Women in Data Podcast

This episode features an incredibly candid and tech-forward conversation with Rachel Kirkham, CTO of Mindbridge. Rachel shares her raw experience of returning to work after a six-month career break following a difficult birth, navigating the intense reality of "baby brain fog" and sleep deprivation while stepping right into an executive leadership role. Rather than viewing her time away as a perma...

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Marion Shaw to unpack one of the most uncomfortable — and least talked about — parts of career growth: office politics. From aggressive stakeholders in meetings to hidden agendas and shifting power dynamics, Marion shares the lessons she learned navigating leadership at senior levels — including the mistakes she still makes today. To...

What does it really take to grow into leadership in data — especially if you didn’t come from a traditional technical background? In this episode, Cecilia speaks with Lauren Dixon, Chief Data Officer at the Financial Conduct Authority, about building confidence, stepping into opportunities before feeling fully ready, and redefining what success in data leadership actually looks like. From studying...

Stepping into management should feel like the natural next step… right? But for many data professionals, becoming a manager feels less like “levelling up” and more like learning an entirely new job from scratch. In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Gemma Trailor, Analytics Manager at B&Q, to unpack the biggest shifts that happen when moving from analyst to manager—a...

What if you could ask your customers anything, and get an answer instantly? In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, we explore synthetic audiences: AI-powered simulations of real customer segments that are changing the way businesses understand people, test ideas, and make decisions. Leanne breaks down how these audiences are built using real data and large language models, and why this appr...

Rejection is something we all experience in our careers, but rarely talk about openly. In this episode, Karen and Cecilia have an honest conversation about what setbacks actually feel like in data careers. From job rejections to ideas not landing and difficult feedback, they explore how these moments can impact confidence, identity, and growth. Together, they share personal experiences, unpack the...

Have you ever stepped into a new role… and suddenly felt smaller than you expected? You worked hard to get there. You have the experience. But a few weeks in, you walk into meetings and start second-guessing yourself. Everyone else seems more established, more confident. And before you realise it, you start shrinking. In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Michelle Adebay...

Are we becoming worse at our jobs because we use AI? It’s a question so many of us are quietly asking. If AI can write the code, summarise the findings, build the deck… are we still building our skills, or slowly outsourcing them? In this episode, I sit down with AI researcher Nora Petrova to unpack the guilt, the anxiety, and the real risk behind AI tools. But instead of fear-mongering, we focus...

In this cohosted episode Karen and Cecilia reflect on questioning their careers in data from imposter syndrome and leadership doubts to navigating fast-moving industry change. They challenge the idea that seniority brings certainty, instead considering how ambiguity is constant and self-questioning can be an advantage. The conversation explores resilience, shifting environments, and detaching iden...

The hiring system carries bias, and it shows. While efforts are made to solve this, it’s important that we take ownership of our own career. In this episode, Karen is joined by Nuria Muñoz, Global Talent Leader at Munich Re, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes in hiring, promotions and pay decisions. They talk about why job descriptions are wish lists, why being a perfect match is actu...

Starting a new job is meant to feel exciting but often, it’s also tiring, awkward, and quietly overwhelming. Even when it’s the right move. In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Cecilia is joined by Rianna Kelly to talk honestly about what it really feels like to start somewhere new. From confidence wobbling and long hours without visible output, to rebuilding trust, navigating new relatio...

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, hosts Cecilia Oliveira and Karen Jean-Francois pull back the curtain on the "dirty little secret" of the data world: exactly how they are using AI to change the way they work. Moving past the headlines and the hype, Cecilia and Karen share a vulnerable look at their initial skepticism and how they shifted toward an "Augmentation Mindset." They dive int...

In this episode, Karen is joined by Kinnari Ladha, Chief Data Officer, to explore why great data work often fails to land — and how communication turns data leaders into trusted influencers, making it their superpower.    Drawing on over two decades in data—from hands-on analyst to executive leader—Kinnari shares candid stories of building “perfect” dashboards that didn’t get used, and how those m...

