Enterprise Wide Search

In this episode, co-hosts Emma McGrattan and Ole Olesen-Bagneux sit down with Dylan Anderson, Head of Data Strategy at Profusion and author of The Data Ecosystem newsletter. Dylan brings a pragmatic, field-tested perspective on how to bridge the gap between strategy and implementation—and why many organizations still struggle to align data with business value.Together, they explore:Dylan’s work helping companies turn vague goals into actionable data strategies.The real reasons enterprise-wide search still falls short, and how AI can help fix it.Why data catalogs disappointed, and what it takes to build real access and insight.The toughest part of connecting data and business strategy.🎧 Tune in for a conversation about the messy reality of data transformation—and why the best strategies are the ones that actually get used.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, co-hosts Emma McGrattan and Ole Olesen-Bagneux welcome Sofia Zapounidou, Team Lead at the Publications Office of the European Commission and a lifelong champion of metadata, identifiers, and meaning in a machine-readable world. Drawing on her background in library and information science, Sofia offers a unique perspective on the evolution of data work—from card catalogs to linked open data—and what today’s AI and data communities can learn from the past.Together, they explore:Sofia’s work leading a linked data transformation at the European Commission.What librarians have always known—and technologists often forget—about user context and information architecture..Why data migration is an opportunity to improve data quality, not just preserve it.How FRBR (and now LRM) reshaped library metadata as a graph-based model.Why data needs continuous curation, and how to build a culture that supports it.🎧 Tune in for a conversation that bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, reminding us that behind every intelligent machine is a century of human effort to describe the world clearly.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, co-hosts Emma McGrattan and Ole Olesen-Bagneux sit down with Tim Wiegels, Executive Data Advisor and former VP of Data at FreeNow. Known for his brutally honest and refreshingly pragmatic take on building data teams, stacks, and cultures, Tim shares lessons from a career spanning gaming, mobility, and high-growth tech.Together, they explore:Tim’s journey from bioinformatics PhD to startup veteran and strategic advisor.Why he believes your first hire shouldn’t be a data scientist—or even a data engineer.The rise of the analytics engineer and why Excel skills still matter more than most admit.The myth of the all-knowing centralized data team—and how to rethink service, ownership, and collaboration in real-world enterprises.🎧 Tune in for an unfiltered, field-tested look at what it really takes to move organizations from spreadsheet chaos to data-driven confidence.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, co-hosts Ole Olesen-Bagneux and Emma McGrattan sit down with Nagim Ashufta, founder of DRIVA and one of the most philosophical voices in the data world today. Known for weaving together history, human nature, and the hard realities of data work, Nagim brings a rare and much-needed perspective to the conversation around data, governance, and transformation.Together, they explore:Nagim’s global journey—from Kabul to Hamburg—and how it shaped his unique worldview on data and systems.Why his work focuses on enablement over abstraction, and how data teams can act as support systems rather than consultants.What a mulberry leaf, silk, and solitude can teach us about the slow, deliberate nature of data work—and why rushing outcomes often misses the point.Why terms like data product and data catalog may need to evolve to reflect more human-centered, collaborative paradigms.The hidden dynamics of power in federated data strategies—and why acknowledging them is key to sustainable governance.🎧 Tune in for a reflective conversation that challenges the way we think about data, control, and collaboration—and why the next big leap in data might just begin with people.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, co-hosts Ole Olesen-Bagneux and Emma McGrattan sit down with Andrew Jones, Principal Engineer and author of Driving Data Quality with Data Contracts (Packt Publishing). Widely credited with coining the term “data contract,” Andrew walks us through how a deceptively simple idea evolved into one of the most impactful trends in modern data architecture.Together, they explore:Andrew’s journey from software engineering to data leadership.How unreliable data led him to pioneer the concept of data contracts.The surprising connections—and distinctions—between data contracts and data mesh.Why data contracts are gaining momentum as the practical backbone of the “shift-left” movement.Real-world lessons from organizations implementing contracts to improve data quality, governance, and developer experience.🎧 Tune in to understand why data contracts aren’t just a trend—they’re becoming the foundation for reliable, federated data management.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this special episode, Ole Olesen-Bagneux welcomes Emma McGrattan, Actian’s CTO, as the new co-host of Enterprise Wide Search. Emma shares her journey from coding her first game at age 12 to leading global data innovation at Actian for over three decades.Together, they explore:Emma’s early experiences with technology and her path into data engineering.The pervasive role of Actian’s technology in everyday life, from morning routines to global transportation systems.The evolution of data management: from conserving storage space to enabling AI-driven decision-making.Emma’s favorite cities and the cultural insights she’s gained through her travels.🎧 Join us as we delve into Emma's experiences and perspectives on the podcast, setting the stage for future explorations of enterprise data.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

I talked to Chief Data Architect, dr. Anna Ibrahim on Episode 07 - and this conversation marks a new direction for my podcast, as I will talk more concretely about the Meta Grid in the episodes going forward.As you will hear, Anna has deep technical understanding and - just as important - organizational experience to testify that the Meta Grid is already out there. In this conversation, we discuss the wealth of metadata repositories, that each at least in principle leverage different, distinct capabilities - albeit they contain the same metadata.However, Anna precisely addresses that this is not always the case, that there is an overlap of capabilities delivered by metadata repositories, and points to the paradox that vendors try to position themselves as unique, although they actually deliver redundant capabilities.Nevertheless, we expand the topic to include not only vendors, but also consultancies and internal employees - this reality that I call the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (all three parties can play all three roles).Also, at least for the next couple of months, I have decided to publish episodes on my podcast a little less frequently, but deeper and slightly longer conversations. I simply have to finalize my book, Fundamentals of Metadata Management (O'Reilly, 2025).In conclusion, I am very happy I got to have this conversation. I think that tech- and consultancy companies should listen to this episode. For each industrial company I sare to claim: The Meta Grid is already there.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 06 is out! I spoke to Solomon Kahn that is the CEO of Delivery Layer and co-founder of Top Data People. We spoke about both companies, however my key interest in reaching out to Solomon is Delivery Layer. It's sort of a reverse Customer Data Platform (CDP) and I think that's surprising, but relevant, way to be searching data.I also spoke about data influencing with Solomon. I really don't like being called a data influencer, but Solomon totally embraces it, saying that knowledgeable people should fight for influence. I like that! Finally, we talked about the tech scene in New York, that is interesting in the sense that this is the place where the biggest tech customers are.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Eduardo da Silva, an independent consultant with a wealth of experience in social technical systems and architecture, teams up with Manuel Pais, co-author of 'Team Topologies' and a DevOps advocate. They dive into the transformative power of team topologies in organizations, sharing how data engineers can evolve into data scientists thanks to well-structured data infrastructures. They also discuss the significance of collaboration, sustainable capabilities, and the role of initiatives like datathons in fostering continuous improvement and effective team dynamics.

To Scott Taylor - my data story about the Meta GridThe preface of my book Fundamentals of Metadata ManagementScott Taylor asked me to send my data story on the Meta Grid, so he could comment on it, and - I’m thankful Scott! Here it is: The following is the current preface of my book Fundamentals of Metadata Management, to be published with O’Reilly in 2025. It contains two paragraphs, About this book and Why I wrote this book. Everyone, including YOU, can read and comment on my Substack version of The Meta Grid Notes. I read all comments! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.