In this episode, Myles Younger, Head of Innovation and Insights at U of Digital, joins the hosts to discuss marketing measurement education and teaching technical subjects. They explore the challenges of teaching and the need for accessible education. They also touch on bridging technology and business in organizations and the importance of explaining technical concepts without jargon. Additionally, they delve into the sophisticated information storage before computers and the origin of flat files, as well as the history of the smiley emoticon in digital communication. An insightful and entertaining conversation!
Specialization has fragmented the marketing and analytics industry, making it important to build bridges between specialists in different domains by focusing on basic motivations, metrics, and KPIs to understand different domains without getting lost in technical details.
Analogies can be powerful tools for teaching and learning in the marketing and analytics field, as they simplify complex concepts, clarify motivations, and spark insights by providing a bridge between specialists and non-specialists.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Bridging Technical and Business Knowledge
There is a growing need for bridging the gap between technical and business knowledge in the marketing and analytics field. The technology and organizational debt accumulated over the years has made it nearly impossible for one individual to stay on top of everything. Specialization has fragmented the industry, making it essential to build bridges between specialists in different domains. To navigate this challenge, it is helpful to focus on basic motivations, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to understand different domains without getting lost in technical details. Building a chain of custody based on motivations rather than technological expertise can provide a holistic understanding of the industry.
The Importance of Analogies in Simplifying Complex Concepts
Analogies can be powerful tools for explaining complex concepts in a non-technical way. By using relatable examples and everyday language, analogies can help people grasp the essence of a topic without getting overwhelmed by technical jargon. They provide a bridge between the specialist and non-specialist, allowing for better communication and understanding. Analogies can simplify ideas, clarify motivations, and spark insights, making them an effective way to teach and learn in the marketing and analytics field.
Staying Informed in a Fast-Paced Industry
In a rapidly changing industry like marketing and analytics, it is challenging to stay on top of new technologies, platforms, and tools. One strategy to stay informed is to focus on core concepts and motivations rather than trying to learn everything in detail. Understanding basic principles and the broader context can help professionals make informed decisions, even when they can't keep up with every technological advancement. Collaborating with experts, attending industry events, and networking with peers can also provide valuable insights and updates in the field.
Get out your #2 pencils, because today we're going back to school! In this episode, we’re talking about marketing measurement education - how we learn it, what we learn, and how to deal with teaching and learning technical subjects effectively.
And as an added bonus, I'm lucky to be joined by Simon Poulton as my new co-host for the show!
We're joined by Myles Younger, Head of Innovation and Insights at U of Digital, where he leads new product development, tech services, and thought leadership to help scale the company’s educational offerings to new formats, new learners, and new markets. He’s been in the advertising industry for nearly 20 years, spanning client side, agency side, and even founding a dynamic ads platform that was successfully acquired. He also offers up plenty of spicy takes on Twitter like “disc golf stores are the vape store of sporting goods” and “you can’t get a good Italian sub on the west coast” (apparently they add mayonnaise in addition to the oil and vinegar, which is just disgusting).