AI Radicals

Alation

Some people can see things that nobody else can. They seem to be able to peer around corners and into the future. These seemingly super powers come from being able to synthesize the data all around us. They approach problems with a curious and rational mind. They think differently and encourage others to embrace data culture.

We call them “data radicals” because they transform themselves and the world around them

In this podcast, we talk to these Data Radicals to understand what makes their approach so unique and how it can be replicated.

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22 episodes
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Avg 43 min
English

Episodes 22

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#75
Wednesday · 46 min
AI Governance in Public Media with Nathalie Berdat, Data Director of Product at the BBC
How data trust breaks—and how to rebuild it before AI makes it worse. In this episode of AI Radicals, host Satyen Sangani sits down with Nathalie Berdat, Data Director of Product at the BBC, to explore how one of the world's most trusted media institutions is rebuilding its data foundations for the AI era. Nathalie shares how she diagnosed a quiet trust crisis inside the BBC—teams producing conflicting numbers for the same metrics—and led a multi-year effort to fix it: identifying the handful of
#74
August 19 · 49 min
Is Business Intelligence Truly Dead? Insights from Francois Ajenstat, Founder & CEO of Golden Analytics
Analytics tools are getting a total rewrite for the AI era. What does it actually take to build a "Cursor for data"? In this episode of AI Radicals, host Satyen Sangani is joined by Francois Ajenstat, founder and CEO of Golden Analytics, to discuss how AI is reshaping data analysis workflows. A three-decade veteran of the analytics space — from Cognos to Microsoft to a decade as Chief Product Officer at Tableau — Francois explores why context and metadata still matter more than ever, and why the
#73
August 12 · 38 min
Rewriting the Governance Playbook for the Agentic Era with Erin McIntosh, VP of Global Data Operations at CNA Insurance
Data quality problems don't just create bad reports; they create mistrust. And once trust is gone, people stop using your systems and start building their own workarounds. In this episode of AI Radicals, host Satyen Sangani sits down with Erin McIntosh, Vice President of Global Data Operations at CNA Insurance, to talk about what it actually takes to modernize data governance at a global commercial insurer in the age of agentic AI. Erin shares how CNA is rethinking decades-old governance playboo
#72
July 29 · 55 min
Why Enterprise AI Is Entering Its ROI Era with Mark Nelson, Venture Partner at Madrona
AI can write code faster than ever. But what if code is no longer the hard part? In the premiere episode of AI Radicals, host Satyen Sangani is joined by Mark Nelson, Venture Partner at Madrona and former CEO of Tableau, to explore what AI is actually changing—and what remains fundamentally the same about building great software and great businesses. Having led companies through the rise of databases, cloud computing, SaaS, and self-service analytics, Mark offers a rare perspective on today's AI
July 22 · 1 min
AI Radicals: Season 4 Trailer
AI Radicals is back for Season 4 — and trust in AI has never been more contested. This season, host Satyen Sangani, CEO and co-founder of Alation, sits down with leaders, builders, and operators working at the edge of AI transformation to ask the question everyone's dancing around: can we actually trust the systems we're building? New conversations dig into data quality, governance, and the feedback loops that separate AI that works from AI that just demos well. If you care about making AI matte
#71
Jun 18, 2025 · 47 min
Why AI Builders Need a Metadata Goldmine with Chris Aberger, VP at Alation
The future of business intelligence is being rewritten. Have you ever wondered how AI will unlock the power of unstructured data? In this episode of Data Radicals, host Satyen Sangani is joined by Chris Aberger, newly-minted VP at Alation to discuss building AI-powered data workflows. A startup pioneer, Chris explores the importance of metadata in enhancing AI applications within organizations, the significance of quick iterations, and the evolving role of AI engineers. “ That two-step realiz
#70
May 28, 2025 · 34 min
Perfume, Power, Prediction: Inside a Luxury Giant's Data and AI Strategy with Julie De Moyer, Chief Data Officer of LVMH Beauty
In the luxury world where artistry is key, how is AI enabling personalization, optimization, and speed? In this episode of Data Radicals, host Satyen Sangani is joined by Julie De Moyer, Chief Data Officer of LVMH Beauty to break down the role of data and AI in business transformation. A seasoned strategist and leader of innovation across 15 beauty brands, Julie shares practical examples of AI application in various aspects of LVMH's operations, from product development to supply chain managem
May 14, 2025 · 38 min
The Rise of AI: Voices from the Frontlines
In this special compilation episode, we're bringing together the most insightful conversations from our latest season exploring the rise of AI. You'll hear from thought leaders like Fortune's AI editor Jeremy Kahn on rebuilding the middle class, marketing executive Michael Olaye on creative acceleration, and Tom Davenport on what real AI transformation looks like. Plus insights from numerous other AI experts including CDOs, academics, and tech entrepreneurs who are shaping our AI future today.
#69
Apr 30, 2025 · 49 min
Delegate to Innovate: How Letting Go Makes You a Better Leader with Todd James, Founder & CEO of Aurora Insights
What does it take to turn AI hype into operational value at enterprise scale? In this episode of Data Radicals, host Satyen Sangani sits down with Todd James, former Chief Data and Technology Officer at 84.51° and Kroger executive, to unpack the realities of leading AI transformation inside one of America’s largest grocery retailers. Drawing on a career that spans the Coast Guard, consulting, and Fortune 100 leadership, Todd shares how scaling AI isn’t just about building advanced algorithms—it
#68
Apr 16, 2025 · 49 min
Data Products for Dummies with Sanjeev Mohan, Principal at SanjMo
