Step inside the world of data innovation as Don Vu, SVP and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at New York Life, reveals how a 180-year-old institution is embracing cutting-edge AI. Don, shares insights from his unique background, spanning Major League Baseball and retail startups, now applied to transforming the insurance industry. Hear how New York Life leverages AI to make experiences proactive and intelligent, addressing challenges like the "last mile problem" in data operationalization. Key M...
Jun 25, 2025•40 min•Ep. 115
Step into the future of policing where data is a mission-critical asset. Cindi Howson talks with Aimee Smith, Director of Data at the Metropolitan Police, about the Met’s bold data transformation—from digitizing records dating back to 1829 to using AI and cloud tech for smarter, faster decisions. Hear how initiatives like the V100 program and real-time analytics help improve city safety. Key Moments: Genesis of the Met’s Data Strategy (03:35) - The Met's data strategy's origin is traced to forme...
Jun 11, 2025•45 min•Ep. 114
Embark on an insightful exploration of the hospitality sector, powered by data-driven analysis. Cindi Howson and Hyatt's data trailblazer, Ray Boyle (Vice President, Data and Analytics), are charting a course through Hyatt's data innovation. Witness how Hyatt's four-pillar data strategy is revolutionizing everything from employee empowerment to guest personalization and operational efficiency. Discover how Hyatt is democratizing data with self-service tools and pioneering an AI-powered frontier ...
May 21, 2025•41 min•Ep. 113
Prepare to see banking in a new light! Cindi Howson and Macquarie Bank's data trailblazer, Ashwin Sinha (Chief Data Officer), go deep into the AI revolution transforming financial services. Discover how one of Australia's most dynamic financial institutions, Macquarie Bank, is wielding the disruptive force of generative AI, not just for efficiency, but to combat high-stakes threats like fraud. Plus, discover the remarkable evolution of the data analyst from report-generator to AI-powered strateg...
May 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 112
Ever wondered how data powers the magic behind your favorite theme park experiences? Join Cindi Howson and Gavin Hupp, VP of Technology, Enterprise Architecture, Data and Martech, E-commerce and Analytics at United Parks and Resorts, as they explore the complex data ecosystem of a theme park, from e-commerce and guest experience to AI's role in shaping the future of entertainment. Key Moments: Theme Park Business Model (03:12): Theme parks are described as a mix of multiple businesses, including...
Apr 23, 2025•45 min•Ep. 111
How does SharkNinja use data to fuel its rapid growth and product innovation? Join Cindi Howson and Elpida Ormanidou, VP of Analytics and Insights at SharkNinja, as they dissect SharkNinja's data-driven culture, Elpida's journey in the data space across CPG and retail, and her insights on AI in the workplace. Key Moments: Data-Driven Culture (03:36): SharkNinja strongly emphasizes data in its culture, utilizing it to inform decision-making processes. The company is committed to using customer fe...
Apr 09, 2025•41 min•Ep. 110
How is Sephora using data to create personalized experiences that customers love? Join Cindi Howson and Manbir Paul, VP of Engineering, Data Insights & MarTech at Sephora, as they explore the role of data and AI in understanding customer needs, predicting preferences, and delivering impactful moments. Key Moments: Micro-Moments that Matter (3:30): Sephora leverages data to create impactful moments for customers, like sending a timely reminder to a traveler about their moisturizer. Modern Dat...
Mar 19, 2025•39 min•Ep. 109
Join host Cindi Howson as she dives into the critical topic of diversity and inclusion in the data and AI space with Roisin McCarthy, founder of Women in Data UK, and Robin Sutara, Field CDO at Databricks. They discuss the challenges of recruiting and retaining diverse talent, the importance of male allies, and the role of AI in creating a more inclusive workforce Key Moments: The Power of Community: Building a Network for Women in Data: Roisin McCarthy shares the story behind founding Women in ...
Mar 05, 2025•54 min•Ep. 108
Join host Cindi Howson alongside Chris Bruman, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Dow, and Dan Futter, Chief Commercial Officer at Dow, as they explore how data-driven innovation is reshaping business and customer experiences. From the hub-and-spoke model for data management to the power of real-time insights, they discuss the role of data literacy, leadership, and AI-driven decision-making in driving success. Don’t miss this conversation on the future of AI, data strategy, and innovation. Disc...
Feb 19, 2025•51 min•Ep. 107
Your host, Cindi Howson, and CTO of NVIDIA AI agentic software, Bartley Richardson, discuss the transformative potential of generative and agentic AI in business, focusing on customer service, HR, and workplace innovation. They explore real-world use cases, the challenges of managing diverse data sources, and the tools and technologies shaping the future of AI which lead to…. Data Challenges : Cindi and Bartley discuss the complexities of managing structured, semi-structured, and unstructured da...
