Data Radicals

Get Out of the Building! with Tricia Wang

Apr 26, 2023

58:49

There are some things that just can’t be quantified by data; imagine trying to portray your childhood in a spreadsheet! Yet these experiences are valuable. How can data teams capture qualitative information – and use it to steer the business? It starts with getting your data team out of the building. Only then can they gain insights about customer pain points and what the data is failing to tell us.

In this episode, Satyen interviews Tricia Wang, a “tech ethnographer” and co-founder of Sudden Compass, a consulting firm helping companies improve their business through thick data. She also co-founded CRADL (Crypto Research and Design Lab) with the mission to create inclusive and sustainable growth of the crypto ecosystem. Satyen and Tricia discuss the power of thick data, the value of digital personhood, and the dangers of quantification bias.

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“Your job as a Chief Data Officer or a data leader in the company is, data is only part of your job generating the quantification to reflect back to the company. The other half is the bleeding edges around communication and helping the rest of your business, your business counterparts, to understand the value of this in a way that isn't scary and where they can see that it actually is going to improve their business. [...] But that takes a really brave kind of leader to work that way because it's not just about having the light shine on you, but it's about you making others and your company successful.” – Tricia Wang

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Time Stamps:

*(01:35): The role of a tech ethnographer

*(15:29): Tricia gives a rundown of thick data

*(23:06): Understanding customers by getting out of the building

*(32:36): Why quantification bias is dangerous to growth

*(44:48): The importance of digital personhood

*(57:22): Satyen’s Takeaways

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This podcast is presented by Alation.

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