In this episode, Amir Bormand chats with Christina Stejskalova, Director of Data at Ontra, about the pivotal role of data professionals in startups and the strategic considerations surrounding their hiring. They explore how early investment in data expertise impacts AI strategies, product development, and long-term company success. Christina shares valuable insights from her time at Facebook and leadership roles in Series B startups, offering a fresh perspective on integrating data into business decision-making. 🗝️ Key Takeaways: Data as the Core of Everything: Data is not just a support function; it's the backbone of AI strategies and product optimization. Strategic Timing for Data Hires: Startups often delay hiring data experts, but this can lead to missed opportunities for growth and efficiency. Broader Skill Sets for Startups: Early-stage companies benefit from hiring data professionals with diverse skills to address immediate needs. Overcoming Cost Perceptions: Data teams are often seen as cost centers, but their impact on revenue and strategic decision-making proves otherwise. AI Strategies Start with Clean Data: Without clean and well-organized data, AI strategies falter, creating long-term challenges. ⏱️ Timestamped Highlights: [00:00:00] Introduction to Christina Stejskalova and Ontra's AI-powered contract automation. [00:02:30] Why startups delay hiring data professionals and the impact on strategy. [00:05:00] Balancing specialization and versatility in early-stage data hires. [00:10:00] Quick wins for data teams: Leveraging sales and marketing to prove value. [00:12:30] Preparing for AI: The importance of data cleaning and governance. [00:17:00] Why top tech companies excel with data and lessons for startups. [00:22:00] Data professionals as specialized software engineers. [00:24:00] Final thoughts on data strategies and future hiring trends. 📢 Quote of the Episode:"The best companies in the world use data to drive their revenue growth. Startups need to stop seeing data teams as cost centers and start leveraging them as a strategic asset." – Christina Stejskalova 🔗 Connect with Christina:Find Christina Stejskalova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinastejskalova/ ✅ Call to Action:What are your thoughts on when to hire a data professional? Have you seen early data strategies succeed or fail? Share your experiences! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review.