The Soda Podcast

This episode of Club Soda features the data team of FirstParty, recorded live at a speakeasy in downtown New York, where data teams and practitioners gathered. The topic is data products and the conversation centers on FirstParty's mission to provide businesses with the capabilities to maximise the value of their data assets. Your host Maarten Masschelein is joined by Jolie McDonnell (Data Scientist), Ben Sgro (VP Engineering), and Tommy Dodge (Director of Analytics). Maarten MasscheleinFirstPartyTwitterLinkedInFacebookSoda

Maarten is in conversation with Ramón Medrano, Senior Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Google. In this conversation Maarten and Ramón discuss how the principles and practices of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) can be applied to the practices of Data Reliability Engineering and data quality management. They deep-dive into four topics - SLOs, lineage, debuggability, and how to operate as a team - from the book Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs Production Systems, co-authored by Ramón’s manager, Jennifer Petoff. As the book explains how Google’s SRE team builds, deploys, monitors, and maintains some of the largest software systems in the world, Maarten and Ramón’s conversation explores how data practitioners can apply some of the best practices, processes, and thinking, when it comes to data and systems. Maarten Masscheleintranscript of this episodeOpen ArmsTwitterLinkedInFacebookSoda

Meet Ramón Medrano, Senior Staff Site Reliability Engineer at Google. Inspired by the book, Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs Production Systems, our host Maarten will explore and discuss how the practice of using software to automate IT infrastructure tasks such as system management and application monitoring - can be adopted and applied to the practice of data management. Hear Maarten and Ramón get the conversation started with introductions. Maarten Masscheleintranscript of this episodeOpen ArmsTwitterLinkedInFacebookSoda

Kulani Likotsi is Head of Data Management and Data Governance at one of the big four African banks, headquartered in South Africa. Kulani is curious and practical. As an individual she seizes every opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. As a leader she is focused on people and enabling every one as an individual, to be their best. In this episode Kulani shares her passion for people and data governance. You’ll also hear her approach to mentoring, thoughts on diversity, and how she truly lives the values that she believes in with her incredible volunteer spirit Jesse Andersontranscript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Meet Kulani Likotsi, Head of Data Management and Data Governance at one of the big four African banks, headquartered in South Africa. Kulani’s career spans from being a developer and analyst in the technical team, and growing into the head of a team in the business. Get to know Kulani ahead of her conversation with Jesse, which will delve into her passion for data governance, data privacy, and people. Jesse Andersontranscript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability and data quality management platform to enable data teams to detect, resolve, and prevent data issues.

Erick Webbe is Head of Data Science at bol.com. Erick is building a data science team of bright minds to push the boundary of science, explore new methodologies, and experiment with new technologies. As a practical and thoughtful leader, his focus is on giving each individual the freedom to explore, the freedom to experiment, and figure out what will work and what will make bol.com a gamechanger in the online retail market. Hear Erick and Jesse as they discuss the scale of data science, building and managing teams, and making a difference. Jesse Andersontranscript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Erick Webbe, Head of Data Science at bol.com, is a physicist with a passion for experimentation, exploration, and big data. He is responsible for implementing and scaling data science-powered solutions that will ensure bol.com retains its position as a leading European online retailer. Hear Jesse get to know Erick as they get the conversation started. Jesse Andersontranscript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Maarten is in conversation with Arif Wider, Professor of Software Engineering at HTW Berlin, and Max Schultze, Data Engineering Manager at Zalando. Arif and Max are friends in data who share a passion and interest in data mesh. “Data Mesh in Practice: How to Set Up a Data-Driven Organization”, is the book co-authored by Arif and Max and it’s where this conversation starts. This conversation brings forward their practical experience and opinions as they tackle some common misconceptions and answer some challenging questions that will provide insights, "a-ha" and "oh yeah" moments, and valuable takeaways for anyone embarking on their data mesh journey, and everyone looking to make conscious decisions on how they address data at scale. There is something for everyone - from data engineers and practitioners, to Berliners, and anyone who believes in the power of people to make the change that will help organizations realize the value of data. Maarten Masscheleintranscript of this episodeTierschutzverein für BerlinTwitterLinkedInFacebookSoda

Meet Arif Wider, Professor of Software Engineering at HTW Berlin & Fellow Consultant with Thoughtworks, and Max Schultze, Data Engineering Manager at Zalando. Arif and Max have a shared passion and interest in the topic of good data practices and got to write a book about their experience bringing data mesh to Zalando. To get the conversation started, our host Maarten meets Arif and Max, on a sunny day in Berlin. Maarten Masscheleintranscript of this episodeTierschutzverein für BerlinTwitterLinkedInFacebookSoda

Brent Dykes sits down with host Jesse to discuss and explore the skill of data storytelling. Brent is the author of ‘Effective Data Storytelling - How to Drive Change with Data, Visual, and Visuals’. He believes - and has witnessed - that being able to effectively communicate with data is a necessity in organizations of all types and sizes. Brent helps data teams around the world master the art and the science of data storytelling with frameworks and techniques to help craft compelling stories with data. Jesse Anderson transcript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Meet Brent Dykes, Chief Data Storyteller at AnalyticsHero, LLC. Brent has spent more than 15 years consulting in the analytics industry. As a former analyst, manager, and technology evangelist at companies such as Omniture, Adobe, and Domo, Brent has witnessed first-hand the challenges of communicating data effectively. In this episode, hear Brent and Jesse connect before they discuss comic book superheros and explore the art and science of data storytelling. Jesse Andersontranscript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

The first guests in conversation with host Maarten Masschelein are Mauricio Rodrigues and Tiago Andrade from americanas s.a. With more than 51 million e-commerce customers and 3,500 physical stores, americanas s.a. is Brazil’s leading retail innovation platform with a reputation for exceptional customer service and rapid distribution of products. In this episode, the conversation is formed around americanas’ approach to data, on which its entire retail offering is built upon, which informs both the company’s ability to recommend and sell the right products to the right people, and its mission to deliver a unified commerce experience for an incredibly diverse customer base across Brazil. Join Maarten, Mauricio, and Tiago in conversation on innovation, automation, vision, and what makes their worlds go around. More about our host, Maarten MasscheleinRead the transcript of this episodeLearn more americanas' chosen charity, Unicef BrasilLearn more about careers withamericanasConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, FacebookFromSoda, theprovider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Meet Americanas, a Brazilian retailer born with the purpose of bringing together the best in the world to improve the daily lives of all Brazilian families. In this episode, Maarten is in conversation with Tiago Andrade, Head of Big Data, Analytics & AI, and Mauricio de Paula Rodrigues, Technology Manager. This conversation focuses on the world of e-commerce and exploring the intersection of data, technology, and customer. The conversation gets started with an introduction to Tiago. More about our host, Maarten MasscheleinRead the transcript of this episodeConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, Facebook From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to find, analyze, and resolve data issues.

Drew Smith is Vice President of Global Data & Analytics for Little Caesar Enterprises and Ilitch Companies. Working for the the third largest pizza company in the world, that also owns a major league baseball team and a national hockey team, and having spent seventeen years at IKEA, Drew has deep experience in applying data and analytics to drive the business forward to deliver results, build sustainably, and change how people work more effectively. More about our host,Jesse AndersonRead the transcript of this episodeJoin the conversation in ourSlack CommunityConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, FacebookFind book recommendations and more resources for data professionals athttps://dreamteam.soda.ioFromSoda, theprovider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

Meet Drew Smith, Vice President of Global Data and Analytics at Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. and Ilitch Companies. Drew has spent his career entrenched in analytics, predominantly working in retail, fast moving consumer goods, and leisure and entertainment industries. Drew and Jesse are going to delve into the outcome of the analytics, how that drives the business forward to deliver results, anchor the learning, and build sustainably. Tune in and meet Drew. Jesse Anderson transcript of this episodeTwitterLinkedInFacebookhttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

In today’s episode, we go deep into the career of veteran industry innovator and leader John Thompson, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence & Rapid Data Lab at global biotechnology leader CSL Behring. John and Jesse discuss the art of the analytics team, how a leader can sell their data-vision to their C-Suite, and the potentially bright future ahead for data governance and monetization. John also shares more about his book Building Analytics Teams: Harnessing Analytics And Artificial Intelligence For Business Improvement, as well as his upcoming release, The Future of Data: What Happens to Your Data. More about our host,Jesse Anderson Read the transcriptof this episodeConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, FacebookFind book recommendations and more resources for data professionals athttps://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

Meet John Thompson, Global Head of Artificial Intelligence & Rapid Data Lab at global biotechnology leader CSL Behring. John is a veteran industry leader, with nearly four decades of experience in data and analytics, building data warehouses, business intelligence, and technology. With career involvement in 20 different industries and as the builder of more than 60 different predictive analytic applications, he’s also the writer of Building Analytics Teams: Harnessing Analytics And Artificial Intelligence For Business Improvement. Listen in on Jesse’s conversation as John tees up a look back at his 40-year focus on all things data. • More about our host, Jesse Anderson • Read the transcript of this episode • Connect with us on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook • Find book recommendations and more resources for data professionals at https://dreamteam.soda.io From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

Welcome to the first full-length episode of In Conversation With. In this episode Natasha introduces host Maarten Masschelein, CEO and co-founder of Soda Data, and we discover why he is the perfect host for the series, In Conversation With. We get a glimpse into what makes Maarten’s world go around, his passion for technology, and his journey to building the software, and providing the code, to solve the number one data challenge faced by every data team. More about our host, Maarten MasscheleinRead the transcript of this episodeConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, Facebook From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

Welcome to Season One of ‘In Conversation With,’ a series of conversations with practitioners, technologists, and change makers who all share a passion in making meaningful connections and rethinking traditional practices, in the world of data and beyond. Our host is Maarten Masschelein, CEO and co-founder of Soda Data. Maarten and his guests will be talking about data, what makes their world go around, and sharing their thoughts, perspective, and ideas that we think will inspire you to be a part of the conversation and be a part of the change. Because just like good data helps the world go around, so do good conversations. To kick off this new series and its inaugural episode, here’s a teaser getting to know our host Maarten and a few of his favorite things. More about our host, Maarten MasscheleinRead the transcript of this episodeConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedIn, Facebook From Soda, the provider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.

Data mesh has the potential to solve a big data problem. The book, Data Mesh: Delivering Data-Driven Value at Scale, authored by Zhamak Dehghani, the creator of data mesh, is a guide for practitioners, architects, technical leaders, and decision makers on their journey from traditional big data architecture to distributed and multidimensional approach to analytical data management. In this episode, Zhamak and Jesse talk about the book and unravel some of the complex and critiqued areas of data mesh, and shed light on how to succeed with data mesh. This episode is part of a trilogy of conversations with Zhamak and Jesse, as they delve into the different sides of data mesh. Before you dive in, do make sure you’ve listened to their first and second conversations. More about our host,Jesse AndersonRead the transcript of this episodeListen to our first conversation with Zhamak from 2021, Data for Everyone, or her second conversation with Jesse, Reflections. Get Zhamak’s book Data Mesh: Delivering Data-Driven Value at ScaleConnect with us on social media:Twitter,LinkedInFind book recommendations and more resources for data professionals athttps://dreamteam.soda.ioFromSoda, theprovider of data reliability tools and observability platform to enable data teams to discover, prioritize, and resolve data issues.