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Notes on dataarchitecture.

Short essays on architecture, cost, hiring and AI: one cartoon, one idea, most days of the week. No tutorials, no listicles.

Jan 12, 2026 Data Architecture & Strategy

What Is a Data Architect?

Data engineers solve problems. Data architects help decide which problems are worth solving.

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Jan 11, 2026 Organizational Dynamics

Architecture Advisory: The 3 Questions I Ask First

In week one of any architecture review, I ask the same 3 questions.

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Jan 10, 2026 Technical Debt & Economics

Why Your AI Project Failed at the Data Layer

Rule of thumb: AI success is 20% model and 80% data infrastructure.

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Jan 9, 2026 Technical Debt & Economics

Legacy Modernization: Break or Transform

Some legacy systems should be replaced. Most should just be wrapped.

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Jan 8, 2026 Organizational Dynamics

Hero Dependency: Why Your Best Work Makes You Replaceable

The best proof of your value is a team that doesn't need you anymore.

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Jan 7, 2026 Data Architecture & Strategy

Shadow Data Costs Your Team 8-9 Hours/Week

Your team can lose 8-9 hours/week to shadow data. And they actually don't call it that.

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Jan 6, 2026 Technical Debt & Economics

GenAI Risks: The Billion-Euro Wake-Up Call

GenAI failures are poised to cost enterprises billions in wasted budget. Many won't be tech failures.

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Jan 5, 2026 Organizational Dynamics

Team Alignment Sprint: 3 Outputs Teams Actually Use

A 4-week sprint. 3 outputs. Zero slide decks nobody reads.

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Jan 4, 2026 Organizational Dynamics

You're Hiring Data Engineers Wrong

You're hiring data engineers wrong. And your best candidates know it.

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Jan 3, 2026 Technical Debt & Economics

FinOps Reality Check: 60% Wasted Spend

Up to 60% of your cloud spend can go to waste. And nobody owns the problem.

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Want expert eyes on your data architecture?

No pitch. An honest conversation about whether I can help, and what shape it would take if I can.