Catalog & Cocktails: The Honest, No-BS Data Podcast TAKEAWAYS - (Most) Data Teams Are a Waste of Resources with Blake Burch
Apr 17, 2025
Blake Burch tackles the pitfalls of modern data teams, often born from executive trends but failing to deliver real value. Many team members churn out unused dashboards, leading to wasted resources and data graveyards. He suggests rethinking data integration by embedding experts within business units and crafting 'full-stack' practitioners. Emphasizing clarity in business goals and measurable outcomes, Blake advocates for an experimental mindset and smaller, agile teams to truly connect data efforts with tangible business impact.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Data Teams Stuck in Setup Mode
- Data teams often build unused dashboards because they lack clear goals and are overwhelmed by specialization.
- This leads to bloated teams stuck in setup mode without strong business impact.
Embed Data Experts in Business
- Embed data experts in business units to better align work with real business problems.
- Focus on key metrics and insights that directly drive business value.
Sephora Influencers Driving Sales
- At PMG, working closely with Sephora influencers led to measurable sales spikes.
- This success came from aligning data efforts with marketing campaigns and clear business outcomes.