The relationship between AI and data professionals is evolving rapidly, creating both opportunities and challenges. As companies embrace AI-first strategies and experiment with AI agents, the skills needed to thrive in data roles are fundamentally changing. Is coding knowledge still essential when AI can generate code for you? How important is domain expertise when automated tools can handle technical tasks? With data engineering and analytics engineering gaining prominence, the focus is shifting toward ensuring data quality and building reliable pipelines. But where does the human fit in this increasingly automated landscape, and how can you position yourself to thrive amid these transformations? Megan Bowers is Senior Content Manager, Digital Customer Success at Alteryx, where she develops resources for the Maveryx Community. She writes technical blogs and hosts the Alter Everything podcast, spotlighting best practices from data professionals across the industry. Before joining Alteryx, Megan worked as a data analyst at Stanley Black & Decker, where she led ETL and dashboarding projects and trained teams on Alteryx and Power BI. Her transition into data began after earning a degree in Industrial Engineering and completing a data science bootcamp. Today, she focuses on creating accessible, high-impact content that helps data practitioners grow. Her favorite topics include switching career paths after college, building a professional brand on LinkedIn, writing technical blogs people actually want to read, and best practices in Alteryx, data visualization, and data storytelling. Presented by Alteryx, Alter Everything serves as a podcast dedicated to the culture of data science and analytics, showcasing insights from industry specialists. Covering a range of subjects from the use of machine learning to various analytics career trajectories, and all that lies between, Alter Everything stands as a celebration of the critical role of data literacy in a data-driven world. In the episode, Richie and Megan explore the impact of AI on job functions, the rise of AI agents in business, and the importance of domain knowledge and process analytics in data roles. They also discuss strategies for staying updated in the fast-paced world of AI and data science, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Alter EverythingConnect with MeganSkill Track: Alteryx FundamentalsRelated Episode: Scaling Enterprise Analytics with Libby Duane Adams, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder of AlteryxRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Data science continues to evolve in the age of AI, but is it still the 'sexiest job of the 21st century'? While generative AI has transformed the landscape, it hasn't replaced data scientists—instead, it's created more demand for their skills. Data professionals now incorporate AI into their workflows to boost efficiency, analyze data faster, and communicate insights more effectively. But with these technological advances come questions: How should you adapt your skills to stay relevant? What's the right balance between traditional data science techniques and new AI capabilities? And as roles like analytics engineer and machine learning engineer emerge, how do you position yourself for success in this rapidly changing field? Dawn Choo is the Co-Founder of Interview Master, a platform designed to streamline technical interview preparation. With a foundation in data science, financial analysis, and product strategy, she brings a cross-disciplinary lens to building data-driven tools that improve hiring outcomes. Her career spans roles at leading tech firms, including ClassDojo, Patreon, and Instagram, where she delivered insights to support product development and user engagement. Earlier, Dawn held analytical and engineering positions at Amazon and Bank of America, focusing on business intelligence, financial modeling, and risk analysis. She began her career at Facebook as a marketing analyst and continues to be a visible figure in the data science community—offering practical guidance to job seekers navigating technical interviews and career transitions. In the episode, Richie and Dawn explore the evolving role of data scientists in the age of AI, the impact of generative AI on workflows, the importance of foundational skills, and the nuances of the hiring process in data science. They also discuss the integration of AI in products and the future of personalized AI models, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Interview MasterConnect with DawnDawn’s Newsletter: Ask Data DawnGet Certified: AI Engineer for Data Scientists Associate CertificationRelated Episode: How To Get Hired As A Data Or AI Engineer with Deepak Goyal, CEO & Founder at Azurelib AcademyRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Business intelligence has been transforming organizations for decades, yet many companies still struggle with widespread adoption. With less than 40% of employees in most organizations having access to BI tools, there's a significant 'information underclass' making decisions without data-driven insights. How can businesses bridge this gap and achieve true information democracy? While new technologies like generative AI and semantic layers offer promising solutions, the fundamentals of data quality and governance remain critical. What balance should organizations strike between investing in innovative tools and strengthening their data infrastructure? How can you ensure your business becomes a 'data athlete' capable of making hyper-decisive moves in an uncertain economic landscape? Howard Dresner is founder and Chief Research Officer at Dresner Advisory Services and a leading voice in Business Intelligence (BI), credited with coining the term “Business Intelligence” in 1989. He spent 13 years at Gartner as lead BI analyst, shaping its research agenda and earning recognition as Analyst of the Year, Distinguished Analyst, and Gartner Fellow. He also led Gartner’s BI conferences in Europe and North America. Before founding Dresner Advisory in 2007, Howard was Chief Strategy Officer at Hyperion Solutions, where he drove strategy and thought leadership, helping position Hyperion as a leader in performance management prior to its acquisition by Oracle.  Howard has written two books, The Performance Management Revolution – Business Results through Insight and Action, and Profiles in Performance – Business Intelligence Journeys and the Roadmap for Change - both published by John Wiley & Sons. In the episode, Richie and Howard explore the surprising low penetration of business intelligence in organizations, the importance of data governance and infrastructure, the evolving role of AI in BI, and the strategic initiatives driving BI usage, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Dresner Advisory ServicesHoward’s Book - Profiles in Performance: Business Intelligence Journeys and the Roadmap for ChangeConnect with HowardSkill Track: Power BI FundamentalsRelated Episode: The Next Generation of Business Intelligence with Colin Zima, CEO at OmniRewatch RADAR AI  New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

