The Ben Cohen Episode

This episode explores the evolving role of data strategy and sourcing within the financial industry, particularly focusing on alternative data. Ben Cohen, former Global Head of Data Strategy at WorldQuant, shares his career trajectory from Bloomberg to his current gardening leave, highlighting the shift from general data support to specialized data strategy. Against the backdrop of his experiences, Cohen emphasizes the importance of a service-oriented approach in data strategy, requiring a deep understanding of the data landscape and the ability to translate that knowledge into actionable insights for researchers and portfolio managers. More significantly, the discussion pivots to the procedural aspects of data sourcing, advocating for repeatable processes to efficiently scale data operations within firms, balancing the need for both structured frameworks and bespoke solutions tailored to specific investment strategies. As the conversation progresses, Cohen reflects on the changes in the alternative data space since 2015, noting a move from novel data discovery to a more mature landscape focused on understanding market dynamics and competitive positioning. Emerging industry patterns reflected in the conversation include the impact of AI on data workflows and product enhancement, though its meaningful impact on alpha generation remains uncertain but promising.