Shows
Data Faces PodcastAI Predictions for 2026 That Actually Matter | Tom Davenport📢 AI is everywhere—but what’s real, what’s hype, and where is the business value actually coming from?In this episode of the Data Faces Podcast, David Sweenor sits down with Tom Davenport, Distinguished Professor at Babson College and one of the most trusted voices in analytics and AI. They unpack where AI is delivering durable value today, why generative AI may be overvalued, and what leaders should realistically expect as we move through 2025 and into 2026.This is a grounded conversation for executives and practitioners who want clarity—not speculation—on how AI is reshaping work, decision-making, and enterprise st...
2026-01-1333 min
Data Faces PodcastEnterprise AI in Practice: What 2025 Taught Leaders📢 2025 was the year AI met the real world. No demos. No hype. Just results—and hard lessons.In this special Data Faces year-in-review episode, we synthesize insights from 27 conversations with leaders across data, analytics, and AI to surface what actually mattered in enterprise adoption.Rather than new models or bigger tools, the story of 2025 centered on strategy, operational maturity, agent management, and the human realities behind AI at scale. This episode distills a full year of dialogue into one clear narrative for data leaders who need signal, not noise. 🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why most Gen...
2025-12-3013 min
Data Faces PodcastOpen Source Meets AI Innovation | Bruno Trimouille📢 Can open source, AI, and enterprise analytics really coexist? Absolutely—and Bruno Trimouille from Posit is here to explain how.  How are open source tools reshaping enterprise data science? What role does AI play in bridging business and technical teams? In this episode, Posit CMO Bruno Trimouille breaks down how his team supports millions of users—while staying true to an open source mission.🎯 Whether you’re a data leader, marketer, or innovator, you’ll learn practical approaches to balancing innovation with governance, productizing models into apps, and using AI for both technical and marketing acceleration.
2025-12-1636 min
Data Faces PodcastData Lineage for AI: Why Truth Beats Hope | Tina Chace📢 Most AI failures don’t come from the model—they come from the data feeding it.In this episode of the Data Faces Podcast, Tina Chace, VP of Product Management at Solidatus, explains why incomplete lineage, missing context, and silent upstream changes quietly undermine AI systems long before anyone notices.Tina shares lessons from deploying AI and machine learning in major banks, breaking down how column-level lineage and business context prevent cascading failures across systems, teams, and decisions.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why 90% of AI production issues trace back to data quality problems.2- How tech...
2025-12-0235 min
Data Faces PodcastCulture Meets Code | Gina von Esmarch📢 What happens when culture and technology collide—do they compete, or do they enhance one another?In this episode of Data Faces, Gina von Esmarch, Founder and CEO of Adesso Associates, shares how cultural heritage, storytelling, and emerging technologies work together to shape stronger communities and brands.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- How AI and cultural identity can evolve together, not apart.2- Why authenticity and values are the foundation of innovation.3- How diversity of thought drives long-term business success.📩 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-j7nqzsGk👉 More insights...
2025-11-1837 min
Data Faces PodcastAI in Sales Enablement | Matt Magne📢 What happens when AI becomes your sales coach? In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping how sales teams learn, ramp, and perform.Join David Sweenor, Founder of TinyTechGuides, as he talks with Matt Magne, Senior Enablement Manager of Revenue Enablement at LaunchDarkly, about the new frontier of AI-driven sales enablement — from AI role plays to digital coaching and the future of human + machine collaboration.🔍 Key Takeaways:-- Why AI is redefining how SEs and AEs practice and master sales conversations-- How LaunchDarkly integrates AI role plays to accelerate ramp time and confidence-- The balance between automation and auth...
2025-11-0441 min
Data Faces PodcastThe End Goal of AI: Humans, Not Machines | Eric Kavanagh📢 What’s the real end game of AI? Is it about smarter machines—or smarter organizations?In this episode of Data Faces, Eric Kavanagh, AI analyst and syndicated radio host of DM Radio, joins David Sweenor, founder of TinyTechGuides, to explore what success in AI truly means for business, technology, and society.Eric has spent decades helping enterprises navigate the data-driven world. He argues that AI isn’t a monolith—it’s a tool that works best when humans stay in control, governance evolves, and organizations learn to use intelligence responsibly.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why the “end goal” of AI is human producti...
