In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Ben Steele, Head of Data and Analytics at BMS Group, a fast-growing, global insurance and reinsurance broker. They discuss the importance of predicting value and the key factors organisations should focus on to become more agile, better equipped to respond to new challenges and opportunities, and ultimately deliver more value to their stakeholders.

In this episode, Jason talks to Lisa Allen, the Director of Data and Services at Open Data Institute about how data assurance and trust can create a world where data is used to create a greater impact outside an individual organisation. Lisa also shares her background in data, explains what data trust is, why data should be transparent and how a lack of data trust affects an organisation.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Kyle Winterbottom, Founder & CEO of Orbition Group and host of the Driven by Data Podcast. They discuss the different challenges organisations face when hiring for data-specific roles and the best way to improve your job advert to attract the right candidates. An enlightening conversation to better understand how to find individuals with the right skills and expertise, the best hiring structure, and the process to recruit and retain data talents.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Anna Hannem, Head of Data Ethics and Use at the Canadian multinational banking and financial services company Scotiabank. Together, they explore the importance of data ethics in organisations and how it can be implemented, the increased value it can provide customers and how to operationalise across an organisation.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Bill Inmon, a long-standing industry expert in the field of data, Founder and CEO of Forest Rim Technology, Best-Selling Author and recognised by many as the father of the data warehouse. Jason Foster and Bill discuss how to achieve business value from text, why using text is so important in decision-making, the challenges of using text in data and how organisations can effectively leverage data from text.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Graeme McDermott, a long-standing authority in Data Leadership who is currently Chief Data Officer at TempCover, a leading provider of temporary insurance cover. They discuss the importance of having data available for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity while also considering other factors of an M&A, the due diligence process, the role of the data team and the key metrics to consider to make informed strategic decisions and improve performance over time.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Marco Lau, Director of Data Science and Analytics at Penguin Random House, the international publishing business. They discuss how data science can help create value in the publishing industry and the use of data to predict market trends and make informed business decisions. Marco also talks about his background and role and explains how different teams at Penguin Random House collaborate to blend data science, art and traditional methods to drive business growth.

In this episode, Jason Foster shares his thoughts on the new technology from OpenAI, ChatGPT, what it is, its origin and the variety of its fascinating applications. Jason also explores its limitations and the impact it can have on the world. Spoiler alert: a special guest might pop up during this episode!

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Julia Bardmesser, a Digital Transformation Executive, Board Member and Advisor with over 20 years of experience in the financial sector. They discuss the important role of data in mergers and acquisitions and how to successfully examine data capabilities to ensure a smooth transition. Julia explains the difference between good and bad data capabilities, the 3 factors stakeholders need to consider when acquiring data as part of a merger or acquisition, and how to unlock significant value and gain a competitive advantage in the industry during the process.

In this episode, Jason talks to Diana Goenaga, a strategist focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), about AI's impact in every industry and how it is a game changer for many challenges the world faces today. They discuss the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, the role AI and humans play in enabling a sustainable future and explore the challenges and benefits of using AI to solve global problems.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to his fitness mentor and personal trainer, Geoff Foden, about the correlation between physical and mental health, the emotional benefits of exercising and the impressive impact on your entire life. An inspiring conversation uncovering how fitness lessons boost motivation, improve resilience, helps stress management and change your outlook on life. Last but not least, they explore the use of data to look at the bigger picture and help with your fitness goals.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Roberto Maranca, the VP of Data Excellence at Schneider Electric. They discuss the captivating data personal trainer concept, how organisations can improve data agility and capabilities, and the parallels between a data team and a high-performance sports team.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Allison Sagraves, Portfolio Chief Data Officer, Board Advisor, Adjunct Faculty at Carnegie Mellon University and former Chief Data Officer of M&T Bank. They talk about providing value with data, strategic prioritisation in data, how to align success criteria with business objectives, data culture and building well-rounded data teams.

