The hiring process for data roles is extremely challenging due to a high demand for skilled professionals but limited supply of available talent. Experts in the field agree that soft skills such as communication and problem-solving are more valuable than technical skills, and that teaching these skills can be easier than acquiring them through formal education. Many panelists also emphasized the importance of understanding how data maps to business processes and value, rather than just focusing on technical skills like SQL. By removing academic prerequisites from job requirements and valuing diverse skill sets, companies can attract a wider range of talent and build more effective data teams.