Employee spotlight: Dan Brach

What makes 84.51˚ an intriguing company? Is it the hybrid work options, the free food regularly found around the office or the challenging problems that we tackle? While these aspects are undoubtedly great, it’s the people that make working here truly special. Check out our Employee Spotlight series to learn more about who we are and the unique traits of our teammates. 

Hometown:  Lansing, MI  Office Location:  Home Office – Philadelphia, PA   Start Date:  November 2021  Job title: Lead Custom Insights Consultant  

Describe your role.

I help 84.51°’s clients more deeply understand shopper behavior to solve their trickiest business problems. Whenever clients commission a special research project with 84.51°’s Commercial Insights business, I help uncover strategy-impacting shopper insights in the data. It’s my job to ensure that we answer the client’s questions and present the data in a digestible way. It’s a fun challenge!  

How long have you worked in consulting and what inspired you to pursue this field?

I’ve worked in consulting for a little over two years now. It was my passion for wanting to intersect data, problems, clear communication, and opportunities that drew me to the space. I simply love discussing a business problem with someone else, developing hypotheses, testing these hypotheses, and learning more about what motivates our shoppers.   

What interested you in joining 84.51°?

84.51° has a culture of curiosity, and that aligned well with my personal attitude. Data with depth enables 84.51° to partner with our clients to explore, develop, test, and refine business strategies. I am drawn to the idea of rapid testing and learning; it unlocks business momentum.  

What has been the most memorable experience or favorite project you’ve worked on?

In my current role, I am constantly trying to find new ways to show data in a clear and visual way. This sounds simple but is stretching me in new and fun ways! For example, I might have to find a way to visually explain a machine learning model to a non-technical client. It can be very satisfying when I see that clients understand, comprehend, and also see the power of an advanced analysis.  

What’s your favorite part about working at 84.51°? Do you have a favorite benefit or perk that is offered?

My coworkers are an amazing group of people. It’s an absolute blast to be able to work alongside fellow “data nerds” who are just as excited as me about unexpected shopper behaviors, emerging trends, etc.  

What advice would you give to those who are considering working in this field?

The problems we solve are often tricky and amorphous. So, having a perspective is a valuable thing. A perspective allows you to test your own theories, discuss hypotheses with others, and reshape how you think the world works. Thus, my advice is: Develop and share your perspective with others. It’s a valuable way to learn!  

What do you like to do in your free time outside of work hours?

I love coffee, reading, and cooking, so you’ll often find me checking out a new café, heading to the library, or trying new recipes in the kitchen. Beyond that, I’m currently enrolled in a part-time MBA program, so you might also find me studying with fellow classmates. It’s a great way to learn about other companies and their business problems. New perspectives often force me to revisit/refine my own!