Making Data Simple

Send us Fan Mail She’s the legal powerhouse behind IBM’s AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery , formerly IBM’s Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what’s now, what’...

Send us Fan Mail The AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple , we’re joined by Jonathan Mast , AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™ . Jonathan’s not just riding the AI wave—he’s teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it , with simple, actionable tools that...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison , leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement. In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just char...

Send us Fan Mail 📝 Show Notes: What if the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t your strategy — but your people’s belief in it? In Part 1 of this powerful two-part episode, we welcome Dave Garrison , seasoned CEO, board member, and leadership strategist with over 25 years of experience driving real-world results. Dave pulls back the curtain on what employee engagement really means — and...

Send us Fan Mail From Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at Sama Episode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms at Zoox to game-changing data products at Google. Today he leads a 160-person team that’s reinventing how training data is curated, labeled, and audited so enterprise...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Description: This week on Making Data Simple , we welcome David Hirschfeld , Founder and CEO of Tekyz . With a background spanning major tech firms and startup trenches, David brings grounded, data-backed insight into what makes or breaks a startup. From tackling the #1 reason startups fail to exploring the value of validation and the real meaning of product-market fit...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Making Data Simple , we welcome Ralph Gootee, CTO and co-founder of TigerEye , a company reshaping strategic sales intelligence with a data-driven edge . Ralph’s journey spans Pixar, Sony, and PlanGrid — and now he’s building tools to help sales leaders see around corners. From the secrets behind TigerEye's intuitive reporting to the realities of entrepreneurship...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 REPLAY ALERT: The Future of Risk, Powered by AI In case you missed it the first time — we’re bringing back this incredible conversation with Kathy Stares , EVP of North America at Provenir . Kathy dives into how Provenir’s AI-powered risk decisioning software processes over 4 billion transactions annually across 50+ countries. From fintech to traditional banking, learn how this...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back for Part 2 of our Automation deep-dive—and the hits just keep coming! Host Al Martin reunites with IBM automation aces Sarah McAndrew (WW Automation Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (App Mod & IT Automation Development) to push past the hype and map out the road ahead. 🎬 Episode Highlights 00:12 Observability – why seeing everything is half the battle 04:17 IBM C...

Send us Fan Mail Buckle up—automation is shifting into high gear! In Part 1 of our Automation mini-series, host Al Martin VP WW Technical Sales sits down with IBM insiders Sarah McAndrew (VP WW Automation, Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (VP App Mod & IT Automation, Development) to decode the now and next of enterprise automation. 🔑 What’s inside 00:53 Meet Sarah McAndrew VP WW Automation,...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerhouse episode of Making Data Simple , we welcome Dave Martin —CEO, tech entrepreneur, investor coach to elite CEOs, and bestselling author of Mega Thinking: A Simple, Powerful Process to Think Smarter and Make Better Leadership Decisions . From Silicon Valley to boardrooms worldwide, Dave breaks down how top leaders think differently, make high-stakes decisions with c...

Send us Fan Mail What makes IBM TechXchange different — and why is it a must-attend for techies? In this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouses behind the scenes: Amy Tennison , VP of IBM TechXchange & Client Advocacy, and Graeme Noseworthy , TechXchange Content & Experiences. We explore the ethos of TechXchange, how it's curated for technologists of all skill levels, and why it&apo...

Send us Fan Mail 👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow and Chief Scientist at IBM Research. He’s a master inventor with 70+ patents and decades of leadership in scalable AI, chip innovation, and open-source contributions. From Watson to watsonx, he’s been shaping the AI landscape for decades — and he’s not slowing down. Inside This Episode In Part 2, Ruchir unpacks the macro forces shap...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️  Ruchir Puri (Part 1): From Prompt Engineering to Agentic AI Guest: Ruchir Puri , Chief Scientist at IBM Research 📍 Website: ibm.com/watsonx 🎧 Host: Al Martin, Worldwide VP, Technical Sales, IBM 📨 Want to be a guest? Email us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com 👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow, Chief Scientist of IBM Research, and one of IBM’s most prolific invent...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 of 2 We’re back with Part 2 of our fascinating conversation with Phanish Puranam , Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD . In this episode, we explore the next frontier: how intelligent algorithms don’t just support organizations—they shape them. From AI ethics and algorithmic bureaucracy to the future of human-AI teams , universal income , and debunking...

