Explore every episode of the podcast DATA SECRETS Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for DATA SECRETS Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
From Healthcare to Banking: How Data Analytics Skills Unlock Career Mobility (Ep 011)
20 Jan 2026
00:58:55
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Noelle Butler, Vice President of Product Management at JPMorgan Chase, to uncover how mastering business fundamentals and relationship management can drive massive impact in analytics and data product development.
Noelle shares her journey from home health care accounting to leading enterprise data product teams at one of the worldās largest banks. We discuss:
The āsecret sauceā to career growth in analytics: learning the business and building strong relationships
Real-world stories from Noelleās time in home health, automating nurse-patient matching with early Tableau, wrestling with legacy tech, and optimizing onboarding to reduce costly nurse turnover
How data-driven insights move the needle, from day-to-day operations to high-level decision making
The evolution (and challenges) of data product management inside Fortune 500 organizations
What makes a true ādata productā? The difference between dashboards that deliver value and those that gather dust
The importance of organizing analytics teams for impact and staying connected across complex organizations
Noelleās philosophy on change and innovation, plus her take on how AI is reshaping the data landscape
Whether you work in healthcare, finance, or any data-rich industry, Noelleās stories and strategies offer practical advice for anyone looking to turn insight into action and make data products that actually get used.
From Slide Rules to AI Agents | 50 years in 60 minutes with Peter Coffee (Ep 010)
16 Dec 2025
00:59:58
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Peter Coffeeālegendary technology researcher, prolific writer, and longtime Salesforce evangelistāto unpack five decades of digital transformation, the dawn of AI, and the future of intelligent business.
Peter shares hard-won lessons from the days of slide rules and room-sized mainframes through the PC revolution, cloud-first innovation, and todayās AI-powered landscape. We explore:
Why using AI just to do old tasks ābetter, faster, cheaperā leaves a ton of value on the table
The difference between incremental improvement and breakthrough, unimagined possibilities with data
What the āAOL dial-up phase of AIā means for businesses and how AI soon becomes like the air we breathe
How Salesforceās strategy (via acquisitions, platforms, and partnerships) reflects the relentless march toward seamless intelligence
Why the tools of tech should ādisappear into their functionā and what it takes for leaders to build truly adaptive organizations
The new world of AI agents, what Minsky got right about āminds,ā and how complex digital systems will soon self-orchestrate
Practical pitfalls and mindset shifts for execs competing in a world where your real rival is the ābest digital experienceā a customer has... anywhere!
Peter also shares whatās next for him: his work with the Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth and his urgent call for data-driven action on climate change.
From AIās hidden potential to the cultural (and personal!) changes driving decades of innovation, this episode is packed with stories, strategies, and provocations for anyone building the future of business.
If youāre ready to move beyond the āeasy winsā in AI and data, and want to unlock transformational opportunities, this conversation with Peter Coffee is a must-listen.
Driving business impact from data with Managed Analytics pioneer Luke Komiskey (Ep 002)
18 Aug 2025
00:47:56
In this episode of The DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Luke Komiskey, founder and CEO of DataDrive, a managed analytics consulting company that helps organizations turn data chaos into business clarity.
Luke shares how his journey from corporate analytics leader to entrepreneur revealed a massive gap in how most businesses think about (and act on) their data. We dig into:
Why most ādata strategiesā fail to produce meaningful impact
How managed analytics bridges the gap for organizations that canāt justify a full in-house data team
The hidden costs of under-utilized BI platforms like Power BI and Tableau
Practical ways to measure the actual ROI of analytics initiatives
Why starting with the business problem (not the data) changes everything
Lessons learned from scaling DataDriveās team and client base across industries
From uncovering small changes that lead to big wins, to building a repeatable process for data maturity, Luke brings an operatorās and founderās lens to what it really takes to make analytics drive revenue, efficiency, and innovation.
Grow and mature your agency metrics with web dev founder Chris LaFay (Ep 001)
11 Aug 2025
00:49:45
On this first episode of The DATA SECRETS Podcast, we sit down with Chris LaFay, founder of Classic City Consulting, to uncover how he grew his web development agency from scrappy freelancer beginnings to a million-dollar business AND the data insights that saved him from running into an iceberg.Ā
Chris shares:
Why building a foundation to last 5ā10 years is more valuable than chasing trends
The two North Star metrics that keep his agency healthy: effective hourly rate and days to zero dollars
How āfriendlyā scope creep was killing profitability AND the project management changes that fixed it
A surprising operational shift that turned around client happiness and margins
Why even the smallest email list is an untapped goldmine for agency growth
We also get into the nitty-gritty of agency pricing models, managing contractors vs. full-time staff, and how Chrisā fractional CFO (shoutout to Tony!) helped him see the hidden problems in his financials.
