Deconstructing Data

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Grocery retail is becoming more data-driven than ever before. The ability to personalize, innovate, and retain customers increasingly depends on how well organizations use and connect their data.On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David are joined by Shekar Raman, CEO and Co-founder of Birdzi, to explore how AI and data are transforming the grocery retail experience.Shekar brings a unique background spanning research, telecommunications, and enterprise technology, now leading Birdzi’s work in helping supermarkets deliver one-to-one personalization at scale. His focus is on using AI and data to improve customer engagement, simplify decision-making, and drive more effective marketing strategies.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

1. AI-Driven Personalization in Grocery Retail
2. Breaking Data Barriers for Retail Innovation
3. Data-Driven Retail Loyalty Programs
4. Tech Stack

From connecting fragmented systems to enabling more personalized customer experiences, this episode looks at how grocery retailers can use data and AI to adapt to changing expectations and compete more effectively. Join us as we break down how data, personalization, and innovation are shaping the future of grocery retail.

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Data collection sits at the center of modern marketing. Privacy and compliance are quickly becoming just as critical.As regulations evolve and consumers become more aware of how their data is used, businesses face increasing pressure to collect, store, and activate data responsibly.

What may seem like simple data collection often carries legal, operational, and reputational implications.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David are joined by Donata Stroink-Skillrud, Co-founder and President of Termageddon and a data privacy attorney, to explore how organizations can approach data collection with privacy and compliance in mind.

Donata brings deep expertise in data privacy law, including GDPR, CCPA, and cybersecurity standards, along with hands-on experience helping businesses implement policies that adapt to changing regulations. Her work focuses on helping companies understand the real impact of data practices and how to build systems that align with both legal requirements and customer expectations.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

1. Collecting Data with Privacy and Compliance
2. Marketing Tools and Data Privacy Risks
3. Understanding Data Privacy Laws and Regulations
4. Tech Stack

Join us as we break down how privacy, compliance, and data strategy intersect, and what businesses need to consider as they continue to collect and use customer data.

Follow BDEX to stay updated on upcoming episodes

• Website: ⁠https://www.bdex.com
• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdex/
• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9J5k2SM3PNT6FVnX3N022A

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Artificial intelligence is changing how marketing teams operate, how campaigns are built, and how brands connect with their audiences. At the same time, founders launching new businesses face a different set of challenges as they navigate early decisions, growth strategies, and common pitfalls.On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David speak with Julie Matzen, Co-founder of The Boarderline, about how marketing, entrepreneurship, and technology intersect in today’s business environment.Julie brings more than 20 years of experience helping brands connect with their audiences across multiple media platforms. As the founder of Mayday Agency, she has worked closely with organizations to rethink their marketing funnels, develop brand strategies, and launch campaigns that support long-term business goals. Her experience spans rebranding initiatives, digital advertising, product launches, and guiding companies through the strategic decisions that shape their growth.In this conversation, Julie shares perspectives on how businesses are approaching AI in marketing, what founders should understand when starting a new venture, and some of the common mistakes entrepreneurs encounter along the way.

Topics include:

1. Using AI in Marketing
2. Starting a Business What You Need to Know
3. Big Founder Mistakes
4. Tech Stack

Join us as we explore how marketing strategy, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies continue to shape how companies build and grow.

Follow BDEX to stay updated on upcoming episodes

• Website: ⁠https://www.bdex.com
• LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/bdex/
• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9J5k2SM3PNT6FVnX3N022A

AI is generating more insights than ever. Turning those insights into something structured, usable, and actionable remains the challenge.As organizations explore trends, experiment with AI, and build new systems, the question becomes how to move beyond scattered signals and create knowledge that actually supports decision-making.On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David are joined by Piers Fawkes, Founder of PSFK and Fodda, to explore how trends, data, and knowledge systems intersect in the age of AI.Piers has spent over two decades helping global brands identify emerging patterns and translate them into strategy. His work now focuses on building structured knowledge systems that allow both humans and AI to better understand, organize, and act on complex information.In this conversation, we’ll explore:1. Artificial Intelligence Trends in Startups2. Knowledge Graphs in Data and AI Systems3. Using Data for Trends Research4. Tech StackFrom weak signals to structured data, this episode examines how organizations can better capture, organize, and apply knowledge in an increasingly AI-driven environment.Join us as we break down how trends, data, and knowledge systems are shaping how companies think, plan, and build for the future.

Creativity has always been at the heart of advertising. Today, data and AI are reshaping how that creativity is discovered, refined, and delivered to audiences.On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David welcome Andrew Littlewood, Chief Planning and Data Officer at Brainlabs, to discuss how data insights and emerging technologies are influencing the next generation of advertising strategy.Andrew brings more than 20 years of experience across agency disciplines, combining analytical thinking with marketing strategy to help organizations translate complex data into actionable insights that improve campaign performance and marketing effectiveness. His work focuses on connecting data, planning, and creative teams so that insights can inform smarter and more impactful campaigns.In this conversation, the discussion will explore how brands are using data and AI to support creative decision-making, how data insights can inspire innovative campaigns while maintaining creative integrity, and what emerging trends may shape the advertising industry in the years ahead.Topics include:1. How Data and AI Are Redefining Creative Advertising2. Data-Driven Creativity Using Insights to Inspire Innovative Campaigns3. Future of Advertising and Emerging Industry Trends4. Tech StackJoin us for this conversation as we examine how data, creativity, and evolving technologies are influencing the future of modern advertising.

Profitability is one of the biggest challenges creative and digital agencies face as they grow.

