How I Met Your Data

Vanessa Jones-Nyoni, Chief Data Officer at Commerzbank NY, joins How I Met Your Data to share her journey from Sierra Leone to the C-suite. We dive into the realities of modern data leadership in a highly regulated industry—balancing innovation with governance, wrangling unstructured data, and building a culture of AI and data literacy. Plus: what it's really like leading a lean team, the power of one-on-one influence, and the mission behind Women Data Professionals.

Welcome to The Prompt, a short-format minisode of How I Met Your Data, where hosts Junaid, Karen, and Anjali delve into the evolving landscape of data and AI. In this lively discussion, they explore the pivotal question of whether the Chief Data Officer (CDO) or Chief Data & AI Officer (CDAO) should report directly to a CEO, a CIO, or another C-level executive. Each host shares sharp insights based on their professional experience, addressing the challenges facing CDOs, such as their typically short tenures and the essential components required for their success.

Throughout the episode, the trio touches on the significance of building a data-driven culture, assessing whether data should be seen as a cost center or a valuable asset, and the complexities of integrating data literacy within corporate strategy. They also tackle the important consideration of hiring CDOs from within the organization versus bringing in external change agents, weighing the benefits and drawbacks of each approach. Join them in this engaging conversation that challenges conventional wisdom and highlights the critical role data plays in defining today's business landscape.

What do knowledge graphs, beautiful wine, and the AI revolution have in common? According to Juan Sequeda, Principal Scientist at data.world and co-host of the popular Catalog & Cocktails podcast — everything.

In this episode of How I Met Your Data, Juan joins Anjali and Karen for an energizing, thought-provoking deep dive into why semantic data modeling is having its renaissance moment, what we’ve misunderstood about knowledge-first design, and how data governance might just be on the brink of being...cool??

From dishing on the history of data modeling’s pendulum swings to exploring how ontologies and entity-relationship diagrams can fuel AI effectiveness, Juan breaks it down with clarity, humor, and plenty of passion (plus a little wine talk for good measure 🍷).

Tune in to hear:

Why “data modeling” isn’t dead—it just went underground

How semantic modeling helps LLMs deliver better, more accurate results

The importance of pushing semantics left to reduce tech debt

What makes a data product actually reusable (hint: not just pipelines)

Why governance might finally be cool—and how to make it a true enabler, not a bottleneck

Whether you're semantic-curious, governance-skeptical, or just trying to make sense of your enterprise data chaos, this is the episode that’ll have you rethinking your metadata strategy—and maybe even opening a bottle while you're at it.

This one’s for the data dreamers, the AI realists, and everyone stuck in the modeling middle.

Join Junaid, Karen, and Anjali for a special episode of "The Prompt," where they dive into the latest trends in data and analytics. Discover insights into major tech mergers and acquisitions, such as ServiceNow's acquisition of Data.World and Salesforce's partnership with Informatica. Learn about the implications for data governance, vendor lock-in, and AI readiness in today's rapidly evolving market. Are we simply relabeling age-old challenges with new terminology, or are we on the brink of genuine innovation? Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation packed with industry insights.

Welcome to another episode of How I Met Your Data. This time, we’re getting real about the messy, meaningful journey of career evolution.

Our guest, Angelique Hopkins, along with our own Karen Meppen, unpack the highs, lows, and hard-earned wisdom of navigating big career moves in the fast-changing world of Data & Analytics.

We’re talking about more than just job titles. From navigating burnout to breaking out of career stagnation, Karen and Angelique share honest reflections on their careers, the risks they took, the pivots they made, and the self-awareness that fueled it all.

We’ll also explore how AI is reshaping roles, why your network matters more than ever, and what it takes to thrive in a workforce that refuses to sit still.

If you’re rethinking your next move or just need a dose of real talk, this episode brings the insight, heart, and just a bit of inspiration to help you take the leap.

Let’s get into it.

Welcome to a new chapter of 'How I Met Your Data', where we dive deeper into the real stories behind the data with our new co-hosts, Karen Meppen and Junaid. This episode explores the intersections of data leadership, AI disruption, and culture shifts, while introducing Karen and Junaid's unique perspectives and experiences in the data world.

Join us as we discuss the messy middle, transformation fatigue, and the never-ending journey of working with data. Karen shares her rich experience in optimizing processes through technology, and Junaid brings his prophetic insight into the evolving realm of AI. Together, they uncover the importance of data therapy sessions and talk about the exciting, albeit challenging, future of data management.

This episode is a blend of personal stories, professional insights, and a sneak peek into the evolving landscape of data and technology. Get ready to explore why working with data is dynamic, challenging, and yet undeniably rewarding.

Welcome to another episode of "How I Met Your Data" with your hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal. Join us in this engaging conversation as we bid Sandy farewell on her new venture and welcome Rachel Moore Best, a renowned negotiation expert and lecturer at MIT. In this episode, Rachel shares her journey from music studies to becoming a negotiation specialist, emphasizing the significance of negotiation beyond the boardroom and into everyday life. Discover the power of negotiation in enhancing communication, collaboration, and influence within teams while navigating complex dynamics and decision-making. Perfect for data practitioners, engineers, or anyone interested in improving their negotiation skills, this episode is packed with insights and strategies that transcend typical negotiation boundaries.

Welcome to Season 2 of "How I Met Your Data," where hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal dive into the dynamic world of data.

In this episode, they chat with guest Carly Van Zandt, Senior Director of Data Governance at Fresenius Medical Care.  Carly shares her fascinating journey from biology to data governance, highlighting her innovative approach to demonstrating the ROI of governance efforts, even with a small team. Discover how Carly's unique methodology has transformed data practices and learn about the real-world examples she used to gain executive buy-in. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the impact of effective data governance.

Welcome to the season finale of "How I Met Your Data," where hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal guide you through the dynamic world of data. In this episode, Sandy shares highlights from her recent sabbatical, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Olympic National Park and the vibrant culture of Barcelona. Anjali recounts her own summer adventures in Yellowstone and Hilton Head, emphasizing the stunning beauty and wildlife of America's national parks.

As they reflect on the season, Sandy and Anjali discuss listener engagement and the success of various episodes, highlighting insights from data-driven sports success to the evolving landscape of Gen AI technology. 

Join Sandy and Anjali as they wrap up an incredible season, share personal stories, and look forward to new data adventures in the upcoming year. 

This episode of How I Met Your Data welcomes Dr. Elouise Epstein, a digital futurist, to discuss the often overlooked world of procurement. Listeners will learn what procurement is and why it's essential to business success. Dr. Epstein provides insights into the challenges that procurement teams face, including a lack of spend transparency, reliance on outdated technology, and the struggle to keep up with a rapidly evolving digital landscape. She also shares her vision for the future of procurement, where supply chains become a core competitive advantage, driven by data, AI, and a deep understanding of supplier relationships. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in data, technology, and the future of business.