Data Talks

Wolfgang Fengler

Data Talks is a conversation series released every two weeks that proves data isn’t just for analysts, it’s the common language behind sporting triumphs, market breakthroughs, and social progress. Economist and storyteller Wolfgang Fengler sits down with world-class athletes, leading economists, founders, policymakers, and creative thinkers to unpack the numbers shaping their fields. Together, they translate charts into clear takeaways, challenge assumptions with evidence, and show how good data can turn bold ideas into practical action.

Episodes

  1. The world is more equal than you think

    MAR 13

    The world is more equal than you think

    Join Data Talks In this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with co-founder and global middle class expert Homi Kharas about new research that challenges one of the most widely discussed narratives in economics today. Featured prominently in The Economist, World Data Lab’s latest analysis examines inequality through the lens of consumption rather than wealth. By comparing how much the bottom 50% of the global population consumes relative to the top 10%, the data reveals a surprising trend: global inequality in consumption is improving, largely driven by rapid economic growth in countries such as India, China, Indonesia, and across Southeast Asia. Together, Wolfgang and Homi explore: Why consumption inequality may be a more meaningful measure of real living standards than wealth inequalityHow global economic growth is lifting billions of people out of extreme povertyWhy the rise of emerging economies is reshaping the global distribution of prosperityThe role of government policies, taxation, and public services in influencing inequality within countriesAnd why, despite ongoing global uncertainty, the long-term trajectory for human welfare may be more positive than many assume.The conversation offers a data-driven perspective on one of the defining debates of our time — and highlights how new global datasets can help policymakers, businesses, and researchers better understand the real progress happening across the world economy. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    13 min
  2. Building Digital Africa

    FEB 26

    Building Digital Africa

    Join Data Talks Building Digital Africa with Bitange Ndemo In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, former Permanent Secretary for Information and Communication, and one of the architects of Kenya’s digital transformation. Widely regarded as a driving force behind the modernization of Kenya’s ICT sector, Prof. Ndemo oversaw landmark reforms including the installation of undersea submarine cables, the liberalization of telecom markets, the reduction of mobile termination rates, the launch of Kenya Open Data, and the rise of innovation hubs such as iHub and mLab. These reforms helped position Kenya as a continental leader in digital innovation. Now serving in diplomacy while continuing his academic and research work in entrepreneurship and ICT-driven development, Prof. Ndemo reflects on the policy decisions that reshaped a nation, and what Africa must do next. The conversation explores: How infrastructure unlocked Africa’s digital economyThe political economy of reform and regulationWhy Africa can leapfrog in AI and emerging technologiesThe power of youth, innovation, and open dataAnd what “building digital Africa” truly means in the next decadeA thoughtful discussion on leadership, policy, technology, and Africa’s place in the global digital future. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    34 min
  3. The consumer is king

    FEB 11

    The consumer is king

    Join Data Talks In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang speaks with Kirti Singh, Chief Insights Officer at Procter & Gamble, about what it truly means to be consumer-first in a company that serves more than 5.5 billion people worldwide. Kirti reflects on her 30+ year global career spanning India, China and the United States, and how her very first day at P&G, spent inside a consumer’s home, shaped her philosophy on leadership and growth. The conversation explores: How P&G drives market growth, not just market shareThe rise of emerging markets and generational changeWhy “Data Is Human” and what that means in the age of AIHow Human + AI is reshaping the analytics professionA powerful discussion on insight, global leadership and the future of consumer-driven strategy. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    30 min
  4. How Data Changed the Climate Conversation

    JAN 28

    How Data Changed the Climate Conversation

    Join Data Talks How Data Changed the Climate Conversation Host: Wolfgang Fengler Guest: Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhD How did climate and nature move from the sidelines to the center of global economic decision-making—and what role did data play in that shift? In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhD—former President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund (2021–2025), former President & CEO of the World Resources Institute, and now Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics’ Global School of Sustainability. Andrew reflects on key turning points in the evolution of environmental economics, including the rise of “natural capital” and the growing demand for evidence-based climate policy. The conversation explores today’s most important data innovations—from satellite and AI-enabled monitoring of forests and carbon stocks to the emerging ability to detect methane emissions from space—and why better measurement doesn’t automatically translate into better action. They close with a powerful set of numbers about biodiversity loss and the future of development, and what it will take to turn climate data into durable progress. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    32 min
  5. From Data to the Dressing Room: Why Football Is About Human Connection

    JAN 14

    From Data to the Dressing Room: Why Football Is About Human Connection

    Join Data Talks In this episode of Data Talks, we’re joined by Benedikt Höwedes, World Cup winner with Germany, former long-time captain of FC Schalke 04, and a leader shaped by elite football environments. Benedikt reflects on his journey from academy football to captaining his boyhood club, and on playing every minute of Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph. The conversation explores how football has evolved, from physical demands and tactics to data, performance science, and the growing complexity of the modern game. At the heart of this episode is a clear message: despite analytics, technology, and commercial growth, football remains a human game. Leadership, trust, team culture, and connection still define success at the highest level. A thoughtful conversation at the intersection of data, performance, and the people behind the game. Note this episode is in German  🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    30 min
  6. Closing the Data Divide

