In this episode, host Jason Foster sits down with Anthony Deighton, CEO at Tamr, to delve into the complexities of data quality and analytics. They explore the challenges organisations face in managing and improving data quality, the pivotal role of AI in addressing these challenges, and strategies for aligning data quality initiatives with business objectives. They also explore the evolving role of central data teams, led by Chief Data Officers, in spearheading enterprise-wide data quality initiatives and how businesses can effectively tackle key challenges.

Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. They work with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and change management and leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in 2022 and 2023 and named the Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023.

Today I’m joined by Anthony Deighton, General Manager of Data Products at Tamr. Throughout our conversation, Anthony unpacks his definition of a data product and we discuss whether or not he feels that Tamr itself is actually a data product. Anthony shares his views on why it’s so critical to focus on solving for customer needs and not simply the newest and shiniest technology. We also discuss the challenges that come with building a product that’s designed to facilitate the creation of better internal data products, as well as where we are in this new wave of data product management, and the evolution of the role.

Highlights/ Skip to:

I introduce Anthony, General Manager of Data Products at Tamr, and the topics we’ll be discussing today (00:37) Anthony shares his observations on how BI analytics are an inch deep and a mile wide due to the data that’s being input (02:31) Tamr’s focus on data products and how that reflects in Anthony’s recent job change from Chief Product Officer to General Manager of Data Products (04:35) Anthony’s definition of a data product (07:42) Anthony and I explore whether he feels that decision support is necessary for a data product (13:48) Whether or not Anthony feels that Tamr qualifies as a data product (17:08) Anthony speaks to the importance of focusing on outcomes and benefits as opposed to endlessly knitting together features and products (19:42) The challenges Anthony sees with metrics like Propensity to Churn (21:56) How Anthony thinks about design in a product like Tamr (30:43) Anthony shares how data science at Tamr is a tool in his toolkit and not viewed as a “fourth” leg of the product triad/stool (36:01) Anthony’s views on where we are in the evolution of the DPM role (41:25) What Anthony would do differently if he could start over at Tamr knowing what he knows now (43:43)

Links Tamr: https://www.tamr.com/ Innovating: https://www.amazon.com/Innovating-short-guide-making-things/dp/B0C8R79PVB The Mom Test: https://www.amazon.com/The-Mom-Test-Rob-Fitzpatrick-audiobook/dp/B07RJZKZ7F LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonydeighton/