The Data Culture Podcast

Software is eating the world (or used to, that was soooo 2011). AI is eating the world now at a blistering pace, and while a lot of it feels like hyperbole, and in some cases faked gains (Devin), many initiatives in AI & data are very real, and organizations are adopting and adapting their cultures to include these gains and take advantage of what they enable. Within this astounding pace of ch...

Want some AI with your coffee? It seems anywhere you turn, AI is infused into every interaction, decision, and experience, so it makes sense that your organization should upgrade (or create) your AO strategy. But how? CDO Peggy Tsai offers incredibly practical advice on AI Strategy for today's Chief Data Officers.

"What's in a name?" Shakespeare's romantic notion that naming something is irrelevant may work in purposes of his plays, but for the data world, naming, and conformance on the meaning of names, is critical. Amit Pahwa has spent a good portion of his career dedicated to making our data lives easier, all by focusing on that most basic of tasks: naming things.

What is most useful for making decisions? Leaders and business owners face decisions almost every moment of the day. We aspire to be an entirely data driven world, so where does this leave 'gut' or intuition? Seyi Fabode helps us explore these questions; be prepared for some philosophical and practical insights.

Mergers and acquisitions have a high failure rate in terms of hitting the envisioned objectives. There are many root causes, but lack of alignment on operating models is definitely on the list. Jeremy Kingry discusses how Argano quickly analyses a target acquiree using data and enforces aligned operating models, using data!

A data strategy is an AI strategy. Subroto has 20+ years in data, innovation, and creating companies; he walks us through several topics that everyone should pay attention to in assembling their AI and data strategy.

We have worked across the globe for a while, but not everyone succeeds at it. Laura of IFC, a division of the World Bank, provides expert advice and guidance on how you might better understand your colleagues across the globe, gain understanding, and succeed together.

Emerging Leaders Series: Where do millennials get their leadership advice? There is a bias in the market to perceive that what big tech and other large progressive companies are publishing and discussing around open, collaborative, and supportive models for growing, supporting, and mentoring the next generation of talent and leaders IS the pervasive model in the market. But there are many orgs acr...

Collaborating smoothly using data with our colleagues can be a challenge, but what about with external partners? Properly sharing insights and analytics is a challenge even today. Solomon has worked in some of the largest data environments wherein sharing and collaborating with external partners was critical to success, and has some useful insights on collaboration challenge history and what we do...

How can you influence change? In the minds of developers, data infrastructure, and those that manage it, can be seen as slow, stodgy, and resistant to moving quickly. Steve Jones, Advocate at Red Gate software, has lived both sides of the fence and offers his thoughts on how we may influence change that lasts.

Product management has always been an interesting intersection in looking at human desires, intents, and behaviors, the value of the system, and how to make everything smoothly interact. Throw in AI and now you have variability in both the inputs and outputs that vastly complicate the product manager's job. Reza Shirazi of Procore discusses successful ways to adapt and adopt the canon of product m...

Buy versus build and everywhere in between - thinking through what and how you should manage your data estate can be tricky. Storable's Jerry Gregoire walks us through how he and the team break down planning and investments in their data stack so that they are lean, close to business value, and operate smoothly.

The rise in practical uses of Gen AI and AI/ML is underlining an oft forgot and but necessary step in using data: data quality and governing of data quality. DW and analytics practitioners have trumpeted quality for ages, but practical and cost effective methods haven't always been widely known or taught. Rob Hawker thankfully has published a wonderful and practical book, covering real world examp...

Talking about data governance is (typically) not the topic that gets people jumping for joy. Rather, governances invoke "here comes the process monster" type responses. Yet this topic is critical, and considering Gen AI and advanced analytics, becoming more rewarding and, dare say it, fun?!? to undertake. Mathias Vercauteren has been bringing forward an enlightening and engaging way to kick start...

What is data product management and the associated concepts? How should we frame and think of this so we care successful? Dr. Elena Alikhachkina has been working in this area for a while, before we had recognized naming for data product thinking. She provides some amazing perspectives that will help you and your org adopt successful mindsets and patterns.

Coaching/mentoring has seemed more art than science. Data is everywhere to guide leaders and their teams, but not always accessible. And in today's remote and hybrid world, we have lost much of in the way human observations, one of the largest tools used by leaders to guide the next generation. In this episode, Colum discusses these challenges and how AI/ML can positively impact our ability to be...

Emerging Leaders Series: We have a new sub-thread to our show wherein we talk with emerging thought, tech, or business leaders in data. Discover how they got to where they are, what's next, and who to watch out for! This first episode features Matt McGuinness of Buckland.

We talk with Eckerson Group's VP of Research Kevin Petrie on the research he is conducting on LLMs and Gen AI, and what he sees coming up that organizations should pay attention to in the coming months.

How do we better frame our data management challenges so IT and business can better align and pursue value? Data4Real CEO Julia Bardmesser walks us through practical advice based on real world data challenges and transformations.

How might we imagine and make a better future? Gen AI and other advances are rapidly impacting how we view, see, and interact with the world, but instead of taking a dystopian view, Jake Hirsch-Allen challenges us all to picture the positive and move accordingly.

There is so much talk on data quality, yet are we actually progressing? Do we have a good definition on data quality and how big or small the problem is? Chad Sanderson walks through his thinking on the topic and how he arrived at his focus on data product thinking as a path forward for the industry.

Listen in as I talk with Malcom Hawker of Profisee as we dive into a Captain Obvious question, but a question that still lacks an appropriate and consistent response: why are we still having to talk about business value? Why do organizations still need prompting to align efforts to the right outcomes? And what can we do about this perpetual wheel we are all on?

Buy or build? What goes into designing, developing, and managing a successful data estate if you choose to build from scratch? Listen to Peloton's Arun Vasudevan as he covers critical components that support amazing outcomes (whether you buy or build!).

Microsoft's Christina Tillbrook walks through her observations on innovation and creating Centers of Excellence to support exploration, collaboration, and growth inside an organization.

Hypergiant's Michael Roberts has spent considerable time in the AI and data field, having collected many enviable experiences and ideas. In this episode, we pick his brain on the current state of the art and what an ex-NASA engineer thinks of current approaches.