In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, speaks with Shachar Meir, a data advisor who has worked with organisations from startups to the likes of Meta and Paypal. Together, they explore why so many companies, even those with skilled data teams, solid platforms and plenty of data, still struggle to deliver real business value. Shachar's take is clear: the problem isn't technology - it's people, process, and culture. Too often, data teams focus on building sophisticated platforms instead of understanding the business problems they're meant to solve. His summary: why guess when you can know? This episode is a practical conversation for anyone looking to move their organisation from data chaos to data clarity. 🎧 Listen now to discover how clarity beats complexity in data strategy. Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation. 

Many Data Engineers play very reactive roles. Because of that they struggle with cross-org collaboration, getting a seat at the table, creating alignment, and making their data producers produce high-quality data for them.

But there's another way – Data Engineers can LEAD!

Data Engineers sit at the intersection of data and their business, and if they execute well, they can play a very pivotal role!

In this talk, Orr and Shachar will explain what it looks like when you lead as a Data Engineer, and give practical suggestions for ways to apply that in your job.

Many Data Engineers play very reactive roles. Because of that they struggle with cross-org collaboration, getting a seat at the table, creating alignment, and making their data producers produce high-quality data for them.

But there's another way – Data Engineers can LEAD!

Data Engineers sit at the intersection of data and their business, and if they execute well, they can play a very pivotal role!

In this talk, Orr and Shachar will explain what it looks like when you lead as a Data Engineer, and give practical suggestions for ways to apply that in your job.

Practicing analytics well takes more than just tools and tech. It requires data modeling practices that unify and empower all teams within analytics, from engineers to analysts. This is especially true as AI becomes a part of analytics. Without a governed data model that provides consistent data interpretation, AI tools are left to guess. Join panelists Joe Reis, Sarah Levy, Harry Gollop, Rob Hulme, Shachar Meir, and Guy Fighel, as they share battle-tested advice on overcoming conflicting definitions and accurately mapping business intent to data, reports and dashboards at scale. This panel is for data & analytics engineers seeking a clear framework to capture business logic across layers, and for data leaders focused on building a reliable foundation for Gen AI.

Xinran and Shachar are veteran Data Engineers, and will share secrets for building a more successful career in Data Engineering.

They will share real-world examples and stories, and talk about some of the biggest challenges and questions Data Engineers face in their career, including:

1. Why is it so difficult to get a seat at the table?

2. How to connect your work to your impact, and make your work more visible?

3. How to choose the right company for you - MAANG vs. small companies vs. startups?

4. What path should I take - individual contributor (IC) vs. manager/leadership?

5. What makes a great Data Engineer?

Shachar Meir joins me for a chat about the three missing ingredients in data, going out on your own, the state of the data industry, and much more.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shacharmeir/