stacked Data Podcast, I’m joined by Sam Marks, Director of Analytics & Business Strategy at the Boston Bruins, to explore the gap between finding insights and driving action — and how to close it.Sam shares the Digestible, Defensible, Actionable framework he uses to turn analysis into outcomes, covering:✅ What makes an insight digestible (and where analysts go wrong)✅ How to make your work defensible and credible✅ What separates an interesting insight from an actionable one✅ How to overcome inaction from stakeholders✅ Real-world examples of the framework in actionThis one’s packed with tactical advice for any data professional tired of their work getting stuck in slide decks.
It has become evident to me that many data teams are grappling with similar challenges. Learning from the experiences of others can be incredibly valuable, which is why I am thrilled to announce the launch of The Stacked Podcast. This podcast is dedicated to sharing stories, pain points, challenges, and solutions within the data industry.I will be conducting interviews with industry leaders, delving into their cutting-edge projects, exploring the hurdles they faced, and how they triumphed over them. My ultimate goal is to provide you with insights and advice that will empower your team and propel your career forward.www.cognifysearch.com
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