Data and Drams

Sarah Kenyon

Both the tech industry and the world of whisky can feel like gated communities, intimidating and complex. Data & Drams is here to open the door. Join Sarah as she distills the technical truth behind your favourite spirits and the career journeys of the world’s top tech executives. From on-site distillery tours exploring the "data behind the dram" to informal, speakeasy-style interviews with CTOs and Founders, we bridge the gap between craftsmanship and code. Savour the Data. Stay for the Drams.

  1. 15 Jul

    The Science of Spirits

    Welcome back to today’s episode of Data & Drams. I’m joined by Jan Hodel-Keane, a Senior Technical Account Manager at Kerry Group, who brings a strong blend of technical, managerial, and scientific expertise to the distilling industry. In his current role he partners with distilleries and leading brands across the UK & Ireland alcohol beverage sector, working at the intersection of technical insight and commercial delivery. Previously, as Principal Consultant at JR Unity Ltd. and R&D Manager at West Cork Distillers, Jan led yield improvements, fermentation optimisation, and innovations in cask management, reducing process variability and enhancing operational performance. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering focused on gin distillation modelling, alongside a Master's in Brewing and Distilling, where he developed deep expertise in spirit quality assessment and sensory profiling. Jan is also the founder of ResearchScan a weekly research intelligence newsletter curating peer-reviewed science as well as patent insights for technical professionals across the beverage alcohol industry. I am so excited for you to get into today’s episode. There is just so much we covered in this episode! We spoke about the world of research and development, like how cask charring methods can show little analytical difference yet clear sensory differences, Plus, we dive into the future of distilling tech, automation, and how to stay ahead of industry trends. Jan's dram for the episode was an Invergordon 14 Year Old a Single Grain Whisky and for myself, I chose the 41.185 Dancing Dirty from SMWS. So pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink and join Jan and I for Data and Drams.

    The Science of Spirits
  2. 14 Jul ·  Bonus

    Pouring Season 2: The Tech Behind the Boardroom & the Bottle

    Welcome to Data and Drams, the podcast where we distill the best careers in tech and the incredible craft behind the bottle. I'm your host, Sarah. By day, I'm a tech delivery manager, which means my actual job is acting as a translator.I sit right between developers and executives, two groups who are technically speaking the same language, but practically they're speaking completely different ones. My job is to make sure they actually understand each other. Now, as it turns out, that translator skill is exactly what inspired season two.Look, there are hundreds of tech and leadership podcasts. There are hundreds of whisky podcasts, but there isn't a single show that puts both worlds in the same room and asks them what they have to teach each other. Data and Drams isn't a niche. It's a bridge, and like any bridge, they carry traffic in both directions.Forget the standard interview format. This isn't a panel, it's not a talking head show, and it's definitely not a polished sit-down where someone recites their LinkedIn bio while I nod along.And genuinely, that would be boring for everyone involved. Instead, I'm putting aside the emails, the meetings, and the corporate speak to pour a dram, because whisky does something to a conversation. It slows it down, it strips away the corporate performance and makes it real.Every episode starts with my guest's preferred dram, and if it's way too early for them, I'll gladly have one for both of us. Now, I want to be very clear, I am not an expert on this show, and I never claim to be (though I am slowly making my way through a diploma in single malt). My goal is simply to be the most curious person in the room, learning in public and bringing you along the journey. In season one, we broke down boardroom barriers with tech execs. For season two, we're expanding. We're running two distinct alternating streams to show how a complex data transformation is actually a lot like a process of moving from grain to bottle. Here is how the two streams will work. We have the executive barrel. This is where I sit down with C-suite leaders, CIOs, VPs, and tech founders. We go way beyond the CV and into the raw, unpolished stories, the projects that nearly went sideways, the leadership frameworks that actually work, and the lessons forged in real-world hurdles and not corporate case studies.And our second stream is the master blend. This is where the spirits industry gets to tell its own data story.I'm talking to master blenders, distillery operators, and researchers who are using predictive fermentation, IoT sensors on stills, and e-commerce data to scale a craft that's been done the same way for hundreds of years.The tech behind your favourite bottle is massive, and no one else is talking about it. When you place these two worlds side by side, you start to realise how much they actually share.A relentless willingness to iterate until something incredible emerges. Yet historically, both industries have a habit of gatekeeping and excluding the very people who have the most to offer them.Data and Drams exists to break those barriers down, open those doors, and make both rooms accessible to anyone and everyone.We are demystifying data one dram at a time. So whether you're here for the Executive Barrel or the Master Blend, or like me, you're part of the growing group that loves both. Pull up a chair, get comfortable, and let's pour a glass. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you don't miss a single drop.

    Pouring Season 2: The Tech Behind the Boardroom & the Bottle
  3. 12 Feb

    I Shall Either Find a Way or Make One: Data, People and Transformation

    Welcome to Data & Drams. In this episode, I was joined by Craig Hayes, an IT and general business executive who has spent the last 25 years building and managing global teams at an immense scale. From leading Fraud and Risk operations in Cape Town to serving as Senior Vice President of Business Operations for Mastercard, Craig has navigated some of the most complex transaction chains in the world. He’s now the Head of IT Transformation at Sonic Healthcare, where he is currently driving a global uplift of 50,000 seats across seven countries.  We dove into his core belief that data and people are the only two variables that matter when you’re trying to achieve the impossible.  Craig offers a rare look at the 'changing landscape' of IT leadership, specifically how we foster resiliency and adaptability in teams that are spread across five continents. Whether you're curious about the future of the Brisbane tech scene, the philosophical side of AI, or just want to hear a great story about historical figures over whisky, this episode is for you. We poured a Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old. Hailing from the shores of Islay, this dram is famous for its unpeated coastal character. While many Islay whiskys hit you dose of campfire smoke, the Bunnahabhain is more nuanced offering notes of hazelnut, dried fruit, and a subtle sea salt. Craig’s perspective on the 'human side' of global infrastructure is something every leader needs to hear. So pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink, and join Craig and I for Data & Drams.

    I Shall Either Find a Way or Make One: Data, People and Transformation
  4. 29 Jan

    From High Seas to High Security: Gabriela’s Journey of Resilience and Reinvention

    Welcome back to Data and Drams! In this episode, I’m joined by Gabriela, a cybersecurity leader whose career path started not in a server room, but on the open ocean. Transitioning from the maritime industry to the front lines of digital defence, she brings a unique perspective forged in the high-stakes environment of cruise ships, where risk management, resilience, and adaptability aren't just corporate buzzwords, but daily necessities. We dive deep into the terrifying turning point that changed everything, a personal cyber breach that wiped out her life savings. Rather than backing down, Gabriela turned to mastering cyber forensics and completely reinventing her professional identity in a post-COVID world. In this conversation, we explore: How lessons from the sea apply to securing the cloud Why involving cybersecurity early in the project lifecycle is the ultimate game-changer. Her impactful work with Cybersecurity Champions of Tomorrow, dedicated to empowering the next wave of cyber professionals. For our dram of choice, we poured The Balvenie 14-Year-Old Caribbean Cask. It was a fitting tribute to Gabriela’s maritime roots in the Caribbean and her current role in cyber, smooth and sweet on the surface, but backed by a rich, oaky resilience and a spicy finish that lingers long after the first sip. Much like her leadership style, it is a perfect blend of old-world discipline and new-world adaptability. So, if you’re ready to dive in, pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink, and join Gabriela and I for Data & Drams.

    From High Seas to High Security: Gabriela’s Journey of Resilience and Reinvention
  5. 15 Jan

    Soumya's Three C’s of Authentic Leadership: Clarity, Consistency, and Curiosity

    Welcome back to Data and Drams! In this episode, I'm joined by Soumya Nair, AVP Business Analytics & Transformation at PCCW Global.  Soumya went from an inspiring computer engineer to data transformation leader with a rich history of navigating and shaping complex business landscapes.  She has carved an intrapreneurial journey through the technology and transformation sectors, driven by relentless curiosity and a focus on impact over titles. Soumya shares her fascinating career path, starting with a foundation in computer engineering, a deep dive into Robotic Process Automation, and how her MBA ultimately steered her toward leading transformational projects. We take a deep dive into the essence of authentic leadership, the nuances of change management, and the critical value of clarity and adaptability in today’s fast-paced business world. We also explore how to effectively connect with colleagues cross-functionally and how Soumya envisions her personal impact story evolving over time. Our dram of choice for this episode was a 12yo Red Breast, an iconic single pot still Irish whiskey, crafted using a unique mix of malted and unmalted barley, it’s then triple distilled and matured in both bourbon and sherry casks giving a perfectly balanced profile of smooth, fruity, and toasted flavours.  Soumya’s approach to leadership is essential for anyone looking to make significant strides in their career and those wanting to make an impact. So if you’re ready to dive in, then pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink, and join Soumya and I for Data & Drams. P.S Just a heads-up, the 'Audio Gremlin' that got into Alan's recording found its way into this one as well, however thankfully we were able to recover it and the content was just too good. So if we’re sounding like we’re recording from the bottle of the barrel that’s why. Thanks for sticking with me, who knew gremlins liked whisky too.

    Soumya's Three C’s of Authentic Leadership: Clarity, Consistency, and Curiosity
  6. 27/11/2025

    From Firestorms to Firewalls: What a Near-Fatal Fire Taught Brad About True Crisis Leadership

    Welcome back to Data & Drams! In this episode, I was joined by Bradley Watson, the Founder and CEO of Akela Group, a leading consultancy that just celebrated its 5th anniversary. With over 30 years of experience spanning the Australian Army, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), and the public sector, his career has covered everything from cyber warfare and counterterrorism to disaster recovery. Today, he works directly with Boards and CEOs to design national frameworks and uplift cyber capabilities across critical infrastructure—but in this conversation, we strip away the corporate strategy to look at crisis in its raw form. Brad shares the story of a near-fatal house fire two years ago—a defining moment where his now co-owner, Jarod, saved his life. It’s a powerful discussion on how that terrifying experience reinforced the leadership lessons he learned in the military and still applies today. Now, for the drams. For those listening on Apple you may want to head to Youtube/Spotify to get the full experience as there are some moments where we taste and savour our drams. Mind you, it was less of a single pour and more of a tasting flight, Brad was generous enough to bring a lineup for our episode where we kicked things off with a Samoan Whisky that—to be honest I was expected beautiful tropical notes but actually—tasted a bit like paint stripper, he knew this as well and I’m fairly sure he just wanted to see me suffer. But we recovered quickly, moving through The Singleton 18 Year Old, a Sullivans Cove Double Cask, some local Dog & Gun, and a smoky Talisker 10 Year Old. The Talisker actually highlighted a fascinating point - Brad shared how the fire altered his sensory perception, to crave those intense, peaty flavours whereas before, he preferred a much smoother palate. We eventually finished on a high note with the Glenfiddich 23 year old Grand Cru. Matured in American and European oak casks and finished in rare French cuvée casks, it was a silky, refined conclusion to an incredible tasting lineup. This episode is a rollercoaster of emotion, high-level strategy, and whisky. So pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink (maybe skip the paint stripper), and join Brad and I for Data & Drams.

    From Firestorms to Firewalls: What a Near-Fatal Fire Taught Brad About True Crisis Leadership

About

Both the tech industry and the world of whisky can feel like gated communities, intimidating and complex. Data & Drams is here to open the door. Join Sarah as she distills the technical truth behind your favourite spirits and the career journeys of the world’s top tech executives. From on-site distillery tours exploring the "data behind the dram" to informal, speakeasy-style interviews with CTOs and Founders, we bridge the gap between craftsmanship and code. Savour the Data. Stay for the Drams.

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