“Any business is in data business”. Arman Eshraghi, Founder and CEO of Qrvey, joins Ryan today, where they discuss looking at data as an asset to the business. Arman shares his extensive experience in the field of business analytics, emphasizing the importance of high-quality, relevant data for making impactful business decisions. The discussion covers various aspects of data strategy, including the importance of separating data collection and data utilization, the role of low-code and no-code e...
May 21, 2025•44 min•Ep. 54
Today we niche down to discuss mortgage data and analytics. Brennan O’Connell, Director of Data Solutions at Optimal Blue joins to dive into how leveraging data can significantly enhance decision-making within the mortgage industry. The conversation touches on the importance of connecting disparate data sets, understanding market pricing relative to internal data, and effectively building a data-driven decision structure. They explore how actionable insights for mortgage originators can be deriv...
Apr 23, 2025•49 min•Ep. 53
“ I strongly believe that you can take a horse and attach a unicorn by training them to think differently.” Jacquie Bailey, Director of Analytics at Designit, joins the show today to discuss how best to transform a seemingly ordinary analyst into a unicorn, somebody who balances the technical and business aspects. She emphasizes the need to think beyond historical measurements to identify actionable levers that can influence future results. Jacquie shares insights on understanding three-dimensio...
Apr 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 52
What does AI consciousness mean? Today, Stephanie Shipp, Director of Business Analytics at Beacon Building Products joins to hash out this exact question, drawing from her background in philosophy and AI. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of balancing speed, insights, and accuracy in analytics. She talks about the need for setting clear expectations with stakeholders using accuracy scores and the importance of understanding the business context. The episode concludes with a discussion on the c...
Apr 09, 2025•51 min•Ep. 51
How can we effectively manage risk? Sashi Tadinada, Vice President of Actuarial and Analytics at NFP joins the show today to hash out risk management and probability. Sashi dives deep into the importance of feedback in data modeling. Sashi and Ryan discuss the common misconceptions about data models, the role of iteration, and how to effectively communicate the range of outcomes to stakeholders. The conversation also explores how businesses can prepare for catastrophic events, although rare. Thi...
Apr 02, 2025•35 min•Ep. 50
“ The focus is on driving the business outcomes and the last mile delivery.” Ryan welcomes Parag Shrivastava, the Global Director and Head of the Data and Analytics Portfolio at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. With nearly 25 years of experience in the field, Parag discusses his journey ranging from electrical engineering to roles in major companies like Sama, Deloitte, and McKesson. They discuss the importance of turning raw data into actionable business outcomes, focusing on last-mile delivery, bal...
Mar 26, 2025•38 min•Ep. 49
“It’s not just about the cool shiny tool.” Today Ryan welcomes Catalina Herrera, Field Chief Data Officer at Dataiku. She discusses her extensive background in engineering and AI, emphasizing the importance of data governance, trust, and frameworks in achieving data-driven success. She explains that effective data use involves seamless organizational collaboration, clear roles, and responsibility. She touches on challenges faced by both large and small organizations in deriving value from data, ...
Mar 19, 2025•45 min•Ep. 48
We’re going all-in on a customer-centric mindset! Ryan welcomes Yin Warner, Senior Director and Head of Enterprise Data Management at First American to discuss a range of topics, including the balance between data accuracy and speed in the financial sector, risk management, the challenges of enterprise data management across different reporting pipelines, and the importance of data literacy and effective communication. Yin also discusses her curiosity-driven approach to problem-solving, her rese...
Mar 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 47
Today we discuss the human touch in analytics with Bhupi Arora, VP of Business Data Analytics and Insights at Hitachi Vantara. The discussion delves into the challenges of using data to inform decision-making in an era of overwhelming data abundance. Bhupi shares insights on connecting fragmented data, ethical AI use, and the importance of maintaining a narrow focus on business outcomes. They also explore the future of analytics, the role of change management, and the human elements essential to...
Mar 05, 2025•45 min•Ep. 46
What happens when technically inclined people work with non-technical individuals? Robin Sutara, Field Chief Data Strategy Officer at Databricks, says that is where the most valuable contributions come from. Robin shares her journey from repairing Apache helicopters in the U.S. Army to holding prominent roles at Microsoft, and her contributions to the field of data strategy and AI. She discusses the importance of using data in everyday decisions, the challenges of implementing data-driven transf...
Feb 26, 2025•47 min•Ep. 45
Biases are the setback to human involvement in data-driven decision-making. This episode with John Giaquinto, VP of Loyalty, Personalization, and Analytics at Rite Aid, discusses the intricate dynamics of human behavior and data-driven decision-making. John shares his extensive experience in marketing, advertising, and customer analytics, emphasizing the importance of interpreting data correctly and challenging preconceived biases. Throughout the conversation, John and Ryan explore the concept o...
Feb 19, 2025•42 min•Ep. 44
Nachiket Mehta, the Head of Data and Analytics Engineering for Global Operations at Wayfair joins today to discuss navigating the last mile of data decision making. Nachiket shares his extensive experience in software development, consulting, and data engineering. They also discuss the importance of translating data into actionable insights and the best practices in data governance and AI application. Nachiket emphasizes the importance of stakeholder alignment, data contracts, and automated gove...
Feb 12, 2025•47 min•Ep. 43
Mark Brady, Deputy Chief Data Officer for TRMC at KBR joins the show today to hone in on data knowledge and management best practices. With an extensive background in mathematics and computer science and experience in various industries, Mark discusses the essential elements of effective data management. He critiques common data science practices, such as the flawed concept of the data life cycle and the misuse of terms like 'data lake.' Mark emphasizes the need for rigorous, structured approach...
Feb 05, 2025•52 min•Ep. 42
Keith Aumiller, Director of Advanced Analytics at AmeriGas joins the podcast today to discuss automation within the data field. Keith shares the insights he’s gained from a career spanning financial services, aerospace manufacturing, and the energy sector. They discuss the importance of data quality, the limitations and hype surrounding generative AI, and the role of advanced analytics in business automation. Keith also delves into the philosophical implications of full automation and offers pra...
Jan 29, 2025•43 min•Ep. 41
Today, Ryan Sullivan is joined by Charles Link, Senior Director of Data and Analytics at ReWorld Waste. Charles shares his extensive experience spanning marketing, financial analysis, IT, and data management. They discuss the importance of understanding the purpose behind data creation, the significance of having clear data definitions, and the value of conversations with both data creators and stakeholders. Charles also emphasizes the importance of artificial intelligence as a tool that needs t...
Jan 22, 2025•50 min•Ep. 40
Today, Ryan interviews Jeff Nieman, Senior Director of Data Strategy and Visualization at Best Buy. Jeff shares his extensive experience in data governance, data literacy, and AI's role in improving data cataloging and storytelling. He emphasizes the importance of trust in data, creating accessible data catalogs, and achieving balance in data strategy to ensure ROI. Jeff also sheds light on the concept of proactive data analytics and predictive modeling, underscoring the need for strong business...
Jan 15, 2025•45 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of Making Better Decisions, host Ryan Sullivan speaks with Nikhar Shah, VP of Data Analytics and Forecasting at LPL Financial. Nikhar shares his academic background in computer science, management information systems, and data science and recounts his extensive experience in the data industry. He discusses crucial skills for making data-driven decisions, emphasizes the importance of combining technical skills, problem understanding, and communication, and delves into the differen...
Jan 08, 2025•47 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of Making Better Decisions, host Ryan Sullivan sets the stage for 2025 with predictions, advice, and insights on using data to drive outcomes. Ryan highlights the growing maturity of technologies like generative AI and Microsoft's Fabric platform, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to both short-term wins and long-term data strategies. He also discusses common data challenges such as integrating data from multiple sources, managing spiky demand for reports, and improvin...
Jan 02, 2025•26 min•Ep. 37
In the final episode of the year, host Ryan Sullivan answers listener questions and reflects on the biggest data trends of 2024. He emphasizes the significance of understanding the role of humans in the data process and the importance of crafting deep relationships across organizations for impactful analytics. Ryan also discusses the importance of staying informed, the value of teamwork, and the inspiration he derives from clients. He addresses the major barriers to adopting data-driven strategi...
Dec 23, 2024•26 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of the Making Better Decisions podcast, Ryan Sullivan speaks with Aleks Lazarevic, an experienced analytics professional who is currently a Senior Consulting Partner for Sigmoid and Founder of AI&DA Insights. They discuss the importance of asking the right business questions to effectively leverage data, the challenges organizations face in creating a data-driven culture, and the role of advanced analytics in achieving business goals. Aleks shares insights from his career acr...
