Building a platform for data engineers, machine learning scientists, and quants presents unique challenges that break traditional IDP models. At EQ, the team has learned that off-the-shelf solutions often fail to meet the needs of platform users, particularly when working in data-heavy environments like energy. Rather than adopting existing tools, the team rethought the needs of the platform’s users, focusing on empowering them while navigating the delicate balance between velocity and governance. This talk will provide a deep dive into the platform challenges encountered in the clean power sector. The team’s data and research departments require rapid experimentation and resource-heavy workloads, and the platform team must support these efforts without compromising governance or security. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to build successful, scalable platforms in complex, data-intensive industries, as well as practical lessons on fostering collaboration and adopting the right tooling for both speed and control.