If you run a creative or service-based business, this conversation will help you think differently about your numbers... and maybe even sleep better at night.
Introducing DATA SECRETS | The True Crime-Inspired Data Podcast (Ep 000)
02 Aug 2025
00:02:29
š Welcome to the DATA SECRETS podcast, where we treat business data like a crime scene.
I'm Nathan Settembrini, your host and the co-founder of Allegro Analytics. In this pilot episode, Iām introducing what this show is all about: cracking the case on messy metrics, uncovering what really drives business performance, and learning from leaders who turn insight into action.
Think of it like a true crime podcast, but for business intelligence and data analytics.
š In future episodes, youāll hear from executives, entrepreneurs, practitioners, and data detectives whoāve uncovered million-dollar insights hiding in plain sight.
If you work with data, lead a team, or want to think more critically about what your numbers are really telling you, this show is for you.
Subscribe and stick around. The truth is in the data, if you know how to find it.
The Missing Skill in Analytics: Data Product Management with Nadiem von Heydebrand (Ep 009)
01 Dec 2025
00:48:59
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, we sit down with Nadiem von Heydebrand, CEO and co-founder of Mindfuel, to uncover the real secrets behind creating business impact with data and analytics.
Nadiem shares why data teams struggle to demonstrate their value, drawing on stories from consulting and startup life... including why 1,900 out of 2,000 dashboards at one client were simply unnecessary. We discuss:
The difference between āoutputā and true business āoutcomeā in analytics
How data product management transforms tech output into customer-centric results
Why most organizations donāt generate (or properly use) their own data early on
The hidden dangers in data processes, like the paint shop model ruined by overlooked temperature data
How to build and structure a data team for maximum business value, whether centralized or distributed
What makes customer satisfaction the most universal KPI, and why click rates are losing relevance
How AI and data governance are reshaping enterprise priorities
From startup pivots to insurance risk modeling to KPI horror stories, Nadiemās insights reveal how leaders must link every data asset to a real business impact... or risk getting lost in a forest of unused dashboards.
If you want to know how data teams, product managers, and business leaders can finally crack the value code, this conversation is a must-listen.
Connect with Nadiem: š LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiemvh/ š Mindfuel: https://www.mindfuel.ai/
From NASA Engineer to University CIO | People-First Tech Leadership with Brian Benn (Ep 008)
11 Nov 2025
00:38:40
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Brian Benn, CIO of Clark Atlanta University and former CIO at the Atlanta Housing Authority, to explore how business process mastery unlocks the true potential of organizational data.
Brian Benn pulls back the curtain on his journey from NASA software engineer to IT leadership in public sector and higher ed, sharing how confidence, continual learning, and a focus on people shaped his rise to the CIO seat. We discuss:
Why understanding business processes is foundational to data strategy and digital transformation
The art of mapping handoffs, avoiding silos, and fostering interdepartmental trust
Key advice for technology practitioners looking to move into executive roles (including the difference between a mentor and a sponsor)
Challenges of managing āsmall-town sizedā data at Clark Atlanta, from police departments to museums, sports arenas, and beyond
How to wrangle mountains of diverse data into a single source of truth for actionable insights
Real stories of using data to drive investment, improve graduation rates, and support community success
The critical role of governance, retention policy, and identifying the āright amountā of data for decision-makers
Vanity metrics, weird KPIs, and the North Star numbers that matter most in higher education
Whether youāre leading data strategy in higher ed, government, or the private sector, Brian Benn offers practical wisdom on connecting technology, process, and people for powerful, enduring impact. If youāve ever wondered how a CIO views the secret life of data across an entire ecosystem, this episode is packed with insights.
Drop your questions in the commentsāwe read and respond to every one!
Connect with Brian:Ā š LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwbenn/ šø Instagram: @brianwbenn
What's NEXT for Tableau? Data Secrets LIVE from Dreamforce 2025 with Chris Williams
31 Oct 2025
00:16:53
In this live episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, host Nathan Settembrini sits down with Chris Williams ā Tableau Ambassador and keynote speaker at Dreamforce 2025 ā for a candid, on-the-ground conversation about the evolution of Tableau, its integration into the Salesforce ecosystem, and the game-changing potential of Tableau Next.
