In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker speaks with Joe Bugajski, former Chief Data Officer at Visa and Gartner. 

Joe shares his remarkable career journey, which included building prototype vehicles, launching a machine learning company, and becoming a C-level data leader and coach.

For the data topic, we discuss what it really takes to lead and coach high-performing data teams. Joe offers honest insights on moving from technical expert to leader, how to communicate data value to the business, and the importance of self-awareness, feedback, and continuous learning in leadership.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:35 Joe’s Career Journey

03:47 Transition to Leadership

06:52 Building and Managing Teams

09:32 Importance of Communication and Feedback

26:02 Key Moments and Career Transformations

42:42 Embracing Failure and Persistence

43:13 Healthy Outlets for Stress

43:54 The Importance of Hobbies

44:59 Learning from Setbacks

45:38 Skills for Industry Success

46:50 The Role of Vision in Leadership

47:09 Mathematics and Machine Learning

48:13 The Value of Persistence

48:29 Effective Communication and Data Understanding

50:43 The Future of Data Science and AI

53:55 The Role of C-Level Leaders in Data and AI

01:00:54 Skills for the Next Generation of Data Professionals

01:08:17 Building a Culture of Experimentation

01:13:16 Preparing Teams for AI Integration

01:18:06 Concluding Thoughts and Final Advice

Thank you for listening!