012: Embedded, Centralized or Hybrid: Structuring Your Data Team to Be Incredibly Effective w/ Lydia Monnington

Wondering how to structure your data team for maximum business impact? In this More Than Numbers episode, Molly Hughes sits down with Lydia Monnington, Data Science Lead at Google DeepMind, to unpack the pros and cons of centralized, embedded, and hybrid (matrix) team models. We explore real-world stories—from speeding up data logging at Facebook to shaping fusion research at DeepMind—and learn how to balance velocity, trust, and a single source of truth while driving a winning data strategy. Along the way, we share practical tips on stakeholder alignment, collaboration, and data storytelling: how to embed analysts in teams without creating shadow BI silos, build an analytics community, and pitch exactly the metrics your stakeholders need to make decisions. Whether you’re a solo data hire in a startup or leading a fifteen-member org at a tech giant, you’ll walk away with clear guidance on structuring your team to become true engines of growth.