Data Wars Podcast

Data Wars

Welcome to Data Wars, the podcast where data professionals share insights, and strategies. Join host Ash Srivastava & Prash Chandramohan as they delve into the fiercest debates, the latest trends, and the most pressing challenges in the world of data. From groundbreaking innovations to ethical dilemmas, Data Wars covers it all with expert guests and thought-provoking discussions. Whether you're a data enthusiast, a seasoned professional, or just curious about the data-driven world, tune in to Data Wars and prepare for a deep dive into the competitive and captivating universe of data.

  1. FEB 10

    Human-Centered AI, Trust & Doing Tech for Good : Insights with Helena Yu | Data Wars EP - 14

    What does it look like to build AI that’s not just powerful—but human? And how do you turn a non-linear life journey into a blueprint others can “fork” and build on? In this kickoff episode of Data Wars, we sit down with Helena (Qiaoshan) Yu, Data & AI leader at EnStream, to unpack the intersection of AI adoption, digital trust, social impact, and community-led change. Helena shares her path from filmmaking dreams to math and business, how a life-altering accident reshaped her worldview, and why she believes data + story + technology must work together to create meaningful outcomes. We also dive into what it takes to deploy AI responsibly in regulated environments, how bias shows up both in systems and workplaces, and why the future of AI must include the people most affected as co-designers—not just end users. The conversation culminates in a powerful framing: live an “open-source life”—so others can learn from it, remix it, and create something even better. In this episode, we cover: 1. Helena’s non-linear journey: film, psychology, math/business, and purpose-driven AI leadership 2. The pivotal moment: Microsoft’s AI for Good and “data as a tool for social impact” 3. Balancing innovation with trust in banks/insurance: privacy minimization, fairness, and human-centered design 4. Ethical AI in practice: discrimination risk, uneven model performance across groups, and responsible feature engineering 5. Microaggressions, systemic bias, and the role of allies—especially for women and people of color in tech 6. Mentorship lessons: start with the “why,” build your support squad, and stop weaponizing perfectionism 7. Climate Resilient Communities: why “parachuting in” doesn’t work—and what community-led data storytelling looks like 8. The future of AI: redistributing power through community-led governance and inclusive decision-making 9. Helena’s core message: your differences aren’t obstacles—they’re unique advantages Connect with Helena: Website: helena-yu.ca LinkedIn: Search Qiaoshan (Helena) Yu 🎧 Watch/Listen Now: ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/NKdQX0bQzdI 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UyTNRfxA8BQHbLV8t2kRF?si=c_ZSbUHHQe6HvF8FDBemIA 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/human-centered-ai-trust-doing-tech-for-good-insights/id1782784746?i=1000749098820

    1h 9m

  2. 12/30/2025

    AI Shopping Intelligence : Insights from Andy Elwood (CEO of Stretch AI) | Data Wars EP-13

    What does it really take to build companies—again and again—when the highs are euphoric and the lows hit hard? In this episode of Data Wars, we sit down with Andy Elwood, Founder & CEO of Stretch, a shopping intelligence platform reimagining grocery shopping by putting shoppers first. Andy shares hard-earned lessons from scaling Gowalla in the early App Store days (including a Disney partnership that landed them on the New York Times tech front page) to navigating privacy blowback (hello, pleaserobme.com) and ultimately being acquired by Meta (Facebook, pre-IPO). We also go deep on what Andy is building now with Stretch—why grocery pricing transparency matters, why this is a “painkiller” problem, and how AI + collective intent can shift power back to consumers. In this episode, we cover: The mindset of repeat founders: expectations, incentives, and resilience Building teams: why problem-obsession beats “can do the work” “Borrowing audiences” and letting partners take the credit (Disney case study) Why groceries lack a true “source of truth” (like Zillow, Kayak, GasBuddy) Stretch’s 20% savings promise and the intelligence behind it The data/engineering challenge: retailer-agnostic catalogs, product equivalency, personalization Retail incentives, pre-purchase intent, and reducing food waste The future: shopper-side agents vs retailer-side agents (and why it matters) Andy’s advice when the PTSD kicks in: “You already have what you need.” Connect with Andy: Email: andy@stretch.ai Jobs: stretchformore.com Social: @AndyElwood 🎧 Watch/Listen Now: ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/HEkkCIb6VJs 🎵 Spotify: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/YHACR0JRvZb 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-shopping-intelligence-insights-from-andy-elwood/id1782784746?i=1000743192369

    50 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    Causal AI Explained - Why Correlation Fails, Risk Wins & Business : Mark Stouse | Data Wars EP-12

