In this episode of The Data Career Transformations Show, Bolaji interviews Wade Wachs, the Director of Information and Analytics at Liquid Web. Wade shares his unique journey from juggling and clown school to building a data-driven culture in a web hosting company. The conversation explores the evolution of data roles, the challenges of self-service data, and the importance of mentorship in the data field. Wade emphasizes the need for data professionals to understand the business context behind their work and to be proactive in shaping data requests rather than just fulfilling them. The episode concludes with insights on celebrating data successes and the value of strong mentorship in career development. Takeaways:

• Wade's unique background in juggling and clown school adds a fun twist to his data career.
• The evolution of Liquid Web's data culture reflects the importance of data-driven decision-making.
• Understanding the web hosting industry is crucial for effective data analytics.
• Transitioning into data roles can be a journey filled with learning and adaptation.
• The role of a Director of Information and Analytics involves diverse responsibilities and challenges.
• Building a data team requires careful consideration of roles and dynamics.
• Self-service data can be both empowering and challenging for organizations.
• Data ownership is essential for driving business outcomes.
• dbt plays a significant role in modern data transformation processes.
• Data disasters often stem from miscommunication and technical issues, highlighting the need for clear processes.

Sound Bites:

• "Those who know will always work for those who know why."
• "Be so good they can't ignore you."
• "Don't be an order taker, be an order shaper."
• "I fell in love with SQL."
• "Self-serve is a myth."
• "A bad join can cost millions."

Chapters:

• 00:00:Introduction to Data Careers and Juggling
• 02:42: Wade's Journey into Data and Web Hosting
• 04:47: Transitioning to a Data-Driven Culture
• 06:57: The Evolution of Data in Web Hosting
• 09:11: Wade's Data Career and Love for SQL
• 11:47: Role of an Analytics Engineer
• 13:53: Day-to-Day Responsibilities of a Data Director
• 16:18: Team Structure and Data Engineering Challenges
• 18:33: Self-Service Data and Executive Needs
• 21:06: The Role of dbt in Data Transformation
• 22:19: The Evolution of Data Engineering
• 23:27: Navigating Data Disasters
• 27:06: The Importance of Domain Knowledge
• 28:53: Learning from Mistakes
• 31:17: Handling Stress and Expectations
• 35:33: Mentoring the Next Generation
• 40:23: Proud Moments in Data Projects

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We’ve always believed the best way to get better at data is by sharing what you’re learning. That’s why we built the dbt Community—a place where data pros at every level can ask questions, debate ideas, and push each other forward. It’s not just about solving today’s problems—it’s about building what’s next, together.

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• Build reliable transformation pipelines.
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