The Data Room

How to future-proof a career in data science

Where data science and analytics are headed, what the best roles are going to look like, and what anyone can do now to prepare

Published on Dan Hock's Essays • Oct 27

September 2026

BizOps: The Secret Weapon of a Scaling Company

How BizOps keeps the business moving when the unexpected happens.

Sep 22 • Jess Lachs

16

1

Start With the Problem, Not the Title

How to build the data team you actually need.

Sep 9 • Jess Lachs

15

2

1

August 2026

When Everyone Can Analyze Data, Who Owns the Answer?

The role of Analytics in an AI-enabled organization.

Aug 20 • Jess Lachs

18

6

Building a World-Class Analytics Team (Part 3) - From Activity to Impact

Why Outputs Are the Wrong Scoreboard.

Aug 11 • Jess Lachs

16

1

3

Building a World-Class Analytics Team (Part 2) - From Reporting to Recommendation

The “So What?” Habit.

Aug 5 • Jess Lachs

16

3

July 2026

Building a World-Class Analytics Team (Part 1) - From Outputs to Outcomes

Redefining the Role of Analytics.

Jul 30 • Jess Lachs

23

7

2

Special Sauce: The Story Behind the Cheeseburger Index

State of Local Commerce Q2'26 Update.

Jul 9 • Jess Lachs

1

My Journey (Part 5)

Building an Analytics team from the ground up.

Jul 7 • Jess Lachs

11

3

June 2026

My Journey (Part 4)

Joining DoorDash as the first General Manager.

Jun 23 • Jess Lachs

7

1

My Journey (Part 3)

What I learned as an entrepreneur from starting (and shuttering) GiftSimple.

Jun 17 • Jess Lachs

10

4

1

My Journey (Part 2)

Beginning my career in finance just in time for the financial crisis.

Jun 17 • Jess Lachs

3