In this episode, Jason Foster is joined by Antje Bustamante, the Director of Data and Analytics at Zoopla. They talk about data transformation at Zoopla, the role data plays in the real estate industry, how to combine data and business goals and data literacy. Antje also shares her professional journey, interesting data use cases in the property industry and how the attitude towards data has changed at Zoopla over the past couple of years.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Antony Marlow, data strategist and Director of Data Management at Cynozure Group. They discuss change and its impact on organisations. A fascinating conversation about the scale of change (small changes vs transformational changes), implications on the business, processes required, the role of technology and how it impacts people and business outcomes.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks about data literacy, the misconceptions around the term and which role it plays across the whole data value chain. Data literacy doesn't merely refer to the ability to read, write, and interpret data, and it is swiftly becoming a must-have skill across an organisation to solve business problems, identify trends, optimise processes, and make better decisions in day-to-day operations.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks about building teams and companies that put people first, what a people-first business looks like and why this is a win-win approach that benefits employees and companies by boosting engagement, productivity, trust, well-being, creativity and retention. Jason also shares his hands-on experience leading teams and reveals the three main components of building a people-first culture and practical examples of how to implement it.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks about how to align your data strategy around the goals of a business through a top-down pyramid approach. Data is an incredibly valuable asset, but sometimes data experts get carried away implementing systems and models that are not necessarily the best fit. Jason guides us step by step through the top-down pyramid approach and explains how to identify business goals, benefits, use cases and business questions to ensure that the data strategy you put in place is aligned with the larger business objectives.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to George McCrea, Chief of Staff at Royal Engineers Geographic. They explore the fascinating role of geospatial data soldiers in the military, how the military's experience with data collection and analysis has developed over centuries and how it's used to improve the lives of civilians in a variety of ways and to support government bodies to make strategic decisions.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to David Bader, Distinguished Professor of the Department of Data Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. They talk about building massive scale analytics, how to use a large amount of data to gain insights, the complexity of the data set and how to bridge the gap between architecture and algorithms. David also shares his notable experience, talks about capabilities and skills data departments require to run large-scale data projects and explores some use cases in diverse industries.

In this episode, Jason talks to Natalia Connolly, the Vice President of Data Science at Infinite Acres, about Agricultural Tech (AgTech) and how it is helping the agriculture industry keep up with increasing demand. With the assistance of technology and data, the agricultural industry's not just been improved but completely overhauled over time with more sustainable methods and tech.

In this episode, Jason talks to Dr. Tiffany Perkins-Munn, the Head of Marketing, Data, and Analytics for JP Morgan Chase. They discuss the role of critical thinking in data and analytics, how to use critical thinking to move from vision to outcome and if critical thinking is a skill that can be learned. Tiffany shares her brilliant experience and Ph.D. expertise, the importance of finding a balance between critical thinking and quick progression, and why being willing to question everything through critical thinking can open up to great new ideas and possibilities.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Stephen Galsworthy, Head of Data at TomTom, a leading provider of mapping and location technology. They discuss the gradual integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into data products to create a better user experience, how TomTom navigated the shift from hardware to software and AI, and the challenges associated with integrating AI with data. Stephen also shares his brilliant journey in data & analytics, his extensive experience leading data science teams since 2011 and how to align a data team depending on the maturity of the business.

In this episode, Jason Foster, considers the challenging economic environment we are all living through, with inflation increasing, looming recession, and ongoing conflict in Europe and how data leaders can best prepare and get ahead. Using, BIRTH, a set of measures that will help you not only survive but thrive through these times, Jason lays out what you can be doing now to recession-proof your work and the value you add.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Sid Shah, the Executive Director for Data and Analytics at Condé Nast, a global media company home to iconic brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ and Vanity Fair. They discuss building data products at Condé Nast and how data is utilised to drive efficiency and optimise advertising campaigns and conversions at scale across multiple brands and data teams. Sid shares his long-lasting journey in data & analytics, how his role has developed over the years, the challenges of creating specific data products for different stakeholders and how to build and manage multiple data teams.

