The author shares their experience of rebuilding their team's data stack after encountering discrepancies in reports, highlighting the importance of trust in data.
The overhaul was driven by the realization that the issue was with the data pipeline, which was a tangled mess of shadow workflows causing a lack of observability.
The transformation involved building accountability into the system, adopting federated governance with shared standards, and emphasizing observability through real-time alerts and end-to-end lineage.
The author concludes by emphasizing the need for visibility, collaboration, and treating data pipelines as products to ensure reliable, explainable, and trusted data for better decision-making.