Empowering Growth Through Data: An Interview with Shane Suazo, CEO of Plytrix Analytics

I had the chance to connect with Shane Suazo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Plytrix Analytics.

Shane Suazo is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Plytrix Analytics, a full-service analytics agency offering services such as product analytics, e-commerce analytics, media mix modeling & business intelligence. With over 13 years of industry experience, including roles at Netflix and CBS Interactive, Shane leverages his extensive background to help companies harness data to drive profits and build a lasting competitive advantage. Under Shane's leadership, Plytrix's bespoke analytics solutions have empowered businesses across retail, e-commerce, and fintech industries to harness the full potential of their data.

Q: Tell me about your business and what separates you from your competition.

A: Plytrix Analytics is a boutique analytics company that helps fast-growing businesses leverage their data to fuel growth. Unlike many firms, we focus on creating purposeful data products and infrastructure that directly drive business success. With over 13 years in the industry, I've observed that many companies are overwhelmed by data yet lack the clarity needed to make informed decisions. We position ourselves not just as consultants but as a strategic partner providing tailored data solutions. Some of our strengths include marketing analytics, e-commerce analytics, and media mix modeling. Still, our core focus is always on empowering our clients to make smart decisions and gain lasting competitive advantages.

Q: How do you build culture, relationships, and teams inside and outside of your organization?

We aim to deliver quality service, and if mistakes are made, we own them fully, learn from them, and move forward.

A: Internally, building a strong culture at Plytrix starts with clearly defining our core values. For us, it's all about continuous innovation and growth, where everyone's efforts are aligned with enhancing client success. A big part of that is our focus on hiring top performers and giving them the support they need to thrive. We believe in granting intelligent people the freedom to innovate and develop the best solutions for our clients without unnecessary processes or micromanagement hindering their efforts.

As a leader, my priorities are setting a clear direction for the team and removing any obstacles that hinder their performance. I lead by example and ensure everyone has what they need to excel. Ultimately, our approach combines a client-first mindset with a culture of transparency and accountability. We aim to deliver quality service, and if mistakes are made, we own them fully, learn from them, and move forward.

Q: Who or what has influenced your leadership ethos?

A: My leadership ethos has been greatly shaped by the leaders I’ve worked under. One key example is my experience at Netflix under Reed Hastings' guidance. Reed implemented a culture that prioritized freedom and responsibility over traditional hierarchies, fostering a dynamic and creative work environment. It was highly unconventional, but it taught me firsthand the value of empowering team members and trusting them to innovate. That said, it’s an approach that only works with an exceptional team of high performers.

I've also been inspired by several leaders I’ve never actually met in real life. For instance, Sahil Lavingia of Gumroad advocates a minimalist approach to entrepreneurship, which I find to be a refreshing counterpoint to the “growth at all costs” mindset. Eric Ries has also been a significant influence with his "Lean Startup" methodology, emphasizing early profitability and product-market fit. There are too many others to list here, but these diverse influences, both from my personal experiences and reading, have collectively informed my approach to leadership and entrepreneurship.

Q: What are you expecting out of 2024 and how will that impact your business?

A: 2024 has been a pivotal year for Plytrix. We've focused on developing purpose-built solutions tailored to common needs identified during previous customer engagements. For instance, our expertise in the e-commerce domain has allowed us to offer off-the-shelf analytics solutions, enabling new clients to achieve quick results and significant savings.

One example is our eCommerce Boost Blueprint, designed to help businesses swiftly identify and capitalize on incremental revenue opportunities. Another is our Media Mix Modeling service, which addresses the complexities of omni-channel marketing in a privacy-forward manner. These solutions are set to enhance our ability to deliver immediate value and drive growth for our clients throughout 2024.

Q: How has your leadership approach evolved from when you first started Plytrix Analytics to now?

A: Starting Plytrix Analytics was a journey that forced me to evolve my leadership skills. Initially, I was more focused on mastering effective management—clearing obstacles and setting clear guidelines. As we grew and I built a diverse team with exceptional expertise, I shifted my focus toward articulating a compelling vision and motivating the team to execute it. Through this process, I began to gain an intuitive feel for when to step in versus when to step back and let the team lead. These days, I’m also making an effort to publicly share more of the great work we’re doing and further develop the Plytrix brand within the data analytics community.

Q: What do you work for and what do you do for fun??

A: My wife and I love traveling and discovering new places and cuisines. I'm also really into landscape and astrophotography, which pairs well with our travels. I've always been naturally curious and into tinkering with things. I was a bit of a nerd growing up - for example, in high school, I would build rockets and conduct scientific experiments for fun. That mindset helped me find success early in my career as an analyst. Basically, I love solving complex problems and building stuff. These days, I'm not building rockets anymore, but my wife and I love traveling and discovering new places and cuisines. More recently, I've developed a love for landscape and astrophotography, which pairs well with our travels.

Q: How do you maintain a strong customer focus at Plytrix Analytics, and can you share how this has influenced a product or service?

A: At Plytrix Analytics, we maintain a strong customer focus by actively listening to our clients and tailoring our solutions to meet their specific needs. For example, our eCommerce Boost Blueprint was developed directly from client feedback. Many e-commerce businesses struggled to identify revenue opportunities quickly, so we created a streamlined, off-the-shelf solution that helps them pinpoint and implement growth strategies. This customer-centric approach has not only improved client satisfaction but also driven better results for their businesses.

Q: What role do you think Plytrix Analytics plays in the broader analytics industry, and how do you see this role evolving over the next few years?

We work closely with our customers to bridge the gap between data and decision-making.

A: As a boutique player, Plytrix Analytics excels at delivering a personalized, white-glove experience focused on client success. We work closely with our customers to bridge the gap between data and decision-making. We are working hard to further establish our reputation as a strategic partner that accelerates growth through data.?

Moving forward, we would like to focus more on data activation, particularly for marketing applications. Our goal is to enable more clients to reach advanced levels of analytics maturity, where data doesn't only exist in dashboards but is automatically syndicated to marketing systems via activations.

Q: Which emerging trends in analytics and big data are you most excited about, and how is Plytrix preparing to leverage these trends?

A: I'm excited about emerging trends in analytics and big data, particularly advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), as well as the evolving privacy landscape. LLMs and NLP are making data more accessible by allowing non-technical users to ask questions in normal language, democratizing data analysis.

The focus on privacy also drives companies to adopt strategies that rely on first-party data and respect user privacy. At Plytrix, we stay ahead of these trends by integrating these innovations into our solutions, expanding our technology partnerships, and enhancing our team's expertise. This enables us to provide the best data stack for each client, helping them turn data into a strategic asset for growth.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received before starting your entrepreneurial journey with Plytrix Analytics?

Success requires hard work - but it's important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

A: Make your health a priority and maintain a reasonable work-life balance. Building a business is tough - it requires consistency, courage, grit, and determination. Success requires hard work - but it's important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. In my early days, I had a tendency to burn the candle at both ends in pursuit of quick results. Over time, I learned I couldn't keep that pace for the long run. These days, I prioritize my health and maintain a reasonable work-life balance. Entrepreneurship can be all-consuming, but taking time for yourself is crucial for long-term success and preventing burnout.

??

Thank you for contributing to this series, Shane.

Curious about how Plytrix Analytics can help your business? Connect with Shane to discover how his team can help you leverage your data to drive growth. Book your no-commitment, 15-minute data discovery call using this link.

And thank you, @zilkermedia, for making this newsletter possible!?

Subscribe here to receive more Leadership Ethos series interviews sent straight to your inbox!