What if scaling your data platform meant starting from scratch? In this episode of Data Matas, John Napoleon-Kuofie, Analytics Engineer at Monzo, shares what it really takes to rebuild trust in your models - inside one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital banks. From inheriting 1,000+ undocumented DBT models to challenging the purpose of legacy tests, John walks through the decisions his team is making to improve data quality, reduce noise, and future-proof their platform. It’s a candid, practica...
Jun 12, 2025•36 min•Ep. 14
How do analytics engineers grow from writing SQL to designing entire data systems? And why do most companies still confuse tool mastery with real engineering skill? In this episode of Data Matas, Oleg Agapov (Senior Analytics Engineer at Hiive) shares what it actually takes to go from junior to senior in data—beyond bootcamps, tools, and job titles. He breaks down the core shifts that matter most: thinking in systems, mastering data modelling, and creating structure that scales. You’ll hear how ...
May 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 13
What if your data team’s biggest risk isn’t technical debt - but mental exhaustion? In this brutally honest conversation, Nik Walker (Co-op) shares how a culture of low-value work and constant reactivity burns out even the best data teams, and what to do about it. About this episode Data engineers aren’t struggling because the tech is hard—they’re struggling because the work often isn’t worth doing. In this episode, Nik unpacks why discovery matters more than dashboards, how to protect your team...
May 01, 2025•29 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, we reveal how IRIS Software is borrowing principles from quantum computing to build data systems that are adaptable, explainable, and innovation-friendly—without compromising business-as-usual. This conversation with David Draper offers a rare inside look at how a major enterprise balances legacy systems with forward-thinking experimentation. You’ll learn how modular architecture, protected innovation time, and explainable AI are reshaping the way IRIS builds its data infrastruc...
Apr 10, 2025•52 min•Ep. 11
What Crypto Data Teams Do Differently with Emily Loh Episode Snapshot In this illuminating conversation, Emily Loh reveals how leading a data team in the volatile crypto space has forced innovations in resource allocation, strategic prioritisation, and AI implementation that data leaders across all industries can apply for greater impact. Guest Introduction Emily Loh serves as Director of Data at MoonPay, where she leads a 15-person team spanning data engineering, data science, and machine learn...
Mar 27, 2025•34 min•Ep. 10
Are you unknowingly overspending on cloud data infrastructure? Many businesses migrate to the cloud expecting cost savings and efficiency, but hidden costs, vendor lock-in, and inefficient ETL processes often result in ballooning expenses. Without a strategic approach, organisations risk wasting budget on unnecessary compute, storage, and manual data management. What You’ll Learn in This Episode In this episode of Data Matas, host Aaron Phethean speaks with Jon Hammant, Head of Compute for UK &a...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min•Ep. 9
In this Season 1 Highlights episode, we break down seven proven strategies that help teams cut costs, improve data quality, and scale smarter. We’ve spoken with data leaders, engineers, and BI experts who have tackled real-world challenges—from legacy systems and broken workflows to AI risks and siloed teams. This episode is your actionable playbook to making your data work better. Key Takeaways: ✅ Fix data chaos and create a single source of truth – Jessica Franks (Not On The High Street) share...
Feb 13, 2025•28 min•Ep. 8
In this conversation, Murtaza Kanchwala from Amplifi Capital discusses the integration of Generative AI (Gen.AI) in financial services, sharing insights on early applications, challenges faced, and the importance of regulatory compliance. He emphasizes the need for effective team organization and the selection of appropriate AI models to enhance productivity and efficiency. The discussion also touches on the future of AI in finance, predicting the emergence of personalized AI assistants and the ...
Dec 06, 2024•41 min•Ep. 7
In this conversation, Aaron Phethean and Nick Bromley discuss the evolution and importance of transport data, particularly focusing on the integration of real-time data and mobile phone data into transport planning. They explore the challenges of data collection, the role of AI and big data in optimizing transport systems, and the future of transport data with an emphasis on privacy and security concerns. Takeaways Good transport planning requires both short-term and long-term data analysis. Bus...
Nov 01, 2024•21 min•Ep. 6
This episode with Adam Dathi is a must-listen for anyone looking to turn data into a strategic powerhouse within their business. Adam shares practical insights into how data teams can work seamlessly with other departments for maximum business-wide impact and gives his take on the future of AI-driven data analysis. Aaron and Adam discuss the critical role of reliable sources and governance, but also observe that this is not an isolated issue for a specific team, but a company-wide responsibility...
Oct 18, 2024•51 min•Ep. 5
This is an unmissable conversation packed with innovative perspectives where Aaron Phethean and Bethany Lyons dive into the intricate world of what “full stack” genuinely means in the data realm. Armed with facts and humor, they explore the vital role of trust, and the complexities of data reconciliation. Their discussion also ventures into the dynamic startup landscape, stressing the urgent need for creative solutions to the persistent challenges in data management and analytics that so many fa...
Oct 01, 2024•32 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of Data Matas, host Aaron Phethean and his guest Stéphane Burwash dive deep into what it takes to build a true data-driven culture. Recently promoted to Data Engineering Lead at Potloc, Stéphane shares his thoughts on building trusted analytics, where quality data is at the foundation. The conversation digs into the hot topics of AI and self-service analytics - and questioning their relevance - as well as the application of modern technologies such as Meltano and BigQuery and "th...
Sep 17, 2024•55 min•Ep. 3
CitySprint is one of the largest same-day courier providers in the UK, with a strong presence in London. They operate a UK-wide network and offer same-day logistics services. The company relies on a fleet of couriers who use various modes of transport, including bikes, to quickly deliver parcels. CitySprint's goal is to move away from investigating data challenges and focus on building trust in the accuracy of their data. They are working on modernizing their infrastructure and implementing a ne...
Sep 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 2
Jessica Franks shares her experience of joining Not on the High Street as an engineering manager for the data team. She discusses the challenges of starting a new role in a new country and managing a team with diverse skill sets. Jessica explains how she tackled the lack of data strategy and created a visual representation of the data architecture using a Wardley map. She emphasizes the importance of simplifying infrastructure and improving data quality before diving into AI and ML projects. Jes...
Aug 20, 2024•35 min•Ep. 1