The modern data stack has transformed how organizations work with data, but are our BI tools keeping pace with these changes? As data schemas become increasingly fluid and analysis needs range from quick explorations to production-grade reporting, traditional approaches are being challenged. How can we create analytics experiences that accommodate both casual spreadsheet users and technical data modelers? With semantic layers becoming crucial for AI integration and data governance growing in importance, what skills do today's BI professionals need to master? Finding the balance between flexibility and governance is perhaps the greatest challenge facing data teams today. Colin Zima is the Co-Founder and CEO of Omni, a business intelligence platform focused on making data more accessible and useful for teams of all sizes. Prior to Omni, he was Chief Analytics Officer and VP of Product at Looker, where he helped shape the product and data strategy leading up to its acquisition by Google for $2.6 billion. Colin’s background spans roles in data science, analytics, and product leadership, including positions at Google, HotelTonight, and as founder of the restaurant analytics startup PrimaTable. He holds a degree in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University and began his career as a Structured Credit Analyst at UBS. In the episode, Richie and Colin explore the evolution of BI tools, the challenges of integrating casual and rigorous data analysis, the role of semantic layers, and the impact of AI on business intelligence. They discuss the importance of understanding business needs, creating user-focused dashboards, and the future of data products, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: OmniConnect with ColinSkill Track: Design in Power BIRelated Episode: Self-Service Business Intelligence with Sameer Al-Sakran, CEO at MetabaseRegister for RADAR AI - June 26 New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

In the retail industry, data science is not just about crunching numbers—it's about driving business impact through well-designed experiments. A-B testing in a physical store setting presents unique challenges that require careful planning and execution. How do you balance the need for statistical rigor with the practicalities of store operations? What role does data science play in ensuring that test results lead to actionable insights?  Philipp Paraguya is the Chapter Lead for Data Science at Aldi DX. Previously, Philipp studied applied mathematics and computer science and has worked as a BI and advanced analytics consultant in various industries and projects since graduating. Due to his background as a software developer, he has a strong connection to classic software engineering and the sensible use of data science solutions. In the episode, Adel and Philipp explore the intricacies of A-B testing in retail, the challenges of running experiments in brick-and-mortar settings, aligning stakeholders for successful experimentation, the evolving role of data scientists, the impact of genAI on data workflows, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Aldi DXConnect with PhilippCourse: Customer Analytics and A/B Testing in PythonRelated Episode: Can You Use AI-Driven Pricing Ethically? with Jose Mendoza, Academic Director & Clinical Associate Professor at NYUSign up to attend RADAR: Skills Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

As we look back at 2024, we're highlighting some of our favourite episodes of the year, and with 100 of them to choose from, it wasn't easy! The four guests we'll be recapping with are: Lea Pica - A celebrity in the data storytelling and visualisation space. Richie and Lea cover the full picture of data presentation, how to understand your audience, how to leverage hollywood storytelling and more. Out December 19.Alex Banks - Founder of Sunday Signal. Adel and Alex cover Alex’s journey into AI and what led him to create Sunday Signal, the potential of AI, prompt engineering at its most basic level, chain of thought prompting, the future of LLMs and more. Out December 23.Don Chamberlin - The renowned co-inventor of SQL. Richie and Don explore the early development of SQL, how it became standardized, the future of SQL through NoSQL and SQL++ and more. Out December 26.Tom Tunguz - general Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m VC firm. Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, AI in the corporate sector and more. Out December 30. Rapid change seems to be the new norm within the data and AI space, and due to the ecosystem constantly changing, it can be tricky to keep up. Fortunately, any self-respecting venture capitalist looking into data and AI will stay on top of what’s changing and where the next big breakthroughs are likely to come from. We all want to know which important trends are emerging and how we can take advantage of them, so why not learn from a leading VC.  Tomasz Tunguz is a General Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m early-stage venture capital firm. He blogs sat tomtunguz.com & co-authored Winning with Data. He has worked or works with Looker, Kustomer, Monte Carlo, Dremio, Omni, Hex, Spot, Arbitrum, Sui & many others. He was previously the product manager for Google's social media monetization team, including the Google-MySpace partnership, and managed the launches of AdSense into six new markets in Europe and Asia. Before Google, Tunguz developed systems for the Department of Homeland Security at Appian Corporation.  In the episode, Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, the impact of AI on professional fields, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, and changes in data warehousing through the use of integrated AI tools, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI in the corporate sector. You'll also get to discover Tom's picks for the hottest new data startups. Links Mentioned in the Show: Tom’s BlogTheory VenturesArticle: What Air Canada Lost In ‘Remarkable’ Lying AI Chatbot Case[Course] Implementing AI Solutions in BusinessRelated Episode: Making Better Decisions using Data & AI with Cassie Kozyrkov, Google's First Chief Decision ScientistSign up to RADAR: AI...

As we look back at 2024, we're highlighting some of our favourite episodes of the year, and with 100 of them to choose from, it wasn't easy! The four guests we'll be recapping with are: Lea Pica - A celebrity in the data storytelling and visualisation space. Richie and Lea cover the full picture of data presentation, how to understand your audience, how to leverage hollywood storytelling and more. Out December 19.Alex Banks - Founder of Sunday Signal. Adel and Alex cover Alex’s journey into AI and what led him to create Sunday Signal, the potential of AI, prompt engineering at its most basic level, chain of thought prompting, the future of LLMs and more. Out December 23.Don Chamberlin - The renowned co-inventor of SQL. Richie and Don explore the early development of SQL, how it became standardized, the future of SQL through NoSQL and SQL++ and more. Out December 26.Tom Tunguz - general Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m VC firm. Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, AI in the corporate sector and more. Out December 30. For our 200th episode, we bring you a special guest and taking a walk down memory lane—to the creation and development of one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Don Chamberlin is renowned as the co-inventor of SQL (Structured Query Language), the predominant database language globally, which he developed with Raymond Boyce in the mid-1970s. Chamberlin's professional career began at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, New York, following a summer internship there during his academic years. His work on IBM's System R project led to the first SQL implementation and significantly advanced IBM’s relational database technology. His contributions were recognized when he was made an IBM Fellow in 2003 and later a Fellow of the Computer History Museum in 2009 for his pioneering work on SQL and database architectures. Chamberlin also contributed to the development of XQuery, an XML query language, as part of the W3C, which became a W3C Recommendation in January 2007. Additionally, he holds fellowships with ACM and IEEE and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In the episode, Richie and Don explore his early career at IBM and the development of his interest in databases alongside Ray Boyce, the database task group (DBTG), the transition to relational databases and the early development of SQL, the commercialization and adoption of SQL, how it became standardized, how it evolved and spread via open source, the future of SQL through NoSQL and SQL++ and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: The first-ever journal paper on SQL. SEQUEL: A Structured English Query LanguageDon’s Book: SQL++ for SQL Users: A TutorialSystem R: Relational approach to database managementSQL CoursesSQL Articles, Tutorials and Code-AlongsRelated Episode: Scaling Enterprise Analytics with...

As we look back at 2024, we're highlighting some of our favourite episodes of the year, and with 100 of them to choose from, it wasn't easy! The four guests we'll be recapping with are: Lea Pica - A celebrity in the data storytelling and visualisation space. Richie and Lea cover the full picture of data presentation, how to understand your audience, how to leverage hollywood storytelling and more. Out December 19.Alex Banks - Founder of Sunday Signal. Adel and Alex cover Alex’s journey into AI and what led him to create Sunday Signal, the potential of AI, prompt engineering at its most basic level, chain of thought prompting, the future of LLMs and more. Out December 23.Don Chamberlin - The renowned co-inventor of SQL. Richie and Don explore the early development of SQL, how it became standardized, the future of SQL through NoSQL and SQL++ and more. Out December 26.Tom Tunguz - general Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m VC firm. Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, AI in the corporate sector and more. Out December 30. Since the launch of ChatGPT, one of the trending terms outside of ChatGPT itself has been prompt engineering. This act of carefully crafting your instructions is treated as alchemy by some and science by others. So what makes an effective prompt? Alex Banks has been building and scaling AI products since 2021. He writes Sunday Signal, a newsletter offering a blend of AI advancements and broader thought-provoking insights. His expertise extends to social media platforms on X/Twitter and LinkedIn, where he educates a diverse audience on leveraging AI to enhance productivity and transform daily life. In the episode, Alex and Adel cover Alex’s journey into AI and what led him to create Sunday Signal, the potential of AI, prompt engineering at its most basic level, strategies for better prompting, chain of thought prompting, prompt engineering as a skill and career path, building your own AI tools rather than using consumer AI products, AI literacy, the future of LLMs and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: [Alex’s Free Course on DataCamp] Understanding Prompt EngineeringSunday SignalPrinciples by Ray Dalio: Life and WorkRelated Episode: [DataFramed AI Series #1] ChatGPT and the OpenAI Developer EcosystemRewatch sessions from RADAR: The Analytics Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

As we look back at 2024, we're highlighting some of our favourite episodes of the year, and with 100 of them to choose from, it wasn't easy! The four guests we'll be recapping with are: Lea Pica - A celebrity in the data storytelling and visualisation space. Richie and Lea cover the full picture of data presentation, how to understand your audience, how to leverage hollywood storytelling and more. Out December 19.Alex Banks - Founder of Sunday Signal. Adel and Alex cover Alex’s journey into AI and what led him to create Sunday Signal, the potential of AI, prompt engineering at its most basic level, chain of thought prompting, the future of LLMs and more. Out December 23.Don Chamberlin - The renowned co-inventor of SQL. Richie and Don explore the early development of SQL, how it became standardized, the future of SQL through NoSQL and SQL++ and more. Out December 26.Tom Tunguz - general Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m VC firm. Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, AI in the corporate sector and more. Out December 30. Your data project doesn't end once you have results. In order to have impact, you need to communicate those results to others. Presentations filled with endless tables and technical jargon can easily become tedious, leading your audience to lose interest or misunderstand your point. Data storytelling provides a solution to this: by creating a narrative around your results you can increase engagement and understanding from your audience. This is an art, and there are so many factors that contribute to visualizing data and creating a compelling story, it can be overwhelming. However, with the right approach, creating data stories can become second nature. In this special episode of DataFramed, we join forces with the Present Beyond Measure podcast to glean the best data presentation practices from one of the leading voices in the space. Lea Pica host of the Founder and Host of the Present Beyond Measure podcast and is a seasoned digital analytics practitioner, social media marketer and blogger with over 11 years of experience building search marketing and digital analytics practices for companies like Scholastic, Victoria’s Secret and Prudential. Present Beyond Measure’s mission is to bring their teachings to the digital marketing and web analytics communities, and empower anyone responsible for presenting data to an audience. In the full episode, Richie and Lea cover the full picture of data presentation, how to understand your audience, leverage hollywood storytelling, data storyboarding and visualization, the use of imagery in presentations, cognitive load management, the use of throughlines in presentations, how to improve your speaking and engagement skills, data visualization techniques in business setting and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: Present Beyond MeasureLea’s BookConnect with Lea on LinkedinHollywood Storytelling[Course] Data Storytelling Concepts New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using thea href="https://www.datacamp.com/mobile" rel="noopener...

We’re improving DataFramed, and we need your help! We want to hear what you have to say about the show, and how we can make it more enjoyable for you—find out more here. The convergence of AI and business intelligence is creating new opportunities for innovation. As AI becomes more embedded in BI tools, the challenge lies in fostering a data-driven culture within organizations. How can professionals bridge the gap between intuition and data-driven decision-making? What strategies can be employed to cultivate a culture where data is at the forefront of business decisions? And how can AI tools be leveraged to make data insights more accessible to all employees? Omri Kohl is the CEO and co-founder of Pyramid Analytics, the Trusted Analytics Platform built for the enterprise. He leads Pyramid’s strategy and operations through a fast-growing data and analytics market. Kohl brings a deep understanding of analytics and AI technologies, valuable management experience, and a natural ability to challenge conventional thinking. Since Kohl founded Pyramid in 2009, it has achieved significant market success and customer growth. Kohl is a highly experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record developing and managing fast-growth companies. In the episode, Richie and Omri explore the evolution of BI with AI, the importance of data-driven culture, the role of generative BI in democratizing insights, the balance between intuition and data, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: Pyramid AnalyticsConnect with OmriPyramid Analytics GenBI DemoCourse: Introduction to Data CultureRelated Episode: Self-Service Business Intelligence with Sameer Al-Sakran, CEO at MetabaseRewatch sessions from RADAR: Forward Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

