Not the Size that Matters, It’s How You Use It

#sxsw #SmartData

There’s a ton of data out there, but what does data really mean? People don’t consume data. We consume knowledge. But how do we get from data to knowledge? How do we navigate a galaxy-wide playing field of information and transform it into useful tools enabling better decisions? It’s not just about big data anymore; it’s about what we do with it.
Zillow grew into a billion-dollar company on the back of big data. In this session, you’ll talk with Zillow Chief Economist Stan Humphries, the man behind the metrics. Stan helped create Zillow’s flagship Zestimate home value – an algorithm consisting of millions of data points – which, for the first time, enabled anyone to find the estimated home value of virtually every home in the United States. Stan’s mission is twofold: To lead a team producing various indices and dozens of metrics; and, critically, to make that data digestible for consumers. Join Stan for a discussion on how companies can, and should, turn big data into big ideas.

Presenters

Stan Humphries

Zillow Chief Economist

Zillow.com

Dr. Stan Humphries is the Chief Economist of Zillow Inc., the leading real estate information marketplace. Stan joined the company as one of its earliest employees in 2005 and created the Zestimate and its first algorithm. Since that time, Stan has built out the industry-leading economics and analytic team at Zillow. Prior to joining Zillow, Stan spent five years at Expedia where he ran the advanced analytics team. Before Expedia, Stan served as a researcher and faculty member at the University of Virginia, and was previously a Presidential Management Fellow where he served at NASA, the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President, and the Technology Administration within the Department of Commerce. Stan has also served in the United States Peace Corps, where he taught high school physics and chemistry in the West African country of Benin. Stan has a Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College, a Master’s of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Virginia.