#209 Effective Data Engineering with Liya Aizenberg, Director of Data Engineering at Away

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May 23, 2024

Liya Aizenberg, Director of Data Engineering at Away Travel, brings over 22 years of experience in building effective data teams. She discusses the importance of fostering trust and collaboration within teams to drive business value. Key topics include essential traits for early hires, technical skills like Python and SQL, and the role of Agile methodologies. Liya emphasizes empowering teams through knowledge sharing and developing a culture of continuous learning, while also addressing the often-overlooked value assessment of data engineering initiatives.

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ADVICE

Essential Traits in Early Data Engineering Hires

Look for passion, open-mindedness, and a good understanding of data engineering principles in new hires.
Prioritize individuals eager to learn, help others, and empowered by data.

ADVICE

Cultural Fit for Data Engineering Teams

Seek friendly, open-minded individuals who take ownership and communicate effectively.
Value those who are adaptable, results-driven, and committed to finishing tasks.

ADVICE

Key Technical Skills for Data Engineers

Focus on foundational skills like Python, SQL, and relational/non-relational databases.
Knowledge of visualization and integration tools (Looker, Tableau, dbt) are also valuable.

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Building a successful data engineering team involves more than just hiring skilled individuals—it requires fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous learning. But how do you start from scratch and create a team that not only meets technical demands but also drives business value? What key traits should you look for in your early hires, and how do you ensure your team’s projects align with the company’s goals?

Liya Aizenberg is Director of Data Engineering at Away and a seasoned data leader with over 22 years of experience spearheading innovation in scalable data engineering pipelines and distribution solutions. She has built successful data teams that integrate seamlessly with various business functions, serving as invaluable organizational partners. She focuses on promoting data-driven approaches to empower organizations to make proactive decisions based on timely and organized data, shifting from reactive to proactive business strategies. Additionally, as a passionate advocate for Women in Tech, she actively contributes to fostering diversity and inclusion in the technology industry.

In the episode, Adel and Liya explore the key attributes that forge an effective data engineering team, traits to look for in new hires, what technical skill sets set people up for success in a data engineering team, leveraging knowledge transfer between external experts and internal stakeholders, upskilling and career growth, aligning data engineering initiatives with business goals, measuring the ROI of data projects, working agile in data engineering, balancing innovation and practicality, future trends and much more.

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