Building an AI-First Culture: Lessons from James Utting, Chief Business Officer for the Emerging Technology Group at UBS

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In this episode of the Data & AI Mastery podcast, Raoul sits down with James Utting, Chief Business Officer for the Emerging Technology Group at UBS, to explore what it means to build an AI-first culture in a global financial institution.

James starts off by sharing his career journey—from graduate to senior leadership—highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his expertise in AI strategy, digital transformation, and leadership. He then goes on to detail UBS’s AI-first culture initiative, explaining how the bank empowers employees to integrate AI into daily decision-making, fosters tailored AI education, and ensures governance for responsible AI use.

If you're a data leader, AI practitioner, or business executive, this conversation offers valuable takeaways on how to successfully navigate AI adoption at scale.

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Chapter Markers:

(01:45) James’ Career Journey & Key Inflection Points

(06:31) Why UBS is Developing an AI-First Culture

(10:12) Initiatives to Drive AI Adoption at Scale

(15:38) The Role of Education & AI Champions in Transformation

(20:12) How UBS Prioritises AI Initiatives & Investments

(24:45) Quickfire Round: Leadership, Learning & AI for Good

(27:16) Closing Thoughts & Key Takeaways

Useful Links:

Connect with James Utting on LinkedIn

Learn more about UBS’s AI initiatives on the UBS Website

Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programs at cambridgespark.com

Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn