Data Faces Podcast

📢 2025 was the year AI met the real world. No demos. No hype. Just results—and hard lessons.
In this special Data Faces year-in-review episode, we synthesize insights from 27 conversations with leaders across data, analytics, and AI to surface what actually mattered in enterprise adoption.

Rather than new models or bigger tools, the story of 2025 centered on strategy, operational maturity, agent management, and the human realities behind AI at scale. This episode distills a full year of dialogue into one clear narrative for data leaders who need signal, not noise.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- Why most GenAI projects failed—and it wasn’t the technology
2- How AI agents shifted from novelty to core infrastructure
3- What governance looks like when speed still matters
4- Where AI delivered value: narrow, unglamorous, high-impact work
5- Why culture, alignment, and ethics became the real constraints

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Opening & scope of the 2025 review
01:10 – Strategy over technology: where projects broke down
03:05 – AI agents move from tools to infrastructure
04:35 – Real enterprise value in narrow workflows
05:19 – Culture, alignment, and human failure modes
06:09 – Ethics, fairness tradeoffs, and real-world consequences
07:58 – Adoption shifts and governance as a value driver
09:06 – Managing agents at scale
10:02 – Automation that makes people better, not obsolete
11:09 – What 2025 teaches us going forward

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 https://tinytechguides.com/data-faces-podcast/

🔗 Connect with Data Faces:
🌎 Website: https://tinytechguides.com/data-faces-podcast/
🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

💬 What resonated most from 2025—strategy, agents, or people?
👍 If this was useful, like, share, and subscribe for future episodes.

#DataFaces #EnterpriseAI #DataLeadership

📢 Can open source, AI, and enterprise analytics really coexist? Absolutely—and Bruno Trimouille from Posit is here to explain how.  

How are open source tools reshaping enterprise data science? What role does AI play in bridging business and technical teams? In this episode, Posit CMO Bruno Trimouille breaks down how his team supports millions of users—while staying true to an open source mission.

🎯 Whether you’re a data leader, marketer, or innovator, you’ll learn practical approaches to balancing innovation with governance, productizing models into apps, and using AI for both technical and marketing acceleration.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

1- Why a code-first approach delivers trust, transparency, and reproducibility

2- How AI bridges the gap between business users and data scientists

3- What Posit’s B2B open source flywheel model looks like behind the scenes

4- Why governance doesn’t have to kill speed—in fact, it can enable scale

5- How marketing teams can harness Gen AI for content, segmentation & insights

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:

00:00 – Intro & guest welcome

00:52 – What is Posit? (formerly RStudio)

02:06 – Bruno’s journey: Engineer to CMO

04:53 – Open source, code-first, and the future of data science

07:32 – AI’s impact on productivity and risk in analytics

09:13 – Solving the governance vs. speed tension

11:29 – Using models & apps to make insights business-ready

13:13 – Building a business on open source: Posit’s flywheel

15:31 – Why organizations bet on open data tools

18:09 – Community-building as a growth engine

21:31 – How Posit marketing uses Gen AI every day

24:04 – AI for personalization, segmentation & ABM

27:51 – Multimedia & interactive learning with Gen AI

30:31 – Using AI for data insights & campaign analysis

33:14 – How AI is reshaping the marketing org chart

34:04 – Future of data-driven marketing leaders

35:49 – Final thoughts from Bruno

📩 More insights & resources:  

👉 https://tinytechguides.com/blog/category/data-faces-podcast/  

🔗 Connect with Bruno Trimouille:  

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunotrimouille  

🌎 Website: https://posit.co

💬 What do you think? Drop your thoughts in the comments!  

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#OpenSourceAI #DataScienceLeadership #ResponsibleAI

📢 Most AI failures don’t come from the model—they come from the data feeding it.
In this episode of the Data Faces Podcast, Tina Chace, VP of Product Management at Solidatus, explains why incomplete lineage, missing context, and silent upstream changes quietly undermine AI systems long before anyone notices.

Tina shares lessons from deploying AI and machine learning in major banks, breaking down how column-level lineage and business context prevent cascading failures across systems, teams, and decisions.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- Why 90% of AI production issues trace back to data quality problems.
2- How technical and business lineage work together to build trust.
3- Why column-level tracking exposes the hidden transformations behind every metric.
4- How visibility without control increases anxiety across data teams.
5- Where organizations should start to get quick wins without “boiling the ocean.”

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Intro: David Sweenor introduces Tina Chace
00:54 – Tina’s early career and the origins of her data skepticism
02:28 – The 90% data problem in AI and ML deployments
03:24 – What data lineage actually captures
06:47 – The rounding-error problem that compounds at scale
07:59 – Bridging the language gap across data, reporting, and business teams
09:46 – Who really owns data quality and lineage?
12:43 – Technical vs. business lineage, with real examples
16:24 – Managing complexity across systems, teams, and tech stacks
18:16 – Why documenting “everything” never works
23:28 – Data lineage in generative AI and RAG systems
30:57 – Why AI makes complete lineage non-negotiable
33:26 – The trust paradox: more visibility, more skepticism
34:27 – How to get started without boiling the ocean
35:35 – Closing remarks

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 Blog: https://tinytechguides.com/blog/data-lineage-for-ai-why-truth-beats-hope-in-banking/

🎧 Listen to the Data Faces Podcast:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzrDACjTQ4OBoQ8qM1FMGBwYdxvw9BurR
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SmGkQGvZQSAT1O7g1l2yF
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/data-faces-podcast/id1789416487

🔗 Connect with Tina Chace:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-chace-rho-5433133b/
Solidatus: https://www.solidatus.com

💬 What’s the biggest data trust challenge in your organization? Tell us in the comments.
👍 Like, share, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping AI, analytics, and data strategy.

#DataLineage #DataQuality #AITrust

📢 What happens when culture and technology collide—do they compete, or do they enhance one another?
In this episode of Data Faces, Gina von Esmarch, Founder and CEO of Adesso Associates, shares how cultural heritage, storytelling, and emerging technologies work together to shape stronger communities and brands.

🔍 Key Takeaways:1- How AI and cultural identity can evolve together, not apart.2- Why authenticity and values are the foundation of innovation.3- How diversity of thought drives long-term business success.

📩 Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-j7nqzsGk
👉 More insights: https://prompts.tinytechguides.com/s/the-data-faces-podcast
💬 How do you see culture influencing technology in your industry?
👍 Like, share & subscribe for more insights.
#DataFaces #AI #CultureAndTech #Leadership #Innovation

📢 What happens when AI becomes your sales coach? In this episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping how sales teams learn, ramp, and perform.Join David Sweenor, Founder of TinyTechGuides, as he talks with Matt Magne, Senior Enablement Manager of Revenue Enablement at LaunchDarkly, about the new frontier of AI-driven sales enablement — from AI role plays to digital coaching and the future of human + machine collaboration.🔍 Key Takeaways:-- Why AI is redefining how SEs and AEs practice and master sales conversations-- How LaunchDarkly integrates AI role plays to accelerate ramp time and confidence-- The balance between automation and authentic human coaching-- The data challenges still holding back innovation in enablement-- Why the future of enablement is about augmentation, not replacement⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:00:00 – Welcome to Data Faces with David Sweenor01:00 – Meet Matt Magne and LaunchDarkly06:10 – What revenue enablement really means08:25 – How AI role plays improve ramp and coaching11:00 – Do reps prefer training with bots or humans?14:00 – Space repetition, practice, and performance17:10 – Building hybrid AI + human onboarding programs21:00 – Overcoming skepticism about AI training26:00 – The “skeptical buyer” prompt and realistic simulations27:15 – Human + machine collaboration: finding the right balance31:20 – Beyond scale: personalization and productivity with AI34:50 – The future of sales enablement: data, integration, and intelligence39:30 – Final takeaway: staying human in an AI-driven world📩 More insights & resources:👉 Read more at: https://open.substack.com/pub/davidsweenor/p/augmented-intelligence-the-future?r=1s6e48&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true🔗 Connect with Matt Magne:💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/exrocker/🌎 LaunchDarkly: https://launchdarkly.com💬 What do you think — can AI make us better sales coaches? Drop your thoughts in the comments!👍 If you enjoyed this episode, like, share, and subscribe for more insights from Data Faces.#AIinSales #SalesEnablement #DataFacesPodcast

📢 What’s the real end game of AI? Is it about smarter machines—or smarter organizations?In this episode of Data Faces, Eric Kavanagh, AI analyst and syndicated radio host of DM Radio, joins David Sweenor, founder of TinyTechGuides, to explore what success in AI truly means for business, technology, and society.Eric has spent decades helping enterprises navigate the data-driven world. He argues that AI isn’t a monolith—it’s a tool that works best when humans stay in control, governance evolves, and organizations learn to use intelligence responsibly.🔍 Key Takeaways:1- Why the “end goal” of AI is human productivity, not machine autonomy2- How corporate hierarchies will evolve as AI becomes embedded in workflows3- Why transparency, audit logs, and explainability will define governance success4- The risks of “big model” complexity and why small, focused models may win5- Why AI will change how we work more than what we do⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Eric Kavanagh01:00 – How Eric built a career at the intersection of data and media05:20 – Defining the “end goal” of AI: business, life, and technology08:45 – Where humans remain central—and why that won’t change12:10 – Transparency, bias, and the challenge of giant AI models19:00 – Real-world AI agents: when automation works and when it doesn’t22:50 – The rise of small language models and the age of execution29:45 – Governance, audit logs, and minimal viable oversight33:00 – The future of jobs, creativity, and collaboration39:00 – Where to find Eric Kavanagh and DM Radio📩 More insights & resources:👉 Blog recap: https://tinytechguides.com/blog/why-80-of-ai-projects-fail-and-the-three-boring-decisions-that-save-the-other-20/🔗 Connect with Eric Kavanagh:💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickavanagh/🌎 Website: https://dmradio.biz💬 What do you think? What should the end game of AI be? Drop your thoughts below!👍 Enjoyed this conversation? Like, share & subscribe for more real-world AI and data insights.#AI #DataFacesPodcast #EricKavanagh

📢 AI agents are moving fast from hype to enterprise reality. But how do leaders ensure they deliver real ROI—without creating risk and chaos?

In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor sits down with Catalina Herrera, Field Chief Data Officer at Dataiku, to explore how organizations can adopt AI agents responsibly. Catalina shares a practical framework for balancing speed, governance, and reliability—while keeping business impact front and center.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- Why “agent sprawl” is the biggest hidden risk for enterprises
2- The guardrails every AI leader should put in place on day zero
3- How bad data leads to bad agents—and what to do about it
4- Practical patterns for scaling adoption with human-in-the-loop trust
5- The next 12 months: where AI agents will make the biggest impact

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Introduction and guest overview
02:10 – Why AI agents matter now for business leaders
07:25 – Governance guardrails every enterprise needs
13:40 – Data foundations and making agents reliable
19:15 – Avoiding agent sprawl and scaling adoption
25:50 – Looking ahead: what’s next for AI agents
30:20 – Final thoughts and closing

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 Blog recap: https://prompts.tinytechguides.com/s/the-data-faces-podcast

🔗 Connect with Catalina Herrera:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herreracatalina/
🌎 Dataiku: https://www.dataiku.com/

💬 What do you think? How are you preparing for AI agents in your organization? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, remember to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of Data Faces.

#AIagents #AIGovernance #DataScience

📢 What if your marketing campaigns could adapt themselves in real time—without you lifting a finger?
In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor talks with Rajeev Kozhikkattuthodi, Co-founder & CEO at Poexis, about how Agentic AI is reshaping growth marketing across events, ABM, and inbound.

Rajeev shares practical lessons from the front lines: where Agentic AI actually delivers ROI, how to avoid the trap of “AI that doesn’t scale,” and why marketing leaders need a bias to action—not just analysis.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- What makes Agentic AI different from traditional AI in B2B marketing
2- How to set the right level of autonomy and guardrails for AI systems
3- Why many AI pilots stall and how to prove ROI at the P&L level
4- The new role of in-person experiences in an AI-saturated digital world
5- Leadership skills marketers need to thrive in an Agentic AI future

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Intro & Rajeev’s background
03:00 – What Agentic AI really means for marketers
05:40 – Shifting from analysis to agency
10:20 – Are humans ready to cede control to AI?
14:40 – Why 95% of AI pilots stall
20:20 – Agentic AI in events: boosting attendance & engagement
27:30 – Personalization at events: pre, during & post strategies
29:30 – Using AI for inbound content that still feels human
34:50 – What marketing leaders must do to stay ahead
37:00 – How to connect with Rajeev & Poexis

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 Blog recap: https://open.substack.com/pub/davidsweenor/p/the-ai-agent-mistake-90-of-marketing?r=1s6e48&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
🔗 Connect with Rajeev Kozhikkattuthodi:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeevtk/
🌎 Website: https://www.poexis.com

💬 What do you think—are marketers ready to move from analysis to action with AI? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
👍 Enjoyed this conversation? Like, share & subscribe for more AI and data leadership insights.

#AgenticAI #B2BMarketing #DataFacesPodcast

📢 AI is more than GenAI—and sustainable success depends on governance, teamwork, and evolution, not disruption.

In this episode of Data Faces, David Sweenor sits down with Thomas Been, CMO at Domino Data Lab, to unpack how enterprises can move beyond hype and build real, lasting value with AI. From governance frameworks to the human factor, Thomas shares practical insights that every technology and business leader should hear.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- Why 95% of GenAI projects fail—and what successful enterprises do differently
2- How to balance experimentation with governance to accelerate adoption
3- Why teamwork and culture drive AI success more than technology alone
4- The spectrum of AI: why GenAI is only part of the picture
5- How leaders can prepare for continuous evolution instead of chasing disruption

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro (Thomas Been, CMO, Domino Data Lab)
01:05 – Thomas’s career journey & mission at Domino
03:00 – The GenAI hype cycle: why most projects fail
06:44 – AI vs. GenAI: spectrum, not a silver bullet
10:39 – Evolution vs. disruption in enterprise AI
14:17 – Rethinking governance: from compliance to value driver
18:59 – Global perspectives on AI governance
23:03 – What separates successful AI projects from failures
27:41 – How AI is transforming marketing & marketing teams
32:55 – The impact of AI on early-career professionals
35:43 – Advice for business leaders on future-proofing AI strategy
37:54 – Where to learn more about Domino Data Lab

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 Read the blog: https://prompts.tinytechguides.com/p/the-11-month-ai-validation-trap-thats🔗 Connect with Thomas Been:💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbeen/🌎 Website: https://domino.ai

💬 What do you think? How is your company approaching AI governance and teamwork? Share in the comments!
👍 Enjoyed this video? Like, share & subscribe for more insights on AI, data, and leadership.

#EnterpriseAI #AIGovernance #DataFacesPodcast

📢 What happens when AI agents take on real tasks in marketing, sales, and operations? In this episode, Chelsea Wise of Relevance AI shares practical insights on how AI agents are transforming the future of work.

Chelsea draws on her startup experience, academic background in consumer behavior, and role at Relevance AI to explain what leaders often underestimate about AI agents—and how to prepare teams for change.

🔍 Key Takeaways:
1- Why AI agents will shift work at the task level rather than replacing entire jobs.
2- The overlooked role of peer-to-peer learning in building trust in AI.
3- Practical, “unsexy” use cases where AI agents deliver real business value.
4- How hackathons and hands-on learning can unlock organizational buy-in.
5- Why critical thinking and ethics must guide AI adoption.

⏳ Timestamps for Easy Navigation:
00:00 – Introduction & Chelsea Wise background
04:15 – The underestimated impact of AI agents in the workplace
07:12 – Learning, trust, and human-to-human collaboration
12:00 – What AI agents do well vs. where humans remain essential
18:00 – Rethinking the marketing playbook with AI
20:42 – Lessons from internal hackathons
25:29 – Misconceptions about AI in enterprise marketing
28:36 – Real-world “spreadsheet” use cases for AI agents
32:21 – Preparing teams and leaders for AI agents
34:17 – Teaching AI ethics and critical thinking
38:11 – Final thoughts & resources

📩 More insights & resources:
👉 Blog recap: https://prompts.tinytechguides.com
🔗 Connect with Chelsea Wise:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseawise/
🌎 Website: https://relevance.ai

💬 What do you think—are AI agents ready for your team? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
👍 If you enjoyed this video, like, share & subscribe for more conversations on AI, data, and leadership.

#AIAgents #FutureOfWork #DataFacesPodcast