Data Analytics Chat
🎧 Welcome to Data Analytics Chat – the podcast where data meets real careers.
Data isn’t just numbers; it’s a journey. Each episode, we explore a key topic shaping the world of data analytics while also discussing the career paths of our guests.
This podcast brings together top experts to share:
- Insights on today’s biggest data trends
- The challenges they’ve faced (and how they overcame them)
- Their career journeys, lessons learned, and advice for the next generation of data professionals
This is for anyone passionate about data and the people behind it.
👉 Hit subscribe and join us on the learning journey.
Connect with host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben---parker/
Data Analytics Chat
The Gen AI Shift: Data Engineering Redefined
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In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Shashi Kumar, Head of Data Engineering & Analytics at Hearst, to explore how the rise of generative AI is reshaping the role of data engineering.
Whether you’re an aspiring data leader or a hands-on engineer, this episode is packed with practical insights, career advice, and how top organisations adapt to the new AI landscape.
You’ll learn:
- How Shashi transitioned from DBA to senior data leader and what helped him stand out
- The key skills, tools, and certifications that are shaping the modern data engineer
- How generative AI is changing data architecture, pipeline design, and collaboration
- Why governance, unstructured data, and real-time pipelines are now mission-critical
- What strategic investments should companies make to scale Gen AI effectively
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:41 Shashi Kumar's Career Journey
03:42 Transition to Leadership
05:44 Key Career Moments
08:57 Facing Career Setbacks
11:31 Skills for Success in Data Engineering
16:50 Impact of Generative AI on Data Engineering
20:52 Modern Data Engineering Tools and Skills
24:21 Collaboration Between Data Engineering and Data Science
28:42 Modern Data Architectures and Gen AI
33:57 Strategic Investments for Gen AI Adoption
34:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Thank you for listening!