My Analytics Tribe — We Meet Again
How do we sustain our support groups?
Background
Last July (2024), I wrote my 46th article while in Yunnan, China. I was at the annual gathering of former Citibank Asia Pacific (APAC) country / regional analytics heads. It’s something we’ve been self-organising since 2015 (I left my role as APAC analytics head at the end of 2012). Another year has since passed, and I’m now writing this article from beautiful Bali, where the ex-Citi analytics leaders have flown in. This is my Analytics Tribe. And we are back gathering again.
While I’m obviously distracted by the offsite activities, I’m taking time out to pen a few short words about the intersection of my analytics tribe with the work that we do as data analysts. / data scientists.
And so I dedicate my 95th article to the importance of building, nurturing and sustaining your support group as a data practitioner.
(I write a weekly series of articles where I call out bad thinking and bad practices in data analytics / data science which you can find here.)
What Sustains Us
Groups come and go. Even with the best intentions, some just don’t last. I used to chair the SAS User Group for Singapore, and after about 10 years, it sort of fizzled out. It was a passionate community and yet … I was recently invited back for a 2nd appearance on the Analytics Power Hour podcast. They release a podcast once every 2 weeks. My appearance was in episode #273!! That’s a seriously long-running podcast series!
That got me thinking about the sustainability of groups. (I’m, in fact, currently advising a major banking client on their set-up of an internal user resource group, and have therefore been pondering about some of these attributes.) What ingredients are necessary? Is it different for analytics-oriented groups? Based on my observations and personal experience, I’m seeing the following:
- Diversity
- Predictability
- Dense network
Diversity
We are a diverse group. And we celebrate it. We hail from Asia, Australasia, Micronesia, Europe, and the Americas. We come from different disciplines. There is an age gap difference of over 20 years between the youngest and the oldest. While we were all analytics heads at one point in our careers, today we are consultants, risk managers, product managers, psychologists, coaches, caregivers. We often disagree, but always respectful, and always with an open mind to learn more. We are naturally curious; and way beyond data science.
Diversity is the energy that powers the group. It is one of the most important drivers, in my view.
Predictability
The longest running podcasts, and interest-based user groups, are able to sustain their longevity because they stick to a predictable format. While they might constantly tweak the edges, the core shape remains. Predictability fosters familiarity and trust. Like comfort food or that comfort blanket. When group structures are predictable, decision-making becomes a lot easier.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but predictability takes hard work to design and pull off. Predictability is the result of intentionality and thoughtfulness.
Dense Network
Another key feature of long-running groups are their many-to-many relationships within the group. Different “inner circles” and “overlapping circles” of connections form over time, creating a thick buttress at the centre of the group’s foundation. The dense network of relationships creates interesting personal value — collaboration opportunities, personal advice, etc. This 2nd layer of utility is essential to the group’s self-sustainability. People come together because of the primary group dynamics and also to catch up with personal relationships.
Dense networks form when you afford frequent and multiple interactions points. In my Analytics Tribe, we are organised through a WhatsApp group where there is weekly banter, we have a monthly (first Sunday of every month) Zoom video conference, and an annual physical get-together.
Conclusion
It’s easy to create an interest-based group. Sustaining it takes thoughtfulness and careful planning. And if put together correctly, it generates its own power source and momentum. Otherwise, it can feel like pushing water uphill soon enough. Here’s to another successful gathering of my Analytics Tribe.