 In this episode, Jason speaks to Yasmeen Moseley, Vice President of Consumer Insights and Analytics at Swift, a creative agency within the Wunderman Thompson network. They discuss data visualisation and storytelling in analytics, how to use social media insights to understand the audience, craft tailored stories, analyse performance and track the success. Yasmeen also highlights crucial points in selecting and presenting insights and talks about the psychology of colours, types of charts, metrics and challenges in the field.

In this episode, Jason Foster speaks to Jyotika Singh, Director of Data Science at Placemakr, about the uses of natural language processing (NLP), its evolution and how it's applied in different industries to analyse large amounts of text quickly to find critical patterns and trends. Jyotika shares her journey and longstanding experience on the topic: what natural language processing is in the field of data, uses of NLP in text data and other languages, special rules, nuances, case studies and how NLP affects the data industry.

In this episode, Jason Foster speaks to Jon Hay, Vice President, Data, Intelligence & Analytics at the Boston Red Sox, about using insights at the Boston Red Sox. Jon shares his journey from economics to data, talks about the movie Moneyball, the use of predictive analytics in baseball and how data analytics have become an integral part of the sports industry. An interesting conversation on how sports organisations use data to make strategic decisions to scout new talent, optimise player performance, and define day-to-day operations, marketing campaigns and plans to boost revenue streams.

In this episode, Jason Foster speaks to Sadiqah Musa, the founder-CEO of Black in Data, about creating opportunities for black people in data. In the data industry, people of colour are underrepresented, hold few leadership positions and face many barriers to entry. Sadiqah shares her brilliant journey in the data and talks about the challenges people of colour face in the data industry, how Black In Data provides support, and how to create opportunities for people of colour and underrepresented groups.

In this episode, Jason Foster speaks to Carlos Rivero, an experienced data leader in the public sector, about the use of data in the public sector and how it impacts governments' choices and people. Carlos shares his journey in data science and leadership and illustrates how data speeds up government decision-making, how it is used in the US across the 3 different levels of government to meet the public's needs, the hiring process for data specialists, and the demand of digital services.

In this episode, Jason talks to Paul Briley, an extremely experienced commercial B2B leader, data expert and a key senior member of the team at Cynozure supporting customers to develop and grow. A brilliant conversation about the great potential of taking a commercial approach and integrating it with data management, data product and technology solutions to drive real growth and maximise the benefits of data analytics.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Mikel Davis, Senior Director of Strategic Analytics at Peacock, the streaming service for NBC, about establishing and embedding data and data-driven culture in organisations. A great conversation where Mikel shares her learnings and her brilliant experience supporting different types of organisations, how to strategically prioritise business goals to create a data strategy and structure data teams for success. 

 In this episode, Jason Foster talks about the government’s new strategy around data in healthcare: an ambitious plan to harness the potential of data in the health and social care system in England to save lives - while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and ethics. Jason walks us through the plan: the vision, how the government is looking to implement the new healthcare data strategy, the priorities and the seven pillars of the data strategy.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks about the role of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and how to effectively balance the many different responsibilities that come with the role: data leadership, time allocation, prioritisation and focus. Jason also shares the 40-30-20-10 rule for data leaders, a framework you can use and adjust as a CDO, to help block time out for your tasks and juggle the many responsibilities. 

 In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Erica Stanford, author of Crypto Wars, founder of the Crypto Curry Club, and editor of Crypto Currier. All you need to know about Cryptocurrency: what is it, how is it used by people all over the world, its social and economic impact, how it is evolving, and its impact on the future. Erica also shares how people can protect themselves from scams and invest safely in crypto.  

