CDO Matters Podcast

Most organizations are committing serious capital to AI and can't answer a basic question: how much are we actually spending, and on what? That accountability gap is about to close, whether data leaders are ready or not. 📌 In this episode: Why fewer than 5% of large companies can accurately track AI spend as a distinct category — and what happens when the CFO gets involved The Vane Loop framework...

Every organization is told they need context for AI to work. Almost none of them know where to start. The answer has been sitting in their metadata all along — but most CDOs haven't connected those dots yet. 📌 In this episode: Why your data catalog is already a source of context — and how to expose it to agentic workflows today The semantic layer problem: definitions living in BI tools instead of...

Most organizations default to replicating data: copying it from source systems into warehouses and lakes so their tools can reach it. Anu Jain, founder and CEO of Nexus One, thinks that's the wrong answer. Malcolm isn't so sure and that's where it gets interesting. 📌 In this episode: Why the official count of data sources is always an undercount: shadow data, unstructured data, and legacy systems...

The data and AI landscape shifted more in the last six months than in the three years prior and most data teams are still operating off roadmaps that predate it. Malcolm Hawker goes solo to give data leaders an honest read on where things stand and what to prioritize for the rest of the year. 📌 In this episode: Why Gartner's keynote message — that it's okay to be a late AI adopter — is advice Mal...

For a hundred episodes, the data world has been told data is the center of the universe. It isn't — and three of the most credible voices in the industry are finally saying so out loud. Malcolm Hawker sits down with Scott Taylor, Juan Sequeda, and Samir Sharma for a milestone roundtable: why AI isn't Hadoop, why CDOs keep failing for the same reasons, and what it's going to take to survive what's...

Data science teams are delivering results — so why do so many projects never make it to production? Malcolm Hawker and Kristen Kehrer, founder of Data Moves Me and former data science leader, dig into the organizational failures behind the disconnect: governance that blocks data access, business stakeholders who hand scientists solutions instead of problems, and why product management may be the m...

The market for data leaders is growing - but the CDO role itself may be under pressure. In this episode, Malcolm Hawker and Kyle Winterbottom explore why organizations are questioning data leadership value, how AI is reshaping career paths, and what separates those who advance from those who stall. If you’re navigating your next move in data, this is a conversation you can’t afford to ignore.

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Yext Chief Data Officer Christian Ward to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping the relationship between data and modern marketing. As traditional playbooks built around search, SEO, and paid media begin to fracture, the conversation dives into what this shift means for CMOs—and why CDOs must step into a far more co...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, host Malcolm Hawker speaks with Samir Sharma about the idea behind the Data Strategy Canvas and how organizations can bring more structure to their data initiatives. They discuss how frameworks can help leaders connect data strategy to real business priorities and improve alignment across teams. The conversation explores practical ways data leaders...

Episode Overview In this episode of the CDO Matters podcast, I sit down with Microsoft’s Karthik Ravindran to unpack what it really means to be “AI-ready” in 2026, and why most organizations are still thinking about data the wrong way.  We explore the collision of product management, governance, and platform strategy, and why AI success will be determined less by models and more by mindset, o...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Sarah Levy, the CEO of Euno, to unpack why traditional data governance is collapsing under the weight of AI. They explore how context, metadata, and probabilistic thinking are redefining what “AI-ready” really means - and why CDOs who don’t adapt quickly risk becoming irrelevant. Episode Links and Resources Follow Malco...

Episode Overview In Episode 93 of the CDO Matters podcast, host Malcolm Hawker sits down with Eric Overby, Faculty Director at Georgia Tech, for a thoughtful conversation on professional development in data. From building lasting skills to staying relevant as the field evolves, they explore what it takes to grow a meaningful, resilient career in today’s data-driven world. Episode Links and Resourc...

Episode Overview In this episode of the CDO Matters Podcast, Malcolm Hawker lays out his most candid and contrarian predictions for where data, analytics, and AI are really headed in 2026—cutting through the hype to focus on what will actually matter for data leaders. From the evolution (and fragmentation) of the CDO role to hard truths about AI readiness, governance, and operating models, this ep...

