The Databricks Diaries

In this episode, we dive into the world of retail and explore how Domino's Pizza UK&I is leveraging artificial intelligence to transform its operations and customer experience. Join host Andy Davis as he sits down with Antony Bradshaw, Head of Digital Data and Analytics at Domino's Pizza UK&I. Antony shares his insights on: The AI Journey at Domino's: How the company is moving from data-in...

In this episode of The Databricks Diaries, Dan Thornton sits down with Richard Shaw, Technical General Manager for UK & Ireland at Databricks, to explore what it really takes for organisations to become AI-ready. With over six years at Databricks, Richard shares a behind-the-scenes view of scaling a cloud-native platform from startup roots to a global data and AI powerhouse. The conversation d...

In this episode of The Databricks Diaries, we’re joined by Denny Lee, Project Management Director of Developer Relations at Databricks, to discuss the future of data engineering, AI innovation, and community building.   Denny shares how Databricks is addressing the global skills gap with initiatives like the Databricks Free Edition, free training programmes, and the MVP programme, empowering...

In this episode of  The Databricks Diaries: AI Readiness Series , Andy Davis speaks with Mukund Pandey. The discussion covers the role of governance as an accelerator, embedding compliance and explainability from day one, and how cultural alignment drives adoption at scale. Mukund also highlights practical AI use cases in risk and margin management, intraday exposure, and generative AI for re...

In this episode, Andy Davis sits down with Jan Beitner, Director of Data & AI at Inflexion, to explore how private equity–backed organisations can turn AI ambition into measurable business value. Jan shares a clear, ROI-driven framework for getting “AI ready” — from linking initiatives to value creation plans and embedding accountability at the top, to avoiding the trap of chasing te...

In this episode of  The Databricks Diaries: AI Readiness , Andy Davis sits down with Jessica Simons-Boswell, Enterprise Data Officer at Diligenta, to explore how financial services organisations can embrace AI while operating in a highly regulated, risk-averse environment. Jessica shares candid insights on: Why financial services often lag in AI adoption — and why that’s not always a bad...

In this episode of  The Databricks Diaries , Andy Davis speaks with Jack Levy, Head of Data Strategy at Allvue, about what it really takes to prepare for AI. Jack shares why strong data foundations are non-negotiable, how cross-functional teams accelerate adoption, and why governance and guardrails matter more than ever. From hackathons and prototyping to practical use cases in data norm...

In this episode of The Databricks Diaries, Carole Roberts, Director of Technology and Data at Leeds Building Society, shares her journey to technology leader, and reflects on the pivotal role of data in organisational transformation. Carole provides candid insights into the cultural aspects of change, the importance of executive buy-in, and the complexities of upskilling teams to match rapid techn...

AI's here – but are we actually ready? In this episode, I chat with Merve Alanyali, Head of Data Science at AXA UK, about what real AI readiness looks like. We unpack why solid infrastructure matters (don’t build on a swamp), the myth of “quick wins”, and how to bring your people with you on the journey. We also dive into how AI will reshape the way we learn, work, and grow – and what that means f...

Andy Davis speaks with McKinley Hayden, Director of Data Value & Strategy at the Financial Times, about making AI readiness real in a newsroom where trust matters; they unpack the FT’s AI policy and organisation-wide fluency programme, a cross-functional transformation model and impact framework, and practical wins such as AskFT (built with Anthropic) and smarter comment moderation—alongside c...

In this episode, Andy Davis talks with Chris Bick, Head of Data Product at Equiniti, about what it really takes to get an organisation ready for AI. They discuss why AI success starts with trusted, well-structured data, the cultural shift from tech-led to demand-led adoption, and how to balance governance with enablement. Chris shares practical use cases, from automating admin tasks to real-time f...

In this episode, Andy Davis is joined by Elettra Damaggio , Director of Internal Data Science at Visa, to discuss what AI readiness really looks like from the inside. Elettra shares sharp insights on the pressures data teams face, the operational realities of deploying LLMs, and why clean data is still the unsolved challenge behind the AI hype. They explore how internal AI use cases—like querying...

