The problem with big data projects is that only a small percentage of companies deploy their initiatives into production, and most fail to find success with data-driven insights due to management's lack of understanding of the complexities involved in becoming a data-driven organization. Management often views each data skill set as interchangeable, leading to the selection of a data scientist as the first data hire, which rarely unfolds as expected. A seasoned Data Engineer is crucial for setting up businesses for success, possessing software engineering skills necessary to build robust data pipelines and creating products with well-built code. Understanding the unique challenges faced by data practitioners within their business is essential for management to connect with and succeed with their technical team members.