Editor’s Note: The X-Factor is a blog series featuring data enthusiasts and their everyday challenges and solutions.
This blog features Dan Hare, founder of Alteryx Partner of the Year Continuum, Alteryx Innovator, and Izam Ryan, Consultant, Continuum, Alteryx ADAPT program participant.
There’s a world-renowned chain puzzle (of the highest level of difficulty) by Hanayama called the Enigma — and that it is. The goal of the brain teaser is to separate three cast metal links and then join them back together. The trick is not to force it, and the secret is that there are multiple ways to solve it. As is true with all the best puzzles — and data — the solution is at once diabolically simple yet challenging (and oh so satisfying) to discover.
“I love things like puzzles or brain teasers — you have these wicked problems. The beauty here lies in the solve. Alteryx allows you to turn wicked problems into solvable solutions in a language that anyone can grasp.”
— Izam Ryan, Consultant, Continuum, ADAPT program participant
Izam Ryan faced a “wicked” challenge of his own in early 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his employment. His solution? To roll up his sleeves, upskill himself, and get back into analytics. In order to accomplish this, he signed up for the Advancing Data + Analytics Potential Together (ADAPT) program available through Alteryx.
What is the ADAPT program?
Anyone whose employment status was affected by COVID-19 is eligible to apply to the ADAPT program. Individuals of all skill levels, including those who may not have had any prior experience with data, are encouraged to apply.
Participants will develop the skills to investigate, prep, clean, and analyze data and create predictions, forecasts, and recommendations based on analysis. The Program includes several different training pieces including Alteryx certification, a Predictive Analytics nanodegree program with Udacity, and a myriad of other learning opportunities.
“When I first heard about the ADAPT program, I jumped at the chance to get an Alteryx license and really level up my skills.”
— Izam Ryan, Consultant, Continuum, ADAPT program participant
The Missing Piece
Izam immersed himself in the Alteryx Community where he happened upon a podcast featuring Dan Hare, founder of Continuum. He saw that Dan was a fellow “Imperialite” (they share the same alma mater, Imperial College, London), and reached out to connect with him. Soon the two were bouncing ideas back and forth, and Dan offered to partner up with Izam as he’s preparing for the Alteryx Advanced certification.
At the same time, and in true Innovator fashion, Dan reached out to Alteryx to help align mentors from the Innovator program, of which he was a member, with participants in the ADAPT program. Izam raised his hand to participate in the new ADAPT/Innovator setup, and their partnership truly took off.
“Through no fault of their own, many talented data professionals have been adversely affected by COVID. The Innovator program is a great way for me to give back to the Alteryx Community from which I’ve received so much, and ADAPT is a brilliant Alteryx initiative that helps deserving candidates build valuable Alteryx skills with no cost. The power of the two together is immense.“
— Dan Hare, Founder, Continuum, Alteryx Innovator
What is the Innovator program?
The Innovator program is a collaborative network of customers and partners who go above and beyond to share their knowledge and passion for helping others. One of those activities includes mentorship.
“Having the ADAPT/Innovator program in place provided a structure and common language for collaboration.”
— Izam Ryan, Consultant, Continuum, ADAPT program participant
Every month over an online video call/screenshare, Dan and Izam would review a Trello board that featured recommended resources, tasks, and measured productivity toward reaching their goals. Dan’s mentorship has been about giving a space for Izam to sound out ideas and the Trello format gives a structure to the discussion.
Dan’s Trello recommendations:
- Pythagorean Expectations, Nick Jewell’s Alter Everything podcast
- Four-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss
- Leveraging Your Investment in RPA Using Alteryx, Dan Hare webinar
- Building Analytics Communities, Dan Hare, Shaan Mistry Alteryx Everything podcast
- 80/20 Principle, Richard Koch with Tim Ferriss
- Give and Take, Adam Grant with Tim Ferriss
Mastering the Solve
Connecting ADAPT participants with Alteryx Innovators not only provides support to those in need, it offers an outlet for knowledge sharing — the foundation of the Alteryx Community.
“From the start I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Izam and our sessions bouncing ideas off each other. I can’t believe my luck that he is bringing his fantastic set of business and data skills to the Continuum team and look forward to working together for a long time to come.”
— Dan Hare, Founder, Continuum, Alteryx Innovator
It went so well, in fact, that Dan hired Izam as a consultant at Continuum, an Alteryx UK and Northern Europe Partner of the Year 2020.
In addition, we’d like to officially welcome Izam to the Alteryx Innovator team!
Izam’s X-Factor
“Patience! Really though, it’s a privilege to work with people and develop data thinking and analytic skills. I enjoy helping others get to the level to solve challenges together and level up their skill sets.”
— Izam Ryan, Consultant, Continuum, ADAPT participant
Dan’s X-Factor
“When I talk with those who spend mind-numbing days on heavy data workloads, it’s quite evident to see how they’ve lost the ‘thrill of solving.’ In my role, I get to show them how Alteryx helps eliminate mundane work, and see their breakthrough moments when they realize, ‘oh wow, I’ve done it!’ I get to be the hero every time.”
— Dan Hare, Founder, Continuum, Alteryx Innovator
Read This Next.
Learn more about the ADAPT Program and how you can advance your analytics skills.
Ready to go above and beyond? See how you can participate in the Innovator Program.
Join Dan for a Fireside Chat on Globalizing Financial Regulation, and with his client TMF Group: Taking a Business-Focused View of The Role of Alteryx in Analytic Process Automation.