Ethan Aaron, Founder and CEO of Portable, and John Steinmetz, Head of Data at Gallo Mechanical, share their insights on building impactful data teams. They discuss the differences between data and engineering teams, highlighting how structure varies across industries. The importance of aligning data initiatives with business goals and navigating the unique challenges of various sectors, like finance and construction, is emphasized. Additionally, they tackle the role of data in driving daily business value and the critical nature of establishing trust in data practices.

Ethan Aaron, CEO of Portable, dives into the debate of whether data is a job or merely a skill. He discusses the barriers companies face in utilizing simple tools like Google Sheets for analytics. The conversation highlights the evolving role of data teams, addressing the gap between technical work and actual business value. Ethan also explores how businesses can identify impactful data applications to drive culture and efficiency, while navigating the cyclical nature of data trends and the integration of AI in decision-making.