In this engaging conversation, Erica Louie shares her unique journey from aspiring pastry chef to Head of Data at dbt Labs, with host Bolaji Oyejidehighlighting the importance of empathy and communication in the data field. Erica discusses the skills and milestones that helped him climb the career ladder, the challenges of hiring for data roles, and the often thankless nature of data work. Erica also opens up about a personal failure that taught her valuable lessons and reflects on the overwhelming nature of leadership, ultimately finding joy in managing her team. B olaji & Erica further delve into various themes surrounding self-awareness in career growth, the measurement of data team value, the benefits of Cloud CLI, the importance of the semantic layer, challenges in data governance, strategies for building a data team from scratch, and the balance between service-oriented and strategic projects. The discussion emphasizes the need for self-reflection, effective communication within teams, and the integration of data practices into business strategies. Takeaways:

• Being different can lead to unique career paths.
• Analytical skills can be built over time.
• Empathy is crucial in data roles.
• Communication is key in data work.
• Hiring should balance hard and soft skills.
• Data work can often feel thankless.
• Learning from failures is essential for growth.
• Leadership can be overwhelming but rewarding.
• It's important to prioritize team culture.
• Finding joy in work is vital for success. Self-awareness is crucial for career growth.
• Regular self-check-ins can prevent burnout.
• Measuring data team value can be linked to company initiatives.
• Cloud CLI simplifies version management and enhances productivity.
• The semantic layer promotes best practices in data reporting.
• Data governance is an evolving challenge for organizations.
• Building a data team requires understanding executive needs.
• A phased approach to data projects is recommended for new teams.
• Balancing service requests with strategic initiatives is essential.
• Effective communication with stakeholders is key to data team success.

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