Join hosts Sam and Shifra as they explore the realities of data roles. Sam discusses a day in the life of a data engineer. From the glamorous perceptions to the day-to-day challenges, they discuss the skills, stakeholders, and the importance of understanding the "why" behind data projects.

Takeaways:

- Always question the business value before starting a project

- Invest in documentation for long-term success

- Balance learning new tools with project efficiency

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Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction: The hype vs. reality of data roles

3:15 - Defining data engineer, data analyst, and data scientist roles

7:40 - Core skills needed across data roles: SQL, stats, storytelling

11:30 - Data engineer as the “plumber” of data pipelines

15:50 - A day in the life: coding, meetings, and learning new tech (Scala, Snowflake)

22:10 - Challenges of brownfield migration projects vs. greenfield projects

27:45 - Importance of documentation and reducing feedback loops

32:20 - Balancing technology trade-offs and resume-driven development

36:00 - Communicating with technical vs. non-technical stakeholders

37:30 - Final thoughts and preview of part two: day in the life of a data scientist