Decisions Over Dashboards: How Deezer Turns Analysts into the Ultimate Problem Solvers

"Data-focused’ is a bit of a buzzword. It just means: be logical, quantitative, and use deductive reasoning to make decisions in the company.” — Thibaud Arbes Dupuy [0:09:38]

The best data teams aren't dashboard factories, they're problem solvers. Key value drivers for the organization as a whole. But how do you get there among the sea of stakeholder questions and requests?

In this episode of More than Numbers Live, host Ollie Hughes sits down with Thibaud Arbes Dupuy, VP of Business Performance at Deezer, to discuss how data teams can shift from being passive report generators to proactive problem solvers.

Thibaud shares his journey from banking and M&A into data leadership and breaks down the mindset and strategies his team uses to drive business performance.

He discusses:

1. How to reposition data teams as problem-solving engines, not just analytics support
2. Why operational clarity is the most underrated superpower of data teams
3. The hiring approach that has helped Deezer build a high-impact analytics team

Tune in today to learn how to move beyond dashboards and make data a key driver of business decisions!

Brilliant data bits

“If you like strategy but you want to be closer to the action, [data] is a good place to be.” — Thibaud Arbes Dupuy [0:04:45]

"If you know the business well, you can have impact, you can have credibility.” — Ollie Hughes [0:22:18]

What you'll learn

• [01:14] Thibaud’s favorite BI tools and why he believes Excel still reigns supreme.
• [02:12] The story of his unexpected path into data and how strategy meets execution.
• [05:52] Inside Deezer’s data stack: speed, accessibility, and executive-friendly reporting
• [07:17] Why Thibaud isn’t “Head of Data” and how positioning under the Chief Revenue Officer changes everything.
• [11:23] Focus is everything: the number one way to ensure data teams drive real value.
• [15:57] The keys to becoming a problem-solving team, start with earning trust.
• [17:58] Deezer’s hiring secret: why they only hire junior talent and train them in-house.
• [21:02] Practical steps to stop being a dashboard factory: speak the language of business.
• [22:46] Reasons that data teams win big when they bring clarity, focus, and an opinion.

Downloads & links

👋 Connect with Thibaud on LinkedIn

🔗 Learn more about Deezer

🚀 Connect with Ollie Hughes

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