Chris shares behind-the-scenes insights from his Dreamforce keynote, breaking down how the new Tableau semantic model is providing a unified foundation for analytics, AI, and actionable insights across Tableau and Salesforce, plus how itās all connecting with Slack and Teams for deeper collaboration. We dig into:
Why semantic models are the āpuzzle pieceā connecting raw data to real business meaning
How self-service analytics is becoming accessible to all personas, not just data pros
Tableau horror stories, real-world wins, and what happens when sensor data goes silent
The secrets of uncovering hidden insights that actually drive business decisions and save serious money
The importance of community, mentorship, and the #DataFam in the next generation of data careers
Practical tips for breaking into analytics, and why business context is your secret superpower
Whether you missed Dreamforce or just want to hear whatās next in the world of data, this episode is packed with stories, advice, and actionable takeaways for anyone looking to level up with Salesforce and Tableau.
If youāre ready to make smarter decisions and unlock the secrets hiding in your data, this is your backstage pass. Donāt forget to like, subscribe, and keep sleuthing!
The AI Interpreter: Data Secrets with Sairam Sundaresan (Ep 007)
27 Oct 2025
00:38:25
In this episode of The DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Sairam Sundaresan, Engineering Leader and AI expert, formerly at Qualcomm and Intel. We dig into the real-world data challenges and surprising insights behind building safe, scalable AI systems for autonomous cars and how those lessons translate to any business using data to unlock value.
Sai pulls back the curtain on:
How teams structure and collaborate to create reliable perception for vehicles
The complexity of collecting, cleaning, and curating diverse, real-world data (e.g., snowstorms in Colorado vs. perfect San Francisco weather)
What happens when the data tells you something completely counterintuitive, and how unexpected āsecretsā hide in machine learning models
A real business case where fixing tiny data details meant huge leaps in product success
The horror story of a ādata leakā between training and validation sets and what it teaches about trusting your models in production
Why accuracy is an overrated metric, and what KPIs actually drive value and curiosity on high-performing teams
How AI is changing the role (but not the importance) of data analysts in business
Practical advice for anyone looking to upskill and leverage AI in their data workflows, starting with hands-on projects and tool experimentation
Whether youāre an engineer, data analyst, or business leader, Saiās stories and advice reveal what it really takes to turn messy, real-world data into business impact. Plus, get a sneak peek at his upcoming book, AI for the Rest of Us, designed to bridge the gap between technical teams and business strategy.
Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Machines and Humans 03:16 Autonomous Driving Software Development 09:13 From Toy Data to Real Insights 10:50 Unexpected Model Bias Lying in the Shadows 14:16 Early Depth Camera Scanning Challenges 17:18 Data Leak Derails Model Performance 20:56 AI Explained for Non-Experts 25:08 Vanity Metrics in Accuracy 27:26 User Behavior Insights 31:12 Evolving Role of Data Analysts 33:08 Master AI Through Practice 36:12 Using AI to Solve Problems
If you want a ringside seat on how business leaders crack the code, uncover the truth in their data, and translate insights into action, this is one episode you donāt want to miss.
Mr. Manufacturing Tells All | Data Secrets with Frank Borovsky (Ep 006)
06 Oct 2025
00:38:25
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, we crack open a manufacturing data ācase fileā with none other than Frank Borovsky ā Mr. Manufacturing Cloud. If you think every Fortune 500 factory has their act together, think again! Frank spills the beans on busted systems, mysterious KPIs, and the questionable "data alibis" companies use to dodge hard truths.
Get ready for:
The tale of Project Titan at Honeywell ā a data sleuthing operation that uncovered double-dealing, cross-division chaos, and ācustomersā playing both sides
The showdown between real KPIs and āvanity metricsā (hint: NPS is in the lineup for questioning)
A behind-the-scenes look at how Frank survived complete system shutdowns, corrupted floppy disks, and more hair-raising data horror stories
How private equity firms are shaking things up with their relentless chase for EBITDA, and why Frank loves solving their cases
The secret ingredient to every successful manufacturing operation: on-time to first promise (a.k.a. your statistical āsay-do ratioā)
Frankās āweirdest KPIā? Customer Expected Lead Time (CELT), and how it can make or break your operational alibi
Frank also reveals why most leaders would rather believe a āpretty dashboardā than interrogate the real data, and why every exec needs to get ready for AI to reveal inconvenient truths.
If youāre itching for the data drama beneath the surface of manufacturing, this episode is packed with shocking reveals, hilariously nerdy moments, and actionable forensics for your next analytics initiative.
