What I Am Doing to Stay Relevant as a Senior Analytics Consultant in 2026

Generative AI and agentic analytics are fundamentally changing the role of data professionals, with AI agents now performing initial data exploration and analysis. This shift requires a change in mindset, valuing human judgment, context, and accountability over technical execution like writing queries. To remain relevant, professionals should engage in continuous learning through external projects, public sharing of knowledge, community participation, and structured courses. Ultimately, the focus must be on strengthening unique human skills and learning to collaborate with AI systems to translate insights into action.