    What if most of your AI insights are pointing you in the wrong direction? In this episode of Data Wars, we sit down with Mark Stouse, CEO of Proof Causal AI, to unpack why traditional predictive and correlational AI falls short in today’s volatile business environment — and why causal AI is emerging as the real decision-making engine for executives. Mark brings a rare perspective, having served as CEO, CFO, CRO, and CMO, and explains how causal inference helps leaders answer the questions that actually matter: 1. What actions truly drive outcomes? 2. Where is risk hiding in plain sight? 3. Why are 50%+ of go-to-market investments ineffective? We dive into: 1. The difference between predictive AI vs causal AI 2. Why CFOs and CMOs often talk past each other on “forecasting” 3. How causal AI acts like a Business GPS, constantly recalibrating decisions 4. The role of FASB & MASB compliance in AI-driven financial accountability 5. Building trust in data using explainable models and synthetic data 6. Why humility, timing, and risk-adjusted thinking define great leadership If you’re a business leader, data professional, AI practitioner, or investor, this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about AI, forecasting, and decision-making. 📘 Bonus: Mark also shares insights from his upcoming book “Business GPS”, exploring how causal AI is shaping the future of enterprise strategy. 🎧 Watch/Listen Now: ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/hCeDke-8xVY 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/67fjZiSQYpvZbZBhm2Rjwu?si=OcIYNblwSZ6IZq9_IXbrXA 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/causal-ai-explained-why-correlation-fails-risk-wins/id1782784746?i=1000741540417

    45 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    Why AI ROI Fails & How Cognitive Biases Sabotage Data Strategy: Dan Everett | Data Wars EP-11

    In this episode of Data Wars Podcast, hosts Ash Srivastava and Prash Chandramohan sit down with a very special guest — Dan Everett, a widely respected data leader, marketer, and author of The Techno-Optimist. With 25+ years in data & analytics and a unique journey shaped by neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and personal life experiences, Dan brings a perspective you won’t hear anywhere else. 🎯 What we cover: Why organizations STILL fail to show measurable ROI on data & AI investments How cognitive biases (anchoring, status quo, confirmation bias) silently derail transformations Why data teams must shift from tech-first to business-outcome–first The power of technical storytelling in selling ideas to executives Why AI is NOT a magic wand — and what it actually takes to build value Rethinking agents, orchestration, and the future of AI-driven decision systems The real dangers of overautomation and losing domain expertise What “technology for good” really means in a world fueled by GenAI 🔥 Top takeaways: Stop measuring activity. Start measuring value.Challenge your legacy mental models. Treat AI as a decision system, not the destination. If you care about data leadership, AI adoption, organizational transformation, or simply want to understand why companies struggle despite billions invested — this episode is a must-watch. 🎧 Watch/Listen Now: ▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ze8DgnO3bOQ 🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2puYcZswdNMpXmLuTK2KLc?si=ItP7tMyETh-ffFemOBgbLg 🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-ai-roi-fails-how-cognitive-biases-sabotage-data/id1782784746?i=1000739299615 If you’re in data leadership, governance, AI, or transformation — this episode will change how you think. #DataWarsPodcast #AI #DataStrategy #CognitiveBias #AnalyticsLeadership #DataGovernance #AIAdoption #TechnoOptimist #RedPicoConsulting

    38 min

  5. 11/17/2025

    Data Leadership That Works: Rudy Ionides on Governance & High-Performance Teams | Data Wars EP-10

    In this episode of Data Wars, hosts Prash Chandramohan and Ash Srivastava sit down with Rudy Ionides— a Senior Data Leader at Walmart with a remarkable journey from Software Engineering to Enterprise Data Strategy. Rudy breaks down 20+ years of deep experience across RBC, TD, healthcare, and retail — sharing practical, real-world insights that every data leader, engineer, and strategist needs to hear. ⭐ What you’ll learn in this episode:How Rudy navigated a career from Developer → Dev Manager → Senior Data Leader Why cloud migration fails without culture, governance & literacy The real mindset shift required to move from on-prem to cloud How to build high-performance data teams using autonomy & recognitionWhy governance is NOT boring — and how to make it a business growth engine What regulated industries taught Rudy about data quality, lineage & controls The role of analytics CoEs, MVP thinking & operationalizing data products How to influence executives and build org-wide data culture His honest take on careers, networking, and breaking into new industries 🔥 Key themes Data governance, AI readiness, data literacy, cloud transformation, leadership, enterprise analytics, customer 360, financial services, privacy, efficiency, and high-impact delivery. 🎧 Listen On: YouTube → https://youtu.be/pks09SubT3U Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/54uOrSS62LwS9uC74koZi2?si=cTBnAYSUQnCKB4QSte2OIQ Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/data-leadership-that-works-rudy-ionides-on-governance/id1782784746?i=1000737147699 👉 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. New episodes every week!👉 Follow Data Wars Podcast for conversations with top data & AI leaders from the world’s biggest organizations.

