In this episode, Lucy Lynch is joined by Samir Sharma, Founder of Datazuum, to unpack why so many data and AI initiatives fail to deliver real business value.

Samir shares his back story from a pivotal moment early in his career when a CEO asked the simple but powerful question, “What am I going to get from this?”  - to building a consultancy focused on outcomes, not technology for technology’s sake.

Together, Lucy and Samir explore:

• Why data and AI programmes fail when they’re disconnected from business strategy
• The danger of prioritising outputs (dashboards, tools) over outcomes (decisions, value)
• How starting with business questions, decisions, and measurable objectives changes everything
• The role of culture, change, governance, and data quality in sustainable success
• Why AI should be treated as an enabler, not a silver bullet. And where organisations are getting it wrong

The conversation also dives into Samir’s Data & AI Strategy Canvas, the thinking behind his new book, and why leaders must move from hype-driven experimentation to deliberate, metrics-led execution.

The key message: Data and AI aren’t about being more advanced, they’re about being more intentional.