In this episode of Data Analytics Chat, host Ben Parker talks with Anju Gupta, the Chief Data and AI Officer at BNSF Railway, to explore her successful career journey to date and discuss AI adoption. 

Anju reveals her career journey, sharing pivotal moments that shaped her path and the profound influence of AI on various industries. She discusses overcoming challenges, the significance of collaboration, and essential skills like resilience, humility, and influencing. 

Anju provides a detailed exploration of AI adoption at scale, highlighting common roadblocks, strategic approaches for aligning AI with business goals, and the importance of a well-rounded build, buy, and partner strategy. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:39 Anju's Early Career Journey

03:43 Pivotal Moments and AI Adoption

06:15 Overcoming Challenges and Building Influence

17:23 The Importance of Mentors and Sponsors

24:32 Handling Setbacks and Learning from Failure

29:04 The Dangers of Comparison

31:15 Skills for Success in the Industry

34:10 Challenges in AI Adoption

42:50 Moving from AI Experimentation to Full-Scale Adoption

46:48 Common Mistakes in Early AI Adoption

50:55 Aligning AI Initiatives with Business Goals

53:26 Leveraging External Expertise for AI Success

56:42 Final Thoughts and Advice

Thank you for listening!