Bringing Data and AI to Life

Transforming one’s business with AI while maintaining that human element is the balance everyone’s struggling with. But what if the answer’s hidden in plain sight? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, host and VP of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales at Informatica, Amy Horowitz sits down with Alanna Val Hackett, Manager of Data Solutions at TripleLift, to explore the evolution of modern data teams, effective data-driven product management, and practical AI implementation strategies. 


What You’ll Learn 

• How to transition into data leadership through strategic career progression and agile methodologies
• The data requirements for ensuring business and technical alignment in product development
• Why dedicated data product managers are essential for driving data-driven decision making
• How to implement proactive cost optimization through data warehouse monitoring and micro-batch processing
• The principle of Human-AI balance for keeping AI focused on automation while preserving human creativity
• How to retain top data talent through strategic exposure and professional development opportunities
• Why documentation and end-user empathy are crucial for successful data and AI initiatives
• The importance of maintaining junior developer growth opportunities in an AI-enhanced workplace
  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

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Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life as hosts, Amy Horowitz, VP of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales at Informatica and Nick Dobbins, VP and Worldwide Field CTO, Informatica, along with the team - Rudra Ray, Rameez Ghouz, Stephanie Rogers and Gary Loste, celebrate one year of cutting through data and AI complexity. Together, they reflect on key insights and transformative discussions that have shaped the industry landscape, including AI governance challenges, the importance of trusted data for scaling AI initiatives, and practical strategies for modernizing data stacks.



What You’ll Learn 

• Why trusted data remains the critical foundation for scaling AI beyond proof-of-concept stages
• How organizations are adapting learning strategies to keep pace with rapid AI evolution through experimentation and collaboration
• The evolution of data management from a specialized function to an organization-wide responsibility
• Why successful AI implementation requires both technical excellence and cultural transformation
• Case studies of certain organizations who’ve achieved success through robust data foundations and system integration
• The growing importance of AI governance in preventing organizational risks and ensuring ethical implementation
• The future of data modernization and its role in preparing organizations for AI adoption
• Why "good enough" data quality no longer suffices in today's AI-driven landscape
  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

As it stands today, the average social media user is privy to anywhere between 4,000 to 10,000 ads a day. So, how much of this churn is down to Data and AI and how efficiently do businesses bridge the gap between ad tech and customer value? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, welcomes Praveen Gujar, Director of Product at LinkedIn, to explore the evolution of ad tech platforms, real-time data scaling, and the delicate balance between personalization and privacy.


What You’ll Learn

• How digital advertising has transformed from basic demographic targeting to AI-powered intent and context-based personalization
• The three pillars of ethical AI implementation in advertising: bias minimization, transparency, and accountability
• Why building simple, scalable systems is crucial for delivering real-time, hyper-personalized ad experiences
• How to balance innovation and personalization with user privacy and trust
• The critical role of real-time data systems in modern ad tech platforms
• Why cross-channel consistency and attribution are essential for demonstrating advertising ROI
• The fundamental skills needed for aspiring product leaders in ad tech, including AI foundations and low-code development 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Links:
Praveen Gujar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveengujar/ Nick Dobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-dobbins-guiding-data-modernization-with-responsible-ai Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

If you think the mere presence of AI determines organizational success, think again. Because it’s when organizations use AI to support value creation, that success really takes a seat at the table. In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Amy Horowitz, VP of the Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales team for Informatica, welcomes the ‘Dean of Big Data’, Bill Schmarzo to the show, to unpack key strategies to transform data and AI initiatives into tangible business value.


What You’ll Learn

• The Value Engineering Methodology to transform data initiatives from technology projects into value creation engines 
• Why stakeholder involvement is crucial for successful AI adoption and implementation
• The “economics of data” - how it’s an appreciating asset that gains value through continuous use
• How to avoid monetizing data through sales instead of strategic value creation
• Key strategies to define and measure KPIs before implementing AI solutions
• Why AI should be viewed as an innovation tool rather than just a productivity enhancer

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Links:
Bill Schmarzo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmarzo Amy Horowitz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhorowitz Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Is AI going to be relegated to a productivity-efficiency in the banking sector or do the horizons expand into innovation as well? In part two of the series on Bringing Data and AI to Life, host Amy Horowitz, VP of the Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales team, Informatica, welcomes back Joseph Pelasari and Desigan Reddi  from Wescom Financial, for a further deep-dive on the potential of AI in the banking industry, the practical ways it’s currently driving innovation and what the future holds in terms of AI capabilities and adoption.


What You’ll Learn

• How to leverage AI to cut call centre time by 30 seconds and improve service quality
• The methodology for scaling AI quality control from sampling to analyzing 100% of customer calls
• Why data quality and curation are crucial foundations for successful AI implementation in financial services
• How to achieve first-contact resolution using AI-powered knowledge bases and automated responses
• The framework for expanding AI capabilities into lending and investment services while maintaining regulatory compliance

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Links:
Joseph Pellissery on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpellissery/ Design Reddi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiganreddi/ Wescom Financial Website: https://www.wescom.org/ Amy Horowitz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhorowitz Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, hosts Amy Horowitz and Nick Dobbins sit down with Joseph Pellissery, CIO, Head of Technology, Digital and Payments at Wescom Credit Union and Chairman of Wescom Resources Group, and Desigan Reddi, VP of IT Operations and Architecture at Wescom Credit Union, to explore their groundbreaking journey from siloed systems to a unified, AI-powered customer view.


