Hub & Spoken: Data | Analytics | Chief Data Officer | CDO | Data Strategy

In this guest episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Kate Sargent, Chief Data Officer at the Financial Times, to discuss how customer understanding drives strategy, growth and trust in a digital-first organisation. Kate explains how the FT has evolved from a traditional publisher into a subscription-led business serving audiences from classroom to boardroom. She shares how customer insight underpins everything from acquisition and retention to product design and experience, guided by a clear set of "metrics that matter". The conversation explores how the FT segments its audiences, turns insight into action across the organisation and balances short-term performance with long-term value. Kate also reflects on the practical role of AI, from personalisation to governance, explaining why clarity of purpose and strong principles matter when adopting new technology. Listen here for a thoughtful discussion focused on data, customers and sustainable growth. Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Blaire Palmer, author, keynote speaker and expert on leadership and the future of work. This episode is a candid conversation about what organisations must rethink if they want people and performance to thrive in an era shaped by rapid technological change.

Drawing on her background as a BBC journalist, one of Europe's first accredited coaches and the author of 'Punks in Suits', Blaire unpacks the long-held assumptions that quietly limit how people show up at work. She and Jason discuss why culture and trust remain the real competitive edge and why short-termism undermines long-term value. Their conversation also explores how leadership must evolve as AI takes on more of the routine and emotionally neutral tasks inside organisations.

Together, they make the case that AI shouldn't be treated as an efficiency play, but as a catalyst for unlocking human potential, creativity and contribution. They discuss the organisations already redefining what "good" looks like, from value led decision-making to designing environments where people can genuinely do their best work.

An interesting, people-centred conversation about rewriting the rules of work for what comes next.

Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

Most organisations don't struggle with change because of strategy or technology, they struggle because change is fundamentally human.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, speaks with Sunil Kumar, Chief Transformation Officer, to explore why transformation so often stalls and what leaders can do to make it stick.

Drawing on more than 26 years working across airlines, telecoms, finance and FMCG, Sunil explains why context, such as geopolitics, customer behaviour, industry shifts and internal culture, is the deciding factor in how change lands. When leaders ignore that context, resistance and fatigue follow.

Jason and Sunil discuss the human realities behind change, including:

• Why people naturally resist it
• How values and beliefs influence adoption
• Why narrative and excitement matter more than familiar project metrics

Sunil also shares his practical "push, pull, connect" model for building momentum and why adoption, not go-live, should be the true measure of success.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now

Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, speaks with Shachar Meir, a data advisor who has worked with organisations from startups to the likes of Meta and Paypal.

Together, they explore why so many companies, even those with skilled data teams, solid platforms and plenty of data, still struggle to deliver real business value.

Shachar's take is clear: the problem isn't technology - it's people, process, and culture. Too often, data teams focus on building sophisticated platforms instead of understanding the business problems they're meant to solve.

His summary: why guess when you can know?

This episode is a practical conversation for anyone looking to move their organisation from data chaos to data clarity.

🎧 Listen now to discover how clarity beats complexity in data strategy.

Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, speaks with Roberto Maranca, data & digital transformation expert and author of Data Excellence.

They explore what it really means to build a 'data fit' organisation, one that treats data capability like physical fitness by understanding where you are, training for where you want to be and making improvement a daily routine.

Drawing from ancient philosophy and modern business, Roberto explains how concepts from Socrates and Aristotle can help leaders rethink culture, value and human responsibility in an AI-driven world.

Together, they discuss how organisations can:

• Shift from seeing data as a tech issue to a leadership mindset

• Build collective intelligence and cultural readiness

• Stay human in the age of intelligent machines

Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

Busy isn't the same as valuable.

Too many data teams fall into the trap of endless activity chasing the next tool, migration, or hype, without ever proving their impact.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, sits down with Maaike van den Branden, former Chief Data Officer at Compare the Market and Mumsnet, to uncover what truly makes a data team successful.

