Trapped in the Data Bubble explores a familiar but rarely challenged reality in modern data teams: consistent delivery, happy stakeholders, and polished outputs that may not actually create business value.

Danny Bradley will introduce the concept of the data bubble—a self-reinforcing environment where success is measured by outputs rather than outcomes, and where satisfaction masks disengagement. It challenges common false signals of value such as usage metrics, stakeholder approval, and production deployment, and reframes value as measurable change in decisions, behaviour, and business results.

Attendees will learn practical ways to identify when they are operating inside a bubble, including early warning signs that appear even when everyone seems happy.

 The session offers concrete methods for measuring real value, re-anchoring data work to decisions, shortening feedback loops, and responsibly sunsetting low-impact assets. Ultimately, the talk argues that the greatest risk to data teams is not failure, but success without impact—and provides a roadmap for breaking out of the bubble without breaking trust.