Abstract: 

If we look back at the major developments in data over the last decade, we often think about advances in data storage, in AI, and in machine learning. While these are significant, over the last several years, a series of quiet revolutions have been driving equally big changes. A new class of data tools are closing the technology gap between the world's leading companies and everyone else, making data science far more accessible to a much wider range of companies. This is opening up new opportunities for companies to serve and sell to an emerging “middle class” of data consumers.

As these technologies spread, we've collectively become remarkably skilled at processing, modeling, analyzing, and learning from data. And yet, despite being we're massively more informed than ever before, we haven't seen comparable improvements in outcomes.

Why? Because we're rarely in the room where these decisions happen. We often hand off our work, and tell executives “you take it from here.” Our tools and analyses, no matter how powerful or clever, will always be restricted by how they're wielded - and who wields them.

In this talk, I'll outline the three technological changes that are driving this quiet transformation of data science. I'll show how any company, regardless of stage or resources, can and should take advantage of these changes. I'll discuss the problem technology hasn't yet solved - how to put data science in the rooms where decisions are made. Finally, I'll survey the opportunities we have to address this challenge.

Bio: 

Benn Stancil is a co­founder and Chief Analyst at Mode, a company building collaborative tools for analysts. Benn is responsible for overseeing Mode's internal analytics efforts. Benn is also an active contributor to the data science community, frequently helping data science teams build their technology stacks and establish data-driven cultures within their companies. In addition, Benn provides strategic oversight and guidance to Mode's product direction as a member of the product leadership team.
Prior to Mode, Benn was a senior analyst at Microsoft and Yammer, where he helped lead product analytics. Benn also worked as an economic analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank in Washington, DC.