More than Numbers

More than Numbers
Podcast Description
More than Numbers LIVE - a show for current and future data leaders, analysts, and technicians. Join Ollie Hughes (Co-Founder & CEO at Count, the canvas-based BI tool) as he interviews some of the best minds in data and analytics about making the transition from support function to becoming engines of growth and an invaluable asset to the business they operate in.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show emphasizes topics such as data-driven decision-making, analytics team structure, and governance in the age of AI. For instance, episode 002 features Conor O’Kane from Cleo discussing how analytics functions as a growth engine, while episode 001 explores AI integration with David Jayatillake from Cube, focusing on operational clarity and problem-solving through data. Each episode highlights practical strategies for leveraging data to drive business outcomes.

More than Numbers LIVE – a show for current and future data leaders, analysts, and technicians. Join Ollie Hughes (Co-Founder & CEO at Count, the canvas-based BI tool) as he interviews some of the best minds in data and analytics about making the transition from support function to becoming engines of growth and an invaluable asset to the business they operate in.

Is your business drowning in dashboards but still lacking clear insight? The solution might not be more reports, but a better way to organize what you already know.
In this episode of More than Numbers Live, Ollie Hughes sits down with Callum Ballard, Analytics Director at Omaze, to discuss how metric trees can transform business clarity and decision-making.
Omaze, the UK-based charity prize draw platform that offers multimillion-pound houses as prizes while raising millions for charity, has mastered operational clarity through a mathematical approach to metrics. Callum shares how his team built a comprehensive metric map that allows the entire organization to understand how different KPIs connect to drive top-line results.
In our conversation, Callum breaks down:
- Why traditional dashboard approaches often lead to metric overload and misplaced priorities
- How a mathematical breakdown of metrics creates a common language everyone can understand
- The process of building your first metric tree and proving its value to stakeholders
Discover how this powerful visualization technique can cut through the noise, reveal hidden opportunities, and ensure your team focuses on the metrics that truly matter.
What you’ll learn
- [00:01:38] Inside Omaze’s mission to make dreams come true while raising millions for charity.
- [00:04:11] Omaze’s modern data stack: Snowflake, Tran, dbt, Count, and ThoughtSpot in action.
- [00:05:41] How Count and ThoughtSpot complement each other for different analytical needs.
- [00:09:57] The pain of operational confusion: metrics without context create noise.
- [00:12:00] Convincing the business to embrace structured metrics through real examples.
- [00:15:12] Why teams get fixated on low-impact KPIs without proper context.
- [00:17:48] Translating improvements in any metric to top-line impact for better prioritization.
- [00:19:23] Starting small: how to apply the metric tree approach at different business levels.
- [00:21:23] First steps to create your own metric tree using metrics you already have.
- [00:24:01] How mathematical breakdowns can surface KPIs you never thought to track.
- [00:29:09] Using statistics as a foundation for navigating AI hype and delivering real value.
- [00:31:00] Leveraging metric trees for structured brainstorming and identifying high-impact ideas.
Downloads & links
Connect with Callum on LinkedIn
Learn more about Omaze
See Count’s metric tree example
Build your own with a free Count account
Connect with Ollie Hughes
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