Many scale revenue but struggle to maintain healthy margins, predictable financial models, and operational discipline.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David welcome Jody Grunden, Partner and Virtual CFO Practice Leader at Anders CPAs + Advisors, to discuss how agencies can build financial structures that support both growth and long-term profitability.

Jody has spent more than two decades helping creative and digital agencies strengthen their financial foundations.

As the co-founder of Summit CPA Group, now Anders Virtual CFO, he helped pioneer subscription-based billing in the accounting industry and built one of North America’s first fully distributed Virtual CFO practices.

Through his work, he has developed frameworks that help agencies align financial strategy with operational decision-making and sustainable growth.

Jody is also the author of Digital Dollars and Cents and Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud, and has been recognized by CPA.com as one of the most innovative practitioners in the accounting profession.

His work focuses on helping agency leaders move beyond reactive financial management and toward clearer, data-driven financial planning.

In this conversation, the discussion will explore how agencies can structure their financial models to support growth, how subscription pricing has influenced modern accounting practices, and what operational frameworks agencies can adopt to scale while maintaining profitability.

Topics include:

1. A Profit-Focused Maturity Model for Agencies

2. How Subscription Pricing Changed Accounting Models

3. How Creative Agencies Can Scale Profitably

4. Tech Stack

Join us for this discussion to learn how financial strategy, pricing models, and operational frameworks can help creative agencies build stronger, more profitable businesses.

AI is generating more insights than ever. Turning those insights into something structured, usable, and actionable remains the challenge.

As organizations explore trends, experiment with AI, and build new systems, the question becomes how to move beyond scattered signals and create knowledge that actually supports decision-making.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie Lizak and David Finkelstein are joined by Piers Fawkes, Founder of PSFK and Fodda, to explore how trends, data, and knowledge systems intersect in the age of AI.

Piers has spent over two decades helping global brands identify emerging patterns and translate them into strategy.

His work now focuses on building structured knowledge systems that allow both humans and AI to better understand, organize, and act on complex information.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

1. Artificial Intelligence Trends in Startups

2. Knowledge Graphs in Data and AI Systems

3. Using Data for Trends Research

4. Tech Stack

From weak signals to structured data, this episode examines how organizations can better capture, organize, and apply knowledge in an increasingly AI-driven environment.

Join us as we break down how trends, data, and knowledge systems are shaping how companies think, plan, and build for the future.

AI systems are only as reliable as the data behind them.

Disconnected tools, inconsistent data, and fragmented signals continue to slow down decision-making across organizations.

As more companies adopt AI, the challenge is not just implementation; it is ensuring the data feeding those systems is clean, structured, and usable.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie Lizak and David Finkelstein are joined by Eugina Jordan, CEO and Co-founder of YOUnifiedAI to explore what it takes to prepare enterprise data for reliable AI systems.

Eugina brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of experience in building and scaling businesses, leading go-to-market strategies, and driving innovation across industries. With over 24 patents and a background in creating and launching new market categories, she focuses on solving one of the most persistent challenges in business: connecting fragmented data to enable faster, more informed decisions.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

1. Data Consistency and Cleansing for Reliable AI Systems

2. Structured vs Unstructured Data Strategies for Enterprise AI

3. Activating Intent Signals from Fragmented Data

4. Tech Stack

From improving data quality to making sense of disconnected systems, this episode looks at how organizations can build stronger data foundations to support AI-driven decision-making.

Join us as we break down how data consistency, structure, and signal activation play a role in making AI systems more reliable and actionable.

Product innovation fails more often from misread signals than from bad ideas.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, we’re joined by Guy White, CEO of Catalyx, an international innovation consultancy helping global brands turn consumer data into predictable market success.

For more than 14 years, Guy has led a global team of insights and innovation specialists working with many of the world’s leading consumer brands. Catalyx has generated billions in incremental value by helping companies secure and sustain product-market fit through structured, data-driven innovation frameworks.

In this conversation, we’ll explore:

1. Unlocking Hidden Consumer Desires Through Data

2. Making Product Innovation More Predictable with Data

3. Data vs. Insights: Understanding the Difference

4. Tech Stack

From capturing authentic human insight at scale to separating raw data from true strategic insight, this episode dives into how smarter consumer data reduces risk, strengthens product launches, and drives long-term growth.

If you care about turning customer signals into successful innovation, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Customer expectations for next-day and same-day delivery continue to rise, while brands face growing pressure to deliver seamless, personalized experiences across every channel.

Behind both of these trends lies the same challenge: strong operational systems and high-quality data.

On this episode of Deconstructing Data, Jessie and David are joined by Martin Balaam, CEO and Co-Founder of Pimberly, and Keith Gorney, Head of Global Supply Chain Services at Pivotree, to explore how supply chain innovation and product data strategy are shaping the future of retail and e-commerce.

Martin brings deep expertise in product information management and digital asset systems that power accurate product data across digital commerce channels. Keith contributes more than two decades of experience leading large-scale supply chain transformation and omni-channel fulfillment strategies for global retailers.

Together, they’ll unpack how faster delivery models, stronger product data foundations, and smarter retail infrastructure are transforming both customer experience and operational performance.

Topics include:

1. Fast Delivery Models: Transforming Supply Chain Operations

2. Product Data Foundations: Powering Effective Advertising

3. Next-Day Delivery: Shaping Retail Expectations

4. Product Data Quality: Enabling Personalized Customer Experiences

From fulfillment networks to product data ecosystems, this conversation explores how retailers can combine operational speed with data accuracy to compete in today’s increasingly demanding market.