2025-10-2239 min
Data Faces PodcastAI Agents & Governance Explained | Catalina Herrera📢 AI agents are moving fast from hype to enterprise reality. But how do leaders ensure they deliver real ROI—without creating risk and chaos?In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor sits down with Catalina Herrera, Field Chief Data Officer at Dataiku, to explore how organizations can adopt AI agents responsibly. Catalina shares a practical framework for balancing speed, governance, and reliability—while keeping business impact front and center.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why “agent sprawl” is the biggest hidden risk for enterprises2- The guardrails every AI leader should put in place on day zero
2025-10-0741 min
Data Faces PodcastAgentic AI for Growth Marketers | Rajeev Kozhikkattuthodi📢 What if your marketing campaigns could adapt themselves in real time—without you lifting a finger?In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor talks with Rajeev Kozhikkattuthodi, Co-founder & CEO at Poexis, about how Agentic AI is reshaping growth marketing across events, ABM, and inbound.Rajeev shares practical lessons from the front lines: where Agentic AI actually delivers ROI, how to avoid the trap of “AI that doesn’t scale,” and why marketing leaders need a bias to action—not just analysis.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- What makes Agentic AI different from traditional AI in B2B marketing...
2025-09-2337 min
Data Faces PodcastAI Governance & Teamwork in Action | Thomas Been📢 AI is more than GenAI—and sustainable success depends on governance, teamwork, and evolution, not disruption.In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor sits down with Thomas Been, CMO at Domino Data Lab, to unpack how enterprises can move beyond hype and build real, lasting value with AI. From governance frameworks to the human factor, Thomas shares practical insights that every technology and business leader should hear.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why 95% of GenAI projects fail—and what successful enterprises do differently2- How to balance experimentation with governance to accelerate adoption3- Why team...
2025-09-0938 min
Data Faces PodcastHow AI Agents Reshape Marketing & Teams | Chelsea Wise📢 What happens when AI agents take on real tasks in marketing, sales, and operations? In this episode, Chelsea Wise of Relevance AI shares practical insights on how AI agents are transforming the future of work.Chelsea draws on her startup experience, academic background in consumer behavior, and role at Relevance AI to explain what leaders often underestimate about AI agents—and how to prepare teams for change.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why AI agents will shift work at the task level rather than replacing entire jobs.2- The overlooked role of peer-to-peer learning in building...
2025-08-2639 min
Data Faces PodcastPunchy B2B Messaging Strategies | Emma Stratton📢 Are you losing customers because your product messaging is too complex? In this episode of Data Faces, I sit down with Emma Stratton, founder of Punchy and expert in B2B SaaS storytelling, to talk about how to cut through the jargon, keep your message simple, and connect with your audience.Emma shares her proven framework for making marketing more “punchy,” and why simplicity is the secret weapon for winning in crowded markets. Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or product leader, this conversation is packed with insights you can put into action right away.🔍 Key Takeaway...
2025-08-1235 min
Data Faces PodcastAI Agents in the Enterprise: What’s Real vs. Hype | Rich Mendis📢 Can AI agents really transform the enterprise—or is it just more buzz?In this episode of Data Faces, Rich Mendis, CMO at Bytemethod.ai, shares how agentic AI is (and isn’t) being used inside modern enterprises.Rich brings deep insight from real deployments and tackles the common myths about AI replacing human roles, the technical hurdles companies face, and how to assess true enterprise readiness for automation.Whether you're a tech strategist, B2B leader, or data professional trying to cut through the AI noise—this conversation delivers clarity, use cases, and practical...
2025-07-2934 min
Data Faces PodcastAI and the Future of Competitive Intelligence | David Bryson📢 Is AI just adding noise—or unlocking real competitive advantage?In this episode of Data Faces, David Bryson, Principal Competitive Intelligence Manager at Splunk, breaks down how AI is changing the landscape of competitive intelligence and what it means for analysts, marketers, and business leaders alike.Whether you're building a CI function or trying to turn data into action, this conversation reveals how to move from information gathering to actual intelligence—with the help of AI.🔍 Key Takeaways:Why “so what?” is the question every CI analyst should askHow AI tools like...
2025-07-1536 min
Data Faces PodcastAI’s Wake-Up Call for Business Leaders | Judit Szabo📢 Is AI just a tool—or a mirror forcing us to rethink how we lead, decide, and communicate?In this episode, Judit Szabo, Global Head of Demand Generation and Operations at Endava, shares how AI is not just changing workflows—it’s reshaping the human side of business.From marketing operations to leadership mindset, Judit dives into how AI is pushing B2B organizations to confront assumptions, strengthen critical thinking, and rediscover what makes us uniquely human.🔍 Key Takeaways:1– Why AI is a wake-up call for leadership and decision-making2– The human skills becoming more va...
2025-07-0138 min
Data Faces PodcastAgentic AI & Ending Hallucinations | Hyoun Park📢 Are AI “hallucinations” just bad framing? Discover why agentic quality—not accuracy alone—will decide which AI products win.Generative and agent-based AI are changing how every team researches, plans, and executes. In this fast-paced talk, Hyoun Park, CEO & Principal Analyst at Amalgam Insights, joins David Sweenor to break down what agentic quality means, why “hallucinations” is the wrong metaphor, and how to keep thousands of enterprise agents from running wild. Perfect for data leaders and curious execs who want pragmatic, hype-free answers.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Agentic quality measures goal-oriented reasoning and timeliness—metrics most benchmarks ignore.2- “Hallucination” anthropomorphizes AI; ca...
2025-06-1737 min
Data Faces PodcastWhat “AI-Ready” Really Means for Data Teams | Shane Murray📢 Can we really trust AI without trustworthy data?Field CTO Shane Murray of Monte Carlo Data shares what “AI-ready” actually means, and why most data teams are underprepared for the shift to generative AI.In this episode, we explore the practical and philosophical challenges behind building data products that can power AI applications — from defining quality in unstructured data to the ripple effects of small changes in AI systems. Shane draws on his experience leading data at The New York Times and now helping organizations scale observability and governance at Monte Carlo Data.🔍 Key Takeaways:
2025-06-0337 min
Data Faces PodcastWhy AI Projects Fail Without Alignment | Danny Stout📢 What if the biggest reason your AI projects struggle isn’t the tech—but the people?In this episode of Data Faces, Danny Stout, Product Lead at EY and seasoned AI strategist, shares why alignment, communication, and soft skills matter more than ever in data and AI teams.From building the right team structure to navigating internal politics, Danny brings practical insights from his decades-long career leading data and analytics transformation efforts across major enterprises.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Bigger AI models aren’t always better—context and alignment win.2- Organizational misalignment kills great tech before it starts.3- Communication...
2025-05-2036 min
Data Faces PodcastFix Your B2B Messaging Strategy | Gabriela Contreras📢 Tired of B2B messaging that sounds like everyone else’s? You’re not alone.Product marketing consultant Gabriela Contreras joins Data Faces to unpack why most B2B messaging falls flat—and how to actually make yours resonate.If you're a product marketer, GTM leader, or startup founder trying to sharpen your story and cut through the noise, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and frameworks you can use immediately.🔍 Key Takeaways:The #1 messaging mistake B2B SaaS companies make (hint: trying to talk to everyone).How to align messag...
2025-05-0638 min
Data Faces PodcastBuilding Trust in AI Systems | Robert Lake📢 Can you really trust AI—or are we putting too much faith in a system we barely understand?In this episode of Data Faces, we sit down with executive advisor Robert Lake to explore what it truly means to trust AI in business—and why it starts with people, not just the tech.Robert draws on 30+ years of experience in data science and strategic advising to break down the hidden challenges of building AI that organizations (and humans) can confidently rely on. From governance to explainability to emotional dependency on machines—this is the human side of AI you...
2025-04-2239 min
Data Faces PodcastHow Gen AI is Reshaping Product Marketing | Melissa Burroughs📢 Is Gen AI revolutionizing product marketing—or just flooding the market with generic content?In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor sits down with Melissa Burroughs, Director of Product Marketing at Alteryx, to unpack how generative AI is transforming the PMM role. From boosting productivity to raising ethical questions, Melissa shares real-world insights, personal lessons, and future-forward advice for marketers navigating the Gen AI shift.Whether you're a seasoned PMM or just getting started with AI, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways on strategy, trust, and thriving in an AI-driven landscape.🔍 Key Takeaways:1-Gen AI is supercharging PMM prod...
2025-04-0838 min
Data Faces PodcastThere Is No Post-AI World | John ThompsonHow are autonomous AI agents reshaping enterprise operations? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, John Thompson, Global AI Leader at EY, cuts through the hyperbole to provide a strategic assessment of opportunities, risks, and governance requirements based on his decades of implementation experience.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1- The fundamental shift from analytical AI to operational agents2- Why the capabilities that make agents powerful also make them risky3- The inevitable consolidation of today's fragmented agent framework landscape4- The critical importance of appropriate agent governance mechanisms5- Realistic value expectations versus "utopian automation scenarios"
2025-03-2536 min
Data Faces PodcastAI & Automation in Finance: The Cognitive CFO | Jawwad Rasheed📌 AI & Analytics in Finance: The Future of CFOs | Jawwad RasheedHow are AI and analytics reshaping finance? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Jawwad Rasheed, Financial Services & Transportation Lead at Alteryx, explores how finance leaders can leverage AI, analytics, and automation to drive transformation.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-How AI is changing the finance function2-The shift from finance controllers to strategic business partners3-The impact of automation & self-service analytics on finance teams4-Why CFOs must embrace AI-driven decision-making5-The rise of continuous accounting & finance as a service⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:00:00 – Introduction & Meet Jawwad Rasheed02:00 – How AI & Analytics Are Transfor...
