How I Met Your Data

Season Finale and Sabbatical Adventures - 112

Welcome to the season finale of "How I Met Your Data," where hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal guide you through the dynamic world of data. In this episode, Sandy shares highlights from her recent sabbatical, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Olympic National Park and the vibrant culture of Barcelona. Anjali recounts her own summer adventures in Yellowstone and Hilton Head, emphasizing the stunning beauty and wildlife of America's national parks.
As they reflect on the season, Sandy and Anjali discuss listener engagement and the success of various episodes, highlighting insights from data-driven sports success to the evolving landscape of Gen AI technology. 
Join Sandy and Anjali as they wrap up an incredible season, share personal stories, and look forward to new data adventures in the upcoming year. 

Procurement: The Unsung Hero of Business Success with Dr. Elouise Epstein - 111

This episode of How I Met Your Data welcomes Dr. Elouise Epstein, a digital futurist, to discuss the often overlooked world of procurement. Listeners will learn what procurement is and why it's essential to business success. Dr. Epstein provides insights into the challenges that procurement teams face, including a lack of spend transparency, reliance on outdated technology, and the struggle to keep up with a rapidly evolving digital landscape. She also shares her vision for the future of procurement, where supply chains become a core competitive advantage, driven by data, AI, and a deep understanding of supplier relationships. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in data, technology, and the future of business.

Transforming Data Culture: A Conversation with Malcolm Hawker - 110

Welcome to another episode of How I Met Your Data! In this episode, hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal are thrilled to welcome Malcolm Hawker, a seasoned expert in data and analytics with over 25 years of experience. Currently the Chief Data Officer at Prophecy, Malcolm shares his insights on master data management and data governance.
The episode kicks off with a discussion about the recent CDOIQ conference in Boston, where Anjali and Malcolm co-hosted a session. They delve into the topics covered during their session, emphasizing the need for transforming data culture within organizations. Malcolm highlights the importance of delivering value and shifting mindsets to foster a positive data culture.
Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to prioritize collaboration, continuous engagement, and leveraging product management principles in data leadership. Malcolm also shares his thoughts on the future of data management, including the potential of data fabrics and governance as a service.
Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with practical advice and forward-thinking perspectives on the evolving landscape of data and analytics.

Unraveling Data Partnerships: Insights with Stefanie Gervasi of Alation - 109

This week, Anjali Bansal and Sandy Estrada, welcome Stefanie Gervasi, the Director of U.S. Partnerships and Alliances for Alation.  Alation is a leading provider of data cataloging and governance solutions designed to empower organizations to harness the power of their data effectively.
In this episode, they dive into the intricate relationships between software companies, consulting firms, and data executives.  They also discuss the importance of partnerships, the role of consulting firms in guiding clients, and the critical factors for successful collaborations. Whether you're a data executive, a consulting firm, or a software vendor, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge to help you navigate the complex world of partnerships in data.
Join us for an engaging conversation filled with practical advice and industry insights. 

Decoding the Snowflake Data Cloud Summit with Mike Cochrane - 108

This week, on How I Met Your Data Anjali and I have a special edition for you. We're going to debrief on the Snowflake Data Cloud Summit that took place just a couple of weeks ago.
Joining us is Michael Cochrane, Cervelo's Global Data and Analytics Consulting Practice Leader, and a longtime colleague of mine. 
We dive deep into the evolution of Snowflake, its impact on clients, and how it has transformed from a cloud-optimized data solution to a comprehensive platform supporting multi-cloud and real-time data needs. Mike also discusses the significance of governance, privacy, and cost management in today's data landscape.
We explore the latest advancements and releases showcased at the summit, including Snowflake's partnership with NVIDIA and the push towards native apps and containerized services. The conversation also touches on the increasing complexity of data architectures and the importance of maintaining transparency and optionality in technology investments.
Join us as we reflect on the exciting developments from the Snowflake Summit and discuss the future of data engineering, AI, and the ever-evolving role of technology in driving business value.

