Small Data, Big Wisdom: The Return of Qualitative Intelligence

When everyone's chasing algorithms, be the human in the room.

Ten years of sitting across from C-suite executives taught me something. They all want the same thing: certainty, speed, an edge over competitors. Most think the answer lives in bigger datasets, flashier dashboards, more "AI-powered" everything.

Here's what they miss: the most decisive business moments happen in conversations. In questions nobody wants to ask. In reading what's not being said.

The Data Delusion

Another client meeting. Another beautiful presentation full of charts and predictive models. Colors perfectly coordinated. Then someone leans over: "But what do you really think is happening?"

That's the money question.

Raw data is just noise until someone makes sense of it. Gartner finally admitted what we've known for years—companies are ditching "data-driven" for "decision-centric." The average S&P company loses $250 million annually to poor decisions. Despite massive analytics budgets.

More data doesn't mean better outcomes. Sometimes it means worse ones.

Small Data Changes Everything

Forget the technical definition. I'm talking about the human kind of small data. The insight from one honest, uncomfortable conversation. The story behind the numbers. The context that never makes it into reports.

This is where real competitive advantage lives.

I worked with a luxury group's APAC team. They had every compensation benchmark imaginable. What changed their strategy wasn't another spreadsheet—it was an off-the-record chat about how competitors actually structured incentives on the ground.

That conversation transformed their approach to pay, talent retention, and brand positioning. The data was already there. What was missing? Human interpretation. Context. Wisdom.

Why Big Data Fails Real Leaders

Big data shows you what happened. It's terrible at explaining why.

It can't read culture. Can't sense undercurrents. Can't predict how people will actually behave when pressure hits.

I've watched companies spend millions on analytics, then miss the insight a ten-minute conversation with a local manager could have provided.

In executive search, platforms can map every candidate in the market. But they can't tell you who'll actually succeed in your specific mess—sorry, context. That takes judgment. Experience. What I call qualitative intelligence.

In a world where playbooks expire before they're printed, qualitative intelligence isn't nice to have. It's survival.

DEX AI: Humans and Machines Working Together

When we built DEX AI at LYC Partners, we weren't trying to replace human judgment. We wanted the best of both worlds: real-time analytics plus human context. Peer learning. The conversations that change trajectories.

AI handles the heavy lifting—mapping, filtering, benchmarking. But the final shortlist? That's human. Made with full awareness of what algorithms can't see.

Result: faster, more accurate hiring. Fewer mistakes. Less churn. Better alignment with what actually matters.

The real risk isn't missing a data point. It's missing the story behind the data.

Building Wise Organizations

I'm obsessed with one question: How do we build organizations that are wise, not just efficient?

The answer isn't more dashboards. It's more dialogue.

Build systems that invite disagreement. Surface blind spots. Force you to confront assumptions.

Technology should expand possibilities, not narrow them. Make reasoning transparent, not obscure. Invite dialogue, not compliance. Measure what matters: growth, resilience, flourishing—not just efficiency.

My Failures (And What Actually Works)

I've made every mistake possible. Trusted dashboards over instinct and paid for it. Watched "proven" leaders crash because nobody questioned their track record. Seen companies ignore the one voice saying "this won't work here"—and regret it for years.

But I've also seen what happens when leaders put conversation first. When they use data as a starting point, not the final word. When they ask better questions, listen harder, stay curious—especially when numbers seem to tell a simple story.

Those teams win. Not just next quarter. Long term.

What This Means for You

You're probably drowning in data right now. But when did a dashboard last change your mind? When did a spreadsheet give you courage to make a tough call?

My bet: it was a conversation. A story. A moment of doubt or insight that couldn't be quantified.

So here's my challenge—peer to peer, not vendor to client:

Make space for small data. Prioritize conversations that challenge assumptions. Build systems that reward curiosity over compliance. When you must choose between another report and real dialogue, choose dialogue.

Every time.

The smartest person in the room isn't the one with the most data. It's the one who knows what questions to ask and has courage to listen to the answers.

---

Kangze (Kevin) Hong Founding Partner, LYC Partners | Founder, GEA & DEX AI

APAC | Europe | Global

“Building bridges where others see borders. Redefining executive search, leadership, and advisory—so you can thrive in the age of AI, uncertainty, and global opportunity.”