What if the future of data management isn’t just about governance—but about growth, speed, and strategic advantage? From reshaping data operations to unlocking new levels of productivity, data products and AI agents are redefining what’s possible in the world of data. In this episode of Data Radicals, Satyen Sangani sits down with Sanjeev Mohan, Principal at SanjMo, to discuss the definition, impact, and lifecycle of data products. They also examine how AI agents are revolutionizing job functio
#67
Apr 2, 2025 · 47 min
GTM is a Data Management Problem — How AI (& Better Data) Can Fix It with Copy.ai’s CEO, Paul Yacoubian
Generative AI is reshaping the way go-to-market teams create content, optimize workflows, and drive velocity — but only when it’s powered by the right context and data. In this episode of Data Radicals, Alation CMO David Chao sits down with Paul Yacoubian, CEO and co-founder of Copy.ai, to explore how large language models (LLMs) are transforming content creation and sales execution at scale. Paul shares lessons from building Copy.ai since 2020 and how his team is helping over 15 million users
#66
Mar 19, 2025 · 57 min
From Back Office to Boardroom: The CDO's AI Opportunity with Ryan den Rooijen & Wade Munsie
As technology rapidly evolves and businesses focus on getting real results, data jobs are shifting. Many data tasks now fall under the CIO or CTO, data leaders are moving into roles that affect bigger business plans, and more companies are using self-service data tools or seeking a path to AI—making CDO-led teams less necessary. How can data leaders adapt? In this episode of Data Radicals, Satyen Sangani talks with Ryan den Rooijen, Writer and Consultant at Qstar.ai, and Wade Munsie, Interim Dir
#65
Mar 5, 2025 · 44 min
Declarative Computing in an AI World with Jeff Chou, Co-founder & CEO at Sync Computing
Cloud costs are skyrocketing, and for data teams running AI inference, Spark jobs, and big data workloads, optimization is no easy task. Tuning these workloads for efficiency without disrupting production is a major challenge—but what if there was a better way? In this episode of Data Radicals, Satyen Sangani sits down with Jeff Chou, CEO and co-founder of Sync Computing, to explore a revolutionary approach to cloud optimization. Sync’s closed-loop tuning engine continuously fine-tunes workloads
#64
Feb 19, 2025 · 40 min
Redesigning Processes for the Age of AI Agents with Tom Davenport
AI is here—but are businesses truly ready to harness its full potential? In this episode of Data Radicals, host Satyen Sangani sits down with Tom Davenport to explore what it takes for AI to create real business value. As one of the most respected voices in AI and analytics, Tom brings decades of expertise to the table. From agentic AI to AI-driven leadership, this conversation covers the pressing challenges—and opportunities—that will shape the next era of business transformation. What You'll
#63
Feb 5, 2025 · 48 min
LLMs Decoded: A Starter's Guide to AI with Raza Habib, co-founder & CEO of Humanloop
As AI becomes integral to every aspect of business, ensuring its accessibility for everyone—not just specialists—is essential. Companies like Humanloop are leading the charge with innovative platforms that empower non-technical users to harness the power of advanced language models through intuitive tools and frameworks. Democratizing AI access paves the way for transformative business outcomes and a future of collaborative AI systems. However, building a strong AI strategy starts with leveragi
#62
Jan 22, 2025 · 51 min
Empowering AI Practitioners with Wendy Turner-Williams, CEO of TheAssociation.AI
There’s a digital revolution happening – and it’s poised to impact data leaders across all industries. During this time of never-ending change, it’s crucial to have data practitioners at the center of holistic AI transformation as regulatory compliance and ethical standards come into the fold. Businesses of every size will encounter these complex regulations. Learn about these challenges and how connecting practitioners across fields can create more compliant and trusted AI environments. This
#61
Jan 8, 2025 · 39 min
Using AI to Revolutionize CX with Michael Olaye, EVP & Managing Director at Hero Digital
Any digital marketing leader will tell you that data and marketing strategies go hand-in-hand. In this episode, Michael Olaye, EVP and Managing Director of Hero Digital, shares his journey and practical strategies for success, drawing from his career path that began with door-to-door job hunting and led to spearheading major digital initiatives. Michael emphasizes the central role of data in digital marketing, from informing internal business decisions to enhancing customer experiences, and dis
#60
Dec 18, 2024 · 45 min
From Statecraft to Codebreaking: The Big Data Origin Story with Chris Wiggins, Chief Data Scientist at The New York Times
If you’re a history buff in the data world, you know that there’s a complex interplay between data, statecraft, and machine learning. The history of data visualization is entwined with societal governance and technological advancements, starting from the usage of statistics for statecraft in the 18th century to the transformative innovations during World War II that birthed computation and data science as we know it. And because of the subjective design choices that underpin data gathering and a
#59
Dec 4, 2024 · 47 min
The Art of Data Leadership: Lessons from Taylor Culver
What does it take for data leaders to deliver real business value? In this episode, Taylor Culver, founder of XenoDATA, shares practical strategies for success, including: Focus on the right problems: Taylor explains the importance of refining problem statements for actionable, data-driven solutions. Engage like a salesperson: Actively listening to stakeholders and identifying pain points is key to building impactful use cases. Adopt a product management mindset: Taylor emphasizes weaving gov
#58
Nov 13, 2024 · 42 min
Data Intelligence in Flux: The Impact of AI with Stewart Bond, VP at IDC
About 15 years ago, organizations knew they needed data governance but faced a branding problem. People hated the term. Stewart Bond coined “data intelligence” to describe intelligence about data and shift the governance conversation – and a category was born. Today, data intelligence represents a $9B+ market. This concept has given rise to the "data intelligence stack," which includes data cataloging, data quality management, and data product hubs, all of which play vital roles in AI model dev

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes