The Detroit Data Engineering Squad

The Detroit Data Engineering Squad

This week on Data in the D, Ryan Dolley and Aaron Wilkerson sit down with Harini Rajagopal from AAA Life, Pete Cooney from Jackson National Life, and Jason Touleyrou from Parable to talk about what’s really happening in data engineering. Cloud modernization, AI pressure, cost control, ontology, enterprise architecture, and the messy reality behind the hype straight from practitioners building this stuff in the real world.

Navigating a Wild Data Job Market with Michael Butts and Jeff Wohlgamuth of Burtchworks

Is the data job market broken — or just reshuffled? The vibes are all over the place. Some people have tons of opportunities; others have been job hunting for six months. What separates the two camps? Ryan and Aaron sit down with Jeff Wolgamuth and Michael Butts from Birchworks, a 19-year executive search firm specializing in data engineering, data science, and AI placements, to get the real story on what's happening in data hiring right now. We dig into: - Where the demand actually is (and where it isn't) - Why listing tools on your resume doesn't cut it anymore — and what to show instead - The three things employers want to see from every candidate - How fraud is reshaping the hiring process - What it takes to break into leadership — and why the CDO role has fundamentally changed - Compensation trends: who's getting raises and who's getting squeezed - The fractional career path and why PE firms can't get enough of it - Honest advice for juniors entering a brutal entry-level market - Emerging trends: RLHF, frontier LLM certifications, and what's next Whether you're actively job hunting, thinking about your next move, or just want to know where the market is headed, this one's for you. Guests: Michael Butts (CEO) & Jeff Wolgamuth (Senior Recruiter), Birchworks — birchworks.com

Gen Z Data Careers with Lilah Kole

What's it like trying to build a data career in 2026? Lilah Kole is 26, based in metro Detroit, and has already stacked an impressive resume — from decision science at IPG Media Brands to Power Platform development at Webasto and Agri, with stops at startups and steel companies in between. Ryan and Aaron sit down with Lilah to get the perspective that most data podcasts miss: what it actually looks like from the early-career side. Topics covered: - Navigating the data job market as a young professional - Why networking (not job boards) landed almost every one of her roles - AI as a second language — why some peers lean in and others resist - The environmental and ethical concerns her generation has about AI - Building a content brand around data, tech, and finance on YouTube - Which social platforms actually matter (YouTube > everything) - Generational differences in workplace culture and professionalism - Advice for early-career data people who are struggling right now - Wayne State, Detroit pride, and the hustle culture that shaped her career Lilah's take: "The people who avoid emerging tech and aren't willing to learn about it are the ones who get left behind." Find Lilah on YouTube and LinkedIn — just search Lilah Kole.

Why 'I'm a Data Person' Isn't a Career Anymore | Scott Smith, Wit Solutions

Scott Smith has spent 20 years leading analytics consulting at Wit Solutions in Detroit — from the Business Objects and Qlikview days through Power BI and now AI. In this episode, we dig into why just being "a data person" won't cut it anymore, what mid-market companies actually need from their data teams, how vibe coding is shaking up enterprise consulting, and Scott's blunt advice for new grads worried AI is coming for their careers. Plus: why Detroit's data scene is slower than the coasts — and why that's about to change.

Birth of Data in Detroit

The founders of Data in the D share the story behind Detroit’s fastest-growing data community—why it started, how the conference came together, and what’s next for analytics data leaders, engineers, and BI teams in the Motor City. Follow us at datainthed.org Featuring Aaron Wilkerson, Ryan Dolley, Jason Touleyrou and Dom Leo.