S1:E3
Building Sustainable Data Products that actually get used
Host
Kris PeetersGuest
In this episode of The Data Playbook, we dive deep into a critical, often-overlooked question: What does it mean to build sustainable data products? And no, we’re not just talking ESG dashboards or carbon reporting.
🎙️ Host Kris Peeters is joined by Geert Verstraeten, a seasoned data scientist, founder of Python Predictions, and now a Co-Lead at The Data Forest—a consultancy that puts purpose and sustainability at the core of every data project.
Over a candid and rich conversation, Geert shares:
- How he transitioned from startup founder to corporate leader and back to startup life—with a sustainability mission.
- Why many data projects fail not because of tech, but because of missed alignment and poor adoption.
- 'What sustainable data products really are: tools that not only minimize environmental impact, but also stand the test of time—well-documented, actually used, and aligned with real business needs.'
- Why selecting the right clients and projects is the first step toward impact, not just profit.
- 'How the Data Forest scores potential engagements using a unique framework: Head, Heart, and Hands.'
Whether you're a data engineer, architect, scientist, or team lead, this episode challenges you to rethink what a "good" data project looks like.
👀 If you’ve ever built something technically brilliant that no one used, this episode is for you.
Want to get started with Data Products? Check here www.dataminded.com/what-we-do/data-product-offering
What you'll see
- â–¸The role of documentation in sustainability.
- ▸Why good data work isn’t about building everything real-time or at scale—especially when you’re not Google.
- â–¸The paradox of GenAI and compute-heavy models in a world striving for tech responsibility.
- â–¸What drives Geert and his team at The Data Forest
- â–¸How to make better decisions on project scoping and client fit
- ▸Why data professionals need to talk to stakeholders much earlier—and more often
