The Data Engineering Show cover image

The Data Engineering Show

Zach Wilson on what makes a great data engineer

Apr 27, 2023
Zach Wilson, a seasoned data engineer with stints at Airbnb, Netflix, and Facebook, dives into the evolution of data engineering, emphasizing that storytelling and data modeling are essential skills. He discusses his shift from corporate roles to content creation, amassing over 250K followers on LinkedIn. Zach highlights the increasing demand for data engineering jobs over data science and shares insights on the changing landscape of data pipeline development and quality assurance, making this field more accessible to all.
34:02

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Zach Wilson highlights that strong data modeling and storytelling skills are more critical than technical expertise in data engineering.
  • He emphasizes the importance of content creation for building confidence and sharing insights, encouraging regular engagement from aspiring creators.

Deep dives

Transitioning to Full-Time Content Creation

The guest shares his journey from data science to data engineering, where he found a passion for building over merely analyzing data. After lengthy experiences in the field since 2014, including a role at Facebook, he has recently made the leap to focus on content creation across various platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. He believes that the future lies in short-form video content, which can be shared across multiple networks, streamlining the creative process. His decision to transition into this space underscores the significance of adapting to evolving trends in content delivery.

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