Explore every episode of the podcast The Data Strategy Show

My last episode on season 4! Well, it was the last and THE best! I loved talking to Laura and here is what we chatted about:

• Laura's Background and Career Journey (0:04)

• Experiencing and Overcoming Burnout (5:05)
• The Role of Purpose and Self-Awareness (9:07)
• Navigating AI and Its Impact on Women Leaders (17:10)
• Strategies for Managing Overwhelm and Embracing AI (30:39)
• The Thrive Lotus Lifestyle Formula (37:18)
• Advice for Emerging Women Leaders (41:53)

Really enjoyed my chat with Louise and here is the rundown of what we discussed:

• Introduction (0:04)
• The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in AI (2:21)
• Challenges and Examples of AI Bias (4:22)
• Impact of AI on Women and Minorities (9:15)
• Consumer and Investor Influence on AI Governance (10:54)
• Education and Empowerment through AI (15:22)
• Final Thoughts and Contact Information (15:39)

What a brilliant episode! Here is an outline of what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background for Tara (0:00)
• Challenges Faced by Women in Tech (6:05)
• Origins and Structure of the AWS She Builds Program (11:50)
• Mentorship and Career Development (17:13)
• Early Career and Representation in Tech (22:54)
• Advice for Women in Tech (28:41)
• Conclusion and wrap up (34:22)

I had a wonderful conversation with Kalina and here's what we discussed:

• Kalina's Background and Mission (0:02)
• Challenges Women Face in Tech and Other Industries (1:42)
• Identity-Based Motivation and Systemic Challenges (3:04)
• Building Confidence and Overcoming Stereotypes (5:07)
• Practical Tools for Building Confidence (11:01)
• Navigating Male-Dominated Workplaces (18:29)
• Personal Branding and Career Development (24:10)
• Advice for Women Just Starting Their Careers (33:04)

I sat down with Gita, and here is an outline of our conversation:

• Gita's Background and Career Journey (0:02)
• Challenges and Achievements in Digital Transformation (2:56)
• Women in Tech: Challenges and Retention Issues (5:00)
• Influencing Girls' Career Choices and Critical Thinking (9:33)
• Leadership and Confidence Gaps for Women in Tech (14:39)
• Addressing Microaggressions and Building Allies (21:44)
• Personal Branding and Career Management (23:49)
• Women in Tech Task Force and Policy Initiatives (27:02)
• Advice for Young Professionals and Career Development (31:04)

I sat down with Alex and this is what we discussed:

• Alex's Introduction and Background (0:03)
• Us meeting at a Scottish Widows Event (2:32)
• Women in Data and Tech (6:08)
• Challenges for Women in the Workplace (9:09)
• Navigating Male-Dominated Environments (18:47)
• Building Confidence and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (19:51)
• Supporting the Next Generation (26:50)
• Final Tips for Emerging Professionals (33:58)

I sat down with Natalia and this is what we spoke about:

• Natalia Kotova's Background and Role in Data Management (0:03)
• Establishing She Leads and Addressing Gender Imbalance (3:49)
• Challenges and Progress in Women's Representation (6:09)
• Psychological and Social Dynamics in the Workplace (8:20)
• Building Confidence and Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety (11:41)
• Preparation and Tools for Success in Data Conferences (19:02)
• Final Thoughts and Future Plans (24:24)

I sat down with Sophie ad here is what we talked about:

• Introduction and Background (0:04)
• Education and Career Journey (2:22)
• Patterns in Women's Behavior and Challenges (4:19)
• Growth Mindset and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs (9:00)
• Frameworks and Practical Tools for Change (23:07)
• Alignment of Personal and Organizational Goals (40:06)
• Education and Personal Development (40:38)
• Final Thoughts and Contact Information (44:50)

I sat down with Carla and here is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background of Carla (0:04)
• Transition from TV to Tech (1:05)
• Challenges for Women in Tech (3:13)
• Representation and Diversity in Tech Events (5:25)
• Communication Skills and Storytelling in Tech (9:27)
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome and Building Confidence (22:16)
• Advice for Women Entering Tech (32:56)
• Final Thoughts and Encouragement (37:46)

I sat down with Lydia and here is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background of Lydia Ray (0:04)
• Career Transition and Early Experiences (1:47)
• Challenges and Regrets in Career Choices (7:14)
• Mentoring and Risk-Taking Among Women (8:02)
• Advocacy for Women in Tech (19:58)
• Educational Challenges and Future Plans (20:13)
• Advice for Graduates Interested in AI and Data (23:10)
• Conclusion (28:15)

