Ever wanted to know more about the people behind your favorite Enterprise AI platform? You're in luck — every few weeks, meet one of the humans at Dataiku working every day to ensure customers and users find success on their path to Enterprise AI. This week, we spoke with Mike Bukowski, VP of Strategic Sales, to help us learn more about Melissa Capece, AI Product Manager. Melissa also accepted our challenge to answer rapid-fire questions about some of her favorite things, so be sure to check out the video below!
What is Melissa’s role about?
She is the face of product development and planning in the U.S. The sales team can go to her with any questions, needs requests, and client discussions. She helps us put a smart, professional, and human face on top of what we deliver. She provides a level of insight into how and why Dataiku is designed the way it is and helps us communicate that to clients. She can talk with C-Suite execs or analysts about what they are trying to do and relate the product back in a relevant and meaningful way. She is also so good at listening to clients and showing where their input was considered in development.
Can you describe a specific project where you particularly enjoyed collaborating with Melissa?
Any of them really. But two come to mind; the first, one of our major clients, where she has built a great relationship with the team in charge of the self- service analytics program. We do regular planning and update meetings with them —it is a real two-way communication structure and a very strong partnership and that does not happen by accident; she is vital to our team there.
The other was a set of meetings with the CIO and SVP of analytics at an insurance company where they presented their vision and we discussed our roadmap. Rather than two presentations, Melissa was able to make it a dialogue and tied everything we were doing to their goals demonstrating great alignment. The client loved it.
Melissa started her career at Dataiku as a customer success manager. Has it impacted the way she works as a product manager?
I believe it does! She understands what clients are trying to do, and she has a problem-solving approach to everything she does. She always asks clarifying and qualifying questions before answering and always confirms that she has addressed the issue at hand. She brings a consultant’s approach to talking about product, which is a great skill.
What did you learn working with her?
Aside from product stuff, I learn from the way she fields, refines, clarifies, and addresses client questions. She asks her questions with a strategy in mind and leads clients to where she can deliver a clear answer. She is one of the best I’ve heard do this.
According to you, which Dataiku value (or aspect of the culture) does Melissa represent the most?
Communicating with simplicity and forthrightness. She is also not afraid to say no or to say when something is not a fit or when we can’t do something.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
When our son, Aaron, interned as a data scientist in New York, I told him to find Melissa, as she was really nice and could help him find his way in Dataiku. He soon told me, “My god is she smart, and so nice!” She is one of those people who I (or anyone) can go to with any question and she will add insight and a valuable perspective. That is part of what makes her so great. And she really likes Orange Fanta!
