Don't Panic! It's Just Data

Welcome back to Meeting of the Minds, a special podcast episode series by  EM360Tech , where we talk about the future of tech. In this Big Data special episode of the Meeting of the Minds, our expert panel –  Ravit Jain , Podcast host,   Christina Stathopoulos  of Dare to Data and a data and AI evangelist,  Wayne Eckerson , data strategy consultant and president of th...

Generative AI has captured global attention, powering everything from chatbots to intelligent assistants. Yet in the enterprise, its promise often hits a dead end. According to Gartner, 80 per cent of enterprise data remains unused or “dark,” because conventional AI struggles to interpret complex, domain-specific information. In this episode of the  Don't Panic It's Just Data  podcast, E...

Inclusivity and accessibility remain some of the biggest challenges for data events. True inclusion is not the result of a single initiative, but continuous effort, honest reflection, and a willingness to listen to the community. At  Big Data LDN , these values are rooted in the event’s mission. By highlighting both established leaders and emerging voices, the conference creates a stage where...

Big Data LDN (BDL) , the ultimate data event of the year, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. This year’s event is scheduled to take place on September 24 and 25, with a brand-new deep-dive conference held on September 23.  In this episode of the Don't Panic, It's Just Data podcast, host Shubhangi Dua, Podcast Producer and B2B Tech Journalist at  EM360Tech,  speaks with ...

In this episode of the  Don't Panic, It's Just Data podcast , Kevin Petrie,  VP of Research at BARC  and the podcast host, is joined by Dainius Jocas, Search Engineer at Vinted, and Radu Gheorghe, Software Engineer at  Vespa.ai . They discuss how  Vinted , an online marketplace for secondhand products, modernised its data architecture to address new AI search use cases and...

In this episode of the  Don't Panic It's Just Data podcast , Christina Stathopoulos talks with Miller and Michael Wiley, Sr. Product Manager of Spreadsheet Server. They discuss the challenges and solutions in financial reporting, focusing on real-time reporting from ERP systems to Excel. The discussion covers the current state of financial reporting, the obstacles finance departments encounte...

"Customers are now expecting highly personalised, seamless, and efficient interactions across all the touch points,” stated  Rahul Sareen , the Senior Leader–Cross Industry, Private Equity and Startups Solutions at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Sareen’s statement represents the state of customer experience (CX) today.  It’s a demand that is forcing businesses to completely rethink how they...

Enterprises face one common problem: the hidden costs of AI-based technical debt. “There’s a lot of hype around AI, but many initiatives aren't founded in a business value proposition,” says Paul Brownell, CTO, Growth Acceleration Partners (GAP). “People wander in without an intentional path for ROI.”  In this episode of the  Don't Panic, It's Just Data podcast , host  Douglas Laney...

Organisations often find themselves trapped in an infinite loop. Typically hailed as an "infinity loop" or "patching loop,” it’s differentiated by a continuous cycle of fixing problems, patching, and redoing data pipelines just to maintain operations. “It's a trap that many financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, and more fall into. This loop or this cycle is a process of focusing on f...

Blending financial planning directly into existing business intelligence (BI) platforms like Microsoft Power BI and Qlik are on the rise. But have you questioned why, and what drives this shift?  In this episode of the  Don’t Panic It’s Just Data podcast , Kevin Petrie, BARC analyst, sits down to chat with Thomas Gorr, Director of Product Management for xP&A and BI at insightsoftware...

In this episode of the  Don’t Panic, It’s Just Data podcast , Kevin Petrie, VP of Research at BARC, is joined by Nidhi Ram, Vice President of Global Services Strategy and Operational Excellence at Precisely.  The duo explore the idea of focusing on data modernisation and improving accessibility rather than constantly implementing new technologies. Both Petrie and Ram highlight the import...

In this episode of the Don't Panic, It's Just Data podcast, hosted by EM360Tech's podcast producer, Shubhangi Dua speaks to Donnie Owsley from Snohomish County, and Jeff Burton and Tom Lavery from the University of British Columbia. All of the speakers will be presenting at the upcoming Peak of Data and AI event, organised by  Safe Software , the creators of FME.  Scheduled to take place...