I sat down with Amanda and this is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Amanda's Background (0:04)
• Challenges Women Face in Tech (3:40)
• Amanda's Experience with AI and Women in Tech (6:23)
• Navigating Career Challenges and Building Confidence (7:56)
• Building Resilience and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (18:44)
• Advocating for Women in Tech and Building a Support Network (20:29)
• Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts (21:41)
• Conclusion and Contact Information (29:30)

I sat down with Rosanne Werner and this is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Welcome (0:02)
• Roseanne's Background and Expertise (1:40)
• Challenges in Transformation and Strategy Execution (3:55)
• Women in Data and Technology (5:56)
• Progress and Metrics in Women's Representation (8:03)
• Differences in Leadership Styles (11:24)
• Confidence and Overthinking in Women (15:59)
• Role Models and Education (26:25)
• Advice for Women in Data and Technology (31:48)
• Embedding Transformation in Organizations (36:12)
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts (38:15)

I sat down with Assel just before Xmas and this is what we talked about:

• Introduction and Background of Assal Altayeva (0:03)
• Challenges and Role Models in STEAM (2:24)
• Educational Systems and Gender Stereotypes (10:31)
• Women in Data Science and Academia (15:43)
• Investment Challenges for Female-Led Startups (20:03)
• Success Stories and Barriers in Entrepreneurship (26:33)
• Advice for Young Female STEAM Professionals (31:35)
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts (39:38)

I sat down with Sarah Wyer and this is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background of Sarah Wyer (0:03)
• Sarah's Research Journey and Inspirations (1:18)
• Initial Explorations with GPT-2 and GPT-3 (5:42)
• Detailed Analysis of GPT-3 Data (8:57)
• Impact of GPT-4 and GPT-5 Models (14:33)
• Broader Implications and Societal Impact (34:24)
• Conclusion and Future Directions (43:18)

I sat down with Helen and what a fantastic conversation it was! Here is what we discussed:

• Helen's Background and Career Journey (0:04)
• Reflecting on Personal Experiences with Bias (2:14)
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence (8:59)
• Building Intentional and Inclusive Teams (20:01)
• Advice for Women in Data and Tech (20:16)
• The Role of Workplace Culture in Career Success (34:35)
• Navigating Microaggressions and Building Resilience (38:41)
• Building a Supportive Network (38:57)
• The Importance of Reflection and Self-Awareness (39:16)
• Final Thoughts and Advice for Emerging Leaders (39:34)

I sat down with Jeff Baker and there’s a very good reason he’s on the show. Enginuity, the company Jeff works for, has co-authored a remarkable book in the engineering space called Girls Can Engineer, designed to raise awareness and inspire greater female participation in the industry. It’s an outstanding initiative, and I wanted to help shine a brighter light on the work they’re doing.

Here’s what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background of Jeff Baker (0:04)
• Introduction of the "Girls Can Engineer" Book (1:06)
• Content and Impact of the "Girls Can Engineer" Book (3:32)
• Challenges and Opportunities in the Engineering Sector (9:00)
• Retention and Succession Challenges in Engineering (16:08)
• Future Prospects and Vision for Women in Engineering (24:07)
• Conclusion and Next Steps (26:47)

I spoke to Susan Walsh and this is what we discussed: (for some reason the timings were all messed up, so you got the outline)

• Introduction
• Susan Walsh's Background and Business
• Challenges and Experiences of Women in Data and Tech
• Barriers and Solutions for Women in Events
• Building Confidence and Overcoming Hesitancy
• The Role of Visibility and Networking
• Dealing with Feedback and Criticism
• Advice for Women Entering Data and Tech
• Final Thoughts and Encouragement
• Conclusion and Farewell

I sat down with Sowjanya and what a conversation it was! Here is what we discussed:

• Sowjanya Shetty's Background and Early Life (0:03)
• Education, Career, and Early Career Challenges (2:12)
• Observations on Power and Corporate Culture (9:32)
• Navigating Corporate Life and Personal Growth (17:51)
• Career Transition and Personal Identity (21:58)
• Advice for Women in the Workforce (37:29)
• Final Thoughts and Future Plans (39:31)

I sat down with Jolie Vitale and we had a wonderful and insightful conversation. Here is what we discussed:

• Jolie's Career Journey and Background

• Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Data and Tech (3:13)
• Self-Awareness and Leadership Skills (16:27)
• Balancing Work and Family Life (16:48)
• Impact of COVID-19 on Work-Life Balance (21:06)
• Leadership Traits and Gender Differences (22:12)
• Advice for Upcoming Female Leaders (25:33)
• Advice for the Next Generation (27:36)

I sat down with Maria Torres and we had a great conversation. Here is what we discussed:

• Introduction (0:03)
• Maria's Background and Career (1:35)
• Challenges Faced by Latin American Women in the UK (3:43)
• Navigating Cultural and Gender Biases (8:29)
• Adapting to Corporate Culture and Building Resilience (12:59)
• Support and Allies in the Corporate World (18:45)
• Latin American Women's Rights Service (21:48)
• Challenges of Quantifying the Latin American Population (25:38)
• Advice for Young Latin American Women in the Corporate World (30:23)
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts (34:07)

I sat down with Tori and what a brilliant conversation it was. Here is what we discussed:

• Tori's Background and Career Journey (0:03)
• Changes in Tech Industry and Work-Life Balance (5:22)
• Challenges and Support for Women in Tech (11:17)
• Imposter Syndrome and Confidence Building (14:07)
• Returning to Work After Career Breaks (40:10)
• Advice for Women Entering and Returning to Tech (42:21)
• Final Thoughts and Conclusion (45:36)

I sat down with Heather and what a fantastic conversation it was. Here is what we discussed:

• Introduction and Background of Heather (0:00)

• Challenges Faced by Women in Data and Tech (2:22)
• Handling Discrimination and Building Confidence (5:44)
• Statistics on Gender Bias and Discrimination (10:43)
• Initiatives to Support Women in Tech (14:20)
• The Role of Mentorship and Career Progression (21:10)
• Imposter Syndrome and Building Resilience (25:43)
• The Impact of AI on Women in Tech (31:26)
• Advice for Young Women Entering the Tech Industry (36:35)
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts (43:37)

It was great to sit down with Meenu and discuss the following:

• Meenu's Background and Journey into Data (0:02)
• Her new book and Role in Data and Tech (2:53)
• Challenges and Biases Faced by Women in Data and Tech (5:27)
• Impact of Cultural Background and Adaptability (7:36)
• Leadership Styles and Gender Dynamics (17:27)
• Current State of Women in Data and Tech (20:44)
• Advice for Women Entering Data and Tech (26:29)

I sat down with Liz to discuss her career, her early years where she learned to say yes to everything, leading teams and much more. Here is what we discussed:

• Liz's Background and Early Career (0:03)
• Transition to Analytics and Data Career (4:53)
• Challenges and Lessons in Leadership (7:03)
• Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence (12:02)
• Addressing Bias and Supporting Women in Tech (19:21)
• Encouraging Women in Data and Tech (34:25)
• Final Thoughts and Advice for Women in Data (34:46)

I sat down with Zoe to discuss her career, the impact she's made and her experiences within data with bias. Here is what we discussed:

• Zoe Kelly's Background and Career Journey (0:00)
• Challenges and Opportunities in the Data Industry (3:56)
• Experiences and Perceptions of Bias in the Workplace (5:22)
• Building Confidence and Overcoming Challenges (11:24)
• Mentorship and Networking (17:27)
• Promoting Inclusion and Supporting Women in Tech (23:37)
• Future Aspirations and Career Goals (31:50)
• The Role of Data Products and Empathy in Tech (32:05)
• Final Thoughts and Encouragement (35:49)

I spoke with Frances O'Rafferty about her journey from dancer to data. Both careers start with a d :-)

Here is what we spoke about:

• Her Background and Early Career (0:03)
• Transition to Accenture and Career Progression (3:13)
• Challenges and Biases in Corporate Environments (5:14)
• Leadership Styles and Team Dynamics (10:00)
• Barriers and Opportunities for Women in Data and Tech (17:27)
• Advice for Emerging Leaders (26:04)
• Personal Reflections and Continuous Improvement (28:04)

I speak to Kudzayi Chakahwata about her journey as a women in data. Here is an outline of what we spoke about with timings:

• Introduction and Background of Kudzayi Chakahwata (0:04)
• Women in the Workplace and Data Analytics (3:06)
• Challenges and Experiences in Data and Analytics (5:38)
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives (7:47)
• Multiculturalism and Workplace Culture (14:06)
• Leadership and Gender Roles (18:51)
• Advice for Women Entering STEM Fields (24:50)
• Retaining Women in Tech (30:58)
• Final Thoughts and Conclusion (39:39)

I speak to Catherine King about her journey in the world of data/tech, her origins and how she got into data. What it's like being a woman in the industry and leading the charge for more inclusivity.

Kyle is the Founder & CEO of Orbition Group, a talent solutions, search and advisory firm that operates exclusively within the Data & Analytics space across the UK, Europe and USA. Kyle founded and hosts the Driven by Data Community which is comprised of four key components; Driven by Data: The Roundtable, Driven by Data: The Podcast, Driven by Data: The Mentorship and Driven by Data Magazine.

Jean Perez is an experienced Director of Data and Analytics professional with special interest on data science and AI implementation in the financial services and Loyalty industries.
Passionate about driving a data-driven culture and growing the profit of the company from an analytics perspective.
She enjoy's getting involved in the details of predictive models and identify patterns in complex datasets to articulate user behaviour and define improvement opportunities, as well leading and managing the different projects from a strategic perspective.
Recently Jean has been heavily involved with machine learning and artificial intelligence applied to the insurance industry, proving that Insurtech is easily applicable and should be executed to maximise the portfolio growth.

Malcolm Hawker is the Head of Data Strategy for Profisee, and leads the global field MDM and Data Governance practice,. He's also the host of the CDO Matters podcast, where he interviews senior data leaders from various industries and domains.

His mission is to raise the awareness about the value of MDM and Data Governance to companies across the globe, and to empower them with the best practices and solutions to overcome their data quality challenges and achieve their business goals.

Enjoy this episode.

Mohammed Aaser is currently Chief Data Officer at Domo. Mohammed has built Digital and Analytics teams that deliver business impact at McKinsey, Ameriprise and Domo. He specializes in collaborating with business, commercial, and technology teams to identify opportunities for growth.

Enjoy the chat.

Christopher Bergh is the CEO and Head Chef at DataKitchen. Chris has more than 30 years of research, software engineering, data analytics, and executive management experience. At various points in his career, he has been a COO, CTO, VP, and Director of engineering.

Enjoy the chat.

Saurabh Gupta has over 25 years of experience in digital transformation, data strategy, transformation, modernization, governance, analytics, and business intelligence. He helps organizations maximize their data potential and realize their digital transformation ambitions. Currently, he is the Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer at The Modern Data Company.

Eddie Short is the Founder of Intelligent Enterprise Partners LLP. For 25 years he's been creating Intelligent Enterprises; organisations that can survive and thrive in the most challenging environments and are fully Data Enabled and AI Powered!

Phanii Pydimarri is currently Head of Strategic Planning and Partnerships at Healthcare Service Corporation. He's an innovative and results-driven executive leader specializing in Digital Transformation, Digital Product Management, Corporate Growth Strategies, Data Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence, and brings a proven track record of catalyzing multi-million-dollar impacts across diverse business verticals.

Sanjeev Mohan is the Principal and owner of SanjMo Former Gartner Research Analyst, self-confessed world galivanter, who has 30 years of the data bug and showing no signs of abating. He's always evolving, always innovating, and is a chronic learner.

Ben Steele is currently Head of Data and Analytics at the BMS Group. His focus is on strategic business enablement and unlocking the value in data assets across an organisation.

Mark Stouse is currently CEO of ProofAnalytics.ai, as well as a historian, philosopher and mathematician.

Sanjeevan Bala is currently Group Chief Data & AI Officer @ ITV, FTSE NED at Bakkavor and "The Most Influential Person in Data in the UK" as voted by DataIQ.

Robert Vane is an Enterprise Data Architect and creator of Federated Subject Areas (FSA) and the G-TEA Domain Architect platform.

Rachel Keane is the Chief Data Inspirer at The Data Inspiration Group Ltd, Digdata.

Bill Schmarzo is The Dean of Big Data, author of four books, and currently Customer Advocate, Data Management Incubation at Dell Technologies.

The final episode of Season 2 and my guest is none other than Scott Taylor - the data whisperer! Yep this is the final episode of Season 2 of 66 questions. Scott and I had a lot of fun making this episode as the season finale! I've had a hoot doing this season and finishing it with much laughter and comedy moments was probably the best way to go!

So enjoy listening to Scott do his thing and please do like, share, and comment. Tell everyone you know! Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Scott unplugged.

Abel has an energy that oozes from him, and he says that he was “born in Nigeria and made in the UK” He defines himself as trustworthy and being a loveable soul! The first time a data leader has talked about how we need to love more and hate less! An avid documentary watcher and lifelong learner he’s always looking at how to do things differently from a perspective of diversity and understanding of people. He has a suitcase of ambition and a lust for life, family and music! 

