The Data Nerd Podcast

As AI transforms the way we work, what does it mean to be an effective teacher, coach, and data professional? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast , Nisar Ahmed sits down with Data Coach Lisa Hitch at The Information Lab's New York City office for a conversation about teaching, learning, communication, and building a career that stays relevant in the age of AI. Lisa shares her journey from ove...

What happens when the company you've tied your identity to is suddenly gone? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with Shachar Meir, former Meta leader turned independent data advisor, to explore one of the most difficult realities professionals face today: layoffs, career uncertainty, and life after big tech. Drawing from his experiences at Meta, PayPal, and over 20 yea...

Do companies really need to build expensive internal data teams anymore? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with Mikhail Christiansen to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in modern analytics: that every growing company needs to hire a full internal data team from scratch. Mikhail shares why many organizations are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars buildin...

Are data science teachers falling behind—or being forced to rethink everything? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with Saad Rais, AnalytIQ corporate trainer, to unpack how AI is reshaping data science education in real time. What used to be a clear path—learn programming, master algorithms, build models—is now being challenged by tools that can generate code, build da...

Are dashboards really dead—or just evolving? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with Will Perkins, Analytics Solutions Executive at JPMorgan Chase and 5x Tableau Ambassador, to break down one of the biggest debates in data today. As AI continues to reshape analytics, many are questioning the role of dashboards and BI tools. This conversation cuts through the noise and...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with data literacy expert, author, and CEO of Data Literacy, Ben Jones, for a timely conversation on how AI is reshaping data analytics jobs — and what it actually means for data professionals today. Ben has spent years helping organizations and professionals build stronger data skills, and more recently, AI literacy. Through his...

Can a data scientist become a stand-up comedian? What happens when statistics meet storytelling? And why might humor be one of the most underrated skills in data and analytics? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with data comedian and data professional Evan Wimpey to explore the surprising intersection of data science, comedy, and communication. Evan shares how a stati...

How do you build confidence at work? Why do so many professionals struggle to speak up in meetings? And what is fear really costing your career? In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, Nisar Ahmed sits down with keynote speaker, leadership expert, and Founder of Unmuted, Rachel Druckenmiller, to break down her powerful VOICE Method — a practical framework for overcoming self-doubt, building lead...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed welcomes back analytics leader and data community builder Dustin Schimek for a timely conversation on the real data analytics skills employers want in 2026 — and what they pay for them. Today's guest is Dustin Schimek, creator of the Data Jobs Report and the weekly Data Jobs Rundown, where he analyzes real job postings year over year to un...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast , host Nisar Ahmed welcomes back leadership communication expert and TEDx speaker Christopher Chin for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to step onto the TEDx stage. Today's guest is Christopher Chin, TEDx speaker, communication strategist, and Founder of The Hidden Speaker . Once an introvert working in technical roles, Chris learned fir...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Tableau legend Andy Kriebel for a raw, unfiltered conversation about DataFam Europe and the state of the Tableau community. Known as a Tableau Visionary Hall of Famer, creator of Makeover Monday, and founder of Next-Level Tableau, Andy has been at the heart of the DataFam for years, so when he says something feels off, it's...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed is joined by Mike Cisneros—award-winning data visualization expert, two-time Tableau Visionary, and co-author of the brand-new book Storytelling With Data: Before & After. Mike has built a career at the intersection of analytics, design, software development, and data education, bringing a rare blend of creativity, clarity, and technical d...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Salma Sultana—data storytelling coach, founder of Hummingbirds, and a passionate advocate for bringing cognitive psychology into the world of analytics. With nearly two decades of experience across consulting, financial services, biotech, and tech, Salma has helped countless professionals transform complex insights into narr...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed chats with Alli Torban—data visualization specialist, author of Chart Spark, and host of the Data Viz Today podcast. With a background in mathematics and geospatial intelligence, Alli has worked across government, non-profit, and corporate sectors to make complex data stories accessible and impactful. Together, Nisar and Alli explore what...

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Charlie Hills—a growth strategist who has turned AI into a full-fledged engine for LinkedIn influence. In 2024, Charlie leveraged AI-powered strategies to grow his LinkedIn following to over 50,000 in under a year—and by 2025, he'd skyrocketed past 160,000 followers in just nine months. From early skepticism about AI to buil...

In this episode of the Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Nicholas Mann—Founder & CEO of Stratos Consulting, data infrastructure expert, and trusted advisor to biotech and pharma leaders—to cut through the AI hype and talk about what adoption really looks like. From when AI creates real business value to when it's just a distraction, Nicholas shares candid insights on how executive...

Eva Murray—speaker, author, and career coach for data professionals—joins Nisar Ahmed to share why soft skills like communication and storytelling are the real drivers of career growth in data. Explore The Data Nerd Podcast (and grab the official hat) at  thedatanerdpodcast.com . Learn more about Eva's services at  evamurray.co.uk and connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva...

AI can write your SQL, build dashboards, even suggest next steps. But as data leaders, we have to ask: is that enough? In this talk from the Disruptive Data Leadership Summit, I explore one of the most important questions in modern analytics: what role should AI play in Business Intelligence—and where do humans still lead? Learn the difference between assistive vs. autonomous AI, how tools like Ta...

In this episode of the Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Shama Hyder—CEO of Zen Media and global marketing leader—to unpack the real impact of AI on the job market. From the future of white-collar roles to how AI can become your cognitive partner, Shama offers a bold and refreshing take on how to stay relevant and thrive in the AI era. 🎧 Tune in to learn: Why entry-level jobs are...

In this episode, I'm joined by Igor Garlowski—Tableau Ambassador and data strategist—to explore why so many data teams struggle to deliver real value. We dive into common pitfalls in BI and Tableau projects, and Igor shares practical advice on aligning strategy, improving communication, and building data products that actually get used. Igor's impressive portfolio includes work with top-tier organ...

In this episode, I sit down in person with Will Sutton, the 2022 Iron Viz Champion, Tableau Visionary, and data consultant with The Information Lab. We caught up right after Tableau Conference 2025 in San Diego to talk about his inspiring journey—from introvert to Iron Viz winner. Will opens up about how stepping into the Iron Viz spotlight helped him break out of his shell and how that one bold m...

Recorded live in San Diego following the Tableau Conference, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Amanda Makulec—Iron Viz judge, author, and thought leader in the data visualization space.  In this episode, we explore what it really means to design dashboards that make an impact. From crafting stories that resonate to making intentional design choices, Amanda shares practical insights to elevat...

In this episode, I sit down in person with fellow Tableau Social Ambassador Ojoswi Basu — just after the energy of Tableau Conference in San Diego. We dive into our journeys as content creators in the data space, sharing why we started, what we've learned, and how creating in public can open doors you never expected. From overcoming imposter syndrome to finding your voice online, this episode is p...

In this episode, I sit down with Avery Smith, to tackle one of the biggest challenges aspiring data professionals face—getting hired without prior experience. Avery shares his unconventional strategies for standing out, building a portfolio, and networking your way into a data career. If you're struggling to land that first job, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you break in!...

In this episode, I sit down with Brent Dykes, author of Effective Data Storytelling, to challenge a common misconception, do dashboards really tell stories? We dive into the difference between presenting data and crafting a compelling narrative, why dashboards alone aren't enough, and how to bridge the gap between insights and impact. Brent Dykes is a leading expert in data storytelling and the au...