In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker speaks with Joe Bugajski, former Chief Data Officer at Visa and Gartner.
Joe shares his remarkable career journey, which included building prototype vehicles, launching a machine learning company, and becoming a C-level data leader and coach.
For the data topic, we discuss what it really takes to lead and coach high-performing data teams. Joe offers honest insights on moving from technical expert to leader, how to communicate data value to the business, and the importance of self-awareness, feedback, and continuous learning in leadership.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:35 Joe’s Career Journey
03:47 Transition to Leadership
06:52 Building and Managing Teams
09:32 Importance of Communication and Feedback
26:02 Key Moments and Career Transformations
42:42 Embracing Failure and Persistence
43:13 Healthy Outlets for Stress
43:54 The Importance of Hobbies
44:59 Learning from Setbacks
45:38 Skills for Industry Success
46:50 The Role of Vision in Leadership
47:09 Mathematics and Machine Learning
48:13 The Value of Persistence
48:29 Effective Communication and Data Understanding
50:43 The Future of Data Science and AI
53:55 The Role of C-Level Leaders in Data and AI
01:00:54 Skills for the Next Generation of Data Professionals
01:08:17 Building a Culture of Experimentation
01:13:16 Preparing Teams for AI Integration
01:18:06 Concluding Thoughts and Final Advice
Thank you for listening!