What You’ll Learn

• How to build a comprehensive data foundation by integrating 35+ systems into a unified enterprise data warehouse
  
  
• Why establishing a "show me that you know me" strategy drives superior customer experience
  
  
• The critical steps for successful AI implementation
  
  
• How to overcome siloed systems challenges through strategic data integration and cross-departmental collaboration
  
  
• Why securing executive buy-in and cross-functional business engagement is crucial for AI transformation success
  
  

Joseph Pellissery brings over 20 years of financial services technology leadership experience, including 15 years at Bank of America. As a veteran in the financial technology sector, Joseph has spearheaded transformative data initiatives, successfully integrating 35 systems into an enterprise data warehouse implementation. His strategic vision focuses on delivering a comprehensive 360-degree view of member relationships while leveraging generative AI to enhance customer experience.

Desigan Reddi serves as the VP of IT Operations and Architecture at Wescom Credit Union, where he has played a pivotal role in transforming the organization's data infrastructure over the past five years. His expertise in system integration and data architecture has been instrumental in breaking down data silos and implementing innovative solutions that streamline customer interactions. Desigan's work has been crucial in developing a unified customer view across multiple banking platforms, significantly improving operational efficiency and customer service delivery.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.

This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.



Episode Resources:

• Joseph Pellissery on LinkedIn
• Desigan Reddi on LinkedIn
• Wescom Credit Union Website
• Amy Horowitz on LinkedIn
• Nick Dobbins on LinkedIn
• Informatica Website

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Efficient data and AI are often perceived as the end goal for businesses. The truth is that they’re just the tools that get you to the finish line. In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, sits with Jonas Christinsen, Head of AI Innovation at SkillsGPT and Chief AI Officer at the Australian Regional AI Network, for a deep dive into the impending business revolution, backed by data and AI.


What You’ll Learn

• Building effective analytics leadership by focusing on business acumen 
• The “Internal Startups” approach to running successful analytics programs
• The "Impact-Feasibility Matrix" route that delivers quick AI adoption wins
• How to improve data quality by addressing underlying business processes 
• Why decision-driven analytics trumps data-driven analytics 
• The three horizons of AI adoption: from individual productivity tools to autonomous AI teams
• The importance of combining AI tools with proprietary data and knowledge 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Jonas Christensen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-christensen-2235313/ Australian Regional AI Network: https://arain.com.au/ Nick Dobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-dobbins-guiding-data-modernization-with-responsible-ai Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Who said data was just invisible strings of numbers? On this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life our host and GVP of Solution Specialist Sales at Informatica, Amy Horowitz, is joined by Cathy Hackl,  CEO and Founder of Future Dynamics. Cathy is a globally recognized futurist, an expert in deep tech and a speaker on AI - and this conversation looks at the challenges businesses are facing bringing AI into their practices, alongside the future of data analysis through physical AI hardware. 


What You’ll Learn

• How to look beyond the spreadsheet when sourcing and analysing data
• Why the quality of your data is fundamental to a successful AI implementation
• How to approach AI adoption across organizations while managing resistance and ensuring positive ROI
• How to bridge the gap between raw data and AI applications at work
• What we need to do to teach our kids about effective AI usage
• How the world will be viewing and reading data in the future

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Links:
Cathy Hackl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyhackl/ The AdWeek Techmagic podcast: https://www.adweek.com/podcasts/tech-magic/ Amy Horowitz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhorowitz/ Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

What good are AI and Data if you don’t use them to YOUR competitive advantage? On this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, welcomes John Thompson, Principal and Owner of Marketing Sciences LLC and author of multiple data and AI books, for a deep dive into practical strategies for AI implementation, the emergence of causal AI, and how to choose the right AI projects that solve genuine business problems.


What You’ll Learn

• How to reverse-engineer the AI implementation problem by focusing on solving executives' most pressing operational challenges
• Why starting with strategic business problems leads to better AI adoption and ROI 
• The emerging potential of Causal AI and how it differs from traditional correlation-based approaches
• How to be data ready by focusing on specific use cases  
• The practical framework for scaling AI initiatives across large organizations while maintaining governance
• Methods to bridge the gap between theoretical AI use and practical application 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.

If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

When it comes to the use of AI and data, one question must be asked - do you want to do it well or do it big? On this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO, Informatica sits down with Kayvaun Rowshankish, Senior Partner at McKinsey to explore the intricacies of getting data management right, on a large-scale.


What You’ll Learn

• Using AI agents to orchestrate multiple complex tasks across different domains
• Why traditional data management principles remain crucial even as AI capabilities advance
• What essential investments are needed to build a robust data foundation for AI implementations
• How to maximize AI adoption through data literacy and business engagement
• The emerging career opportunities in data engineering, prompt engineering, and ML Ops
• Why partnering with business stakeholders is crucial for successful AI implementations

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Instructions on how to do this are here.
This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 - Intro01:54 - Keeping Up with Kayvaun: His Journey to Data Management03:45 - The Progress Story: Leadership Buy-In & AI Adoption05:55 - Agentic AI: How’s It Changing the Landscape?08:55 - Are We Data Ready for Agentic AI? 13:57 - What Do Organizations Need to Invest In?  16:25 - The Criticality of Data Literacy & Data Management Strategies 19:36 - What Skills Do People Need to Secure Their Place at Work? 21:55 - The Nitty Gritties of Responsible Use of AI 24:24 - Kayvaun’s Advice: Bring Your Business Along With You If you enjoyed this episode, please visit:Informatica.com

We want to hear from you:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!

Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica

Check out our Top episodes:

• Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
• Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
• The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today
  
  

Bringing AI and Data to Life is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so