Drill to Detail Ep.100 Special ‘Past, Present and Future of the Modern Data Stack’ with Special Guests Keenan Rice, Stewart Bryson and Jake Stein
Mar 7, 2023
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In this special 100th episode, Mark Rittman is joined by Keenan Rice, Stewart Bryson, and Jake Stein. They discuss the evolution of enterprise analytics tools, the history and growth of the modern data stack, Snowflake's rise in the database market, Looker's acquisition by Google, building Firebolt, and the role of semantic and metrics layers in the data industry.
Looker's semantic layer played a crucial role in the success of the modern data stack by enabling self-service analytics and data modeling.
The acquisition of Looker by Google Cloud reshaped the landscape of the modern data stack, emphasizing the growing relationship between BI tools and cloud platforms.
The rise of DBT and analytics engineering has revolutionized data transformation, collaboration, and efficiency in modern data organizations.
Deep dives
The Rise of Looker and the Modern Data Stack
The podcast episode discusses the history and success of Looker, a data analytics platform. Keenan Rice, one of the early employees at Looker, talks about the company's journey and the impact of Looker's semantic layer on the modern data stack. He also highlights the importance of culture and customer-centric approach in Looker's success. Additionally, the podcast covers the emergence of DBT and analytics engineering as significant developments in the data analytics space. Jake Stein, co-founder of RJ Metrics and Stitch, reflects on the growth of DBT and the evolving market dynamics. The episode concludes with a discussion about the challenges and opportunities in the modern data stack landscape.
The Impact of Looker's Acquisition by Google Cloud
The podcast delves into the impact of Looker's acquisition by Google Cloud. The guests discuss the implications of the acquisition on Looker's product strategy and market positioning. They also touch upon the challenges and changes in customer support and partnerships that resulted from the acquisition. The conversation reflects on the potential integration of Looker with Google Cloud Platform and the future directions of the company. Overall, it explores how the acquisition reshaped the landscape of the modern data stack and the evolving relationship between BI tools and cloud platforms.
DBT and the Rise of Analytics Engineering
The podcast explores the rise of DBT and the emergence of analytics engineering as a crucial discipline in the data analytics space. The guests highlight the impact and significance of DBT in streamlining data transformations and fostering collaboration between data teams and analytics stakeholders. They discuss the origins of DBT and its evolution as a widely adopted tool. Additionally, the conversation touches upon the funding and growth of DBT Labs and the expanding market opportunities for analytics engineering. The episode sheds light on the growing importance of analytical engineering practices in modern data organizations.
The Value of the Modern Data Stack
The podcast episode discusses the value of the modern data stack and its impact on data teams. The guests highlight the importance of integrating software development life cycles into data stacks, which allows for more efficient and effective data workflows. They emphasize the role of tools like Looker, DBT, and Snowflake in enabling data teams to think like software engineers and leverage modern data technologies. By combining these tools and adopting a modern data stack approach, organizations can unlock the true value of their data.
Snowflake's Success and the Rise of Cloud Data Warehousing
The episode explores the success of Snowflake as a cloud data warehouse and its impact on the industry. The guests discuss how Snowflake's approach, including separation of compute and storage, attracted enterprise customers and enabled them to migrate from on-prem solutions. They credit Snowflake's technology and strategic decision-making for its rapid growth and valuation. Additionally, the episode highlights the importance of partnerships and ecosystem building, with examples including Looker and DBT as complementary tools within the modern data stack. Overall, Snowflake's success demonstrates the significance of providing scalable, flexible, and efficient data warehouse solutions.
Joining Mark Rittman for this 100th Episode Special are Keenan Rice (previously Founding Team, GTM Executive at Looker, now GM at Firebolt), Stewart Bryson (previously CEO at Red Pill Analytics, now Head of Customer Experience at Coalesce) and joining us mid-way through the show as our even more special mystery guest, Jake Stein (previously Co-Founder and COO at RJ Metrics, CEO and Co-Founder at Stitch and now CEO and Co-Founder at Common Paper.
Drill to Detail Past Episodes discussed on the show were:
