Data at the Edge: Human Insight, Experience Risk & Strategic Analytics | DisrupTV Ep.168

In DisrupTV Episode 168, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar bring together three experts to explore critical shifts in how organizations approach data and insight:

  • Tricia Wang, Co-founder at Sudden Compass, renowned for championing the concept of “thick data”—human insight that contextualizes numbers.
  • Esteban Kolsky, Principal & Founder at ThinkJar, advising how analytics and customer data intersect to drive experience risk management.
  • Steve Wilson, VP & Principal Analyst at Constellation Research, offering strategic frameworks that tie data initiatives to business outcomes.

Featured Guests

  • Tricia Wang — Evangelist for integrating ethnographic insights with data analytics to guide human-centric strategies.
  • Esteban Kolsky — Authority on experience risk and designing systems that anticipate customer behavior and safeguard brand trust.
  • Steve Wilson — Expert in translating technical analytics capabilities into understandable, actionable narratives for leadership.

Key Takeaways

  1. Humanize Data with “Thick Data” — Tricia Wang argues that qualitative, human-centered insights—what she calls "thick data"—are essential to making data meaningful and avoiding misinterpretation.
  2. Understand Experience Risk — Esteban Kolsky stresses that customer experience can be a source of risk. Organizations must use data to proactively assess customer behavior and mitigate trust erosion.
  3. Link Analytics to Strategy — Steve Wilson emphasizes that the true value of analytics lies in its connection to business value. Leaders must align data workflows with strategic goals rather than chasing favor metrics.
  4. Marrying Insight and Visualization — All guests underscored that analytics should go beyond dashboards—insight needs to be narrative-led and decision-ready.

Notable Quotes

  • “Numbers without context don’t tell the full story—thick data does.” — Tricia Wang
  • “Experience is the new frontier of risk; understanding it is the difference between loyalty and loss.” — Esteban Kolsky
  • “Analytics should illuminate what leadership already priorities, not distract them with noise.” — Steve Wilson

Final Thoughts

Episode 168 drives home this conviction: data becomes transformative when it embraces the human experience and aligns to real-world business challenges. Thick data, experience-risk framing, and strategic analytics help organizations move from reactive measurement toward proactive insight—and stronger outcomes.

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Business Research Themes

Digital Safety, Privacy, and Cybersecurity, Future of Work, New C-Suite

Roles

Chief Digital Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, Chief Technology Officer