Directionally Correct, A People Analytics Podcast with Cole & Scott #133 - Yuyan Sun - What's Really Going On In People Analytics & Why LinkedIn Sucks
Jul 13, 2025
Yuyan Sun, Head of People Analytics at Motive, shares her compelling journey from a small village in China to a leader in her field. She discusses the evolution of people analytics, emphasizing the need for a deep understanding of human behavior. The conversation also touches on the challenges of building credibility in analytics, the transformative power of AI, and the importance of storytelling in data presentation. Additionally, Yuyan provides insights into diversity and inclusion within executive roles, urging a focus on resilience in promoting workplace equity.
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Early Life Shapes Analytics Skills
- Yuyan Sun shares her experience of not attending school until third grade in a small village in China.
- Her coping mechanism was observing social behaviors, which laid the foundation for her people analytics skills.
People Analytics Fulfills Vital Business Need
- People analytics fulfills the need for making informed decisions about a business's major investment: its workforce.
- Not using people analytics is like buying a home without considering the needs of the people who live there.
LinkedIn Prioritizes Publicity Over Credibility
- LinkedIn is a primary learning resource but increasingly favors publicity over credibility.
- Its algorithm promotes emotional content rather than fact-based, skill-building information.
