How Benn Stancil’s newsletter became the cure for data biz ‘thought leadership’

A company founder and CTO discusses the evolution of his writing journey, which began with blog posts for his company Mode's corporate blog, focusing on entertaining data-driven topics rather than typical industry advice. Over time, as his role shifted and the company grew, he transitioned to writing a more personal Substack newsletter, emphasizing thoughtful industry insights. While initially intended for brand building and fun engagement, the newsletter eventually attracted attention from the data community, opening opportunities for speaking engagements and strengthening Mode's reputation. Despite a background in math and a distaste for writing, the founder found value in sharing ideas, which facilitated learning and industry discussions. He emphasizes the importance of writing for personal interest rather than strictly for business objectives, noting that authentic and engaging content can inadvertently benefit business goals by fostering meaningful conversations in the data world.