Abel is currently the External Engagement Lead -Transforming Data Collection (TDC) Programme at the Bank of England - part of the Data Management team, responsible for developing, embedding & delivering the Bank’s Data and Analytic (D&A) strategy in a rapidly changing world. 

He is a Board member in one of the leading Colleges in Scotland. Is passionate about Data, Technology, AI, Social Mobility, Education, Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), Diversity and Inclusion.

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Abel. Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Abel unplugged.

We have been connected for some time, and I think I met Susan for the first time at Big Data London 2022 and we recorded 4 questions as a mini 66. So here she is elaborating further on 62 questions! :-)

Susan needs no real introductions from me! We had a great conversation, had a lot of fun and of course you can’t see it, but in the background, there was her favourite icon – Robbie!

She even remembers when she broke her leg at 18 months old! She’s a self-confessed southern softie but still has her roots in Scotland!

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Susan. Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Susan unplugged.

Gareth is a super passionate and purposeful leader. He is currently Head of Data & Analytics for Sir Robert McAlpine logo and Board Member for SEM 1/1 Energy Management Systems and Energy Audits Committee.

He describes himself as enthusiastic, compassionate, and tenacious about all things data! He’s influencing the world of construction to embed better working practices in projects as he says 1 in 200 fail to be delivered on time, on budget and with ROI. So, he’s super excited about changing that in the industry with his colleagues across the sector.

I think you will love this episode! Gareth shoots from the heart and is an explorer of culture, people, countries and is super inspirational! Some great responses to 66 questions!

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Gareth. Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Gareth unplugged.

Jez and I have known each other for quite a long time, since 2017. We met when we were more or less fresh faces in the data industry and still finding our place.

Well, we have both come a long way since then and Jez is Co-founder and CEO at Eden Smith: a specialist data staffing, consulting & education company based in the UK and operating worldwide.

With over 20 years’ of experience in the staffing industry, Jez has helped many businesses adopt innovative strategies to attract, retain and develop niche data talent whilst helping job seekers position themselves for hire. He has a collaborative mentality, is always smiling, optimistic, and super positive about the industry!

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Jez. Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Jez unplugged.

The Data Strategy Show has been voted in the top 10 data podcasts by onlydatajobs and voted in the top 40 strategy podcasts by Feedspot in 2022. So, I wanted to say a HUGE BIG thank you to all the listeners out there for your support and I’m hugely excited about where the show will go in the future.

On today's episode I'm delighted to have Karen Jean-Francois! I was bowled over when I heard that Karen started out as an athlete and so I decided to look her up! Amazing! She ran for Harrow and France! In 15/16 she was pretty much in position 1 for many competitions in the heptathlon! She’s super focused and I loved her passion, positive energy and found her incredibly inspirational!

So moving on from athletics she branched into data analyst/data scientist. She is currently Analytics Manager – Operations at Monzo Bank.

She often talks about her fears and how she had to face head-on into impostor syndrome early on in her career as she was labeled too shy to succeed in a client-facing role, and she struggled to find her space and voice. But she is relentless in pursuit of self-help and says she’s a little bit of a self-help addict. By Overcoming these challenges she is now helping analysts in their development, improving their performance, and retelling her story so that they can be hugely effective in their roles.

She’s also a fellow podcaster and is the host of the Women in Data podcast. As well as this you can find her on thethrivinganalyst.com where she helps data analytics professionals ace their careers.

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Karen. Behind every data leader there is a person and here is Karen unplugged.

The Data Strategy Show has been voted in the top 10 data podcasts by onlydatajobs and voted in the top 40 strategy podcasts by Feedspot in 2022. So, I wanted to say a HUGE BIG thank you to all the listeners out there for your support and I’m hugely excited about where the show will go in the future.

On today's episode I'm delighted to have not one but two data leaders: Jasper Hegarty-Ditton & Divya Selva Prabhu.

Jasper is the Director of Digital and Data and Divya who is the Data Analytics Coordinator and the first hire in his team, and are both from Leeds University Union.

What I admire about both is their openness, tenacity, and their diverse backgrounds, which made the conversation even more compelling. Both are extremely passionate about how data will be used for good in the future, and are extremely motivated to building community. 

I hope you enjoy this episode please do like, share, and comment, and enjoy listening to Jasper and Divya. Behind every data leader there is a person and here are Jasper and Divya unplugged.