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 of 2 How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently ? In this episode of Making Data Simple , we welcome Phanish Puranam , Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD , to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design . From tools and teammates to blockchain and the metaverse, Phanish walks us through the evo...

Send us Fan Mail ✨ Updated April 1, 2025 What do Tickle Me Elmo, bourbon, and Taylor Swift tickets have in common? Scarcity. And in the world of marketing, it's one of the most powerful forces you can harness. This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our most insightful interviews — a conversation with Dr. Mindy Weinstein , Founder and CEO of Market MindShift , marketing professor at Gran...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ From Host to Hot Seat! This week on Making Data Simple , Al Martin flips the mic and becomes the guest as Ian Smith , co-founder of Lighthouse Technology , steps in to host a fast-paced, thought-provoking episode of the Baseline Podcast . It’s a casual convo with some serious zingers —think startup energy, AI honesty, automation truths, and even a little NFL shoutout. You won’t...

Send us Fan Mail 🚀 What’s the secret to building a world-class influencer marketing program? Ryan Debenham, CEO of GRIN , joins Making Data Simple to break down the future of creator-driven marketing, AI’s role in the space, and how GRIN is reshaping brand-influencer partnerships. 💡 From Red Bull’s marketing playbook to a key conversation about the “Secret Sauce” , Ryan shares the insights, tech...

Send us Fan Mail Innovating on Wall Street: Kristen McGarry on Data, AI, and Technical Sales 🎧 Tune in for an insider’s look at the technical strategies shaping the future of finance. Kristen McGarry, Principal Account Technical Lead for IBM’s Financial Services Market, returns to Making Data Simple to dive deeper into the intersection of technology and Wall Street. Based in NYC, Kristen works wi...

Send us Fan Mail 🚀 The Coaching Discussion Reprise with Katie McLuckie and a special guest! In this episode, we dive into the value of coaching —what it takes to find the right coach, the ups and downs of the journey, and what to watch out for. If you're considering a business coach , this one's for you! 🎧 Episode Breakdown: ⏱️ 01:33 – Meet Katie McLuckie ⏱️ 04:11 – Transitioning from...

Send us Fan Mail In this special replay episode of Making Data Simple , Al Martin sits down with Matt Cowell , CEO of QuantHub , to dive deep into data literacy, upskilling, and solving learning challenges . Matt shares his expertise on defining data fluency, the best ways to learn, and how organizations can close the data skill gap. From client use cases to leadership insights, this episode is pa...

Send us Fan Mail The master of Artificial Intelligence: Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist of IBM Research, an IBM Fellow, and Vice-President of IBM Corporate Technology.  AI questions you were afraid to ask, from hallucinations to watsonx. #makingdatasimple #watsonx Welcome to the enlightening world of AI with Ruchir Puri, the Master of Artificial Intelligence and esteemed guest on our podcast. Join us...

Send us Fan Mail In this Part 2 of our conversation with Marco Rota , VP of Strategic Technology Alliances at Lumen Technologies , we dive headfirst into the technical side of Lumen’s mission. From fiber-optics and edge computing to quantum breakthroughs—all propelled by powerful industry partnerships—Marco sheds light on how Lumen is enabling cutting-edge solutions and driving technology transfor...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Making Data Simple , where we explore how data-driven strategies ignite innovation and transform businesses. In this exciting episode, we sit down with Marco Rota , VP of Strategic Technology Alliances at Lumen Technologies , whose incredible journey spans from the glitz of Hollywood to leading-edge telecommunications. Tune in as Marco reveals how embracing a vibra...