Vik

Why Overvaluing Industry Experience Limits Innovation in Data Leadership

A senior exec once asked me whether my experience with streaming vs. batch processing and customer data platforms “really translates” across industries. On the surface, it’s a fair question. But it reveals a hiring mindset that quietly constrains many companies: the belief that industry experience is the primary predictor of leadership success. The Illusion of Uniqueness Every leadership team thinks their industry is uniquely complex. Sometimes that’s true. Regulatory nuance in healthcare, trading rules in …

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Data Teams Are Not Service Teams

Over time, a lot of data teams drift into a pattern that’s hard to break out of. They become ticket takers, constantly responding to requests, pulling data for one-off questions, fixing dashboards, and explaining why numbers don’t match. It feels helpful at first. But eventually, the work starts to pile up, context starts to disappear, and the team is mostly reacting instead of building anything meaningful. The service model becomes the default, and that’s a …

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Why Business Context Is a Force Multiplier for Technical People

Most technical people — whether they’re building software, managing infrastructure, designing data pipelines, or optimizing algorithms — focus heavily on mastering the tools and frameworks of their craft. That makes sense; strong technical skills are the foundation of the role. But there’s a hidden force that can dramatically amplify the impact of those skills: deep understanding of the business context. When a technical professional understands why the business operates the way it does, the technical work changes. Decisions …

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Why a SaaS Tool Won’t Implement Itself

We’ve all been there. An organization is stuck in legacy, processes are inefficient, and it takes an army of people to get things don. The solution? Buy a tool. And not just any tool — a SaaS product with a sleek interface, strong G2/Gartner reviews, and a demo that makes the future look like it will build itself. Contracts are signed. Seats are provisioned. Invites are sent. Then, weeks go by and very little changes. …

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Build vs. Buy in the Age of AI Coding Assistants

For most of my career, the build vs. buy decision in software has leaned heavily toward buy, especially in the enterprise. It is understandable. Buy is faster. Buy is safer. Buy comes with support, training, and a roadmap. But lately, I have been rethinking that bias. More accurately, AI coding assistants are forcing me to. Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and others have fundamentally shifted the landscape. We are entering a world where build is no longer …

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A Daily Checklist for Staying Close to the Business (as a Technologist)

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the most effective technologists are the ones who stay deeply connected to the business. Not just during planning sessions or leadership reviews, but in the day-to-day rhythm of their work. This wasn’t always intuitive for me. Early in my career, I focused heavily on technical architecture, coding, and project delivery. But I eventually realized that without business context, even excellent technical execution can miss the mark. Here’s …

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Doing Great Work Isn’t Enough: Why Alignment, Visibility, and Sponsorship Matter

You’re grinding. You’re pushing through. You’re delivering. But is anyone noticing? In corporate world, execution and independence are table stakes. But real impact, and real career growth, come from something more: alignment, visibility, and sponsorship. Pushing Through Is Necessary, But Not Sufficient As I wrote in Pushing Through, the ability to keep going through ambiguity and resistance is critical. It builds resilience. It earns trust. But grit alone doesn’t guarantee your work will land. You might deliver a technically …

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Structuring Data and Analytics Teams for Impact

As more companies invest heavily in data as they grow, the question of how to structure the data and analytics function becomes increasingly important. It is not just about reporting lines or team charters. Structure influences how effectively data is used, how talent is retained, and how aligned the team is to business priorities. In my experience, I have seen a range of models in action: centralized teams, embedded analysts, and hub-and-spoke hybrids. I have …

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The Lone Wolf: Misunderstood or Misaligned?

In today’s business culture, collaboration is treated as the gold standard. We idolize team players, prioritize consensus, and treat solo work as a red flag. But that perspective isn’t always right. Not every meaningful contribution comes from group efforts. Some of the most important breakthroughs, elegant systems, and high-leverage solutions come from individuals working alone, without distraction. These “Lone wolves” aren’t anti-collaborative, they are just built differently. And when you learn to recognize and support …

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Stop Automating Broken Processes

One of the biggest mistakes I see in digital projects? Teams rushing to automate business processes without first asking whether those processes make any sense to begin with. Just because something exists doesn’t mean it’s worth preserving. If a process is slow, unclear, or stitched together with manual workarounds, automating it won’t solve the problem — it’ll lock it in. You’ll make the mess go faster, not better. A Real Example In a former company, …

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