Episode Overview The data world loves trends — but most of them don’t survive contact with reality. In this annual Top Ten Trends episode, Malcolm Hawker reflects on the year that was, exposing where data leaders made real progress and where they kept repeating the same mistakes. Expect honesty, uncomfortable truths, and a few sacred cows put out to pasture. Episode Links and Resources Follow Malc...

Episode Overview In this episode, Malcolm sits down with Jeremi Karnell of InvestNet to explore how the company is transforming six trillion dollars of “digital exhaust” into powerful decision-intelligence capabilities for financial advisors.  Jeremi explains how predictive models, knowledge graphs, and generative AI are reshaping advisor workflows, driving measurable revenue lift, and redefi...

Episode Overview In this episode, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Jonathan Ong, Data Director for Mecklenburg County Public Health, to unpack how a small, resource-constrained team built a thriving data governance program from the ground up. They explore the practical realities of securing executive buy-in, building data literacy, and shifting governance from a compliance exercise to a catalyst for...

Episode Overview In Episode 88 of CDO Matters, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Rebecca O’Kill, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Axis Capital, for a masterclass in pragmatic data leadership. Together they explore how to evolve a data and analytics operating model for a future defined by AI, adaptability, and relentless business alignment. Rebecca shares how her team turned skeptics into allies by...

Episode Overview Malcolm Hawker and DataGalaxy’s Kash Mehdi dive into the evolution of metadata, data products, and AI governance - exploring why traditional data catalogs are no longer enough. They discuss how context, usability, and human insight are reshaping what it means to manage and trust data in an AI-driven world. Episode Links and Resources Follow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedIn Follow Kash M...

Episode Overview What happens when a seasoned data leader decides to step out of corporate life and build something entirely new? In this episode, I sit down with Dora Boussias—former Stryker executive, dynamic speaker, and now founder of DoraB Global—to talk about her leap into entrepreneurship, the importance of authenticity, personal reinvention, and what it really takes to carve out your own b...

Episode Overview Everyone is chasing AI, but few are asking the hard questions about what it really takes to make it work. In this episode, Malcolm sits down with Ron Green, CTO and co-founder of KungFu. AI, to cut through the hype and talk about what’s actually happening inside companies trying to deploy AI at scale. If you think AI is a plug-and-play silver bullet, this conversation may challeng...

Episode Summary Malcolm Hawker and Junaid Farooq unpack one of the toughest challenges in data leadership: moving beyond outdated notions of ownership to embrace accountability and results. Their conversation sheds light on the mindsets and practices that separate struggling programs from transformative ones. Episode Links and Resources Follow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedIn Follow Junaid Farooq on Lin...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Andreas Blumauer to explore how knowledge graphs are transforming enterprise data strategies. They discuss why semantics and domain models are critical for making data truly AI-ready, and how CDOs can use these tools to bridge the gap between data governance and AI innovation. If you’re leading data initiatives and want...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, host Malcolm Hawker sits down with Jonathan Reeve, Chief Product Officer at BetaNXT, to explore the evolving partnership between Chief Product Officers and Chief Data Officers. Their conversation dives into how data can serve as a strategic product, the importance of post-launch customer feedback, and the shift from using AI for individual productiv...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, Malcolm Hawker sits down with Raju Mudunuri, Director of Data at Lexmark, to discuss real-world strategies for operationalizing Master Data Management (MDM). They explore the challenges of stakeholder alignment, platform modernization, and connecting MDM to tangible business outcomes. Whether you're launching your first MDM initiative or scaling one...

Episode Overview In this episode of CDO Matters, host Malcolm Hawker talks with Barr Moses, CEO of Monte Carlo, to break down what data observability really means and why it matters. They explore how leading organizations are using it to catch data issues early, drive trust, and scale reliability— plus where the space is headed next. Episode Links and Resources Follow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedIn Fo...