We’re improving DataFramed, and we need your help! We want to hear what you have to say about the show, and how we can make it more enjoyable for you—find out more here. We’re often caught chasing the dream of “self-serve” data—a place where data empowers stakeholders to answer their questions without a data expert at every turn. But what does it take to reach that point? How do you shape tools that empower teams to explore and act on data without the usual bottlenecks? And with the growing presence of natural language tools and AI, is true self-service within reach, or is there still more to the journey? Sameer Al-Sakran is the CEO at Metabase, a low-code self-service analytics company. Sameer has a background in both data science and data engineering so he's got a practitioner's perspective as well as executive insight. Previously, he was CTO at Expa and Blackjet, and the founder of SimpleHadoop and Adopilot. In the episode, Richie and Sameer explore self-serve analytics, the evolution of data tools, GenAI vs AI agents, semantic layers, the challenges of implementing self-serve analytics, the problem with data-driven culture, encouraging efficiency in data teams, the parallels between UX and data projects, exciting trends in analytics, and much more. Links Mentioned in the Show: MetabaseConnect with SameerArticles from Metabase on jargon, information budgets, analytics mistakes, and data model mistakesCourse: Introduction to Data CultureRelated Episode: Towards Self-Service Data Engineering with Taylor Brown, Co-Founder and COO at FivetranRewatch Sessions from RADAR: Forward Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Every organization today is exploring generative AI to drive value and push their business forward. But a common pitfall is that AI strategies often don’t align with business objectives, leading companies to chase flashy tools rather than focusing on what truly matters. How can you avoid these traps and ensure your AI efforts are not only innovative but also aligned with real business value?  Leon Gordon, is a leader in data analytics and AI. A current Microsoft Data Platform MVP based in the UK, founder of Onyx Data. During the last decade, he has helped organizations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Leon is an Executive Contributor to Brainz Magazine, a Thought Leader in Data Science for the Global AI Hub, chair for the Microsoft Power BI – UK community group and the DataDNA data visualization community as well as an international speaker and advisor. In the episode, Adel and Leon explore aligning AI with business strategy, building AI use-cases, enterprise AI-agents, AI and data governance, data-driven decision making, key skills for cross-functional teams, AI for automation and augmentation, privacy and AI and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: Onyx DataConnect with LeonLeon’s Linkedin Course - How to Build and Execute a Successful Data StrategySkill Track: AI Business FundamentalsRelated Episode: Generative AI in the Enterprise with Steve Holden, Senior Vice President and Head of Single-Family Analytics at Fannie MaeRewatch sessions from RADAR: AI Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Excel often gets unfair criticism from data practitioners, many of us will remember a time when Excel was looked down upon—why would anyone use Excel when we have powerful tools like Python, R, SQL, or BI tools? However,  like it or not, Excel is here to stay, and there’s a meme, bordering on reality, that Excel is carrying a large chunk of the world’s GDP. But when it really comes down to it, can you do data science in Excel? Jordan Goldmeier is an entrepreneur, a consultant, a best-selling author of four books on data, and a digital nomad. He started his career as a data scientist in the defense industry for Booz Allen Hamilton and The Perduco Group, before moving into consultancy with EY, and then teaching people how to use data at Excel TV, Wake Forest University, and now Anarchy Data. He also has a newsletter called The Money Making Machine, and he's on a mission to create 100 entrepreneurs.  In the episode, Adel and Jordan explore excel in data science, excel’s popularity, use cases for Excel in data science, the impact of GenAI on Excel, Power Query and data transformation, advanced Excel features, Excel for prototyping and generating buy-in, the limitations of Excel and what other tools might emerge in its place, and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: Data Smart: Using Data Science to Transform Information Into Insight by Jordan Goldmeier[Webinar] Developing a Data Mindset: How to Think, Speak, and Understand Data[Course] Data Analysis in ExcelRelated Episode: Do Spreadsheets Need a Rethink? With Hjalmar Gislason, CEO of GRIDRewatch sessions from RADAR: AI Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

This special episode of DataFramed was made in collaboration with Analytics on Fire! Nowadays, the hype around generative AI is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many ideas being touted as the next big thing that it’s difficult to keep up. More importantly, it’s challenging to discern which ideas will become the next ChatGPT and which will end up like the next NFT. How do we cut through the noise? Mico Yuk is the Community Manager at Acryl Data and Co-Founder at Data Storytelling Academy. Mico is also an SAP Mentor Alumni, and the Founder of the popular weblog, Everything Xcelsius and the 'Xcelsius Gurus’ Network. She was named one of the Top 50 Analytics Bloggers to follow, as-well-as a high-regarded BI influencer and sought after global keynote speaker in the Analytics ecosystem.  In the episode, Richie and Mico explore AI and productivity at work, the future of work and AI, GenAI and data roles, AI for training and learning, training at scale, decision intelligence, soft skills for data professionals, genAI hype and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: Analytics on Fire PodcastData Visualization for Dummies by Mico Yuk and Stephanie DiamondConnect with Miko[Skill Track] AI FundamentalsRelated Episode: What to Expect from AI in 2024 with Craig S. Smith, Host of the Eye on A.I PodcastRewatch sessions from RADAR: AI Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

In the fast-paced work environments we are used to, the ability to quickly find and understand data is essential. Data professionals can often spend more time searching for data than analyzing it, which can hinder business progress. Innovations like data catalogs and automated lineage systems are transforming data management, making it easier to ensure data quality, trust, and compliance. By creating a strong metadata foundation and integrating these tools into existing workflows, organizations can enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. But how did this all come to be, who is driving better access and collaboration through data? Prukalpa Sankar is the Co-founder of Atlan. Atlan is a modern data collaboration workspace (like GitHub for engineering or Figma for design). By acting as a virtual hub for data assets ranging from tables and dashboards to models & code, Atlan enables teams to create a single source of truth for all their data assets, and collaborate across the modern data stack through deep integrations with tools like Slack, BI tools, data science tools and more. A pioneer in the space, Atlan was recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor in DataOps, as one of the top 3 companies globally. Prukalpa previously co-founded SocialCops, world leading data for good company (New York Times Global Visionary, World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer). SocialCops is behind landmark data projects including India’s National Data Platform and SDGs global monitoring in collaboration with the United Nations. She was awarded Economic Times Emerging Entrepreneur for the Year, Forbes 30u30, Fortune 40u40, Top 10 CNBC Young Business Women 2016, and a TED Speaker. In the episode, Richie and Prukalpa explore challenges within data discoverability, the inception of Atlan, the importance of a data catalog, personalization in data catalogs, data lineage, building data lineage, implementing data governance, human collaboration in data governance, skills for effective data governance, product design for diverse audiences, regulatory compliance, the future of data management and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: AtlanConnect with Prukalpa[Course] Artificial Intelligence (AI) StrategyRelated Episode: Adding AI to the Data Warehouse with Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO at SnowflakeSign up to RADAR: AI Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile app Empower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Rapid change seems to be the new norm within the data and AI space, and due to the ecosystem constantly changing, it can be tricky to keep up. Fortunately, any self-respecting venture capitalist looking into data and AI will stay on top of what’s changing and where the next big breakthroughs are likely to come from. We all want to know which important trends are emerging and how we can take advantage of them, so why not learn from a leading VC.  Tomasz Tunguz is a General Partner at Theory Ventures, a $235m early-stage venture capital firm. He blogs sat tomtunguz.com & co-authored Winning with Data. He has worked or works with Looker, Kustomer, Monte Carlo, Dremio, Omni, Hex, Spot, Arbitrum, Sui & many others. He was previously the product manager for Google's social media monetization team, including the Google-MySpace partnership, and managed the launches of AdSense into six new markets in Europe and Asia. Before Google, Tunguz developed systems for the Department of Homeland Security at Appian Corporation.  In the episode, Richie and Tom explore trends in generative AI, the impact of AI on professional fields, cloud+local hybrid workflows, data security, and changes in data warehousing through the use of integrated AI tools, the future of business intelligence and data analytics, the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI in the corporate sector. You'll also get to discover Tom's picks for the hottest new data startups. Links Mentioned in the Show: Tom’s BlogTheory VenturesArticle: What Air Canada Lost In ‘Remarkable’ Lying AI Chatbot Case[Course] Implementing AI Solutions in BusinessRelated Episode: Making Better Decisions using Data & AI with Cassie Kozyrkov, Google's First Chief Decision ScientistSign up to RADAR: AI Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Creating a culture of continuous learning within analytics functions isn't just beneficial; it's essential. In the session, Russell Johnson, Chief Data Scientist at Marks & Spencer, Denisse Groenendaal-Lopez, Learning & Development Business Partner at Booking Group, and Mark Stern, VP of Business Intelligence & Analytics at BetMGM will address the importance of fostering a learning environment for driving success with analytics. They will provide insights on developing a culture where continuous learning, experimentation, and curiosity are the norms—and strategies leaders can adopt today to drive up excitement around analytics adoption & upskilling. 

Generative AI has made a mark everywhere, including BI platforms, but how can you combine AI and BI together? What effects can this have across organizations? With constituent aspects such as data quality, your AI strategy, and the specific use-case you’re trying to solve, it’s important to get the full picture and tread with intent. What are the subtleties that we need to get right in order for this marriage to work to its full potential? Nick Magnuson is the Head of AI at Qlik, executing the organization’s AI strategy, solution development, and innovation. Prior to Qlik, Nick was the CEO of Big Squid, which was acquired by Qlik in 2021. Nick has previously held executive roles in customer success, product, and engineering in the field of machine learning and predictive analytics. As a practitioner in this field for over 20 years, Nick has published original research in these areas, as well as cognitive bias and other quantitative topics. He has also served as an advisor to other analytics platforms and start-ups. A long-time investment professional, Nick continues to hold his Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a past member of the Chicago Quantitative Alliance and Society of Quantitative Analysts.  In the episode, Richie and Nick explore what Qlik offers, including products like Sense and Staige, how Staige uses AI to enhance customer capabilities, use cases of generative AI, advice on data privacy and security when using AI, data quality and its effect on the success of AI tools, AI strategy and leadership, how data roles are changing and the emergence of new positions, and much more. 

