In this episode of Keeping Up With Data, hosts Seán Gray and Polain Byimira welcome data engineering veteran Simon Aubury to the show. With over two decades of experience in the data space, Simon shares valuable insights into his journey from database administrator to data engineering consultant. The conversation covers the fascinating evolution of data technologies - from the days when database indexing was a specialized career to today's cloud-based solutions. Simon discusses how modern data engineers can focus on delivering business value rather than worrying about the lower-level technical concerns that dominated the field in earlier years. Simon also shares his experience co-authoring a book about DuckDB, an open-source analytics database he describes as "the SQLite for analytics workloads." He explains how DuckDB serves as a powerful tool that both data engineers and data scientists can leverage, and discusses the challenging but rewarding process of writing a technical book with his colleague Ned Letcher. Throughout the episode, Simon offers practical advice on building high-performance data teams, the benefits of consulting for career growth, and the importance of communication when working on large-scale projects. This episode provides valuable perspective for anyone interested in data engineering, consulting, or technical writing. This podcast is in partnership with The Black Dog Institute which aims to create a mentally healthier world for everyone. If you wish to support the cause please donate via the link Black Dog Institute - Precision Sourcing https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundr... Hosts: Polain Byimira & Seán Gray Guest: Simon Aubury Powered by Precision Sourcing, award winning Technology, Data & SAP Recruitment Experts.