On this episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, Harry Gollop sits down with Hugo Lu, co-founder of Orchestra, to tackle one of the most common debates in modern data teams: should you build your own tools or buy off-the-shelf solutions? Hugo shares his experiences on both sides of the decision, practical frameworks for evaluating cost, opportunity, and long-term value, and real-world examples of when building or buying was the right call. Whether you’re a Head of Data, an engineer, or just curious about tooling strategy, this episode provides actionable insights to help your team make smarter, strategic decisions.

037 - Build vs Buy in the Modern Data Stack: Stories, Frameworks & Pitfalls

This week, I’m joined by Timothy Chan, Head of Data at Statsig.

Tim has a fascinating background — he started his career as a scientist developing life-saving drugs before pivoting into data. He went on to become a Staff Data Scientist at Meta and now leads the data function at Statsig, one of the world’s leading experimentation platforms, recently acquired by OpenAI.

In this episode, we dive into the power of experimentation and how Meta embedded it into every aspect of product development.

We unpack:
⚙️ What great experimentation really looks like
🏗️ How to build a world-class experimentation function
💬 How data teams can use experimentation to influence business decisions
⚖️ The balance between speed, rigour, and impact
👥 Why stakeholder collaboration is the true differentiator of high-performing data teams

Tim shares brilliant insights from his time at both Meta and Statsig — including how to think about experimentation as a cultural capability, not just a technical one.

If you care about driving real business impact with data, this is a must-listen.

036 - From Meta to Statsig: Driving Business Impact Through Experimentation

Welcome back to the Stacked Data Podcast — where we explore what it really takes to build impactful data teams in the modern world.

This week’s episode is all about stepping out of the ticket queue and into the strategic driver seat.

I sat down with Adam Cassar, Director of Analytics at Wise, to explore how analytics teams can break free from the reactive reporting cycle and become genuine business partners. This conversation is packed with real-life examples, practical strategies, and hard-earned lessons from Adam’s experience leading high-performing teams.

We cover:
✅Why many analytics teams end up in a service-provider role — and how to shift that perception
✅The biggest barriers to becoming more strategic (and how to overcome them)
✅How to proactively influence business decisions (not just report on them)
✅What skills, mindsets, and relationships actually matter if you want your team to have impact

Whether you're an IC or leading a data team, this episode is for anyone who wants to stop being a dashboard factory — and start driving real change in the business.
🔁Share it with someone who’s ready to level up their data career

#StackedDataPodcast #AnalyticsEngineering #ModernDataTeam #DataLeadership #Wise #DataStrategy

035 - How to Be a Strategic Driver of the Business - Senior Director of Wise

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 – 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

Analytics Engineering has become one of the most in-demand roles for modern data teams in recent years. 

The role goes far beyond just building clean data pipelines and data models, but how do we actually measure that impact?

In today’s episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, we're joined by Ross Helenius, Director of Analytics Engineering & AI Transformation Engineering at Mimecast, to unpack one of the most important (and overlooked) questions in data:

👉 What does success look like for Analytics Engineering: beyond the technical?

𝚆̲𝚎̲ ̲𝚎̲𝚡̲𝚙̲𝚕̲𝚘̲𝚛̲𝚎̲:̲

✅ The true role of Analytics Engineering in modern data teams

✅ Why measuring ROI is so hard and how  you can do this

✅ How to define and track impact beyond pipelines, models, and dashboards

✅ Practical KPIs and strategies to showcase business value

✅ Pitfalls to avoid when proving the value of your data function



Ross brings deep experience from the intersection of data, engineering, and AI, and offers actionable insights for data leaders and practitioners alike.



Whether you're leading a data team, building one, or looking to become a better AE this episode is packed with value.



034 - Beyond the pipeline - Tracking the true impact of Analytics Engineering

Digestible. Defensible. Actionable.
What does it really take to drive impact with data?

Too often, analysts are left wondering:
“Why didn’t anyone do anything with that insight?”

This week on the Stacked Data Podcast, I’m joined by Sam Marks, Director of Analytics & Business Strategy at the Boston Bruins, to explore the gap between finding insights and driving action — and how to close it.

Sam shares the Digestible, Defensible, Actionable framework he uses to turn analysis into outcomes, covering:

✅ What makes an insight digestible (and where analysts go wrong)
✅ How to make your work defensible and credible
✅ What separates an interesting insight from an actionable one
✅ How to overcome inaction from stakeholders
✅ Real-world examples of the framework in action

This one’s packed with tactical advice for any data professional tired of their work getting stuck in slide decks.