Data Confessions: Case file secrets with Melanie and Nathan (Ep 005)
22 Sep 2025
00:32:54
In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, Nathan Settembrini and Melanie Manning kick off a new series called āData Confessionsā ā an inside look at the messy, thrilling, and sometimes hilarious adventures in real-world analytics consulting.
Nathan and Melanie pull back the curtain on their most intriguing current investigations, including:
How to optimize business processes with tricky handoffs and unreliable data across multiple teams
What itās like to lead transformative analytics initiatives (and juggle both IT and business expectations on the ground)
The surprising challenges in analyzing corporate real estate data: meeting room wars, āforksā as a KPI, and the reality of hybrid work
Data horror stories, from multi-month cleanups (āStop the Bleedingā and āClean Up the Bloodā) to āscream testsā on unused reports
Moments when one metric changed everything (including the time a simple ācost per tonā dashboard blew the lid off a mining companyās profitability)
PLUS: The Lightning Round! Find out which vanity metrics, weird KPIs, and North Star measurements these pros love, hate, and use to drive results.
Nathan and Melanie also tackle big questions about operational process, the surprising accessibility of modern analytics, and what AI means for the future of dashboards and data transformations. If youāre a leader, analyst, or just data-curious, this episode is packed with practical lessonsāand a few laughsāstraight from the analytics trenches.
Chapters: 00:00 Opening Statement 01:30 Case File #1: Active Investigations 08:54 Case File #2: Evidence Gone Wrong 17:12 Case File #3: Breaking the Case 22:02 Lightning Round: Numbers on Trial 26:16 Closing Arguments
Comment with your own data confessions or questionsāand donāt forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!
How data turned $120M into $1.8B | 28X Private equity exit with CIO Michael Franklin (Ep 004)
08 Sep 2025
01:08:16
In this episode of The DATA SECRETS Podcast, I talk with Michael Franklin, Founder and Managing Partner at Cold Iron Capital and a multi-exit Private Equity CIO, about how data and technology can transform even the most traditional manufacturing businesses.
Michael shares his journey from tech leader to business operator, detailing how he helped grow cabinet manufacturer ACPI from a struggling $120M company to a $1.8B powerhouse with a staggering 28x return for its PE backer. We dig into the critical role of operational data, the challenges of merging legacy systems during rapid M&A, and how Michaelās ācustomer-first, data-backedā approach surfaced hidden margin leaks and fueled exponential growth.
We discuss: ā¢ Why blending deep IT and business management experience is a game-changer for aspiring CIOs ā¢ How to use āon-time completeā as a north star metric for operational excellence and customer satisfaction ā¢ Building practical, shop-floor-ready dashboards from legacy ERP (AS400) dataā¦no fancy tech required! ā¢ Tackling the chaos of multi-ERP sprawl during acquisitions, and the real-world playbook for BI consolidation ā¢ The critical moment data revealed that ābiggestā wasnāt ābestā in customer profitability, and how that changed strategy ā¢ Avoiding expensive data horror stories by investing in process, clarity, and business alignment (not just tech)
Michael also unpacks the evolving opportunity at the intersection of manufacturing, private equity, AI, and cybersecurity, and why now is the perfect time for smaller, data-savvy firms to leapfrog their competition.
If youāre a CIO-in-waiting, PE-backed operator, or just want to hear how relentless focus on data and process can drive world-class outcomes, you wonāt want to miss this episode.
Connect with Michael:Ā š LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfranklin/Ā š§ Email: mike@coldironcapital.com
Location matters: Where to put your next industrial facility with Labor Economist Nat Estes (Ep 003)
24 Aug 2025
00:57:36
In this episode of The DATA SECRETS Podcast, I talk with Nat Estes, Managing Director at FrameShift Consulting, about the critical (and often underestimated) role of workforce data in industrial location strategy and site selection.
Nat walks us through how labor market intelligence can make or break a location decision, especially in todayās tight labor market. We discuss:
Why labor availability is the deciding factor in most industrial site decisions
How to assess workforce supply beyond just ānumber of peopleā metrics
The importance of turnover, competition, and wage pressure in long-term planning
How FrameShift models future labor market conditions for its clients
The ripple effects of labor shortages on productivity and operational cost
Common pitfalls companies fall into when choosing a location without deep data analysis
From advanced manufacturing to logistics, Natās insights reveal how companies can avoid costly mistakes and ensure their next facility is set up for sustainable success. If youāve ever wondered how labor economists blend hard data with local realities, this conversation is packed with answers.