Ignite Data Field Day 1

Who’s Pissing In Your Data Lake?

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In her Ignite Talk titled “Who’s Pissing In Your Data Lake?”, Karen Lopez uses a humorous and vivid analogy to highlight the importance of maintaining data integrity and quality in data lakes. She recounts a real-life incident where a man urinated in a reservoir in Oregon, leading to the costly and unnecessary draining of millions of gallons of water, despite the presence of other contaminants like bird and fish waste. Lopez draws parallels to data management, emphasizing that just as the reservoir had to be drained to meet public expectations of cleanliness, data lakes must be regularly monitored and cleaned to ensure data quality. She discusses issues such as missing integrity, outdated data standards, and fake data, urging the audience to practice good data hygiene and set high expectations for data quality. By profiling data often and addressing contamination promptly, organizations can maintain the trust and reliability of their data systems.

Personnel: Karen Lopez

9 Business Lessons I Learned From Baseball

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In his Ignite Talk, Stephen Foskett draws parallels between baseball and business, highlighting nine key lessons. He emphasizes the unpredictability of both fields, noting that just as every baseball field varies in size and shape, business environments are also diverse and ever-changing. Foskett underscores the importance of patience, adaptability, and resilience, likening the need to wait for the right pitch in baseball to making strategic decisions in business. He also points out the necessity of following through on commitments, much like a pitcher must complete a throw. The long baseball season, with its many games, teaches endurance and the ability to handle losses. Foskett argues that success often comes from a cohesive team of average players rather than a few superstars, and stresses the importance of adjusting strategies as situations evolve. He concludes by celebrating the idea that, like in baseball where even the best players fail frequently, persistence and the ability to move forward despite setbacks are crucial in business.

Watch the 2024 sequel talk, Nine More Business Lessons I Learned From Baseball!

Personnel: Stephen Foskett

Innovation and Football

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Rob Whiteley’s Ignite Talk, “Innovation and Football,” draws parallels between the NFL’s handling of Tom Brady’s deflated ball scandal and the broader theme of innovation versus the status quo. Whiteley argues that the severe penalties imposed on Brady and the Patriots were less about the actual infraction and more about challenging established norms and refusing to conform to the investigation process. He likens this to the tech industry’s need to push boundaries and innovate, rather than adhering strictly to traditional methods. By comparing the NFL’s protectionist stance to certain data storage companies, Whiteley emphasizes the importance of thinking differently and bending the rules to drive progress. He concludes by aligning his company, Hedvig, with the innovative spirit of the Patriots, advocating for a similar approach in the tech world to achieve groundbreaking advancements.

Personnel: Rob Whiteley

The Future of Work is Childs Play

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Theo Priestley argues that the future of work should be informed by the younger generation, specifically children, rather than millennials. He shares insights from a project where he asked primary school children about their vision for the future workplace. The children envisioned practical and innovative solutions such as AI for productivity, multi-purpose work surfaces, renewable energy sources, and ambient biometrics for security. They also emphasized the importance of emotional connections to their work environment and the ability to collaborate remotely. Priestley concludes that to address the shortage of tech talent, we should focus on nurturing the creativity and technological curiosity of children, who are already engaging with advanced concepts through play and learning.

Personnel: Theo Priestley

The Economics of Cloud or Why Amazon is Doomed (Maybe)

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In his Ignite Talk, Justin Warren discusses the economic challenges facing Amazon, particularly focusing on the company’s low-margin business model. He explains the basic principles of microeconomics, highlighting the difference between high-margin, low-volume businesses like Apple and low-margin, high-volume businesses like Amazon. Warren points out that Amazon’s profitability heavily relies on AWS, which is costly to maintain and expand. He contrasts Amazon’s financial position with that of competitors like Microsoft, which has substantial cash reserves and higher operating margins, allowing them to invest heavily in their cloud services. Warren suggests that if Amazon cannot improve its margins and generate more cash from its core business, it may struggle to keep up with competitors in the long run.

Personnel: Justin Warren

Close Encounters with the Third Kind of Database

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Gary Orenstein’s Ignite Talk, “Close Encounters with the Third Kind of Database,” addresses the evolution of databases and the need for a new type that merges transactional (OLTP) and analytical (OLAP) capabilities. He highlights the inefficiencies and frustrations associated with the traditional ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) process, which creates a gap between these two types of databases, leaving data scientists bogged down with data cleaning rather than analysis. Orenstein emphasizes the potential of emerging technologies like memory, cloud, and scale-out solutions to enable real-time data processing, eliminating the need for ETL and allowing for dynamic, immediate insights. This new database paradigm promises to be fast, simple, scalable, and capable of integrating with various tools, ultimately transforming how businesses handle and leverage data for real-time decision-making and impact.

Personnel: Gary Orenstein

The Real Game of Thrones Starring Cardinal Richelieu

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In this Ignite Talk, John Troyer delves into the historical figure of Cardinal Richelieu, often depicted as a villain in popular culture, particularly in Alexander Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers.” Troyer argues that Richelieu, who served as the de facto Prime Minister of France in the 17th century, was a complex character who took drastic measures to stabilize a country plagued by religious wars, noble rebellions, and external conflicts. Despite his ruthless tactics, including dismantling noble castles and suppressing Protestant political power, Richelieu also made significant contributions to French culture and governance, such as supporting the arts, establishing the first theater and weekly newspaper, and expanding French influence in the New World. Troyer concludes that while Richelieu’s methods were harsh, they were necessary for the survival and eventual flourishing of France, making him a hero rather than a villain.

Personnel: John Troyer