Navigating AI with Junaid Farooq - 107

Join Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal in this exciting episode of "How I Met Your Data" as they welcome Junaid Farooq, a seasoned expert in data governance and strategy currently leading enterprise data initiatives at First Citizens Bank.  Junaid shares his journey and insights on data democratization, data governance, and the impact of AI on data management.
Discover how First Citizens Bank navigated through significant acquisitions and the challenges they faced in integrating data and aligning on culture. Junaid also discusses the essential disciplines of data management and offers advice on staying versatile and continuously learning in the ever-evolving field of data.
Tune in for an unscripted, insightful conversation.

Data-Driven Success in Sports with Erin Kelly - 106

Welcome to this episode of "How I Met Your Data." Join hosts Sandy and Anjali as they delve into a captivating conversation with Erin Kelly from Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR). Erin, the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Solutions and Strategy, shares her experiences and insights on how KAGR, leverages data management, advanced analytics, and strategic consulting to help sports teams and leagues run their business more efficiently.
Erin discusses the importance of understanding fans beyond ticketing, the rise of sophisticated sponsorship analytics, and the impact of pop culture phenomena like Taylor Swift on sports viewership.
Tune in to explore the ever-evolving landscape of sports analytics and how data is shaping the future of fan engagement, team operations, and business strategies in the sports and entertainment industry.

Navigating the AI Frontier with Laura Grace Ellis - 105

Join us for an enlightening episode of "How I Met Your Data" as hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal explore the dynamic world of artificial intelligence with Laura Grace Ellis, Vice President of Data and AI at Rapid7. Laura shares her journey and expertise, discussing the challenges and strategies of AI implementation in organizations, with a focus on efficiency, scalability, and enablement.
Discover how Laura's role has evolved to lead both data and AI operations at Rapid7, and learn about her involvement with Women Leaders in Data and AI.
She offers valuable insights into prioritizing AI projects for real business value, navigating the 'buy vs. build' decision, and the creative aspects of engineering. You'll also hear about surprising wins, the importance of organizational alignment, and the rapid evolution of AI.
This episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking discussions that will inspire anyone interested in the future of AI. 

Bridging the Data Divide with Rachel Workman - 104

In this episode of "How I Met Your Data," hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Basal touch on their recent experiences at pivotal data management conferences, sharing insights from FIMA in Boston and Data Universe in New York. They discuss the latest in GenAI, networking opportunities, and the dynamic interplay of ideas at these community events.
Joining them is Rachel Workman, VP of Data at SoundCommerce, who sheds light on her unconventional journey through the data landscape. Rachel offers a deep dive into the often-overlooked gap between data teams and business operations within many organizations.
The conversation also tackles the lure of constantly chasing the next big innovation. Rachel and the hosts explore the impacts of frequent project pivoting—from talent turnover to accumulating technical debt. Additionally, they introduce the concept of metric trees to transparently demonstrate ROI and discuss why organizations should steer clear of regular shifts in priorities.
Blending technical insights with human stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone aiming to effectively bridge the data divide in today's organizations.

Snowflake, What The Mesh?! Featuring James Anderson - 103

In this episode of How I Met Your Data, we welcome James Anderson, ex-consultant and current Director of Cloud Data Architecture at Snowflake. Hosts Sandy Estrada and Anjali Bansal engage in a comprehensive discussion covering Snowflake's advanced capabilities, the intricacies of dashboards, and the broader future of data work.  
The conversation covers a lot of ground from the critical importance of aligning business goals with data initiatives, the value of Return on Investment (ROI), and the creation of data products.  We discuss the dangers of focusing too narrowly on specific use-cases, the benefits of reusability in data products, and the essential roles of assets and collaboration in data analytics. We also debate the often misunderstood concepts of data mesh and the pivotal role of data governance.
The dialogue then extends into Generative AI and its influence on business strategies. We discuss the modern data stack's tool selection process, how customer feedback influences Snowflake's developments, and generative AI's effects on data teams. Additionally, we explore the role of Python in data engineering and then take a stance over the longevity of operational dashboards.
This episode is jam packed with industry trends, practical examples, and thought-provoking insights into data management, governance, AI, and advanced analytics.  You are not going to want to miss this one.