Data Analytics Chat

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker interviews Nipa Basu, a seasoned data analytics executive. Nipa shares her captivating career journey from pursuing a PhD in economics in India to becoming a Chief Data Officer in the United States. They discuss pivotal moments that shaped her career, the evolution of data science, and what distinguishes good leaders from great ones in the te...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we welcome David Ellison, Chief Data Scientist and Director of AI Engineering at Lenovo.    We’ll explore David's career journey from studying computer science to transforming businesses with AI.    Learn about his pivot into data science, lessons from working at the postal service, and his strategies for delivering ROI with AI projects.    In this epis...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker welcomes Michael Hicks, Executive Director at Novartis.    We explore Michael's unconventional career journey, which transitions from academia to business and from procurement to advanced analytics within the pharmaceutical industry.    Michael shares his thoughts on career decisions, the importance of positivity in teams, and the essent...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat , host Ben Parker sits down with Jessica Talisman, Senior Information Architect at Adobe, to uncover why so many organisations struggle to move beyond basic data management.   Jessica shares in-depth industry insights on the root causes of poor data quality, the often-overlooked role of data governance, and why AI initiatives frequently fail without a robust...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker speaks with Joe Bugajski, former Chief Data Officer at Visa and Gartner.    Joe shares his remarkable career journey, which included building prototype vehicles, launching a machine learning company, and becoming a C-level data leader and coach.   For the data topic, we discuss what it really takes to lead and coach high-performing data teams...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Anju Gupta, the Chief Data and AI Officer at BNSF Railway, to explore her successful career journey to date and discuss AI adoption.    Anju reveals her career journey, sharing pivotal moments that shaped her path and the profound influence of AI on various industries. She discusses overcoming challenges, the significance of collab...

Why do so many data and analytics projects fall short, even in the most well-funded companies? In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Murli Buluswar, Head of Analytics at Citibank's US Personal Bank, to explore what companies are doing wrong in data and analytics solutions.   We also explore his impressive career journey, from statistician to leader and unpack what...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Shashi Kumar, Head of Data Engineering & Analytics at Hearst, to explore how the rise of generative AI is reshaping the role of data engineering.   Whether you’re an aspiring data leader or a hands-on engineer, this episode is packed with practical insights, career advice, and how top organisations adapt to the new AI landscape...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, Ben Parker chats with Gerrit Grotewold, Head of Personalisation at BMW Research, to explore what it takes to build a long, impactful career in data and AI.   With his career at BMW, Gerrit shares how he transitioned from electrical engineering into AI leadership, the key challenges he faced stepping into management, and the learning habits that keep him ahea...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker sits down with Sassoon Kosian, Corporate Vice President of Data Science at New York Life, to explore the journey from early challenges in physics to becoming a leader in the data and AI space.   Gain insights into managing high-performing teams, staying relevant in a fast-paced industry, and navigating corporate politics.   Key topics include...

Is ethical AI just a buzzword?  In this episode of Data Analytics Chat , host Ben Parker chats with Mark Brady, Deputy Chief Data Officer at KBR, who reveals the real risks behind today’s AI systems and why most organisations are unprepared.   Mark breaks down the Six Laws of Safe AI, a practical, no-fluff framework for securing the future as AI gains power, autonomy, and physical-world access.  ...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat , host Ben Parker sits down with Aaron Hand, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at ArcelorMittal, to reveal what life is really like in the C-suite.   With a career spanning UBS, Holcim, and now leading AI strategy at one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies, Aaron shares candid insights on the challenges, pressures, and strategic thinking requir...

In this episode of the Data Analytics podcast, we welcome Pablo Vega Behar, Director of Machine Learning at Fitch Group.  Join us for an inspiring conversation with Pablo Vega-Behar, Director of Machine Learning Engineering at Fitch Group, as he shares his journey in the AI industry. From navigating career pivots to leading innovative machine learning projects, Pablo reveals practical strategies f...

In this episode of the Data Analytics podcast, we welcome Milan Dhore, Director of AI Strategy and Cloud Engineering at The Hartford.    Milan discusses his career journey, the pivotal moments that shaped his path in the industry and identifies current challenges in the data and AI space. He offers insights into the importance of ROI, data quality and the evolving landscape of cloud and AI technol...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we welcome Swetha Devabhaktuni, Head of Data & Analytics at Synechron.   Swetha shares her career journey and the pivotal moments that shaped it. In this episode, we discuss the hot topic of getting data ready for generative AI, the importance of data quality and governance, and how companies can overcome common pitfalls when preparing their data for adv...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we welcome Shaina Boone, Chief Analytics Officer at PHD Media.    Shaina shares her unique career journey from an arts background to becoming a leader in marketing science and analytics. We learn about the pivotal moments that shaped her path, her views on AI's role in marketing, and the essential skills and traits for career growth in the rapidly chang...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we welcome Robin Sutara, Field Chief Data Strategy Officer at Databricks.    Robin shares her unusual journey starting from the US Army to becoming a Chief Data Officer at Microsoft, and now at Databricks. She discusses key career moments, her dedication to diversity in tech, and how pivoting her role aided her career growth.    Robin emphasizes the importan...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we welcome Oscar Carrasco Zevallos, the former Director of Data at Johnson & Johnson and now a startup founder.    Oscar shares his extensive background in biomedical engineering, AI initiatives in the pharmaceutical space, and the moments that shaped his career.    We discuss the challenges of transitioning from corporate to startup, the importance of s...

In this engaging episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker interviews Stephen Harris, an industry expert in cloud, data, and AI.   Stephen shares his unique career path, which began with his aspirations in air traffic management and evolved into leading data initiatives at prominent global firms, including Microsoft, VMware, Facebook, and Wells Fargo.    He offers insights into the key momen...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker interviews Parag Shrivastava, Head of Data and Analytics Portfolio at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.  He discusses his career journey, key moments that shaped his path, strategies driving data and AI innovation, and the challenges of managing large global teams.  Parag offers advice for those looking to enter the data and AI field and highlights...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we explore how AI and Generative AI is transforming the healthcare industry. Amit Shukla, VP for Global Consulting Services at IQVIA, joins us.   Amit shares his insights on the impact of AI and generative AI in the healthcare sector. We explore the advancements in drug discovery, data integration, and patient outcomes, as well as the challenges of implement...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we discuss whether generative AI has overshadowed traditional AI models.   Hugo Delgado, a Senior Data Executive, joins us.   We explore why generative AI is currently dominating conversations. Hugo shares his journey from a fixed-income trader to a data science consultant, offering insights into the challenges and limitations of AI adoption.  The topics cov...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we explore the transformative impact of AI and machine learning on the workforce.  Barbara Widholm, VP of Bionics at State Street, a leading financial services company, joins us. She shares insights from her nine years at State Street, covering topics like AI's impact on data-intensive tasks, generating strategic insights, and the future of AI in financ...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we explore the transformative impact of data analytics and AI in the fintech sector, particularly focusing on startups and maturing businesses.  Manil Manohar, Head of Data at Ratepay, a FinTech organisation based in Berlin, joins us. We discuss many topics, including advancements in AI and analytics, customer experience personalisation, fraud detection, ris...

In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, we discuss the impact of AI on clinical research.  Ben Gmeiner, Director of Medical Data Strategy and Science at Novartis, a global pharmaceutical organisation, joins us.  We discuss AI's massive potential to revolutionise healthcare, enhance precision medicine, and improve clinical trials. Ben highlights the importance of integrating AI smoothly into e...