In this episode of the Data Hurdles podcast, hosts Chris Detzel and Michael Burke interview Collin Graves, CEO and founder of North Labs, an AWS data and analytics partner based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Collin shares his background, starting with his military service and early exposure to cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2007. He then discusses the founding of North Labs and its focus on helping industrial organizations, such as those in CPG, retail, and oil and gas, set data and AI strategies to drive business value.

The conversation delves into North Labs' approach to smart data and AI adoption, emphasizing pragmatism and building strong foundations. Collin explains how North Labs differentiates itself by being an AWS-first company while still supporting tools like Snowflake when appropriate.

Collin also shares his leadership philosophy, drawing from his military experience. He stresses the importance of struggling together, delegating effectively, and being gentle but firm. The discussion touches on maintaining customer service and excellence as a small company by being selective about projects and adhering to standard operating procedures.

Looking to the future, Collin envisions North Labs as a leading non-GSI (Global System Integrator) partner for AWS customers in the data and AI space. The company aims to help organizations adopt technologies like GenAI in a measured, ROI-driven manner.

Throughout the episode, Collin provides insights into navigating the evolving cloud landscape, the challenges faced by organizations of different sizes, and the importance of clear communication and strategic partnerships in driving successful data and AI initiatives.