dbt Networking: Meeting Minds Alike — Tip #29
In Tip #4, I discussed why I chose dbt. Here, I’d like to delve into why dbt chose me, a PM who ventured into the data world. As I mentioned in Tip #24, dbt was crafted to empower data analysts to function more like software developers. Now, let’s spotlight the individuals that dbt aims to assist.
Modern Data Stack, Modern Data People 🌐
The term “Modern Data Stack” was coined to differentiate it from its predecessors. A pivotal moment was in October 2012, when Amazon unveiled Redshift, a cloud data warehouse. dbt emerged in 2016, and I got my hands on it in 2020 for the first time.
The data landscape evolves rapidly. It’s a given that those in the data sector don’t always have a linear career trajectory. Especially, dbt users represent this notion ⭐. We are a cohort who might not have initially envisaged a career in data, but our passion and curiosity drove us into becoming data practitioners. My biggest revelation from the My first in-person whole-week conference — Coalesce 2022 was: “I’m not alone.” 🌟
From my dbt meetup experiences, attendees generally fall into two categories. One transitions from an analyst to an analytics engineering role. The other consists of data engineers who harness dbt to delegate tasks to analysts. While engineers might share a similar perspective, non-engineers like us, originating from diverse backgrounds such as finance, marketing, operations, sales, and product, bring a creative flair to the community! 🎨
Learn Together 🙌📚
Given the ever-expanding realm of data, learning is hands-on. Building Your Analytics Brain Trust is a must-read when discussing learning and community. I also heartily recommend joining Locally Optimistic, a thriving community with a plenty of insightful articles.
In my eyes, dbt embodies the same spirit. Countless channels exist where you can uncover resources, pose queries, and offer solutions. We learn in unison, not just about dbt (#zero-to-dbt, #dbt-core-development, #dbt-cloud, and more), but also:
- Tools: #tools-looker, #tools-vscode, #tools-dagster, and so forth.
- Databases: #db-clickhouse, #db-snowflake, etc. The list goes on!
- Community initiatives: #community-strategy, #community-writer
- Showcasing your work: #i-made-this, #i-read-this
- Events and regional activities: #events-ama, #local-taipei
dbt proffers an abundance of learning resources. The crown jewel, in my opinion, is content crafted by the community. I discovered these incredible newsletters and blogs at Coalesce 2022, which I wholeheartedly endorse:
- https://benn.substack.com/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcstone/recent-activity/all/
- http://emilieschario.com/
- https://compilerqueen.substack.com/p/the-missing-link-part-2
Sharing doesn’t cease post-conference. The thirst for knowledge is unquenchable.
It’s Fun! 😄
Observing others revel in fun naturally draws you in. And you’d want to be part of that party. Don’t hesitate. Regardless of whether you hail from a vast enterprise or a fledgling startup, we play to learn, embrace failures, and amass knowledge. Come, join the journey with us.
Next Up: The Grand Finale 🎬
Achieving this milestone fills me with pride 🎉. Over two years, I’ve penned 29 articles. In a few more months, I’ll wrap up with another batch of 30. Stay tuned as I encapsulate the essence of these narratives. Onwards and upwards!
🤩 I’m happy to hear how you handle product development process? what tool do you use? Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn Karen Hsieh or Twitter @ijac_wei.
🙋🙋♀️ Welcome to Ask Me Anything.
