Every AI hallucination, every bad output, and every broken dashboard traces back to the same root cause. Your data was never ready in the first place.

In this episode, Jess Carter sits down with Mark Marshalek to talk about why data governance is having a major comeback in the age of AI. Drawing on his leadership experience at Farmers Insurance and his work as a Senior Lecturer at The Ohio State University, Mark explains how governance, curiosity, and flexibility can help teams experiment with AI responsibly. He also shares why stronger data discipline is essential for AI readiness.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why data discipline matters for AI adoption

• How leaders can make governance feel practical instead of bureaucratic

• Why curiosity and flexibility are critical skills for the future of work

Things to listen for:

(00:33) Introduction to the episode with Mark Marshalek

(02:48) Why data governance is becoming more important

(06:29) Connecting governance to business value

(15:54) How leaders can encourage teams to use AI

(27:00) AI adoption in highly regulated industries

(30:28) Mark's advice for the next generation of workers

Mark's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-marshalek-11543721/