Links Mentioned in the Show: QlikQlik StaigeQlik Sense[Skill Track] AI FundamentalsRelated Episode: Adapting to the AI Era with Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur MagazineSign up to RADAR: The Analytics Edition

New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile app Empower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

Despite the critical role of analytics in guiding business decisions, organizations continue to face significant challenges in harnessing its full potential. As data sets expand and deadlines shrink, the urgency to scale analytics processes becomes paramount. What data leaders now need to focus on are essential strategies for analytics at scale, including fostering a culture of continuous learning, prioritizing data governance, and leveraging generative AI. Libby Duane Adams is the Chief Advocacy Officer and co-founder of Alteryx. She is responsible for strengthening upskilling and reskilling efforts for Alteryx customers to enable a culture of analytics, scaling the presence of the Alteryx SparkED education program and furthering diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As the former Chief Customer Officer, Libby has helped many Fortune 100 executives to identify and seize market opportunities, outsmart their competitors, and drive more revenue from their current businesses using analytics.  In the episode, Richie and Libby explore the differences between analytics and business intelligence, analytics as a team sport, the importance of speed in analytics, generative AI and its implications in analytics, the role of data quality and governance, Alteryx’s AI platform, data skills as a workplace necessity, using AI to automate documentation and insights, success stories and mistakes within analytics, and much more.  Links Mentioned in the Show: AlteryxAlteryx SparkED Program[Course] Introduction to AlteryxRelated Episode: From Data Literacy to AI Literacy with Cindi Howson, Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpotSign up to RADAR: The Analytics Edition New to DataCamp? Learn on the go using the DataCamp mobile appEmpower your business with world-class data and AI skills with DataCamp for business

In data science, the push for unbiased machine learning models is evident. So much effort is made into ensuring the products we create are done thoughtfully and correctly, but are we investing the same effort in ensuring our teams, the very architects of these models, are diverse and inclusive? Bias in data can lead to skewed results, and similarly, a lack of diversity in teams can result in narrow perspectives. As we prioritize building diversity and inclusion into our data, it's equally crucial to embed these principles within our teams. So, who is best equipped to guide us in integrating DEI from a data perspective? Tracy Daniels is the Chief Data Officer for Truist Financial Corporation. She leads the team responsible for Truist’s enterprise data capabilities, including strategy, governance, data platform delivery, client, master & reference data, and the centers of excellence for business intelligence visualization and artificial intelligence & machine learning. She is also the executive sponsor for Truist’s Enterprise Technology & Operations Diversity Council. Daniels joined Truist in 2018. She has more than 25 years of banking and technology experience leading high performing technology portfolio, development, infrastructure and global operations organizations. Tracy enjoys participating in civic and philanthropic endeavors including serving on the Georgia State University Foundation Board of Trustees. She has been recognized as a National 2013 WOC STEM Rising Star award recipient, the 2017 Working Mother magazine Mother of the Year recipient, and a 2021 Women In Technology (WIT) Women of the Year in STEAM finalist. In the episode Tracy and Richie discuss Truist's approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and its alignment with the company's purpose and values, the distinction between diversity and inclusion, the positive outcomes of implementing DEI correctly, the importance of not missing opportunities both externally with customers and internally with talent, the significance of aligning diversity programs with business metrics and hiring to promote DEI, considerations for job advertisements that appeal to a diverse audience, and much more.  Links mentioned in the show: McKinsey on Diversity and InclusionBrookings Piece on Mitigating Bias in DataAlgorithmic Justice LeagueEuropean Legislation on Data and DiversityCourse: AI EthicsRadar: Data & AI Literacy Edition

For the past few years, we've seen the importance of data literacy and why organizations must invest in a data-driven culture, mindset, and skillset. However, as generative AI tools like ChatGPT have risen to prominence in the past year, AI literacy has never been more important. But how do we begin to approach AI literacy? Is it an extension of data literacy, a complement, or a new paradigm altogether? How should you get started on your AI literacy ambitions?  Cindi Howson is the Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot and host of The Data Chief podcast. Cindi is a data analytics, AI, and BI thought leader and an expert with a flair for bridging business needs with technology. As Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot, she advises top clients on data strategy and best practices to become data-driven, speaks internationally on top trends such as AI ethics, and influences ThoughtSpot’s product strategy.

Cindi was previously a Gartner Research Vice President, the lead author for the data and analytics maturity model and analytics and BI Magic Quadrant, and a popular keynote speaker. She introduced new research in data and AI for good, NLP/BI Search, and augmented analytics, bringing both BI bake-offs and innovation panels to Gartner globally. She’s frequently quoted in MIT, Harvard Business Review, and Information Week. She is rated a top 12 influencer in big data and analytics by Analytics Insight, Onalytca, Solutions Review, and Humans of Data.

In the episode, Cindi and Adel discuss how generative AI accelerates an organization’s data literacy, how leaders can think beyond data literacy and start to think about AI literacy, the importance of responsible use of AI, how to best communicate the value of AI within your organization, what generative AI means for data teams, AI use-cases in the data space, the psychological barriers blocking AI adoption, and much more. 