Takeaways #Financeteams are often resistant to change, clinging to outdated tools. Real-time data integration can help break down data silos and better decision-making. The shift from FP&A to XP&A emphasises collaboration across departments. #Datagovernance is crucial when handling financial data. Real-time data enables more accurate forecasting and budgeting. Organisations should define t...

"So you want trusted data, but you want it now? Building this trust really starts with transparency and collaboration. It's not just technology. It's about creating a single governed view of data that is consistent no matter who accesses it, " says Errol Rodericks, Director of Product Marketing at Denodo . In this episode of the 'Don't Panic, It's Just Data' podcast, Shawn Rogers, CEO at BARC US,...

Takeaways #CMDM is essential for creating a unified and accurate view of the customer.  Trust comes from how responsibly data is handled. Ethical data use is a competitive advantage and builds trust. Executive sponsorship and cross team buy-in is crucial for MDM projects. A strong customer #datastrategy is a competitive edge, not a side project. Summary Customer Master Data Management (CMDM)...

In the latest episode of the Don’t Panic It’s Just Data podcast, we connected with speakers who provided a preview of their presentations at the upcoming Peak of Data and AI event in Seattle organised by Safe Software from May 5-8, 2025. This premier gathering, hosted by Safe Software , the creators of FME , will be a hub for data and AI innovators, and this podcast episode offers an exclusive loo...

"There's been a lot of wrangling of data, a lot of wrangling of humans as well, which is a big theme for today," says Warwick Leitch, Product Management Director at insightsoftware. In this episode of the ' Don't Panic, It's Just Data ' podcast, Debbie Reynolds, CEO and Chief Data Privacy Officer at Debbie Reynolds Consulting LLC, speaks with Leitch from insightsoftware. They discuss the vital rol...

The digital age is fueled by data, and the engines powering that data are data centres. However, this growth comes at a significant energy cost. In the latest episode of the EM360Tech Don’t Panic It’s Just Data podcast, Shubhangi Dua speaks with Rolf Bienert, Technical & Managing Director of the OpenADR Alliance , to shed light on the urgent need for sustainable energy practices within the dat...

As organisations strive to stay competitive in the age of AI, data trust has become a critical factor for success. Without it, even the most advanced AI initiatives are bound to fall short. With the rapid advancement of technology, prioritising trust in data is essential for unlocking AI's full potential and driving meaningful results. Conversely, a lack of data trust can undermine decision-making...

The San Antonio River Authority (SARA) has experienced a transformative shift in data management, thanks to the powerful capabilities of FME. By integrating FME, SARA has streamlined data integration, improved efficiency, and enhanced decision-making processes across multiple departments. FME’s ability to automate data transformation, standardise formats, and manage large volumes of spatial data h...

Summary This discussion explores the complexities and strategies surrounding edge computing and data management, highlighting the importance of security, the challenges of vendor lock-in, the implications of data repatriation, and the necessity of ensuring high-quality data for AI systems. It emphasises the need for organisations to balance edge processing with centralised storage while future-pro...

In today’s data-driven world, real-time analytics has become a cornerstone for businesses seeking to make smarter, faster decisions. From enhancing user experiences to enabling continuous intelligence, the ability to process data in real-time is transforming industries. Yet, challenges such as legacy systems and the demand for innovative data management approaches persist. This episode explores th...

The convergence of Master Data Management (MDM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how businesses harness data to drive innovation and efficiency. MDM provides the foundation by organising, standardising, and maintaining critical business data, ensuring consistency and accuracy across an organisation.  When paired with AI, this clean and structured data becomes a powerful asset,...

As cloud adoption grows, so do the challenges of managing costs effectively. Cloud environments offer scalability and flexibility but often come with hidden fees, unpredictable expenses, and resource sprawl that can quickly inflate budgets. Without the right tools and strategies, businesses may struggle to track spending, identify waste, and maintain budget alignment.  Usage-based reporting i...

Data custodianship today involves managing and protecting vast quantities of sensitive information, requiring organisations to ensure security, regulatory compliance, and ethical usage. It’s not just about protecting data from breaches but also about responsible storage, access, and deletion that aligns with strict industry standards and evolving privacy regulations. The ethical dimensions of data...