Making Data Simple

IBM Big Data & Analytics Hub

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

  1. 15 HR AGO

    Fresh off a high-profile appearance on CNBC! Jure Leskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who's fundamentally reshaped how we understand networks {Replay}

    Send us a text Fresh off a high-profile appearance on CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange discussing how AI will move beyond chatbots to autonomous agents that reshape jobs and productivity! Replay this episode where Jure digs into why structured data is still lagging behind the AI revolution and what comes next for predictive AI on relational data. Data’s everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is Jure Leskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who's fundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest's recommendations to tracking the spread of disease. Jure was just on CNBC, and now he’s back on the show to dive even deeper into how structured data is lagging behind the AI revolution. We’ll explore how techniques like Graph Neural Networks are finally unlocking its potential, and how this all plays out in real-world applications. 00:57 Meet Jure Leskovec 02:31 Knowing When to Move On 04:01 Academia versus Industry 07:30 Learnings from Pinterest 10:28 The Kumo Pitch 17:57 The Secret Sauce 25:51 Monetization 27:12 Only the Enterprise? 29:49 The Sandbox to Try Before Buy 31:42 The Best Use Cases 35:00 Summarizing 37:38 Predicting AI 40:15 What's True and No One Agrees 41:19 LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leskovec/ Website: https://kumo.ai/ CNBC appearance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G98bFN4HE1w  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.

    43 min
  2. 17 DEC

    From Disengaged to High-Performing: Dave Garrison’s Data-Driven Playbook for Team Buy-In

    Send us a text Are your teams struggling with disengagement and declining performance? What if the real problem isn’t talent or strategy, but a hidden “buy-in” gap quietly draining energy, innovation, and results? Joining us is Dave Garrison, a seasoned leadership strategist who has seen firsthand how a lack of buy-in fuels these issues – costing businesses billions every year. Dave unpacks the seven critical ingredients for real engagement and shows how to build a truly high-performing organization, starting with simple data and practical, repeatable leadership habits. ​ 01:19 Meet Dave Garrison - Again 02:11 The Buy-in Advantage 04:50 Following Your Passions 05:59 The Pandemic's Impact 07:15 A Buy-in Crisis 09:30 Seven Critical Ingredients for Buy-in 17:45 Three Pillars of High Performing Organizations 21:11 A "Yes" Culture 26:05 Prioritization and Focus 31:15 Recognition and Rewards 34:49 Pushback 39:35 Scaling 41:00 Case Studies44:22 The Collective GeniusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-garrison-growth/​ Website: https://www.buyinbook.com​ #makingdatasimplepodcast #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #BuyInAdvantage #HighPerformance #WorkplaceCulture #PeopleAnalytics #TeamPerformance #BusinessGrowth #DaveGarrison 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.

    49 min
  3. 10 DEC

    How to Choose, Use, and Trust AI Models with Manav Gupta, Vice President and CTO, IBM Canada {Replay}

    Send us a text On this replay of Making Data Simple, Manav Gupta, VP and CTO of IBM Canada, jumps straight into the world of large language models and what they really mean for businesses trying to scale AI. From how today’s models are built and tuned, to where the next generation is headed, Manav translates complex AI concepts into practical guidance for leaders, practitioners, and anyone trying to cut through the hype. The discussion spans everything from model architectures and IBM’s Granite family, to how to pick the right model for your use case, balance innovation with governance, and build the skills needed to stay relevant in an AI-first world. If you want a clear, no-nonsense guide to “all things AI models” from someone advising enterprise clients every day, this replay is for you. ​ 02:04 Jumping Right into AI! 02:59 Meet Manav Gupta 08:17 Let's Talk All Things Models 27:20 How to Choose the Right Models 31:48 Where are the Models Going??? 46:01 How to Learn AILinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgupta76/ IBM Granite Models: https://www.ibm.com/granite Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to almartintalksdata@gmail.com and share why you should be next. ​ Hashtags #makingdatasimplepodcast #MakingDataSimple #AI #LargeLanguageModels #AIModels #ArtificialIntelligence #IBMCanada #ManavGupta #AIInnovation #TechLeadership #TechPodcast #IBMGranite #LearnAI Related 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.