In Episode 13 of our AI Readiness series, Andy Davis is joined by Alex Blyth, Head of Data at NEST (National Employment Savings Trust), for a candid conversation on what it really takes to prepare an organisation for AI. They discuss why cultural readiness matters more than technical capability, how tools like CoPilot are helping drive practical adoption, and the risks of applying AI to the wrong...

In this episode, we speak with Dizem Ozalp Sari  Director & Head of Data Services Domain  at bnp Paribas bout the real work behind AI readiness in the financial services sector. With years of experience driving data strategy across global institutions, Dizam shares candid insights on: Why mindset and culture matter more than tech The growing disconnect between consumer and corporate...

In this episode, Andy Davis is joined by  Andy McMahon , Principal Engineer for AI & MLOps at  Barclays , to unpack what AI transformation  really  takes inside large organisations. They dig into the realities behind the GenAI hype, including the tough conversations around data readiness, process redesign, and the cultural ingredients needed to deliver value at scale. From...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jane Smith, Field Chief Data and AI Officer at ThoughtSpot, to explore what “AI readiness” really means in practice. Jane shares her perspective on how organisations can move beyond the buzzwords and actually embed AI into how they work, starting with stronger data culture, leadership buy-in, and better alignment between strategy and delivery. We talk abo...

In Episode 09 of the AI Readiness series, Andy Davis is joined by  Brian Harkin ,  Ian Balfour-Church , and  George Roffey  from Centrus – a financial advisory firm with a strong focus on infrastructure, housing, and sustainability. Together, they explore: Why AI isn’t a silver bullet — and how Centrus is using it as a  force multiplier How to strike the right balance betw...

Join Máté Gulyás (Databricks MVP, CEO of Datapao) and Joe Ingleby as we explore how Unity Catalog, Lakebase, and GenAI are revolutionising data engineering and business operations in this episode of Databricks Diaries! This is a must-listen for modern enterprises looking to empower their teams with seamless data governance, enhanced collaboration, and scalable solutions. Tune in to learn more abou...

In this episode of  AI Readiness , Andy Davis speaks with Laura Alexander, Head of Data Services at Hodge, about what it  really  takes to get an organisation ready for AI. From data governance and culture to regulation and imposter syndrome, they explore why readiness is more human than technical. Laura shares insights on how Hodge is approaching its AI journey — including practica...

In this episode of  AI Readiness , Andy Davis is joined by James Garner, Head of AI & Data at Gleeds, to explore why so many AI rollouts underdeliver—and what to do about it. James pulls no punches as he shares real-world lessons from organisations misfiring with tools like Microsoft Copilot. From wasted licences to cultural resistance, he explains why the problem isn’t the tech—it’s how...

In this episode, Andy Davis chats with Ako Sabir, a seasoned data and transformation leader in the insurance sector, about what really holds organisations back from embedding AI at scale. Ako unpacks why technical challenges are rarely the true blockers, and why structural complexity, poor early decisions, and cultural resistance often derail even the best-intentioned AI strategies. From avoiding...

Join Thor, Director of Field Engineering at Databricks, and Dan from Primus as they dive into the exciting future of artificial intelligence. In this episode, we unpack what it takes for organisations to get AI-ready, from mastering data governance to promoting ethical AI. With real-world examples, Thor explains how AI can transform businesses, empower teams, and address challenges like bias...

In this episode, Andy Davis speaks with Iñigo Antolín, Head of Data Management and Governance at the British Council, about the deep-rooted organisational barriers to AI adoption. From the risks of “shiny tool syndrome” to the vital role of incentives, Iñigo shares why successful AI initiatives depend far more on cultural readiness than technical capability. They discuss why common assumptions abo...

In this episode, Andy Davis is joined by Shani Reynolds, Head of Data Governance at First Sentier Investors, to explore the real-world journey of AI adoption in financial services. They dive into the cultural and behavioural shifts needed to make AI stick, from experimenting with chatbots to building trust through transparent prompt engineering and iterative learning. Shani shares insights on how...

In this episode, Andy Davis sits down with Daniel Tibble, Data Product Director at Mobilize (Renault), to unpack what it really means for organisations to be "AI ready." From building a data-driven culture to leveraging GenAI for operational efficiency and natural language querying, Daniel shares grounded insights and real-world examples from his time at Booking.com, Wejo, and Mobilize. Whether yo...