What if the secret to a successful year was a shift in mindset? In the first episode of the year on the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Seana Tomlinson, coach, counsellor, and trainer and coach on the Women in Data LEAP programme, to explore four mindsets that can set you up for a more confident, authentic, and sustainable year. After 18 years in the corporate world, Seana built a portfo...

Karen and Cecilia tackle a pain point every data professional knows: trying to stay aligned without packing your calendar with even more meetings. From hybrid work and endless notifications to navigating Slack vs. Teams, they explore why the answer isn’t more communication — it’s better communication. They share real stories, practical strategies, and the tools that actually help: async updates, s...

Are we getting AI transformation all wrong? Organisations are racing to adopt AI, but the gap between ambition and execution is wider than ever. In this Women in Data episode, host Cecilia Oliveira speaks with technology leader Saloni Thanki about turning strategy into tangible business outcomes. Saloni, who advises both nimble startups and global corporates, cuts through the hype to explore the d...

In this episode, Karen is joined by Barr Moses, CEO and Co-founder of Monte Carlo, to explore how AI agents are transforming how data teams work — and why trust must sit at the heart of every data and AI initiative.   Barr shares how troubleshooting agents save days of work mimic human reasoning to identify and fix data incidents, how teams can “operationalize trust” in their data and/or AI system...

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Cecilia chats with Beth Bauer, a healthcare data leader with nearly four decades of experience bringing data, people, and purpose together. Beth introduces the idea of positive friction — those intentional pauses that invite reflection, discussion, and sometimes disagreement — as a way to make better decisions in healthcare. She explains how this appro...

Progress in data careers doesn’t have to mean management! In this episode, Karen speaks with Niruta Talwekar, Staff Data Engineer,  about carving out a fulfilling career on the technical track — and why progress doesn’t always look like a new job title.   Niruta shares her perspective on: Why a technical career path could be a better option for many data professionals Why slow title changes don’t...

Getting promoted isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about knowing how to show it, when to ask, and what “next level” really means. In this candid conversation, co-hosts Karen Jean-Francois and Cecilia Oliveira break down five essential strategies to help you move your career forward.   Karen shares a personal story about giving a colleague advice that landed him a promotion while she stayed be...

In this episode, Cecilia welcomes Katherine Church to discuss the systemic gender data gap in healthcare and its impact on women’s health. Katherine explains how women have long been underrepresented in research and clinical trials, leading to misdiagnosis, overlooked conditions, and unsafe treatments. She shares innovative partnerships, such as Boots and Tesco using loyalty card data to detect ov...

In this episode, Karen speaks with Cali Wood, Head of Data & AI Strategy & Culture at AXA UK, about what it really means to future-proof your career in a world where GenAI is reshaping the skills landscape. From the rise of AI agents and natural language as a “coding language” to the growing importance of human skills like communication, ethics, and business understanding, Cali shares her...

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast, Cecilia is joined by Jo Portlock, VP of People, Culture and Belonging at LexisNexis, for a powerful conversation about what fairness truly means in today’s workplace — and why it’s so much more than a buzzword. They explore how fairness is about visibility and access, not advantage, and why organisations must intentionally build cultures that support e...

In this candid and empowering episode, Karen sits down with Maaike Van Der Branden, Chief Data Officer,  to explore the real, unfiltered experience of returning to work after maternity leave. From battling imposter syndrome and skill gaps to rebuilding confidence and reshaping leadership, Maaike shares insights that every working mum, colleague, and employer should hear. Together, they discuss wha...

Karen is joined by Cindi Howson—Chief Data & AI Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot and host of The Data Chief Podcast. If you saw her speak at the Women in Data flagship conference, you’ll know how inspiring and bold her perspective is. In this episode, Cindi shares her take on where data and AI are heading—and it’s not business as usual. They explore: How generative AI and AI agents are already...