77 episodes

Helping you through the morass of language & hype surrounding Data Science, Analytics & Customer Insight. Each episode is an interview with a leader who is really delivering value from data.
(Our music is "Being Happy" from Purple Planet Music)

Customer Insight Leader podcast Paul Laughlin

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 10 Ratings

Helping you through the morass of language & hype surrounding Data Science, Analytics & Customer Insight. Each episode is an interview with a leader who is really delivering value from data.
(Our music is "Being Happy" from Purple Planet Music)

    S2 E7 Tony Saldanha (skill = use cases)

    S2 E7 Tony Saldanha (skill = use cases)

    For episode 7 of season 2, I am very excited to welcome my new guest, Tony Saldanha.

    Tony is the CEO & co-founder of Inixia, a global standards and certification body for the Shared Services industry. Before that, he ran Procter & Gamble’s famed multi-billion-dollar Global Business Services (GBS) division and IT operations across every region. So, he comes to us with a wealth of commercial & senior leadership experience.

    Importantly, Tony has also put his time into educating others and is the author of an excellent book on leading digital transformations, called “Why Digital Transformations Fail” and more recently the co-author of a new book: “Revolutionizing Business Operations: How to Build Dynamic Processes for Enduring Competitive Advantage”.

    In our conversation, we explore both lessons from those books (and Tony's career) as well as what these mean for data leaders. What could it mean for data leaders to focus on processes not just data products? Why should data leaders see their main calling as delivering use cases?

    Plenty of wisdom for data professionals with all levels of experience. Well worth considering Tony's challenge to not be a bureaucrat but rather transform your processes to change your team & organisation.

    • 49 min
    S2 E6 - Tristan Mobbs (skill = Simplification)

    S2 E6 - Tristan Mobbs (skill = Simplification)

    For episode 6 of series 2, I am joined by Tristan Mobbs who will be known to regular readers of our Customer Insight Leader blog.

    Tristan is Kite Packaging's Data and Analytics Manager and has over 10 years experience of working in data-related roles. He started out in energy forecasting before moving on to roles within construction, pharmaceuticals, and now packaging. Tristan focuses on ensuring that we use data effectively for business benefit without getting too distracted by all the shiny new technologies.

    In this conversation, Tristan & I explore his career story, focus on business processes and the value of simplifying the technical. He honestly shares with us both his triumphs and his challenges. Tristan really brings to life the value of data leaders developing the skill of simplification.

    • 49 min
    S2 E5 Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic (skill = Communication)

    S2 E5 Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic (skill = Communication)

    For episode 5 of this second series, I am proud to welcome Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic as my guest. She is most famous as the globally praised author of 'Storytelling with Data' (SWD).

    For over a decade, Cole and her team at SWD have delivered interactive learning sessions sought after by data-minded individuals and organizations all over the world. Now she has published a new book, Storytelling with You, which we explore in this episode alongside hearing her own back story.

    Listen out for tips on introducing yourself, getting better as a presenter or trainer and why presence matters. Cole's wealth of experience shines through as she helps us realise the need to also develop ourselves if we are to be effective communicators.

    • 52 min
    S2 E4: Rob Winters (skill = Joining the Dots, even those not yet there)

    S2 E4: Rob Winters (skill = Joining the Dots, even those not yet there)

    For episode 4 of our new season, Rob Winters joins me from the Netherlands. Rob has been working in data for almost 20 years (across both the USA & the Netherlands) at businesses including Miro, Naval, Travel Bird & Spil Games. He's also led data programmes for over 12 years in multiple companies across several industries. His hands-on data roles have included data analyst, data engineer & data scientist. Plus, Rob has recently made the transition (that many data leaders dream about) starting work as an independent consultant. Today he helps businesses develop a higher proficiency in data.

    During our conversation, we explored the softer skills which have been key to Rob's development as a data leader. He cites examples of the importance of negotiation, tailoring your approach to each person, prioritisation and saying no. He also shared his personal experience as to the effectiveness of journaling. But the unifying theme of this conversation was the power of data leaders joining the dots. How to see the big picture in terms of commercial needs and join those dots. How to get to know your stakeholders & team members, to join some more dots between commercial and personal development needs.

    Rob concludes by explaining what he means by even joining the dots that aren't there yet (the need for a specific data vision, rather than vague wishes). Plenty of practical wisdom to prompt us all.

    • 39 min
    S2 E3: Brian O'Neill (skill = Empathy in Design)

    S2 E3: Brian O'Neill (skill = Empathy in Design)

    For episode 3, I am joined by Brian O'Neill who is the self-styled "UX for Data Products guy". He's the founder of Designing for Analytics, an independent consultancy helping data leaders turn their data into valuable data products. Through his UX consulting, speaking and design training, he’s helped launch several enterprise software companies (Apptopia, Dispatch.me, Akorri) and has worked with businesses including DellEMC, Tripadvisor & Fidelity. 

    Brian hosts the Experiencing Data podcast & advises for MIT’s Sandbox Innovation Fund. Plus, he leads a double life as a professional percussionist where he's played with The Who and Donna Summer. So, a unique personality to talk with as we explore the "real skills" that data leaders need.

    During our conversation we explore the need for softer skills in data leaders, beyond their technical expertise. This includes the challenge of hiring for such skills not just technical screening. Brian focusses on getting to know the person you are serving with your work. Not just as a set of requirements or role, but as an individual. What is in it for them personally? How can your design effort help them achieve that too? Empathy in Design thinking if you will.

    • 43 min
    S2 E2: Dr Andrew Rogoyski (skill = Translator)

    S2 E2: Dr Andrew Rogoyski (skill = Translator)

    In episode 2 we explore the softer skill of being an effective translator between technical teams and the broader organisation they serve. My guest for this conversation is Dr Andrew Rogoyski whose experience spans 30 years in industry, government and academia. Originally a physicist at the Rutherford Appleton Lab, Andrew joined Logica at the height of the early AI boom, a decade later moving to space consultancy Esys and next became MD of QinetiQ’s Space Division. He’s subsequently worked as a strategist, including a secondment to the Cabinet Office, a Vice President of cyber security (where AI methods were used for threat detection), and an Innovation Director, developing a number of products and services that utilised leading-edge AI techniques. 

    Andrew returned to academia as Director of Innovation at Surrey University’s new Institute of People-Centred Artificial Intelligence. There leads a group that leverages the University’s 35 years in AI by creating AI solutions that focus on delivering benefits to people and society.

    In this episode, we explore both the need for such a Translator role & how you can develop or maintain the skill and attitude needed for it to flourish. I hope some of the insights shared help business leaders and those leading data, analytics or AI teams. My thanks to Andrew for sharing his wisdom with us.

    • 43 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

ErmaTheLurker ,

Fascinating takes

Every episode is chock-full of insight and actionable tidbits. A great listen!

yogastud ,

Ignited by Insight

Data's the new oil. This show does a great job at discussing the various ways an organizaiton can gain knowledge from their customers.

Esor97 ,

Great show

Great show with great guests

Top Podcasts In Business

REAL AF with Andy Frisella
Andy Frisella #100to0
The Ramsey Show
Ramsey Network
The Dough
Lemonada Media
Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
Money News Network
The Marketing Architects
Marketing Architects
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
DOAC