PyCon DE & PyData 2026

Akif Cakir

I am a Data and AI enthusiast with over 14 years of experience across the full data lifecycle — from ingestion and transformation to analytics and machine learning operations.

My expertise spans modern data architecture, ETL/ELT pipelines, Big Data technologies, and cloud-native solutions. I have deep hands-on experience designing and implementing end-to-end data and ML pipelines that are reliable, scalable, and cost-efficient, driving value through automation and operational excellence.

I’m passionate about leveraging data and AI to create impactful, efficient, and intelligent systems that empower both business and technology teams.


Session

04-15
10:55
30min
From Struggling to Mastery: A Practical Guide to Data Pipeline Operations
Akif Cakir

How mature are your data pipeline operations? A Roadmap to Operational Excellence.

Data teams often struggle to scale their pipeline operations, trapped in a cycle of manual fixes and reactive fire-fighting. But what does "good" actually look like? In this talk, we introduce a standardized 5-level maturity model for Data Operations, focusing on three critical pillars: Orchestration, Data Quality, and Data SLOs.

We will deconstruct the journey from "Struggling" (manual scripts, no guarantees) to "Mastery" (automated, resilient, and measured). Attendees will leave with a concrete framework to assess their team’s current standing and a clear, step-by-step roadmap to raise the bar toward operational excellence.

PyData: Data Handling & Data Engineering
Titanium [2nd Floor]