Data skills aren’t enough.
If you don’t understand the domain, you’re flying blind.

Here’s what I mean 👇
A data engineer once spotted a “problem” in a Telco dataset.
In October, a huge spike in phone and internet disconnects — especially in the New England area.

He flagged it as a potential churn event.
Panic ensued.

Until someone from the business side stepped in:
“It’s just the snowbirds. Retirees leaving for the South to escape the winter.”

False alarm.
But not an uncommon one.

This is what happens when your data team lacks context.

And it’s why I believe:
👉 Data without domain knowledge is just numbers.
👉 Insights without sector understanding are just noise.

If you want real value from your data org:
✅ Give them access to the business
✅ Prioritize cross-functional context
✅ Hire for curiosity, not just SQL

The best data teams don’t just analyze.
They understand.

Are your data teams close enough to the business?