Links Mentioned in the Show: The Data Chief Podcast  ThoughtSpot Sage  BloombergGPT  Radar: Data & AI Literacy Course: AI Ethics  Course: Generative AI Concepts Course: Implementing AI Solutions in Business 

Spreadsheets have been the unsung heroes of the data world for many decades now. Yet, despite their ubiquity and importance, they've seen little disruption or evolution. The grid of cells we interact with today isn't far removed from the ones our predecessors used in the 1980s. However, the winds of change have started to blow. As we stand on the cusp of a new era in data and AI, the humble spreadsheet is poised for transformation. The coming changes could redefine how we interact with data, derive insights, and how we make decisions. The implications are vast given the popularity and dependence we have on spreadsheets, and the potential impacts could ripple through every corner of the professional world.  Hjalmar Gislason is the founder and CEO of GRID, with their main product being a smart spreadsheet with an interactive data visualization layer and integrated AI assistance. Hjalmar previously served as VP of Product Management at Qlik. He was the founder and CEO of DataMarket, founded in 2008 and sold to Qlik in 2014. A career data nerd and entrepreneur, GRID is Hjalmar’s fifth software startup as a founder.  In the episode, Richie and Hjalmar explore the integral role of spreadsheets in today's data-driven world, the limitations of traditional Business Intelligence tools, and the transformative potential of generative AI in the realm of spreadsheets.

In 2023, businesses are relying more heavily on data science and analytics teams than ever before. However, simply having a team of talented individuals is not enough to guarantee success.  In the last of our RADAR 2023 sessions, Vijay Yadav and Vanessa Gonzalez will outline the keys to building high-impact data teams in 2023. They will discuss what are the hallmarks of a high-performing data team, the importance of diversity of background and skillset needed to build impactful data teams, setting up career pathways for data scientists, and more. Vijay Yadav is a highly respected data and analytics thought leader with over 20 years of experience in data product development, data engineering, and advanced analytics. As Director of Quantitative Sciences - Digital, Data, and Analytics at Merck, he leads data & analytics teams in creating AI/ML-driven data products to drive digital transformation. Vijay has held numerous leadership positions at various companies and is known for his ability to lead global teams to achieve high-impact results.  Vanessa Gonzalez is the Sr. Director of Data Science and Innovation at Businessolver where she leads the Computational Linguistics, Machine Learning Engineering, Data Science, BI Analytics, and BI Engineering teams. She is experienced in leading data transformations, performing analytical and management functions that contribute to the goals and growth objectives of organizations and divisions.  Listen in as Vanessa and Vijay share how to enable data teams to flourish in an ever-evolving data landscape. 

An effective data strategy is one that combines a variety of levers such as infrastructure, tools, organization, processes, and more. Arguably however, the most important aspect of a vibrant data strategy is culture and people. In the third of our four RADAR 2023 sessions, Cindi Howson and Valerie Logan discuss how data leaders can create a data strategy that puts their people at the center. Learn key insights into how to drive effective change management for data culture, how to drive adoption of data within the organization, common pitfalls when executing on a data strategy, and more.  Cindi Howson is the Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot and host of The Data Chief podcast. Cindi is an analytics and BI thought leader and expert with a flair for bridging business needs with technology.  As Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot, she advises top clients on data strategy and best practices to become data-driven, speaks internationally on top trends such as AI ethics, and influences ThoughtSpot’s product strategy.  Valerie Logan is the Founder and CEO of The Data Lodge. Valerie is committed to data literacy, she believes that in today's digital society, data literacy is a life skill. With advisory services, bootcamps, a resource library and community services at The Data Lodge, Valerie is certifying the world’s first Data Literacy Program Leads and pioneering the path forward in cracking the data culture code. In 2018, she was awarded Gartner’s Top Thought Leadership Award for her leadership in the area of Data Literacy. Listen in as Cindi and Valerie share how to build a data strategy that puts people first in an enterprise organization.

In programming, collaboration and experimentation can be very stressful, since sharing code and making it visible to others can be tedious, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking.Tools like Power BI are changing that entirely, by opening up new ways to collaborate between team members, add layers of customized and complex security to the data teams are working with, and making data much more accessible across organizations.

Ginger Grant joins the show to talk about how organizations can utilize Power BI, Dax, and M to their fullest potential and create new opportunities for experimentation, innovation, and collaboration.

Ginger is the Principal Consultant at the Desert Isle Group, working as an expert in advanced analytic solutions, including machine learning, data warehousing, ETL, reporting and cube development, Power BI, Excel Automation, Data Visualization and training. In addition to her consultant work, she is also a blogger at and global keynote speaker on developments and trends in data. Microsoft has also recognized her technical contributions by awarding her a MVP in Data Platform.

In this episode, we talk about what Power BI is, the common mistakes organizations make when implementing Power BI, advanced use cases, and much more.