You know you need to find people with domain expertise to build a data training academy. But where do you find them? I’ve been on both sides of the table here: as a subject matter expert (SME), and as the manager of a content team. Here’s what works for a good data SME. For these reasons, I strongly suggest finding SMEs who specialize in content creation, to the extent that it’s explicitly part of their business. This does not mean insisting your SMEs swear off hands-on data work — far from it! The best education is based in everyday practice. It does, however, mean understanding that teaching and writing about data requires quite a different skill-set than just doing data, and rewarding that unique skill set. You, in turn, will be rewarded with a quality result.

1. Building your data
academy: Finding
subject matter
experts (SMEs)

2. Content development trumps
certifications
• The most credentialled data analyst is not
necessarily the best data analyst SME and vice versa
• A proven record of content development is more
important than any work or school affiliation

3. Generalization trumps specialization
• Hyper-specialized experts often lose empathy for the
beginner
• They often lack the versatility to pick up a new topic
quickly

4. Creative mentality trumps technical
mentality
• Hyper-specialized experts often lose empathy for the
beginner
• They often lack the versatility to pick up a new topic
quickly

5. Most importantly: It’s what they do
• For best results, it’s not a hobby or side project
• The purest tactician is not necessarily the best SME

6. LET'S TALK
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stringfestanalytics.com
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george@stringfestanalytics.com
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linkedin.com/in/gjmount