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. 21 JAN

    Say What!? Bad ideas are the key to to better innovation? Dive in for this contrarian take and more on AI for organizational intelligence with Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design {Replay}

    Send us a text This was a fantastic 2 part series on how to design intelligent organizations.  Check it out! Part 1 of 2 How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently? In this episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD, to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design. From tools and teammates to blockchain and the metaverse, Phanish walks us through the evolving relationship between humans, algorithms, and the systems we build. We dive into real-world use cases, research-backed insights, and surprising pitfalls — plus a contrarian take on why bad ideas might be the key to better innovation. ⏱️ Chapters 01:50 – Meet Phanish Puranam03:36 – Organizational Design08:39 – Where is Org Design Today12:41 – A Research Example15:59 – Technologies as Tools & Teammates17:54 – A Real Use Case Example20:30 – The Metaverse, Eliminate Bad Ideas Fast21:28 – Pitfalls23:30 – Use Case Deep Dive30:06 – The Power Structure🔗 Connect with Phanish Puranam LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phanishpuranamINSEAD Profile: insead.edu/faculty/phanish-puranam#OrganizationalDesign #ArtificialIntelligence #PhanishPuranam #FutureOfWork #AIinBusiness #AlgorithmicOrganizations #Leadership #INSEAD #MakingDataSimple #AIandWork #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #OrgDesign 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.

    32 min
  2. 14 JAN

    The End User Advantage: How Smart Software Asset Management Unlocks Performance and Savings with Agnelpoint's Ron Brill and Kris Johnson

    Send us a text We're joined by Ron Brill, President and Chairman of the Board, and Kris Johnson, Chief Product Officer of Anglepoint, a global leader in software asset management. From their startup origins to tackling massive compliance challenges, we'll dive into the world of SAM, licensing, and what the future holds for optimizing IT assets – a conversation essential for anyone in this space. ⏱️ Timestamps: 01:38 Meet Ron Brill and Kris Johnson05:32 Deciding on Startup Roles07:32 The Ah-Ha Founding of Anglepoint12:03 Largest Challenges13:03 One Word to Encapsulate Anglepoint16:23 Anglepoint's Differentiation21:03 Gartner's Leadership Quadrant23:50 Licensing Skills25:17 Difficult Licensing Scenarios28:11 Clients Biggest Compliance Issues31:12 Unique Technology33:19 The Infamous Audit37:26 Trends in SAM41:40 Systems-based Token Consumption43:17 SAM Advice47:03 Anglepoint in 3 to 5 Years48:38 For Fun49:53 Right TalentConnect with our guests: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronbrillLinkedin.com/in/johnsonkristianWebsite: https://www.anglepoint.com/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.

    53 min
  3. 31/12/2025

    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
  4. 17/12/2025

    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

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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