2025-03-1134 min
Data Faces PodcastAI Agents & Data Strategy | Sanjeev Mohan📌 AI Agents & Data Strategy | Sanjeev MohanAI agents are transforming business and data strategy, but are they ready for real-world deployment? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Sanjeev Mohan , former Gartner VP and AI expert, joins us to discuss the rise of AI agents, their role in enterprise AI, and key challenges in AI governance.🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode:What are AI agents, and how do they differ from traditional AI models?The current state of AI governance, enterprise AI, and automationHow businesses can leverage AI for competitive intelligenceThe challenges of AI hallucination, reliability, and ethical concernsThe future...
2025-02-2538 min
Data Faces PodcastBeyond AI Hype: What 20% of Companies Get Right | Shawn Rogers📌 Beyond AI Hype: What 20% of Companies Get Right | Shawn RogersThe AI revolution is here—but only 20% of companies are getting it right. What are they doing differently? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Shawn Rogers, CEO of BARC and AI thought leader, shares research-backed insights on AI adoption, data strategy, and enterprise innovation.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-The AI hype vs. reality—what’s actually driving business success2-How top companies align AI with business strategy for real ROI3-Why data quality is the #1 challenge (and how to fix it)4-The rise of domain-specific AI models & unstructured dataA5-I’s impact...
2025-02-1142 min
Data Faces PodcastThe Role of Data Trust in AI Success | Kamal Maheshwari📌 The Role of Data Trust in AI Success | Kamal MaheshwariAI is only as good as the data it learns from—so how can businesses build AI on trusted, high-quality data? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Kamal Maheshwari, Co-Founder of @decube_data, shares insights on why data trust is essential for AI success, how businesses can improve data integrity, and the role of leadership in fostering a culture of trust.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-What data trust really means & why it’s critical for AI2-How businesses can prevent bad data from corrupting AI models3-The biggest challenges companies...
2025-01-2138 minData Faces PodcastGen AI in 2025: Why 90% Fail & How to Succeed | Kjell Carlsson📌 Gen AI in 2025: Why 90% Fail & How to Succeed | Kjell CarlssonHow can organizations separate AI hype from reality and build AI responsibly? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Kjell Carlsson, Head of AI Strategy at Domino Data Lab, shares insights on AI governance, data trust, and the challenges of deploying AI agents.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-Why 90% of Gen AI projects fail to deliver real business value2-AI governance and why organizations struggle with deployment3-The importance of trusted data for AI success4-The risks of AI hallucination and bias in enterprise AI5-The reality of AI agents: Hype vs. re...
2025-01-0241 minData Faces PodcastThe Future of AI: Lessons from History | Kevin Petrie📌 The Future of AI: Lessons from History | Kevin PetrieWhat can history teach us about AI's future? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Kevin Petrie, VP of Research at BARC US, shares insights on how past technological revolutions mirror today’s AI boom, the risks of hype, and what businesses can learn to stay ahead.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-Why AI Hype & Fear Are Nothing New – What history tells us2-The Industrial Revolution & AI: Are There Parallels?3-What Happens When Jobs Are Disrupted? AI vs. Past Tech Shifts4-AI Governance & Regulation: Lessons from Other Technologies5-The Future of AI in 2025: W...
2024-12-1130 minData Faces PodcastThe Ethics of AI: Fairness, Bias & Responsibility | Monica Cisneros📌 The Ethics of AI: Fairness, Bias & Responsibility | Monica CisnerosAI is shaping our world—but is it truly fair and responsible? In this episode of The Data Faces Podcast, Monica Cisneros, AI and Data Analytics expert, explores the challenges of AI fairness, bias, and governance. We discuss how AI is shaping business, ethics, and society, and why understanding fairness isn’t as simple as it seems.🔍 Key Topics Covered:1-Why fairness in AI isn’t black and white2-How AI bias impacts real-world decisions3-21 mathematical definitions of fairness—why it’s complicated4-AI literacy & public understanding—who’s responsible?5-The Turing Trap: Is...
2024-11-1456 min