Meet our Databricks Community Champion, Stefan Koch! ⭐ From a career in law enforcement to becoming a Principal Solution Architect at b.telligent, Stefan’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Read on to learn about his experience, favorite Databricks features, and insights into the future of data platforms!
- Name: Stefan Koch
- Community nickname: @Stefan-Koch
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Company: b.telligent
- Job Title: Principal Solution Architect
Can you provide a brief overview of your career journey leading up to your current role?
I actually ended up in my role as a consultant and architect rather late in life. A very long time ago, I studied to be a machine mechanic. I then worked for 15 years as a police officer, IT forensic scientist and cyber investigator before joining Trivadis in Switzerland as a consultant in business intelligence. After Trivadis, I worked at Accenture as a consultant and architect before joining b.telligent in January 2024. I now have the role of Principal Solution Architect and drive the topic of Databricks within b.telligent and with my customers.
What do you enjoy most about your current job or role?
I like to plan, build and operate data platforms and architectures for various customer projects. I can also advise new customers on choosing a suitable technology and train them on Databricks, for example. I also like to support younger colleagues so that they become more familiar with Databricks and other modern technologies.
If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be? How do you think your coworkers would describe you?
Curious - I love learning new things and solving problems creatively.
Reliable - When I tackle something, I do it properly. My colleagues know that they can rely on me.
Humorous - I think a bit of humor is always part of it - even in the most technically dry meetings.
Have you had any mentors or significant influences in your professional life? If so, could you tell us about them?
Yes, Marco Amhof was my mentor at Trivadis and I learned a lot from him. In the meantime, he has become a very good friend.
When and why did you first start using Databricks?
I worked with Databricks for the first time in 2019. Back then, the whole platform looked a bit different 😉
Are there any Databricks features that you particularly enjoy or find indispensable in your work?
There are several features that I would no longer do without today. But honestly, one of the best features overall is Unity Catalog. It makes your life so much easier.
Is there a Databricks feature you wish existed or would like to see in future updates?
I wish we had (even) more options for integrating on-prem data sources. An agent or self-hosted integration runtime like Azure Data Factory, but based on Databricks, that would be cool. That would be the last mile, so to speak, where I only have to set up Databricks 100% and can cover all use cases.
When did you join the Databricks Community, and what motivated you to do so?
Although I have been using Databricks for a long time, I joined the community late. I was at the Databricks Data & AI Summit in San Francisco last summer and then created my account. I wanted to stay more up to date with what's on people's minds, what new features are, what other people are working on.
What aspects of the Databricks Community do you find most valuable or enjoyable?
I think it's great that you can find an active community here where people help each other. If I have a problem or a challenge, I can either find the answers here or ask the questions, which are then answered promptly.
Outside of work, what is your favourite hobby or pastime?
I teach and lead 2 CAS courses at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Of course, this also requires free time, which I invest. Apart from that, I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and my two little girls. We like to travel and spend a lot of time in the mountains, hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
Where do you envision yourself professionally in the next three years?
Good question 🙂 In any case, I still see myself at b.telligent because it's simply a cool company.
I would like to see myself even more in the role of a mentor, so that I can pass on my knowledge to younger colleagues. Who knows, maybe I'll become an author and write a book?
Social Media Handles
You can find me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-koch/ or on Mediumhttps://medium.com/@stefanko-ch, I publish an article from time to time as soon as time permits. For this year, I have resolved to blog regularly.
Stefan’s passion for learning, mentoring, and problem-solving truly shines through! 🚀
We wish him continued success in his journey and look forward to seeing his contributions in the Databricks Community. Want to connect with him or have questions? Drop a comment below and keep the conversation going! ⬇️
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