    12/03/2025

    Closing the Data Divide

    Join Data Talks This episode of our podcast brings together Wolfgang Fengler and Shamina Singh for a powerful conversation on inclusion, data, and the rapidly changing digital-to-AI economy. Shamina shares the origin story of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the shift from the analog world to a data-driven one, and why networks and access determine economic opportunity. Together, they explore the rising “data divide,” the role of AI in shaping the next decade, and how organizations can ensure technology serves people, not leaves them behind. The discussion spans financial inclusion, privacy, regulation, human-centered innovation, and the global middle-class transformation, all framed through real-world impact and shared values. It’s a thoughtful, energizing episode that captures the spirit of building a more inclusive and connected world. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    31 min
  7. The Metrics of Peace

    11/10/2025

    The Metrics of Peace

    Join Data Talks Data Talks: Measuring Peace with Steve Killelea In this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Steve Killelea, respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Global Peace Index. Steve shares his journey from building successful tech companies to dedicating his life to understanding and measuring peace. Together, they explore how data can quantify something as complex as peacefulness, what the Global Peace Index reveals about today’s conflicts, and how shifting global power, inequality, and technology will shape the future. An engaging discussion about the data behind peace, and what it tells us about the world we’re building next. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    21 min
  8. Don’t underestimate Africa

    10/27/2025

    Don’t underestimate Africa

    Join Data Talks In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Michael Joseph, the legendary CEO who built Safaricom into one of Africa’s most successful companies and helped pioneer mobile money and digital inclusion across the continent. From being “sent to fail” in a challenging market to creating a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that redefined how people connect, Michael shares candid insights into leadership, risk-taking, and why trusting your instincts can sometimes outperform data itself. They explore the early days of Kenya’s mobile revolution, the power of serving consumers at the base of the economic pyramid, and why “never underestimate Africa” remains his lasting message. Tune in for a conversation that blends business wisdom, digital foresight, and the story of a leader who helped shape an entire nation’s technological destiny. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    20 min
  9. Data & Philosophy

    10/13/2025

    Data & Philosophy

    Join Data Talks Host Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Jesús Crespo Cuaresma, Head of the Department of Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and a long-time collaborator of World Data Lab (WDL). They discuss Crespo’s journey into economics, the art and science of forecasting, and the future of socioeconomic modelling in an uncertain world. The episode captures the essence of why data matters: using rigorous yet humble science to make sense of the future, balancing complexity with clarity, and optimism with realism. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    30 min
  10. The 20 Trillion Price

    09/29/2025

    The 20 Trillion Price

    Join Data Talks In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Marta Bowles, Chief Communications Officer at NIQ, about how high-quality data, and the AI built on top of it, is reshaping decisions for brands and retailers. Marta traces her path from CPG and direct selling to leading communications at a global consumer-intelligence company, reflecting on what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in the marriage of marketing, data, and technology. They dive into why Gen X is an under-served growth engine (and how much spending brands may be leaving on the table), how younger generations expect personalization by default, and why granularity, down to panels, SKUs, and omnichannel behaviors, matters more than ever. Marta also shares NIQ’s platform shift, the role of human judgment alongside AI, and practical ways companies can use data to move faster and smarter. Topics: generational spending (Gen X vs Gen Z), data quality as AI’s fuel, omni data and panels, IPO-era transformation, and career advice for the next generation entering insights. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    25 min
  11. The magic number 17

    09/15/2025

    The magic number 17

    Join Data Talks In this special edition of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with his long-time friend and World Data Lab co-founder, Homi Kharas. Homi reflects on his 26 years at the World Bank, his role in shaping the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the origins of the “data revolution.” Together, Wolfgang and Homi revisit the dinner-table conversations that sparked the creation of World Data Lab, explore why making everyone count matters, and unpack Homi’s influential research on the global middle class. Looking ahead, they discuss the megatrends of demography and technology, and how AI could transform development worldwide. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    31 min
  12. Math and Magic

    09/01/2025

    Math and Magic

    Join Data Talks L’Oréal’s Chief Marketing & Digital Officer Asmita Dubey joins Wolfgang Fengler on Data Talks to unpack the “math & magic” of modern marketing, blending creativity and technology, the rise of beauty tech, and what Gen Z and Gen X really want. 🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

    25 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Data Talks is a conversation series released every two weeks that proves data isn’t just for analysts, it’s the common language behind sporting triumphs, market breakthroughs, and social progress. Economist and storyteller Wolfgang Fengler sits down with world-class athletes, leading economists, founders, policymakers, and creative thinkers to unpack the numbers shaping their fields. Together, they translate charts into clear takeaways, challenge assumptions with evidence, and show how good data can turn bold ideas into practical action.

Information

  • Creator
    Wolfgang Fengler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Data Talks
  • Show Website
    Data Talks