The Intersect

Issue #9 Datacaster There were many famous duos throughout the twentieth century who had a positive impact on the world. Lennon and McCartney brought joy through song. Crick and Watson cracked the genetic code. Jobs and Wozniak invented modern computing. But there was another duo who arguably had as much impact on the world as any of the names I’ve listed above. There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them. That duo was Deming and Shewhart. In my latest post, I'll introduce you to them...

The Intersection Where data meets the humanities Welcome to The Intersection, a monthly newsletter with leadership lessons from literature, data, and everything between! It's 2026, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that hand-writing code is a thing of the past now. While that's not entirely true (yet), it is the case that the rapid advancement of generative AI in the last few years streamlines the process of building things with code. So what does this mean for working with data, and...

The Intersection Where data meets the humanities Welcome to The Intersection, a monthly newsletter with leadership lessons from literature, data, and everything between! Recently, I asked myself a simple question: what's a good analogy for what's happening to coding right now? The answer took me somewhere I wasn't expecting - to drafting rooms of the 1960s and 70s, to a profession that was transformed beyond recognition within a generation, and to arguments between tutors and students that...

The Intersection Where data meets the humanities Welcome to The Intersection, a monthly newsletter with leadership lessons from literature, data, and everything between! I've been using AI to build a web app, called Mindarin. I'd been learning Chinese using something called the Hanzi Movie Method, and I wanted a better system for tracking my mnemonics - hence the app. But here's the thing: it's also given me an opportunity to be at the coal face when it comes to product building and...

The Intersection Where data meets the humanities Welcome to the first edition of The Intersection, a monthly newsletter with leadership lessons from literature, data, and everything between! Before we dive in, have you seen my recently refreshed website? I've given https://leedurbin.co.nz/ a complete makeover, making it easier to explore my writing, workshops, and approach to leadership. Take a peek when you have a moment - I'd love to know what you think. Upcoming events Read Like a Boss...

Hey Reader, There’s a BIG difference between having authority and having influence. And if… You have brilliant ideas that never seem to get implemented You find yourself frustrated when people don’t see the value in your solutions You know you could make a bigger impact, but your job title is holding you back Consider this your leadership lifeline. In my latest blog post, I’m sharing my complete leadership-without-authority playbook - the exact approaches that transformed my ability to drive...

Hey Reader, Ever wondered what it takes to get an article published on Wikipedia? I just managed it with the biography of Henry Neave (statistician and author of The Deming Dimension) - but not without a plot twist! Here’s what I learned from my journey that might help you: First attempt? Rejected! 🚫 Even with detailed research and careful writing, my initial submission didn’t make the cut. Wikipedia’s editors were clear: we needed stronger evidence of “notability” (their favorite word!). The...

Hey Reader, Want to know the biggest myth about data leadership? That you need a fancy title to be a leader. After speaking with dozens of data professionals this year, I've discovered something surprising: the most influential leaders aren't who you'd expect. In my latest blog post, I reveal: ✅ Why one experienced data professional chose mentorship over management (and became more influential as a result) ✅ How a creative problem-solver transformed their organisation's reporting systems ✅...

Hey Reader, What if I told you that a single book could change how you see the world, solve problems, or lead others? This year, five books did just that for me—and I’ve shared them all in my latest blog post. These aren’t just “good reads.” They’re the kind of books that spark ideas, challenge assumptions, and inspire action. In this post, I take you behind the scenes of my reading journey, including: ✅ The one book that transformed how I approach teamwork and leadership ✅ A surprising look...

Hey Reader, as 2024 wraps up I’ve been reflecting on the stories, ideas, and experiments that resonated the most with my LinkedIn community this year. From podcast recommendations to my unconventional journey into data, these posts sparked incredible conversations and connections. So, I’ve put together a blog post featuring my 5 most popular LinkedIn posts of 2024. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical tips, or just a reminder that career paths don’t have to be linear, this is for...

Reader, I’m creating a digital course to help professionals like you become confident, impactful leaders in this data-driven age. 📊✨ To make it as valuable as possible, I’d love to hear from you! Your insights can help shape the course and ensure it tackles the real challenges you’re facing. 💡 📅 Click here to book a Zoom call with me – it’s super easy! If you’re up for a quick chat (15–30 minutes), we can discuss: ✅ What’s keeping you stuck right now ✅ What you wish you had more (or less) of...