Description:

In this episode of Data Career Transformations, Bolaji interviews Eddy Zulkifly, a senior staff data engineer at Kanaxis.

They discuss Eddy's journey from chemical engineering to data engineering, his passion for soccer coaching, and the importance of community and mentorship in professional growth. Eddy shares insights on the role of Excel in business, the challenges of FinOps, and the significance of a growth mindset in both sports and data careers.

He emphasizes the value of learning in public and encourages data professionals to share their experiences and learn from one another.

Takeaways

• Eddy transitioned from chemical engineering to industrial engineering due to his interest in psychology and data analysis.
• Excel remains a crucial tool in business, often seen as the universal data language. Eddy's experience in supply chain management has greatly influenced his approach to data engineering.
• Coaching kids in soccer has taught Eddy the importance of tailoring strategies to individual needs.
• The concept of learning in public can accelerate personal and professional growth. Eddy believes in the importance of mentorship and community support in the data field.
• Understanding business requirements is key to effective data engineering. Eddy's team at Kanaxis is structured to promote collaboration across data lifecycle stages.
• Technical challenges in FinOps often involve cost allocation and resource tagging. Eddy aspires to lead a data team and build impactful data products in the future.

 

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Data Career Transformations
• 02:47 Culinary Adventures in Malaysia and Singapore
• 05:41 The Joy of Coaching Soccer
• 08:29 From Chemical to Industrial Engineering 
• 11:08 The Role of Excel in Business 
• 13:51 Transitioning to Data Engineering
• 16:44 Understanding Kanaxis and Its Operations
• 19:23 The Structure of the Data Team at Kanaxis
• 22:12 Challenges in FinOps and Data Optimization
• 22:22 Navigating FinOps Challenges
• 25:12 Lessons from the Pandemic: Data Engineering at Home Depot
• 28:25 Proud Projects: Implementing Modern Data Stacks
• 30:52 Mentorship and Community in Data Engineering
• 34:12 Growth Mindset: Coaching and Learning
• 39:42 Future Aspirations in Data Engineering
• 41:46 Advice for Data Professionals

 

Speakers:

• Guest: Eddy Zulkifly, Senior Staff Data Engineer, Kinaxis
• Host: Bolaji Oyejide, Community Manager at dbt Labs

 

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