Drawing on two decades of experience, Maaike shares the practical ingredients for teams that deliver real value: clarity of purpose, balanced skills, open recognition, and strong culture. Together, they explore how leaders can:

1. Build happy, high-performing teams that last

2. Avoid over-promoting tech at the expense of people

3. Prove business impact without getting lost in the noise

If you've ever wondered what separates a high-performing data team from a busy one, this conversation is your answer.

🎧 Listen now to learn the real secret to data team success.

AI is no longer a distant concept; it's here, reshaping the way we live and work. From coding and customer service to creative content, AI is already taking on tasks once thought to be uniquely human. But what does that mean for the future of work, and more importantly, for the role of leaders?

In this solo episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO and Founder of Cynozure, explores the real implications of AI on jobs, leadership, and human value. Drawing lessons from history, automation, shipping containers, even the rise of personal computing, Jason argues that every wave of technology has shifted humans "up a level of abstraction," moving us from doing to designing, to directing and innovating.

He sets out four essential human traits to thrive in the age of AI:

1. Think bigger – focus on outcomes, strategy, and imagination

2. Lead differently – provide clarity, orchestrate teams, and build culture

3. Connect deeper – lean into empathy, context, and trust

4. Grow and adapt – stay curious, resilient, and open to change

🎧 Tune in to hear Jason's take on how we can design the future we want to be part of.

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Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

What if the future of leadership wasn't explained by another CEO, but by an AI?

In this special episode of Hub & Spoken, hosted by Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, the guest isn't a data or business leader. It's ChatGPT. Together, they explore one of the most pressing questions for organisations today: What does leadership mean in the age of artificial intelligence?

The discussion contrasts the logical view of leadership, vision, decision-making and orchestration, with the uniquely human qualities that machines can't replicate: courage under pressure, conviction, vulnerability, and trust.

The result is a fascinating tension. AI can support with logic, speed, and analysis. But leadership is still defined by what makes us human.

🎧 Tune in for this experiment in leadership dialogue.

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Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, host Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by James Lupton, Chief Technology Officer at Cynozure, to explore the findings from What Matters Most for Insurers Now — a new report shaped by insights from 35 senior leaders across the insurance industry.

While the report focuses on insurers, its lessons resonate far more widely. Jason and James discuss how organisations across sectors are wrestling with the same issues: outdated and overly customised legacy systems that hold back innovation, a persistent gap between the ambition to build a data-driven culture and the actions taken to achieve it, and the importance of leadership support that goes beyond lip service to meaningful investment and behaviour change.

They also consider the next frontier: AI agents. With many firms experimenting but few ready to deploy, Jason and James unpack what true readiness looks like and why success requires more than just technology.

This episode offers practical reflections for leaders in complex, regulated industries who are striving to "fix forward" and unlock the real value of data and AI.

Download What Matters Most for Insurers Now here

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Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.

In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, speaks with David Germain, portfolio Non-Executive Director and former senior technology and transformation leader in banking, financial services and insurance. Drawing on 30 years of global experience, David shares how sustainable business growth depends on more than just strategy and technology - it's rooted in inclusive leadership, organisational culture, and curiosity at every level.

They explore why leadership teams must reflect their customer base, how to create psychological safety to encourage innovation, and why "constructive disruption" is essential for long-term success. David discusses the challenge of balancing today's operational pressures with the future ambitions of an organisation, and why trust, diversity of thought, and resilience are non-negotiables.

The conversation also examines the role of technology, particularly AI, as both an enabler and a disruptor, and why leaders must prepare their people for the cultural and operational shifts it brings.

If you're a business leader seeking practical ways to align people, culture, and technology for lasting impact, this episode offers clear, real-world perspectives.

—— Cynozure is a leading data, analytics and AI company that helps organisations to reach their data potential. It works with clients on data and AI strategy, data management, data architecture and engineering, analytics and AI, data culture and literacy, and data leadership. The company was named one of The Sunday Times' fastest-growing private companies in both 2022 and 2023 and recognised as The Best Place to Work in Data by DataIQ in 2023 and 2024. Cynozure is a certified B Corporation.