The Hidden Barriers to Data Maturity, with Jessica Talisman (Senior Information Architect at Adobe)
Send us a textIn this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker sits down with Jessica Talisman, Senior Information Architect at Adobe, to uncover why so many organisations struggle to move beyond basic data management. Jessica shares in-depth industry insights on the root causes of poor data quality, the often-overlooked role of data governance, and why AI initiatives frequently fail without a robust data foundation. From her unique career path rooted in library and information science to leading complex data ecosystems in tech, Jessica offers a fresh, pragmatic view on what it really takes to build scalable, trusted data systems. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:38 Jessica's Unconventional Career Path03:19 Motivations and Career Shifts05:03 The Importance of Data Management08:11 Emerging Roles in Data and AI10:43 Passion and Career Growth27:38 Facing Career Setbacks33:59 Navigating Life's Challenges with Self-Care35:03 The Importance of Mindset and Personal Growth35:36 Turning Setbacks into Opportunities39:31 Discovering and Leveraging Your Superpowers45:20 Building High-Quality Data Ecosystems47:37 The Role of Leadership in Data Governance55:31 Breaking Down Data Silos59:16 Investing in Knowledge Graphs01:04:04 Advice for Data Leaders01:07:10 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThank you for listening!
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How to Lead and Coach High-Performing Data Teams, with Joe Bugajski, (former Chief Data Officer at Gartner)
Send us a textIn this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker speaks with Joe Bugajski, former Chief Data Officer at Visa and Gartner. Joe shares his remarkable career journey, which included building prototype vehicles, launching a machine learning company, and becoming a C-level data leader and coach. For the data topic, we discuss what it really takes to lead and coach high-performing data teams. Joe offers honest insights on moving from technical expert to leader, how to communicate data value to the business, and the importance of self-awareness, feedback, and continuous learning in leadership. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:35 Joe’s Career Journey03:47 Transition to Leadership06:52 Building and Managing Teams09:32 Importance of Communication and Feedback26:02 Key Moments and Career Transformations42:42 Embracing Failure and Persistence43:13 Healthy Outlets for Stress43:54 The Importance of Hobbies44:59 Learning from Setbacks45:38 Skills for Industry Success46:50 The Role of Vision in Leadership47:09 Mathematics and Machine Learning48:13 The Value of Persistence48:29 Effective Communication and Data Understanding50:43 The Future of Data Science and AI53:55 The Role of C-Level Leaders in Data and AI01:00:54 Skills for the Next Generation of Data Professionals01:08:17 Building a Culture of Experimentation01:13:16 Preparing Teams for AI Integration01:18:06 Concluding Thoughts and Final AdviceThank you for listening!
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What It Really Takes to Drive AI Adoption: Lessons from Anju’s Data Career, with Anju Gupta (Chief Data and AI Officer at BNSF Railway)
Send us a textIn this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Anju Gupta, the Chief Data and AI Officer at BNSF Railway, to explore her successful career journey to date and discuss AI adoption. Anju reveals her career journey, sharing pivotal moments that shaped her path and the profound influence of AI on various industries. She discusses overcoming challenges, the significance of collaboration, and essential skills like resilience, humility, and influencing. Anju provides a detailed exploration of AI adoption at scale, highlighting common roadblocks, strategic approaches for aligning AI with business goals, and the importance of a well-rounded build, buy, and partner strategy. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:39 Anju's Early Career Journey03:43 Pivotal Moments and AI Adoption06:15 Overcoming Challenges and Building Influence17:23 The Importance of Mentors and Sponsors24:32 Handling Setbacks and Learning from Failure29:04 The Dangers of Comparison31:15 Skills for Success in the Industry34:10 Challenges in AI Adoption42:50 Moving from AI Experimentation to Full-Scale Adoption46:48 Common Mistakes in Early AI Adoption50:55 Aligning AI Initiatives with Business Goals53:26 Leveraging External Expertise for AI Success56:42 Final Thoughts and AdviceThank you for listening!
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Why Data Projects Keep Failing, with Murli Buluswar (Head of Analytics at Citibank)
Send us a textWhy do so many data and analytics projects fall short, even in the most well-funded companies?In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Murli Buluswar, Head of Analytics at Citibank's US Personal Bank, to explore what companies are doing wrong in data and analytics solutions. We also explore his impressive career journey, from statistician to leader and unpack what it really takes to scale impact in data and analytics.00:00 Introduction to the Guest and Episode Overview00:48 Career Beginnings and Early Insights03:50 Transition to Leadership and Enterprise Thinking06:37 Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement17:53 Challenges and Skills in Data-Driven Leadership36:41 Common mistakes companies make when building analytics solutions40:55 Companies' obsession with the latest tools and technologies 45:29 Poor leadership or lack of accountability at the top46:23 Industry guilty of overcomplicating data strategies 48:21 Final Thoughts and ConclusionThank you for listening!
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The Gen AI Shift: Data Engineering Redefined, with Shashi Kumar (Head of Data Engineering & Analytics at Hearst)
Send us a textIn this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Shashi Kumar, Head of Data Engineering & Analytics at Hearst, to explore how the rise of generative AI is reshaping the role of data engineering. Whether you’re an aspiring data leader or a hands-on engineer, this episode is packed with practical insights, career advice, and how top organisations adapt to the new AI landscape. You’ll learn: How Shashi transitioned from DBA to senior data leader and what helped him stand outThe key skills, tools, and certifications that are shaping the modern data engineerHow generative AI is changing data architecture, pipeline design, and collaborationWhy governance, unstructured data, and real-time pipelines are now mission-criticalWhat strategic investments should companies make to scale Gen AI effectively 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:41 Shashi Kumar's Career Journey03:42 Transition to Leadership05:44 Key Career Moments08:57 Facing Career Setbacks11:31 Skills for Success in Data Engineering16:50 Impact of Generative AI on Data Engineering20:52 Modern Data Engineering Tools and Skills24:21 Collaboration Between Data Engineering and Data Science28:42 Modern Data Architectures and Gen AI33:57 Strategic Investments for Gen AI Adoption34:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Thank you for listening!
Welcome to Data Analytics Chat – the podcast that dives deep into the ever-evolving world of Data and AI.Each episode unpacks the latest trends, innovations, and challenges shaping data science and artificial intelligence today. But this isn’t just about tech, it’s about the people behind it.We spotlight real career journeys from professionals across the industry, sharing the pivotal moments, obstacles overcome, and lessons learned along the way.Tune in for candid conversations with leading experts as they offer practical advice, industry insights, and inspiration to help you grow your own career in data.Connect with host - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben---parker/
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