#1 Lucy Alexander, Director of Insights & Analytics @ The Financial Times

All Things Being SQL

Summary

Lucy discusses her background and career path in analytics, including her experiences at The FT, ASOS and Burberry. She highlights the differences in data analytics between established brands and scale-ups. Lucy also shares her insights on the value of analytics and the challenges of leading an analytics team. She discusses the hype around AI and the role of SQL in analytics. Lucy offers advice for analysts starting their career and emphasises the importance of diversity and a supportive culture. Finally, she discusses the goals and challenges for the FT data team.

Takeaways

• Working for established brands provides unique insights into optimisation and long-term thinking.
• The value of analytics lies in enabling strategic decision-making and being a partner in the decision-making process.
• The role of SQL in analytics is still important, but the field is evolving and new skills are emerging.
• Confidence, visibility, and the ability to give recommendations are key to standing out as an analyst.
• The FT prioritises diversity and creates a supportive culture for its employees.
• The FT data team focuses on setting foundations and optimizing tooling to stay ahead of the curve.

Chapters

00:00

Background and Career Path

02:52

Working at ASOS and Burberry

06:08

Approaching Data in Established Brands

09:03

Getting into Data Analytics

11:26

Data at the FT

15:41

The Value of Analytics and Insights

21:42

The Hype around AI and Analytics

25:29

The Role of SQL in Analytics

28:26

Advice for Analysts Starting Their Career

32:20

Diversity and Supportive Culture at the FT

37:32

Goals and Challenges for the FT Data Team

I hope you enjoy!

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Music by Noisyfilter from Fugue

Show produced and edited by the awesome team at Sound Media