
Making Data Simple
Hosted by Al Martin, WW VP of Technical Sales at IBM, Making Data Simple cuts through the hype to reveal how data and AI reshape the modern enterprise.Thought leaders, researchers, and innovators share firsthand lessons on leading teams, scaling analytics, and driving real-world impact—delivered in Al’s signature straightforward, witty style.Tune in to Making Data Simple today. From data and AI breakthroughs to leadership hacks, top experts drop actionable gems that help businesses thrive in a data-driven world. #MakingDataSimple #AI #Leadership
Latest episodes

Mar 24, 2021 • 39min
This week Al and Robin Hernandez discuss about AI Ops, what it is and what it means to you
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Robin Hernandez, Robin is the VP of Offering Management Cloud Data for Watson AI Ops. Robin started out in software development, and then worked in Technical Sales, IBM Cloud Garage, and then Product Management. Show Notes3:46 – What is AI Ops?6:31 – What is the ROI?12:00 – What does it take to setup AI?17:48 – How does this really work?21:34 – I am in Services what do I get?26:06 – What king of grantees does AI offer?28:12 – Who is monitoring AI?IBM AI Ops Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Mar 17, 2021 • 53min
[Replay] Start-ups with Simon Lightstone
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.Interested in learning what it takes to operate a start-up? On this episode of Making Data Simple, host Al Martin sits down with Simon Lightstone, IBM offering manager, to discuss what it took to get his startup off the ground. Simon offers tips to those facing a similar experience and describes how the decision to pursue a dream ultimately affected his career.Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Mar 10, 2021 • 43min
This week Al and Ana Echeverri discuss industry factors driving education, learning differences, and misconceptions
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Ana Echeverri. Ana leads Expert Labs Learning, experience in sales, client success, owned her own business. Has a computer engineering degree from Columbia, formerly worked at Informix, and has been in the technology industry for about 30 years, also worked at Microsoft Citrix, and then started her own business focused on Education. Show Notes8:25 – Are there different industry facts driving learning?11:58 – How do you find the time to learn?17:24 – What the best way to get education?20:06 - Do we learn differently?22:49 – We want expert’s what are you going to do?28:40 – What is IBM doing around learning?33:08 – Biggest misconception in learning?Adam Grant Power of LearningConversational Intelligence Cooking Blog (Recetas de Merci) Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Mar 3, 2021 • 36min
This week Al and Rob Thomas discuss leadership, hybrid cloud, and data platforms
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Rob Thomas. Rob is Senior VP of IBM Cloud and Data Platform, a Coach and has a Mentor newsletter, an author, and a Blogger. Rob has been at IBM his whole career, started in consulting moved to microelectronics then moved to software in 2006. Show Notes3:26 – What are your learning's from 2020?7:42 – What’s your vision and objectives for Cloud and Data platform? 11:44 – Discuss the rules of your organization14:08 - What’s your view on hybrid cloud?18:30 – What does IBM Cloud and data platform do that nobody else can do?21:51 – What should companies be looking at to build their competitiveness?28:18 – What was your reason for writing about “Just Show Up”?The Mentor NewsletterIt Takes What It Takes Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Feb 24, 2021 • 39min
This week Al and Jeff Richardson discuss Jeff’s new role at Accelerated Enrollment Solutions and how data affects Jeff's role
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Jeff Richardson. Jeff has a history of database data, information management, and he is now the Chief Information Officer at Accelerated Enrollment Solutions. Jeff was also at Bentley Systems for 17 ½ years as Chief Data Officer. Show Notes5:41 – What does it mean to be a technology nerd?6:53 – What technologies as a CDO or CIO are you addressing on a regular bases?13:04 – How are you going to tackle the culture and the politics?17:25 – Is it Cloud or Hybrid to drive the new data lake?24:03 – What is your plan to get to desired state?27:04 – Does AI have a role in your new position?31:44 – Fighting the Infodemic what made you write this article? Fighting the InfodemicJeff’s podcast listAnalytics on FireDissecting popular IT NerdsThe Data ChiefData Crunch Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Feb 17, 2021 • 37min
This week Al and Yancey Strickler chat about Bentoism how it came about, tips and tricks of Bentoism, and data as fire.
Yancey Strickler, a renowned writer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Kickstarter, dives into the concept of Bentoism—an innovative mindset balancing self-interest with the greater good. He shares practical strategies and insights on redefining value and success in creative industries, shaped by his experiences. Yancey also tackles the dual nature of data, likening it to fire—powerful yet potentially dangerous. He remains optimistic about a sustainable future, urging responsible data management and community engagement to drive meaningful change.

