In this episode, I’m joined by the remarkably versatile Akshay Swaminathan, a polyglot who speaks 11 languages and has carved a unique path from medicine to data science. Currently an MD-PhD candidate at Stanford, Akshay's work has taken him from building clinics in Bolivia to pushing the boundaries of healthcare through data science. Akshay's journey is not just about his professional achievements but also his personal commitment to continuous learning and making a global impact. His transition from medicine to data science was driven by his desire to leverage technology for social good, part ..read more

My guest on this episode is Nikolaj van Omme, CEO and co-founder of Funartech. Funartech is a Canadian company specializing in AI-driven solutions to complex industrial optimisation problems. The company’s secret sauce is combining the two disciplines of Operations Research and Machine Learning. Operations Research is about making the best decisions and solving problems in a structured way, using maths to optimize outcomes. Machine learning on the other hand, is really good at spotting patterns and making predictions from lots and lots of data. The cool part happens when we bring these two tog ..read more

Sandy Iyer has been General Manager of Data Science at Sportsbet since the beginning of 2023, leading a dynamic team that leverages data in innovative ways. But what does it take to lead in such a data-driven environment? How does one balance the promotion of betting products with social responsibility? And how does data shape the strategy of a betting giant like Sportsbet? These are just a few of the questions we'll explore today. I’ve watched Sandy's career trajectory skyrocket in the last few years, and It's been nothing short of inspiring. In this conversation we explore the key elements b ..read more

In this digital age, data is the lifeblood of business. Just as computer literacy became a non-negotiable skill in the 21st century, data literacy is now an essential competency in our increasingly data-driven world. Yet, despite its critical importance, it's an area where many individuals and businesses stumble. Understanding, interpreting, and effectively using data can be challenging, even daunting. The lack of data literacy skills can lead to misinterpretation, misuse, and missed opportunities for businesses and individuals. Many struggle to find a structured approach to elevate their data ..read more

Many large organisations have the data to pull off sophisticated marketing strategies, but only if they avoid the common pitfalls that limit the potential. In this episode I interview Tejas Manohar on the huge – and typically unexploited – potential for data-driven marketing and personalisation. Tejas is co-founder and co-CEO of Hightouch. Hightouch is a reverse ETL platform that helps organisations synch their data warehouses with business facing tools and technology. Their products are used by big name corporations like Warner Music, Chime, Spotify, NBA, and PetSmart. In this wide-ranging co ..read more

Every day, like invisible breadcrumbs, we leave trails of personal data scattered across the digital landscape. Each click, every search, every purchase - they all tell a story about us. But do we know where these breadcrumbs lead? Who's picking them up? And most importantly, what are they doing with them? In an era where data is documenting our lives across a host of platforms, understanding these trails and their implications is no longer a luxury but rather, a necessity. It's about our privacy, our rights, and our well-being in an increasingly interconnected world. In this episode of Leader ..read more

We’re definitely in AI hype mode at the moment largely driven by the evolution in generative AI. However, it seems like this progress is not necessarily driving lots of data-related innovation inside organisations that are not AI-first tech companies. A recent survey published by Randy Bean’s company, NewVantage Partners, confirms this. Here are the main findings compared to when the survey was last run 4 years ago: 59.5% of executives say their companies use data for business innovation – the same as four years ago. A drop from 47.6% to 40.8% of executives say their companies compete using d ..read more

In a world where data is the new oil, being able to understand, analyse and interpret it is a vital skill. As the saying goes, "knowledge is power," and in this case, data literacy is the key to unlocking that power. I argue that data literacy is as important to individual and organisational success as computer literacy, but unfortunately that is not a consensus view. For many organisations and their leaders, low data literacy is hampering their ability to make effective, data-driven decisions. What is the key to creating a data literate organisation and unlocking the true potential of your da ..read more

This episode of Leaders of Analytics features Dhiraj Rajaram, the Founder of global decision sciences company Mu Sigma. Mu Sigma serves more than 140 of the Fortune 500 and the company’s mission is to simplify complex problems through the science of decisions. Dhiraj shares his views on problem-solving in business, and how Mu Sigma's three core beliefs have been instrumental in the company's success. At Mu Sigma, they believe in "Learning over Knowing", "Extreme Experimentation", and "The New IP". Their data-driven decision-making approach has helped solve some of the toughest business challen ..read more

In this episode of Leaders of Analytics, I am joined by Ada Guan who is one of the most innovative minds in the field of credit decisioning. Ada is CEO and co-founder of Rich Data Co, a company that helps lenders make informed and accurate credit decisions by leveraging AI and machine learning. Listen in as Ada sheds light on the role that AI and machine learning can play in transforming the lending industry and what the future may hold for credit decisioning. In this episode, we'll discuss: Ada’s entrepreneurial journey The typical pain points lenders face and how RDC’s unique AI solution so ..read more