Dec 18, 2024•48 min•Ep. 35
In this episode of the Making Better Decisions podcast, Ryan Sullivan speaks with Jason Jones, the Chief Analytics and Data Science Officer at Health Catalyst. With nearly 30 years of healthcare data analytics experience, Jason offers valuable insights into the challenges and solutions for using data to make better decisions. He emphasizes the common pitfalls humans face when interpreting data and presents known methods to improve accuracy and consistency in decision-making. The discussion also ...
Dec 11, 2024•57 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the Making Better Decisions podcast, Ryan Sullivan discusses the essential role of data in decision-making with Kaushik Meneni, Director of Commercial Analytics at Extended Stay America. Kaushik shares insights from his extensive career spanning across multiple industries such as biotech, manufacturing, and hospitality, emphasizing the dynamic nature of data. They dive into the significance of understanding business strategy, the importance of standardization and automation in...
Dec 04, 2024•46 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of the Making Better Decisions podcast, Ryan interviews David Wendt, the Lead Data Scientist and Manager of Innovation and AI Governance at Sherwin Williams. David discusses his career journey, the challenges of using data for making better decisions, and the impact of generative AI. The conversation also touches upon the importance of empathy, communication, and storytelling in analytics, along with the need for data professionals to understand business operations. David shares ...
Nov 27, 2024•49 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of Making Better Decisions, analytics consultant Ashish Singru joins to discuss optimizing decision-making using data. Ashish shares his extensive experience across various multinational companies and emphasizes the importance of understanding business contexts and mental models in data analysis. He elaborates on the significance of blending technical expertise with business insights, drawing from his background in engineering and analytics. Additionally, Ashish offers valuable a...
Nov 20, 2024•52 min•Ep. 31
On this week’s episode of making better decisions your host Ryan Sullivan answers the most common questions from the listeners. The discussion highlights the impact of influential resources and communities on professional growth, as well as the challenges and rewards of working with data. We touch on the importance of staying informed, building supportive networks, and navigating data privacy regulations to maintain a balance between security and innovation. Takeaways: Continuous Learning : Stay...
Nov 14, 2024•43 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, we sit down with our guest Nimisha Morkanda to explore the nuanced relationship between data, technology, and human decision-making. Our guest delves into why understanding the context of data is essential for extracting meaningful insights and how his research in neural network models and human memory informs his current work in analytics. We discuss the challenges data professionals face when turning raw data into practical, actionable business solutions and how they can bridg...
Nov 08, 2024•46 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, we dive deep into the evolving world of analytics and category management with Michelle Tisdale, a seasoned data expert and a passionate advocate for harnessing the power of AI and analytics in business. Michelle shares her journey from traditional category management to business intelligence and performance. We explore how modern data strategies can drive real business impact, the importance of building strong analytics teams, and the human elements that contribute to her profe...
Nov 01, 2024•43 min•Ep. 28
In this episode, we dive deep into the relationship between data and decision-making, exploring how understanding what data is—and more importantly, what it’s not—leads to more effective, informed choices. Drawing on experiences from the world of professional sports, our guest Sam Marks Director of Business Strategy & Analytics, Boston Bruins & TD Garden shares insights into how businesses can use data to optimize outcomes while acknowledging its inherent imperfections. From modeling unc...
Oct 23, 2024•45 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, we dive deep into the art of using data to drive better business decisions with some of our favorite guests. From the challenge of compiling vast amounts of information to the thrill of discovering insights, we explore how data plays a crucial role in shaping strategies. Our guests also highlight the significance of original research in data collection, collaboration with peers to fill gaps, and how data-driven marketing can be a powerful tool for business growth. We also touch ...
Oct 16, 2024•29 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, we explore the critical balance between technical data expertise and essential soft skills, such as communication and stakeholder management. Our guest Robert Bonovich Senior Business Analyst at Cisco Systems shares real-world examples from their career, including a fascinating story from their time in sales where they leveraged multiple data sets to target prospects effectively. We also discuss the importance of developing personal data projects, building strong communication s...
Oct 02, 2024•55 min•Ep. 25
