The Joe Reis Show Ash Smith - Data Products, Interoperability, Data Teams, and More
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Jun 3, 2025 In this engaging conversation, data engineer Ash Smith shares insights from his role managing data platforms in the mining industry in Perth, Australia. He discusses the complexities of creating data products and the critical need for interoperability among global data teams. Cultural nuances between Australia and the U.S. are humorously explored. Ash delves into AI's transformative role in data architecture and the evolving landscape of data teams, emphasizing collaboration and empathy for enhancing data practices.
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Ash's Career Pivot and Current Role
- Ash Smith shares his career pivot from network engineering to managing data teams in mining in Perth.
- He highlights working with diverse industries like education, prop tech, and health before mining.
Defining Data Products
- A data product is best understood as a reusable data asset made of code, metadata, and data.
- Its exact definition varies by organization and must include technical, business, and organizational aspects.
Semantic Layer Challenges
- Semantic layers are difficult to define and rarely implemented at scale despite their relevance.
- Consistent reuse of core data definitions across an enterprise remains a major challenge.