Arynn

Hot take
Some people on #data teams do not care about the end/business users at all. They want to do cool things with their data and don't give a sh*t if it's not consumable in an easy way. You don't understand, business person? Well that's on you or tbh I don't think about you at all.

This isn't something people come out and say because it is not "the right way" to think, but it's the way some people feel.
#analytics #dataviz #datadon

Nov 10, 2022 at 3:22pmWeb
Show threadAbi Aryan Nov 10, 2022
@arynn i love the "data" vs "information" analogy for such folks.. just because you pre-processed the data and put it on charts doesn't automatically it information..
Show threadzacharyNov 10, 2022

@arynn totally, and this could be generalized to most technical or specialized careers as well!

sometimes someone just wants to crush a big campaign or sale, consequences be damned.

this reminds a talk by @Cmastication "the unreasonable effectiveness of empathy: the killer skill needed for a successful technical career"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7VnKgVMLvY

sometimes folks don't have a ton of empathy for coworkers

The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Empathy: The killer skill needed for a successful technical career

YouTube
Show threadJD Long ✅Nov 10, 2022
@zchetchavat @arynn had coffee with an ops guy today. One piece of feedback I gave him was that I love how he always tries to understand what we’re trying to accomplish. I want strategic partners and some folks don’t have that mindset.
Show threadArynnNov 10, 2022
@Cmastication @zchetchavat I am getting real tired of people who don't see empathy as a strength in data roles. I get it - it's a "soft skill" and not something you can get a cert in to show off how smart you are. But it's still so so very important. I'm glad you get it.
Show threadKyle IretonNov 11, 2022
@arynn @Cmastication @zchetchavat I cannot help but feel it is essential for long term success. Communication is vital.
Show threadDannyNov 10, 2022
@arynn The real 10X is talking to your users and customers.
Show threaditsjoenasoNov 10, 2022
@arynn Very accurate take. The ability to translate data work to business terms is one thing that sets apart senior folks from the more junior, IMO.
Show threadShrikant NarasimhanNov 10, 2022
@arynn absolutely my experience as well. If it's a team that I have some control over, then I try to channel that indifference productively (building cool shit that's also useful!), while trying to slowly cultivate empathy. How successful I am in the latter dictates what career pathway I nudge the junior folks towards.
Show threadRichard StrangeNov 10, 2022
@arynn There is a lot to unpack here - if you lean into #lean concepts, then every activity should be related back to business needs. Furthermore, the weak link here might be the dashboarding/visualisation/reporting, rather than the data exercises themselves. That being said, unless there are privacy, security, or major cost concerns, playing with data in a sandbox is a good way to develop the capability of a team, and you might just discover something! #data #sandbox #dataviz #analytics
Show threadToby ElwinNov 20, 2022
business needs or customer value?
@StrangeThoughts @arynn
Show threadCameron PatrickNov 11, 2022

@arynn

This kind of thing applies so broadly to many contexts. As an academic statistician collaborating with others, I'm useless unless I understand the broader goals and context of their research programme.

Show threadArynnNov 11, 2022
@cameronpat if you ever have need for a person like me, I'm itching for a good reason to move to Australia. That's actually not a joke. I studied abroad there years ago (LaTrobe) and have wanted to go back ever since.
Show threadCameron PatrickNov 12, 2022
@arynn
The group I work in isn’t hiring currently (and unlikely to for a while, we’ve just expanded) BUT there are lots of statisticians working in similar roles at universities and research organisations, having expertise in data/statistics as well as subject matter experience would make you very desirable in a lot of places!
Show threadNicole Betz PhDNov 11, 2022
@arynn I feel like this describes so many academics! One of the best things I’ve learned in my 8 months out of academia is how to tell a super clear story that doesn’t require expertise to understand. Such an important and useful skill!
Show threadArynnNov 11, 2022
@Nicole_Betz cognitive psychology and marketing research? Yesss. You are my people.