Data Science Leaders

When highly disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic occur, data science teams may have to throw historical data out the window. Models trained on what happened in the past simply don’t work in a radically different present.
In this episode, Karin Chu, VP Data Science and Digital Analytics at Peapod Digital Labs, discusses how her team is tackling that challenge head on, particularly as the global supply chain crisis impacts sectors from grocery to apparel.
Plus, she explains why two things are so vital to the success of a data science team: ML engineers and a culture of communication.
We discuss:
How data science teams are navigating the supply chain crisis
The vital role of an ML engineer
Tips for communicating about data science in business


Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

Legal work may not be an obvious application of data science to many advanced analytics leaders. But that should change.
In this episode, Peter Geovanes, Head of Data Strategy, AI & Analytics at Winston & Strawn, breaks down the nuts and bolts of legal analytics and how it’s revolutionizing the way law firms win new business—and cases. Plus, he shares insight on the types of legal challenges data science can help address inside any organization.
We discuss:
The role of advanced analytics in the legal sphere
Use cases on both the business and practice sides of law
How analytics leaders and general counsels can work together
What’s next in the world of legal analytics  


Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

Managing a large enterprise team of data scientists can be a complicated undertaking. There are so many opportunities, big and small, to serve the business with AI and machine learning. How do you ensure your teams are focused on the big picture without getting bogged down in the minutiae of the day to day?
Jan Neumann, Executive Director, Machine Learning at Comcast, leads a team of about 300 data scientists, divided into eight different focus areas. If anyone knows how to manage a large data science team, it’s him.
In this episode, he shares his strategies for effectively managing a team of this scale in the enterprise. Plus, he explains why he prioritizes continued learning, and shares tips for building out a feature store.
We discuss:
- Managing large data science teams at scale
- Making time to gain knowledge from the ML community
- What a feature store is and why data scientists should care
Mentioned during the podcast:
- The Idealcast with Gene Kim
- Mik + One with Mik Kersten
- a16z Podcast
- Yannic Kilcher on YouTube
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

As compute capability continues to expand, the banking industry is turning more and more to data science to enable better customer experiences.
Use cases have proliferated, from product recommendation engines to predictive customer retention alerts. These innovations can drive real business value, but managing the rollout of process and technology changes always presents interesting challenges.
In this episode, Chun Schiros, SVP, Head of Enterprise Data Science Group at Regions Bank, reveals how her team is leveraging AI solutions to optimize the banking experience. And with insight applicable to data science leaders in any industry, she shares her change management tips for driving adoption of machine learning among data skeptics.
We discuss:
- How data science use cases have evolved in the banking industry
- AI solutions in banking that optimize the customer experience
- Change management tips for winning over data science skeptics
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

Should your team patent its data science work? With open source such an important part of the data science community, patents almost seem antithetical to the ethos of the field itself.
But it turns out, there are some very good reasons to pursue data science patents in business.
In this episode, Kli Pappas, Associate Director of Global Analytics at Colgate-Palmolive, shares his team's process for deciding whether to patent an algorithmic process—and what benefits it can bring. Plus, he talks about why a statistical background is so important for teams that generate data.
We discuss:
- The transition from getting a PhD in chemistry to the analytics world
- Finding the balance between statistical and computer science backgrounds
- Why you should patent your data science work and how to do it
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

There are many ways to structure a data science function in a global enterprise. But what’s been the winning strategy for global technology distributor Ingram Micro? Creating a data science “nerve center.”
Centralizing data science talent has helped elevate analytics at Ingram Micro to better solve complex business problems using machine learning and AI.
In this episode, Tim Suhling, VP Global Business Intelligence at Ingram Micro, explains how it all happened, and what data science leaders everywhere can learn from the transformation. Plus, he shares his perspective on how data science can impact “Customer 360” programs and different approaches to measuring the success of models.
We discuss:
- The relationship between data science and business intelligence
- Embarking on a customer 360 initiative
- Measuring the effectiveness of data science
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

To embed models into SaaS platforms at scale, it pays to have a cross-functional team—software engineers, UX designers, data scientists, machine learning engineers—all working together.
That collaboration allows you to tackle hard challenges around scaling models to work across hundreds of thousands of customers. And it enables you to build something that offers tremendous value across many different use cases.
Jayesh Govindarajan, SVP Data Science & Engineering at Salesforce, joins the show to share how his team makes this a reality. Plus, he talks about the priceless value of customer feedback and the three areas where data science teams should focus their efforts.
We discuss:
- Arriving at data science from a pure engineering background
- Why telemetry is no substitute for customer feedback
- Tips for embedding models into a SaaS product
- The three pillars of work for a data science team
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

In healthcare, only 14% of scientific discoveries actually make it into clinical practice. But data science, in lockstep with the digital transformation, is helping to change that.
As healthcare data and clinical studies transition to digital form, the opportunity to use data science and AI to generate insights and recommend treatment pathways is greater than ever. And the ability to make healthcare delivery more equitable is within reach.
In this episode, Kaushik Raha, VP Data Science & Health Content Operations at Elsevier, explains how data science is transforming the healthcare industry. Plus, he shares his thoughts on bias and some best practices for operationalizing data science.
We discuss:
How data science is helping to modernize healthcare
Working with clinical analytics to root out bias
Advice for operationalizing data science  


Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

As business leaders become more educated on the value that machine learning can deliver, the demands on data science teams only become greater. Business stakeholders are now interested in much more than the accuracy of predictive models. They’re asking questions about productionization, scalability, and bottom line ROI.
In this episode, Nimit Jain, Head of Data Science at Novartis, joins the show to explain how this sea change is transforming how data scientists approach proof of value. Plus, he talks about how companies are adopting responsible AI practices and provides a window into the world of customer experience analytics.
We discuss:
- How proof of value has evolved over time
- The principles of responsible AI
- Customer experience analytics use cases
Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.

Talent is pouring into data science, even though it always seems like there’s not enough to meet demand. Learning opportunities for people getting into the field have exploded in just the past decade. 

That means standing out from the crowd—both as a leader and as a practitioner—has become more important than ever before.

In this episode, Bob Bress, Head of Data Science at FreeWheel, explains how professionals at all levels can position themselves to win in a burgeoning market. Plus, he offers advice on how data science leaders can stimulate collaboration and intellectual curiosity within their organizations.

We discuss:
- How to stand out from your peers
- Intellectual curiosity, innovation, and collaboration in large organizations
- Being the CEO of the data science project you’re working on

Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Can’t see the links above? Just visit domino.buzz/podcast for helpful links from each episode.