11: From Soul-Sucking Telecom Presales, to Data Engineering Mgr: Jessica Franks

Data Career Transformations

In this episode, Bolaji interviews Jessica Franks, a data engineering manager at Not On The High Street, who shares her unique journey from telecom engineering to data leadership. Jessica discusses her transition to the UK, the challenges of managing a data team, and the importance of communication and mentorship in the data field.

Jessica also explains the significance of data strategy, the use of Wardley mapping, and how she measures the impact of her work. Jessica emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adapting in the evolving data landscape, and her aspirations for the future in data leadership.

Speakers:

• Guest: Jessica Franks is the Data Engineering Manager at Not On the High Street, an eCommerce company based in the United Kingdom
• Host: Bolaji Oyejide is the community manager at dbt Labs, and host of Data Career Transformations.

Takeaways:

• Jessica's journey from telecom to data leadership is unique and inspiring.
• Taking time off to study data science can lead to career transformation.
• Communication skills are crucial for data professionals.
• Wardley mapping is a valuable tool for visualizing data strategy.
• The modern data stack includes tools like Snowflake and dbt.
• Measuring impact in data work can be challenging but rewarding.
• Mentorship and community support are vital in the data field.
• Learning to say no is important for managing workload.
• Data maturity assessments can guide strategic decisions.
• Continuous learning is essential in the evolving data landscape.

Chapters:

• 00:00: Introduction to Jessica's Journey
• 02:33: From Telecom to Data Leadership
• 05:11: The Transition to Data Science
• 08:02: Navigating Career Changes
• 10:41: First Day at Not On The High Street
• 13:20: Building a Data Team
• 16:04: Creating a Data Strategy
• 18:40: The Importance of Communication in Data
• 21:20: Implementing Wardley Mapping
• 24:01: Modern Data Stack at Not On The High Street
• 25:49: The Value of dbt in Data Engineering
• 28:42: Change Management in Data Teams
• 32:00: Understanding Data Maturity
• 34:37: The Importance of Community and Mentorship
• 36:32: Asking Questions and Overcoming Hesitation
• 38:19: Handling Stress and Conflicting Priorities
• 40:58: Learning to Say No
• 42:51: Balancing Maintenance and Innovation
• 45:24: Measuring Impact in Data Roles
• 47:54: Future Aspirations in Data Leadership

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