CDO Matters Podcast

Explore the cautious optimism for data spending in 2025 amid a shifting economic backdrop. Discover the Gen AI paradox, where widespread use fails to deliver expected ROI. Delve into the rise of data products and the urgency for better governance of unstructured data. Malcolm critiques AI-washing in the industry and highlights the urgent need for mid-career professionals to disrupt themselves and upskill. Get insights on smaller, conversational conference formats fostering community engagement, and the accelerating convergence of data management tools.

Jeremi Karnell, Head of Data Solutions at InvestNet and former CEO of Trulytics, shares insights on transforming vast amounts of digital data into actionable decision intelligence for financial advisors. He discusses the pivot from traditional BI to decision intelligence, revealing how a massive insights engine generates 25 million actionable insights daily. Karnell delves into embedding data within product strategies for revenue growth, and explores the integration of generative AI in advisor workflows, offering a roadmap for achieving real ROI in fintech.

In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Ong, Data Director for Mecklenburg County Public Health, shares insights from his experience building a robust data governance program with a small team. He emphasizes the importance of securing executive buy-in and fostering data literacy through innovative training. Discover how they leveraged COVID reporting to enhance data practices and utilized dashboards to showcase data quality. Ong also discusses the need for governance to reside within the business, not just IT, and strategies for preparing data for AI.

Rebecca O'Kill, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Axis Capital, reveals how to transform skeptics into data allies through listening and delivering value. She discusses the importance of prioritizing data initiatives based on business needs and evolving delivery models to incorporate agile practices. Rebecca also highlights the role of AI champions in driving adoption while balancing central control with federated innovation. Emphasizing a growth mindset, she advocates for experimentation and continuous learning in data governance.

Kash Mehdi, VP of Growth at DataGalaxy, dives into the evolving landscape of data management. He discusses why traditional data catalogs fall short, emphasizing the need for data product thinking to enhance usability and context. Kash explores the integration of metadata with data quality, the importance of governing unstructured data using AI, and how organizations can avoid creating siloed AI agents by providing rich business context. He also critiques single-owner data models and stresses collaborative approaches to data ownership.

Episode OverviewWhat happens when a seasoned data leader decides to step out of corporate life and build something entirely new? In this episode, I sit down with Dora Boussias—former Stryker executive, dynamic speaker, and now founder of DoraB Global—to talk about her leap into entrepreneurship, the importance of authenticity, personal reinvention, and what it really takes to carve out your own brand in the data space. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible beyond the traditional career path, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.Episode Links and ResourcesFollow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedInFollow Dora Boussias on LinkedIn

In this engaging discussion, Ron Green, CTO and co-founder of KungFu.AI, sheds light on the complexities of AI adoption. He highlights three crucial phases where companies can achieve the highest ROI, shifting from product-led requests to CEO-driven initiatives. Ron explains the significance of proprietary data as a competitive edge, exemplified by a loan-factoring case. He also tackles common pitfalls in moving from proof of concepts to production and offers insights on making data AI-ready while addressing bias. Dive into the realities of AI beyond the hype!

Episode Summary Malcolm Hawker and Junaid Farooq unpack one of the toughest challenges in data leadership: moving beyond outdated notions of ownership to embrace accountability and results.Their conversation sheds light on the mindsets and practices that separate struggling programs from transformative ones.Episode Links and ResourcesFollow Malcolm Hawker on LinkedInFollow Junaid Farooq on LinkedIn

Andreas Blumauer, Founder and CEO of the Semantic Web Company, shares his expertise in semantic web standards and enterprise knowledge graphs. He discusses how knowledge graphs are revolutionizing data strategies to make data AI-ready. Key topics include the importance of semantics and domain models, the challenges of understanding context in data interpretation, and the interplay between AI integration and knowledge graphs. Andreas emphasizes the need for data governance and the future of data modeling in an AI-driven world, highlighting the evolving roles of professionals in this space.

In this engaging conversation, Jonathan Reeve, Chief Product Officer at BetaNext, shares his passion for merging product and data. He explores how data can be transformed into a strategic product and the critical role of customer feedback post-launch. The discussion highlights the challenge of scaling products while integrating AI to enhance operational efficiency. Reeve also emphasizes the importance of storytelling and influence for leaders, making this a fascinating listen for anyone looking to innovate with smarter data strategies.