033 - Digestible, Defendable, Actionable – How to drive impact with Data

Building High-Value Data Teams and the Future of BI with Oliver Hughes, CEO of Count

In this episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, we're joined by Oliver Hughes, CEO of Count — a business intelligence platform reinventing how teams collaborate through a flexible, canvas-style interface.

Together, we explore:

 * The key principles that make data teams truly impactful
 * Why operational clarity, effective problem-solving, and reducing time to value are so critical
 * How Count's unique approach is transforming data collaboration beyond traditional dashboards
 * The future of BI and how data teams can stay ahead in a fast-evolving landscape

Whether you're leading a data team, building one, or looking for smarter ways to drive insights, this episode is packed with valuable lessons.

Tune in and discover a smarter, more collaborative future for data!

032 - The key principles behind high-value data teams 

In this episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, we're joined by Zach from Advancing Analytics to dive deep into the world of modern data platforms.

Zach walks us through his career in data and his current role at one of the UK's leading data consultancies. We explore what a modern data platform really is, why companies are investing in them, and what it takes to build one that’s scalable, reliable, and genuinely useful to the business.

From core stages and common pitfalls to ensuring business alignment and future-proofing, Zach shares the lessons he's learned delivering platforms for a wide range of clients. We also zoom out to talk about what it’s like working in data consulting—what skills matter, what a typical day looks like, and what makes someone successful at Advancing Analytics.

If you're interested in data architecture, consulting, or just want to understand what "modern" really means when it comes to data platforms—this one’s for you.

031 - Building a Modern Data Platform 

In this episode of Stacked Data Podcast, I’m joined by Manou, Head of Data & X at Medik8, to dive into the unique challenges of leading a small data team—and more importantly, how to overcome them.

✅ How do you prioritize when resources are tight?
✅ How can small data teams drive real business impact?
✅ What strategies help in building a strong team culture?

Manou shares practical strategies on ensuring data teams stay focused on high-value projects, align with business goals, and maximize their potential—even with limited resources.

If you’re leading (or part of) a small data team, this one’s for you.

030 - Challenges of leading a small data team

🚀 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 & 𝐀𝐈 🎙️

Data teams are investing more than ever in AI and analytics, yet many still struggle to make their data truly accessible, consistent, and reliable. One major reason? The semantic layer.

Without a curated Semantic Layer, self-serve AI is a pipedream!

In the latest episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, I sit down with Sarah Levy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlevyschreier/], CEO of Euno [https://www.linkedin.com/company/eunoai/], to unpack why the semantic layer is often overlooked—and why it’s so crucial for businesses looking to scale AI and analytics effectively.

𝕎𝕖 𝕕𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠:
🔹Why so many companies struggle with data consistency and accessibility
🔹What a semantic layer actually is and why it’s a game-changer
🔹How it bridges the gap between raw data and real business impact
🔹The challenges of adoption & why many data teams still don’t have one
🔹How Euno is tackling this problem head-on

If you’re working in data and your organisation is pushing for AI, this is a must-listen.

029 - Why the Semantic Layer is the Missing Piece in Data & AI 

In the world of app-based products, event tracking is the backbone of understanding user behaviour, engagement, and product success. But with so much data available, how do you decide what to track? How do you avoid over-tracking while ensuring your insights drive real business impact?

In this episode of the Stacked Data Podcast, I sit down with Matt R, Head of Data at Paired, to break down the art of event tracking—what to track, what to ignore, and how to ensure your analytics strategy is built for action, not overload.

🔥 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣:

✅ How to define and prioritize the “right” events to track

✅ Avoiding common pitfalls like over-tracking & inconsistent data

✅ Best practices for documentation, governance, and making event data actionable

✅ How to communicate the importance of tracking to non-technical teams

✅ Practical advice for setting up event tracking in mobile apps from scratch

Whether you’re a data professional, product manager, or startup founder, this episode will give you the framework to master event tracking and turn data into real insights that drive growth.

028 - Product Analytics - The Art of Event Tracking 

It has become evident to me that many data teams are grappling with similar challenges. Learning from the experiences of others can be incredibly valuable, which is why I am thrilled to announce the launch of The Stacked Podcast. This podcast is dedicated to sharing stories, pain points, challenges, and solutions within the data industry.

I will be conducting interviews with industry leaders, delving into their cutting-edge projects, exploring the hurdles they faced, and how they triumphed over them. My ultimate goal is to provide you with insights and advice that will empower your team and propel your career forward.



www.cognifysearch.com

Harry Gollop

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