    49 min
  4. 3 DEC

    Bright Ideas, Bold Bets: Entrepreneurship, Agentic AI, and Career Gold with Lighthouse CEO Ben Lowe. {Replay}

    Send us a text Hit replay on this high-energy conversation with Ben Lowe, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Technology, as he breaks down what it really takes to build something from scratch in a fast-changing AI world. From finding the right co‑founder and stepping into the CEO role, to navigating the toughest challenges of entrepreneurship, Ben shares practical lessons and hard‑won insights for builders at every stage. Ben also lifts the curtain on Lighthouse Technology’s mission at the intersection of cloud modernisation, cost optimisation, and Agentic AI, and how enterprises can turn AI hype into outcomes with the right GTM motion and architecture. If you care about innovation, AI for the enterprise, or your own startup journey, this replay is packed with career gold, strategic perspective, and a candid look at what’s next. 01:34 Finding a Entrepreneurial Partner 04:43 The Creation of Lighthouse 08:10 Becoming the CEO 09:34 The Biggest Challenge of Entrepreneurship 11:30 Lighthouse Technology 19:07 Agentic AI 20:16 The Lighthouse Trajectory 22:12 The GTM 31:39 Reseller versus Innovator 36:53 AI for the Enterprise 41:35 The 2-Min Pitch 43:30 What's True?LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowebenjamin/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://lighthousetechnology.ai/ #Entrepreneurship #AgenticAI #TechLeadership #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #CareerAdvice #AIForEnterprise #StartupJourney #MakingDataSimple #LighthouseTechnology #PodcastReplay 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.

    47 min
  5. 26 NOV

    Replay: Agentic AI and the End of Deterministic Decision Trees with Megan Gallagher from Maven AGI

    Send us a text Hit replay on one of the most thought-provoking Agentic AI conversations on Making Data Simple. GTM Account Director Megan Gallagher makes the case for Agentic AI from the Maven AGI front lines, where AI agents stop following rigid decision trees and start acting with real autonomy over enterprise workflows. “We’re still living like everything is deterministic,” Megan argues, “but this new generation of agents is inherently generative and predictive.” In this replay, she unpacks what that shift means for smaller specialized models, using real enterprise data, rethinking “assistant vs person,” and how to get started without boiling the ocean. If you want to understand how Agentic AI moves from slideware to shipped value, this is the episode to queue up again. 01:30 All Great Podcasts start with Drinks05:27 Maven AGI 09:13 Smaller Models! 10:50 Why Maven AGI12:04 The Secret Sauce or Use Case15:13 Typical Client Persona 20:31 Using Enterprise Data 26:19 But AGI, Really?30:12 Assistant or Person?39:06 What's Next?40:28 My Thoughts on Getting Started?46:30 The AI Example49:30 The Maven AGI Pitch53:23 Learning Maven AGI: https://www.mavenagi.com/  Megan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megfgallagher/ Al's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-martin-ku/ #AgenticAI #FutureOfAI #MakingDataSimple #MavenAGI #AIAgents #EnterpriseAI #CustomerExperience #AIInProduction #PodcastReplay​ 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.

    55 min
  6. 19 NOV

    How Do You Build AI That Actually Works 99.999999% of the Time? With Tina Tarquinio Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE

    Send us a text Dive into the powerful world of mainframes! Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Tina Tarquinio, reveals the truth behind those eight nines of uptime and explores how mainframes are evolving with AI, hybrid cloud, and future-proofing strategies for mission-critical business decisions.  Discover the cutting-edge innovations transforming enterprise computing—from on-chip AIU and Spyre AI accelerators enabling real-time inferencing at transaction speed, to how LinuxONE is redefining hybrid cloud architecture.  Tina discusses DevOps integration, AI-powered code assistants revolutionizing mainframe development, compelling AI use cases, and shares her bold predictions for the mainframe’s next 100 years.  Plus, career advice from a tech leader and what she does for fun! 00:46 Tina Tarquinio03:18 The Most Mainframe Surprise09:12 What IS the Mainframe Really?  8 Nines!14:40 On Chip AIU, Spyre Inferencing18:11 Mainframes with Hybrid Cloud19:11 The Linux One Pitch19:59 Exciting Mainframe Innovations22:09 DevOps23:36 Code Assistants26:03 AI Use Case27:49 Future Proofing Decisions37:17 Regulations38:45 Bold Prediction38:58 Mainframe 10040:48 Career Advice42:24 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tina-tarquinio Website: https://www.ibm.com/products/z #MakingDataSimple #IBMz #Mainframe #LinuxONE #AIInferencing #SpyreAccelerator #HybridCloud #EnterpriseAI #DevOps #AICodeAssistant #EightNines #TinaTarquinio #MainframeModernization #AIUChip #FutureProofing #TechLeadership #WatsonxCodeAssistant #CloudComputing #TelumII 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.

    44 min

About

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

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