In this episode, Jason talks to Tom Wilson, Solutions Architect at Cynozure. They discuss how to navigate the transition from academia to industry, and how to decide when the best time is to make the transition. Tom talks about his career in academia and his PhD background, how he found his passion for data science and applied his academic knowledge in his data roles. Last but not least, Tom shares insightful advice for people that are in academia and would like to move to industry.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Dan Kellett, the Chief Data Officer at Capital One UK, about how important it is to create a centre of excellence and form strong relationships outside the data team. Dan shares his brilliant journey into data and talks about the role of the CDO and the structure of the data team at Capital One UK, how to balance short and long-term projects, and effectively allocate resources to achieve business goals.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks to Sophie Duffy, Head of Data and Analytics at the Kingfisher Group, an international home improvement conglomerate. They discuss how Kingfisher uses data and analytics to sustain business growth, enhance buyer experience with personalised solutions and tailor customer journeys online and in-store. Sophie also shares her brilliant journey in customer digital analytics, the importance of data teams and data management, and the skillset needed to ensure timely communication across the organisation.

In this episode, Jason talks to Tom Goodwin, keynote speaker, consultant, TV presenter and author of Digital Darwinism: Surviving the New Age of Business Disruption. The talk about digital disruption and innovation, the profound implications of these fast changes and new technologies on business and the impact on people's lives and behaviours.

In this podcast, Jason Foster talks to Sathya Bala, Founder & CEO of True Change and My Skin My Story, about true diversity and inclusivity in the workforce. Sathya talks about the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion, the importance and benefits of having a more diverse workforce, and how organisations can drive real change and create a more diverse workplace.  

In this podcast, Jason talks through strategic decision-making and how it impacts data. It’s widely known that data is all about helping organisations make better decisions through factual information, however our current approach to data literacy rarely covers strategic decision-making.

In this episode, Jason Foster talks about the role dashboards play in reporting. He talks about the purpose of dashboards, how they work within an organisation's data ecosystem and shares real-life examples of dashboards and their efficacy. They may be one of the oldest data products around, however, they still play a crucial role in an organisation’s data ecosystem.

In this podcast, Jason Foster speaks to James Lupton, CTO at Cynozure, about major trends to look out for in data. They talk about James’ journey in data, his role as CTO of Cynozure, emerging data industry trends and tech solutions, metric layers, active metadata, reverse ETL, innovation and what will define the next generation of data platforms.

In this podcast, Jason Foster speaks to Keith Goldthorpe, Lead Solution Architect at Cynozure, about Data Mesh and how it’s being used by many organisations to effectively grow and scale data strategies. They discuss how Data Mesh provides a new perspective, the four components of Data Mesh, the scenarios where Data Mesh is most viable and how companies are integrating Data Mesh into their organisation to scale rapidly.

In this podcast, Jason Foster talks to Giselle Cory, CEO of DataKind UK - a charity that supports social sector organisations to use data science. They talk about DataKind’s mission, how data has provided valuable insights to different social organisations, how to build trust with data and the importance of volunteering data skills to help social change organisations.

In this podcast, Jason speaks to Helen Blaikie, interim Chief Data Officer, Data Strategist and Cynozure's associate. They talk about data literacy, why it's crucial for organisations and how it empowers employees to make better decisions, identify opportunities, and solve problems. Helen also reveals the processes organisations can use to implement data literacy, what needs to be in place before starting, and how to avoid ‘data chaos'.

In this podcast, Jason speaks to Randy Bean, the author of “Fail Fast, Learn Faster” and a consultant to some of the largest data organisations in the world with experience ranging from venture-back startups to multinational corporations. Together, they discuss what sets a successful data strategy apart from the rest. Randy shares his journey into data and the key elements to become successful data-driven organisations: mindset, goals, ethics, culture, innovation and budget.

In this podcast, Jason talks to Sadie St. Lawrence, the founder of Women in Data (U.S.), a global organisation dedicated to facilitating equal opportunities for women in the data field. They discuss emerging technologies and their impact, Sadie's role at Women in data, the groundbreaking work of the Web 3.0 and how the Metaverse, blockchain and NFTs will affect the field of data.