Feb 10, 2021 • 37min
This week we continue with part 3 of AI Academy discussing AI Ladder and AI Maturity
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Kristen Summers and John Thomas. Kristen is a Distinguished Engineer in Cloud and Cognitive Expert Labs. Kristen has worked in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, PHD in Computer Science, and leads Data Science within our Expert Labs. John is a Distinguished Engineer in Data and Expert Labs, John leads Services that helps clients establish the AI factory. Show Notes3:24 – What is the AI academy and how does it all fit together?4:34 – AI Ladder and AI Maturity8:32 – How does the AI Factory make it easier to accomplish the AI Ladder?12:00 – Why does your team do it better?17:03 – How do you know your data is ready?21:22 – What is the most practical use case?23:02 – What does it really mean to infuse AI?25:15 – Definition of AI maturity curve28:25 – How do you know it’s trustworthy?29:14 – What the most important lesson you’ve learned with AI and what is AI not very good at?In the Dream House Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Feb 3, 2021 • 47min
This week we continuing our discussion on data framework and what is meant by data framework
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Suj Perepa and Richard Darden. Suj is a distinguished engineer and specializes AI, machine learning technology in the financial sector. Suj also has been a lead for security programs and a member of the IBM Academy of Technology leadership team. Richard is a distinguished engineer in digital human evangelism for North America government and a distinguished engineer at IBM in Cloud and Cognitive for the public sector and a former chief architect on federal government agencies. Show Notes6:30 – What is a data framework?9:16 – What is framework?11:00 – Governance and people14:15 – Process and architecture19:15 – Bringing it all into a playbook 22:56 – Who is the client?24:36 – How does bias play into it?27:02 – What products are you using?27:54 – Explainability30:44 – Ethics of AI37:13 Suj and Richard’s most important lessons in AIThe Discipline of Technology Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Jan 27, 2021 • 38min
This week Al and Kristen Summers discuss culture and talent management in AI
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Kristen Summers who is a distinguished Engineer in Cloud and Cognitive Expert Labs. Kristen has worked in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, PHD in Computer Science, and leads Data Science within our Expert Labs, Show Notes2: 08 - More time needs to be spend on culture and talent management.3:55 - What does data driven culture mean?8:49 – What do you see driving fundamental culture?11:14 - What common tool do we have?12:55 – What is communicate about data?14:42 – How do you know you’re doing it well?17:29 - How do you define AI talent?23:18 - Describe a Data Scientist?27:25 - Common Organizational Structures 31:49 - How do you manage and grow AI talent?IBM Skills Academy Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn. Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn. Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and Twitter. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Jan 20, 2021 • 29min
[Part 2] Al and Lynne Snead discuss leadership, business coaching and debunking leadership myths, hard skills and soft skills and something called squishy
Send us a textWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [almartintalksdata@gmail.com] and tell us why you should be next. AbstractHosted by Al Martin, VP, IBM Expert Services Delivery, Making Data Simple provides the latest thinking on big data, A.I., and the implications for the enterprise from a range of experts.This week on Making Data Simple, we have Lynne Snead. Lynne is the founder of Talent Evolution Systems, a behavioral analyst, consultant, training specialist, speaker, coach. Lynne has a back ground in Educational Psychology, and has specialized in organizational performance for over 20 years. Lynne is one of the original Franklin Covey co-authors, has a best seller, she created Franklin Covey’s signature Project Development process and programs, worked directly with Stephen R Covey Senior and Stephen MR Covey Junior. Lynne started her own company in 2003.Show Notes3:40 – Any advice on soft skills and hard skills?8:35 – Telltale signs such as stress10:40 – Settings goals Connect with the TeamProducer Kate Brown - LinkedIn Producer Steve Templeton - LinkedIn Host Al Martin - LinkedIn and TwitterBooksThinking Fast and Slow Financial Intelligence Other notable namesBrene BrownJudith GlaserMarshall GoodsmithDaniel GolemanLynne’s List of Recommended Leadership BooksLeadership and Self Deception, Arbinger Institute7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey (Senior)5 Levels of Leadership, John Maxwell. What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Marshall GoldsmithConversational Intelligence, Judith GlaserThe Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey (Junior) Emotional Intelligence, Daniel GolemanThe New Art of Managing People, Tony Alessandra and Phil HunsakerHow to Influence People, John MaxwellHumble Inquiry, Edgar H. Schein Humble Leadership, Edgar H. Schein and Peter ScheinLeadership is an Art, Max De PreeThe Secrets to Winning at Office Politics, Marie G. McIntyreThe Power of Focus, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Les HewittThe Power of Self-Confidence, Brian TracyWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.