    1 hr

  6. 11/04/2025

    AI Meets PIM: Balancing Automation and Human Connection with Jeremy de Freitas | Data Wars EP-9

    In this episode of Data Wars, hosts Ash Srivastava and Prash Chandramohan sit down with Jeremy de Freitas, Account Executive at Infoverity and long-time Product Information Management (PIM) expert — to explore how AI is reshaping product data, creativity, and customer experience.From automating product descriptions to generating contextual marketing copy, Jeremy shares how AI is transforming industries like retail and grocery while raising deep questions about trust, empathy, and the “human element” in an increasingly automated world.🎶 Jeremy also opens up about his love for music, creative inspiration, and how AI is changing the future of music composition and storytelling.👉 Topics Covered: 1. The evolution of PIM and its role in the AI era 2. How AI can automate yet preserve creativity and empathy 3. The “human connection” in customer experience 4. AI regulation, trust, and the emerging secondary markets 5. Balancing innovation and human authenticity in business 6. Real-world AI use cases in grocery and retail 📍 Guest: Jeremy DeFritas – Account Executive, Infoverity 🎙️ Hosts: Ash Srivastava & Prash Chandramohan 🎧 Available on: 🔹 YouTube: https://youtu.be/VK787IpKhYg 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mtT33nRQNrXPFZvLF4MUs?si=Z9EcEAF_S3-MdEHpYpbHvw

    38 min

  7. 10/21/2025

    The Data Layer Revolution with Dharma Kuthanur | Data Wars EP-8

    In this episode of Data Wars, hosts Prashandra Moan and Ash Srivastava sit down with Dharma Kuttenoor, a seasoned data and AI strategist with over two decades of leadership in data management, analytics, and product marketing — including his time as VP at Informatica and Cisco.Together, they unpack:The evolving role of the data layer in the age of Generative and Agentic AIWhy trusted, contextual, and governed data is the new competitive advantageHow semantic layers, knowledge graphs, and vector databases are transforming the enterprise data landscapeThe future of data governance, orchestration, and AI-driven workflowsWhat new skills and mindsets data professionals need to stay relevant in the AI era👉 Listen now to learn how enterprises can bridge the gap between data management and AI innovation — and why the trusted data foundation is more critical than ever.🎧 Available on:🔹 YouTube: https://youtu.be/vqv4r9XEEsE#DataWars #GenerativeAI #DataGovernance #DataManagement #AgenticAI #SemanticLayer #Podcast #AITrends2025

    43 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Agentic AI Workflows: Insight from Jagan Srinivasan | Data Wars EP-7

    In this episode of Data Wars, hosts Ash Srivastava and Prash Chandra Mohan sit down with Jagan Srinivasan, an industry veteran with 25+ years of experience across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and finance — to decode how Agentic AI, data governance, and automation are reshaping modern enterprises.Jagan shares his real-world story of transforming a 500-ticket JIRA backlog into an AI-driven workflow using ChatGPT, Python, and prompt engineering — long before Agentic AI became a buzzword.We dive deep into:🚀 How to automate business processes using ChatGPT & OpenAI APIs🧠 The evolution from traditional data systems to vector and multimodal data models🏗️ Why data quality and governance are still the foundation for successful AI👨‍💻 The CIO’s biggest challenge: Moving from AI proof-of-concept to production🎓 How students and professionals can future-proof their careers in the AI era⚙️ Tools and technologies Jagan uses (ChatGPT, LangChain, Hugging Face, Python, C++)This conversation is packed with insights on AI transformation, data modernization, and real-world agentic architectures — a must-watch for data leaders, CIOs, engineers, and AI enthusiasts.🔔 Follow us on LinkedIn for updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datawarspodcast/

    56 min
See All (15)

About

Welcome to Data Wars, the podcast where data professionals share insights, and strategies. Join host Ash Srivastava & Prash Chandramohan as they delve into the fiercest debates, the latest trends, and the most pressing challenges in the world of data. From groundbreaking innovations to ethical dilemmas, Data Wars covers it all with expert guests and thought-provoking discussions. Whether you're a data enthusiast, a seasoned professional, or just curious about the data-driven world, tune in to Data Wars and prepare for a deep dive into the competitive and captivating universe of data.

Information

  • Creator
    Data Wars
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Data Wars
  • Show Website
    Data Wars Podcast