Feb 05, 2025•50 min•Ep. 106
In this season premiere of The Data Chief podcast, your host Cindi Howson sits down with three industry visionaries to explore the trends, predictions, and must-take actions for data leaders in 2025. Get ready for a deep dive into: The generative AI revolution with Matt Turck, Partner at FirstMark Capital The future of data science and genAI with Steve Nouri, Founder of GenAI Works and AI for Diversity Data Engineering in the Age of AI with Joe Reis, author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" ...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 105
Key Moments: Focusing on Value with Bill Schmarzo 1:48 Unlocking the Collective Genius with Walid Mehanna 4:07 Building a Data-Literate Workforce with Valerie Logan 5:58 Creating a Human-Centric AI Strategy with Sadie St. Lawrence 7:40 Selecting the Right Tools with Katie Russell 11:23 Implementing tools responsibly with Robert Garnett 16:00 Why Clean Data Matters with Barr Moses 19:36 Ensuring Responsible AI for the Long-Term with Dr. Gary Marcus 25:45 Key Quotes: “Data-driven is not important....
Nov 13, 2024•31 min•Ep. 104
Description: Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, joins host, Cindi Howson, and dives into the impact of Generative AI on skills, diversity in tech, and the future of upskilling. Key Moments: The impact GenAI and the surge of learning demand (05:45) Why employers must prioritize AI literacy (10.32) The gender gap in AI learning and why it matters (19:40) Leveraging data to drive personalization and learner success (24:00) Predictions for the future of AI in the labor market (29....
Oct 30, 2024•36 min•Ep. 103
Key Moments From Engineer to Data Leader (03:05) A Mindset Shift: Business Problem First, Data Second (9:31) Learning From Missteps (11:00) The Gazelle and the Lion Analogy (14:53) The Role of AI: Do Things, Do Things Better, and Do Better Things (25:58) Built to Last versus Built to Adapt (40:01) Key Quotes "Instead of a data-first mindset, you need to have a business problem-first and data-second mindset. That has helped me transform myself as a leader quite a bit." "It’s more important to def...
Oct 16, 2024•46 min•Ep. 102
Key Moments: Disappointment With Today’s AI Systems (4:00) Congressional Inaction And The Need for AI Regulation (9:00) The Seduction of AI Propaganda (15:00) The Misguided Hypothesis of "Scale is All You Need" (23:00) Don’t Be Fooled by the Masters of AI Hype (27:00) The Global AI Race and the Need for International Cooperation (33:00) Key Quotes: “This matters. It matters as much as immigration policy or financial policy. The tech policy that we set right now is going to really affect the rest...
Oct 02, 2024•45 min•Ep. 101
Key Moments: Jeremy Kahn The history of AI: the Turing Test and the Eliza Effect with Jeremy Khan (1:50) Jeremy’s view on how we can learn from lessons of the past (9:00) It starts with data and people: leveraging AI to increase productivity (16:00) Sol Rashidi Sol Rashidi on failing to succeed in AI (31:00) The need for rogue executives (37:00) Sol’s view on prioritizing GenAI use cases and measuring ROI (42:50) Bernard Marr Bernard Marr on demystifying AI (60:02) Is society ready for AI’s impa...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 100
Key Moments: The road to entrepreneurship (1:00) Bringing transparency to the prescription drugs industry (4:30) Analyzing in-game sports data to shoot for new heights (20:00) Changing the world by making data and AI accessible to everyone (25:00) How LLMs can build curiosity for the next generation of tech talent (33:00) Key Quotes: “As with all things technology, everybody has access to the information, but few people take the time. But those who do tend to have an edge. If you're curious, if ...
Sep 04, 2024•40 min•Ep. 99
Key Moments: Why is the data wrong? (6:00) Our products are our data (11:00) The true size of the data quality problem (14:00) Clean your data before you prioritize shiny new tools (26:00) The next frontier: GenAI and unstructured data (31:00) Key Quotes: “The data estate has changed significantly. But the way in which we manage data and data quality specifically has not adapted.” – Barr Moses “I tracked every single change in the data that I made, and could calculate how much money a company sa...
Aug 21, 2024•42 min•Ep. 98
Key Moments: Leveraging data for good (2:00) Every leader is responsible for data management (13:00) New metrics to validate AI’s sustainability (21:00) Mitigating AI’s risks to society (23:00) The current shape of global AI regulation (28:00) The importance of diversity in mitigating data bias (37:00) Key Quotes: “Every leader must understand that they have a responsibility for data management. It’s an underlying skill that we really have to harness in all of our college, university, and high s...
Aug 07, 2024•43 min•Ep. 97
Key Moments: A journey from intern to CEO (05:10) Encouraging a harmonized relationship between humans and AI (09:58) Why embracing stress can drive urgency and effective change (17:18) Generative AI’s impact on the skills landscape (30:39) Fostering a data-driven company culture (36:41) Embrace change, and quickly (40:25) Key Quotes: “AI does amazing things, like summarizations and semantic search. Humans do amazing things like curation of knowledge, making sure it's accurate, connecting the do...
Jul 24, 2024•46 min•Ep. 96
Key Moments: The emotional temperature for change in analytics (5:06) There’s no playbook for change management (7:53) Why Generative AI success requires a melding of expertise (17:20) Measuring the success of LLMs (18:58) How do you embrace the new when you’re facing technical debt? (33:27) How to fine-tune your career in today’s data and AI landscape (37:30) Key Quotes: “Business intelligence tends to have this notion of looking backwards. It's not thinking about prescriptive or predictive ana...
Jul 10, 2024•42 min•Ep. 95
Key Moments: Leveraging Generative AI for work? Start by asking the right questions (04:13) What’s in store for the future world of work (18:18) How Generative AI can expand humans’ divergent thinking (26:16) Taking people and culture along the Generative AI journey (31:20) The value of diversity in data (42:00) A tale of mentorship (44:20) Key Quotes: “With Generative AI, now we have a command line interface that’s allowed us to converse, which is so core and essential to who we are as humans. ...
Jun 19, 2024•51 min•Ep. 94
Key Moments: The voyage to a data-driven US Coast Guard (5:21) Navigating data-driven approaches to US Coast Guard operations (20:28) Balancing experience-based decision making with data-informed decision making (25:34) In whose data do you trust? (30:10) Measuring the value of data (33:80) Should an AI ethicist be part of the team or should everyone really be an ethicist? (45:00) Key Quotes: “Up until three years ago when we started this, some people – and really our entire organization – just ...
Jun 05, 2024•50 min•Ep. 93
Tune in to learn: Make your business strategy a data strategy (3:10) ‘Cover my back’ approaches (09:00) Straddling risks in data and business (11:28) Learnings from implementing myGPT (16:18) Activating your organization’s collective genius (24:05) Creating the right processes and culture to breed AI success (31:00) The current state of AI regulation (38:35) Key Quotes: “You can have an AI strategy without a data strategy or without a business strategy, but it will not help you much. So your dat...
May 22, 2024•47 min•Ep. 92
People are only as healthy as the communities they live in. In this episode, discover how Elevance Health is reimagining the healthcare system, and strengthening our communities in the process with a data-driven strategy. Learn how Elevance Health leverages community data to paint a more complete picture of an individual’s health, making healthcare journeys more personalized and equitable. You’ll also hear why analytics must have a seat at the business table, the importance of extending data dem...
May 08, 2024•49 min•Ep. 91
In developed nations, corporations often rollup and eat independent mom and pop shops into big box retail or big .coms that centralize supply chains and logistics. Meanwhile, independent sellers are the backbone of emerging markets. But a collision is starting to occur and it’s happening fast. Big corporations want to bring the same strategy to these emerging markets, so how can the independent seller maintain their independence? To do that, they need technology partners like RedCloud. In this c...
Apr 24, 2024•50 min•Ep. 90
Description: Cindi Howson is joined by Valerie A. Logan, CEO and founder of the DataLodge and Chief Strategy Officer at DATA SOCIETY GROUP, and Jason Beyer, Vice President of Data and Analytics at Bridgestone Americas. They delve into the vital concepts of data literacy and AI literacy, sharing their insights and experiences in fostering a data-driven culture within organizations. Valerie, widely regarded as the "godmother of data literacy," sheds light on the three key pillars of her approach: ...
Apr 10, 2024•43 min•Ep. 89
Description : In this episode, Chris Stephens, Field CTO at Appen, dives into how CDO’s are navigating the world of generative AI. From setting clear expectations to driving adoption within organizations, Chris and Cindi explore the challenges and opportunities in this evolving landscape. Chris shares Appen's innovative approach to integrating humans into deep learning processes and discusses the potential of synthetic data. Plus, he shares how crucial human expertise is, in shaping ethical AI p...
Mar 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 88
Description: Michael Jordan once said that players win games, and teams win championships. In this episode, Cindi interviews Alfredo Colas, Senior Vice President of Data and Analytics at Procter & Gamble. Together, they explore the importance of fostering a data-driven culture and digital fluency, while delving into strategies for overcoming challenges in data culture. They also discuss the company's rich history of data innovation and the evolving impact of technology on data access and pro...
Mar 06, 2024•39 min•Ep. 87
Giving ABC’s more meaning, in this episode of The Data Chief host Cindi Howson, engages in a captivating conversation with Nisha Paliwal, the managing VP of Enterprise Data Technology at Capital One. Nisha dives into her multifaceted role as a tech leader, visionary, and advocate for STEM education. The discussion traverses topics ranging from the impact of technology on younger generations to the future of work in the era of AI. With insights into Nisha's unique ABC leadership framework and Cap...
Feb 21, 2024•36 min•Ep. 86
