Your Tech Stack Doesn't Matter
An analyst is greater than they're tech stack
An analyst should not be defined by their tech stack.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that technical tools and skills don’t matter.
They do.
But sometimes we go a bit overboard.
“You’re not a data analyst if you only use Excel.”
“You’re not a data analyst if you don’t use SQL.”
“Power BI is for serious analysts, not Tableau.”
I hear these sentiments from time to time and they’re misguided.
The role of an analyst is to gather the data, analyze it, and present it. How you do that does not particularly matter.
There are many different tools and strategies for completing that work depending on the specific needs, resources, and limitations of the company.
In my 1st data role, I was using Excel and Tableau.
In my 2nd, I was using SQL, Excel, and Power BI.
In my 3rd, Power BI, SQL, Power Automate, Snowflake.
Tech stacks can vary greatly from role to role.
Ultimately, the logic, process, and execution of the role is what really matters.
This rightfully places far more value on the skills that are more difficult to measure, such as problem solving, creating solutions, logical thinking, communication, and how we work with others.
These matter far for more, and any analyst can have these qualities despite their tech stack.
That’s it for this week.
See you next time ✌️
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