Ryan Dolley, VP of product strategy at GoodData and co-host of the Super Data Brothers show, brings a unique perspective from his playwriting background to the world of business intelligence. He discusses the transformative impact of AI on analytics and the evolution of BI methodologies. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of storytelling in data communication, the importance of coding skills for data professionals, and the need for continuous learning amidst rapid technological changes. Dolley offers practical advice for thriving in this evolving landscape.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Playwright To Data
Ryan moved from playwriting and acting into data after struggling to make a living in theater.
He studied information systems at night and found BI appealed because it combined storytelling with business impact.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Old BI: Warehouses And PDFs
Ryan's early BI work involved building an enterprise data warehouse with a waterfall approach that took years.
The BI layer then primarily produced formatted PDF reports and standardized tables rather than interactive dashboards.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Blogging Led To Consulting Then Startups
Frustrated by slow upgrades at his utility job, Ryan blogged about BI and was recruited by a Chicago consultancy.
That consulting experience led him into startups and eventually to vendor product roles at Count and GoodData.
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This week on The Data Stack Show, Ryan Dolley joins Eric and John to discuss his unique journey from playwriting to leading product strategy in the data industry. The conversation explores the evolution of business intelligence (BI), the growing influence of AI on analytics, and the shifting skill sets required for data professionals. Key topics include the challenges of adapting to rapid technological change, the importance of embracing engineering practices in BI, and the need for continuous learning. Listeners will gain insights into how AI is transforming data roles, why storytelling remains central to analytics, practical advice for thriving in a fast-changing industry, and so much more.
Highlights from this week’s conversation include:
Ryan’s Journey: From Playwriting to Data (1:05)
Making a Living as a Playwright (3:02)
Transitioning to BI: Night School and First Data Jobs (4:12)
Storytelling and Data: The Art of BI (6:22)
Early BI Work: Data Warehouses and PDF Reports (8:33)
Moving from Utilities to Consulting (13:03)
Building vs. Implementing: Product Strategy Lessons (16:37)
The AI Shift in BI and Analytics (18:41)
Automation Anxiety: The Human Side of Data Change (22:16)
The Evolving Role of BI Experts (25:18)
Adapting to Change: Learning Code and Experimentation (29:34)
AI and the Future of Embedded Analytics (33:38)
Capturing Intent: The Value of Modern BI Interfaces (37:03)
Bridging the Data and Software Engineering Gap (39:13)
The Historical Divide: Data vs. Software Engineering (43:06)
Organizational Challenges: Where Does BI Belong? (46:05)
Reflections on Self-Service BI and Value (48:46)
If Not Data: Ryan’s Alternate Career Paths (49:04)
Final Thoughts and Takeaways (50:17)
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