Discover how IKEA's Head of Engineering Loyalty, Jip Koudjis, is transforming global loyalty systems to deliver personalized experiences at scale. Learn how IKEA consolidated 11 local programs into one unified platform, driving data-driven growth and customer engagement. Explore the challenges of aligning teams across 31 countries and the strategic role of AI in personalization. This episode is a masterclass in scaling engineering and loyalty tech, essential for leaders in global tech transformation and organizational change.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Global Engineering Leadership
• 02:28 Transforming IKEA's Loyalty Systems
• 05:52 Aligning Teams Across 31 Countries
• 10:53 The Strategic Role of AI in Personalization
• 13:16 Challenges in Data-Driven Growth
• 18:20 Building a Unified Global Platform
• 24:14 Leadership's Role in Tech Transformation
• 27:42 Emerging Trends in Loyalty Tech
• 32:25 Future of Global Customer Engagement
• 39:12 Key Success Factors in Engineering Leadership

Data Engineering, AI Experimentation, Health Tech, and Data Platforms are reshaping enterprise innovation. In this episode of Builders, Jonas Dieckmann, Global Manager of Data Intelligence & Team Lead of Data Engineering at Philips, explains how one of the world’s largest health tech companies is scaling AI through cross-functional collaboration, domain-driven data platforms, and rapid experimentation. Why do so many enterprise AI initiatives fail — and what is Philips doing differently?
Jonas shares:

• How AI squads accelerate innovation inside large organizations
• Why short AI experiments lead to faster business impact
• The evolution from centralized platforms to data mesh architectures
• How metadata and data lineage are becoming critical for AI success
• The biggest challenges in healthcare data and governance
• What makes a great data engineer in the AI era
• The trends shaping the future of data and AI

If you’re building data platforms, scaling AI teams, or navigating enterprise transformation, this episode delivers practical insights from the frontlines of global health tech.
🎧 Subscribe to Builders for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of AI, engineering, and innovation.
#DataEngineering #AI #HealthTech #DataPlatform #DataMesh #Philips
Chapters
(00:00) How Philips Is Driving Data Innovation in Health Tech
(01:24) Jonas Dieckmann’s Journey Into Data & AI Leadership
(02:44) The Biggest Challenges of Data Platforms in Healthcare
(05:27) Why Health Tech Data Is More Complex Than Most Industries
(08:07) Inside Philips’ AI Squad Strategy for Innovation
(13:15) How Philips Chooses AI Use Cases That Actually Matter
(16:36) Why Fast AI Experiments Lead to Better Results
(22:46) The Shift From Centralized Data Platforms to Data Mesh
(28:35) Data Governance and Ownership in a Data Mesh World
(30:37) What Future Data Platforms Must Support for AI
(33:01) Why Metadata and Data Lineage Are Becoming Essential
(35:26) What Separates Great Data Engineers From the Rest
(39:58) How Philips Evaluates Talent for Data & AI Teams
(45:30) The Most Exciting Trends in Data and AI Right Now
(47:39) The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make When Scaling AI
(50:03) Jonas Dieckmann’s Vision for the Future of Data at Philips

AI, Data Innovation, Data Strategy, and AI Leadership are redefining how companies compete. In this episode of Builders, Goran Cvetanovski, founder & CEO of Hyperite, shares key insights from the Data Innovation Summit in Stockholm, from operationalizing AI and building scalable data infrastructure to AI governance, leadership alignment, and the future of enterprise transformation.Why are some companies turning AI into a strategic advantage while others are stuck in endless experimentation?Goran breaks down:

• Why AI operationalization is the next big challenge
• How leadership teams should approach AI adoption
• The real value of data ecosystems and infrastructure
• Whether companies should build or rent AI capabilities
• The biggest hiring and talent shifts happening in AI right now
• What separates future AI winners from everyone else

If you’re leading digital transformation, building AI products, or preparing your company for the next wave of Generative AI, this episode is packed with practical insights. Subscribe to Builders for more conversations with founders, operators, and tech leaders shaping the future.

#AI #DataInnovation #GenerativeAI #AILeadership #DataStrategy #DigitalTransformation

Chapters

(00:00) Why the Data Innovation Summit Matters in 2026

(02:28) AI’s Biggest Shift: From Experimentation to Real Operations

(05:52) How Companies Are Restructuring Around AI

(10:53) Why AI and Data Are Becoming Core Business Assets

(13:16) Should Companies Build or Rent Their AI Stack?

(18:20) The Hidden Challenges of Data Management and AI Leadership

(24:14) Why Leadership Determines AI Success or Failure

(27:42) The Biggest AI Trends Emerging From the Summit

(32:25) AI Hiring Trends: The Skills Companies Need Most

(39:12) What Will Separate AI Winners From Everyone Else?

AI, retail, demand forecasting, personalization, organizational structure, AI trends—key insights in this episode.
We talk with Sander Ardinois (VP of AI at H&M) about how AI is reshaping retail, from forecasting to personalization and beyond.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to AI in Retail
(01:11) Sander’s Journey into AI and Machine Learning
(04:10) The Intersection of Data and Retail
(05:35) Building Data and AI Foundations at Scale
(08:15) Creating Value through Cross-Functional Collaboration
(10:29) Evolving AI Talent Landscape
(15:43) Bridging Technical and Business Perspectives
(18:06) From Experimentation to Real Impact
(21:06) Data Readiness and Process Bottlenecks
(24:23) AI Transformations in Retail
(27:12) Innovations in Demand Forecasting
(29:31) Untapped Opportunities in Customer Data
(31:05) Generative AI and Creativity in Retail
(35:15) The Future of AI-Powered Retail
(37:00) Industry Trends and AI Maturity
(39:46) Underrated AI Applications
(41:04) Overhyped Aspects of AI

AI in engineering, career development, and engineering leadership are changing fast—and most engineers aren’t ready. In this episode, Lobo Olsson reveals how AI tooling, automation, and tech innovation are reshaping the future. Learn the truth about generalist vs specialist roles, how to build future-proof skills, and what it really takes to survive and thrive in the AI era.
Chapters
(00:00) The Journey of a Generalist
(11:23) Navigating the Balance: Generalist vs Specialist
(15:02) Challenges in AI Tool Adoption
(22:21) AI’s Strengths and Limitations in Engineering
(29:32) Leadership in a Dynamic Tech Landscape
(30:00) Engaging and Motivating Teams in AI Adoption
(34:59) AI Literacy: A New Essential for Developers
(40:06) Evolving Recruitment Strategies in the AI Era
(45:56) The Future of AI: Opportunities and Cautions
(55:14) Advice for Future Tech Leaders

Sustainability, IT, digital transformation: inside Siemens’ journey using AI, greener data centers, and smarter operations to drive decarbonization. Helena Babelon shares how strategy, circularity, and sustainability reporting come together to shape a more sustainable future.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to IT Sustainability and Helena’s Journey
(02:54) The Role of IT in Driving Sustainability at Siemens
(05:59) Siemens’ 360-Degree Sustainability Framework
(08:50) Sustainable IT: Where to Start?
(12:07) Embedding Sustainability in IT Procurement
(14:47) Measuring Impact: Handprints, Footprints, and Heartprints
(17:52) AI and Digitalization for Sustainability
(24:02) Leadership and Collaboration in Sustainability
(30:01) Future Trends in Sustainable IT

Cybersecurity, AI, leadership: how can cyber teams tackle digital threats, AI risks & talent gaps? Lee Haynes sits down with EY’s Director of Cyber Security, Marco Pineda, to talk about strategy, innovation, and the future of AI in security.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(01:02) Marco’s Journey into Cybersecurity
(03:24) Defining Cybersecurity
(04:52) Leadership Philosophy in Cybersecurity
(07:20) Challenges in Public vs. Private Sector
(09:42) Hiring in Cybersecurity: What Matters?
(12:34) Assessing Candidates for Future Threats
(15:21) AI’s Role in Cybersecurity
(17:58) AI as an Augmentation Tool
(21:19) Real-World Applications of AI in Cybersecurity
(23:16) Innovating Safely with AI
(27:11) Human vs. Machine Responsibility
(30:04) Guardrails for AI in Cybersecurity
(32:01) Trusting AI in Cybersecurity Tasks
(36:23) Golden Rules for AI in Cybersecurity
(38:16) Future Skills for Cybersecurity Professionals
(41:41) Fostering a Culture of Security Awareness
(43:37) Predictions for AI and Cybersecurity

Explore the fascinating career journey of Noelia Almanza from medicine to tech leadership via law, in a conversation that focuses on uncovering insights on organizational resilience, decision-making, and the future of AI in engineering. Noelia is now the Chief Studio Officer at Paradox Interactive, and was working as Head of Engineering & QA at King/Candy Crush Saga at the time of filming this episode.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Guest Background
(01:07) Noelia’s Unique Career Path
(02:00) Early Leadership and Healthcare Experience
(03:58) Transition to Tech and Innovation
(08:11) Mindset Shift from Medicine to Engineering
(09:52) Leadership Style and Governance
(12:30) Decision-Making in Hybrid and Remote Teams
(14:51) Scaling and High Performance in Gaming
(19:26) Risk Management and Reliability
(21:39) Building Resilient Organizations
(24:08) Performance Management Mistakes
(26:31) Designing Motivating Performance Systems
(29:50) Impact of AI on Engineering and Hiring
(33:10) Engagement Beyond Perks
(35:13) Hiring in Competitive Markets
(37:39) Future of AI in Engineering
(43:40) Emerging Trends and Technologies
(44:46) Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Yogesh Malik, Co-Founder of Bytelens: AI for observability, Tech Investor and Advisor, about his extensive journey from India to becoming a key player in global telecom transformations. Yogesh shares valuable leadership lessons, the importance of balancing innovation with reliability, and the role of emerging technologies like AI and 5G in shaping the future of telecom. He emphasizes the need for a culture of continuous transformation and the evolving role of telecom as an essential utility in modern society.
Chapters
(00:00) Yogesh Malik’s Journey in Telecom
(05:18) Leadership Lessons in Telecom Transformation
(08:42) Balancing Innovation and Reliability
(10:34) The Role of AI and 5G in Telecom
(13:58) Building a Culture of Continuous Transformation
(17:09) The Future of Telecom and Digital Natives
(20:02) Telecom as an Essential Utility
(23:38) ByteLens: Addressing Telecom Challenges
(29:54) Inspiring Teams Through Change
(32:06) Preparing for the Future of Telecom
(39:27) Common Leadership Philosophy
(43:36) Exciting Future of Telecom and AI

In this conversation, Galina Ester Shubina, VP of AI at Tripledot Studios, shares her insights on the evolving landscape of AI and machine learning, the importance of diversity in tech, and the challenges organizations face in adopting these technologies. She discusses the hype surrounding generative AI, the risks of over-investing in speculative initiatives, and the critical role of technologists in leadership positions.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to AI and Leadership
(02:56) The Evolution of AI and Machine Learning
(05:57) Diversity in Tech and Its Importance
(09:08) Adoption of AI in Organizations
(12:12) Understanding Generative AI and Its Limitations
(14:48) Evaluating AI Investments
(17:58) Connecting AI Strategy to Business Outcomes
(21:02) The Role of Technologists in Leadership
(23:48) Navigating AI Project Failures
(27:06) The Future of AI in Gaming
(29:53) Advice for Aspiring AI Leaders