Data Masters Podcast

TAMR
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Data Masters is the go-to place for data enthusiasts. We speak with data leaders from around the world about data, analytics, and the emerging technologies and techniques data-savvy organizations are tapping into to gain a competitive edge. Our experts also share their opinions and perspectives about the hyped, or overhyped, industry trends we may all be geeking out over.

  1. Balancing Data Context and AI Scale with Sastry Durvasula of TIAA

    ١٧ سبتمبر

    Balancing Data Context and AI Scale with Sastry Durvasula of TIAA

    The future of data-driven organizations depends on context, not just models. We’re joined by Sastry Durvasula, Chief Operating, Information and  Digital Officer of TIAA, to explore how a century-old institution is transforming operations, client experiences and services with next-generation technology. Sastry shares how TIAA balances innovation with responsibility, leveraging vast datasets and AI to solve complex problems at scale while protecting vulnerable clients. He highlights strategies for embedding empathy in customer interactions, improving data quality and building a “workforce of the future” where humans and machines collaborate seamlessly. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 03:09 TIAA manages vast data across retirement, wealth and asset management. 08:00 AI strategy rests on four pillars: tech, client experience, operations, and services. 16:10 Human service agents handle complex participant needs with AI support. 21:42 Operating officers must blend operational expertise with AI and technology. 25:13 AI solutions help protect older adults from fraud and cognitive decline risks. 30:25 Complaints come through every channel and require timely resolution. 34:56 Beyond semantics, the real focus is on building the workforce of the future with AI. 38:55 AI agents shift economies by changing how consumers shop and services operate. Resources Mentioned: Sastry Durvasula https://www.linkedin.com/in/durvasula/ TIAA | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiaa/ TIAA | Website https://www.tiaa.org/public TIAA Institute Research https://www.tiaa.org/public/institute Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

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  2. Redefining Energy Through Data and AI with Dak Liyanearachchi of NRG Energy

    ٣ سبتمبر

    Redefining Energy Through Data and AI with Dak Liyanearachchi of NRG Energy

    A traditional energy company is rewriting its future with data, AI and a customer-first mindset. We’re joined by Dak Liyanearachchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of NRG Energy, to explore how one of America’s largest energy companies is redefining its identity as a tech-forward, customer-centric organization. Dak shares how NRG is connecting the entire energy value chain — from generation to smart home consumption — through data and AI innovation. We also discuss the broader implications of grid efficiency, AI-driven forecasting and the cultural change required to power true digital transformation. Key Takeaways: (03:04) NRG spans energy generation to smart home energy use across deregulated markets. (07:05) Transforming the customer experience starts with managing home energy at the last mile. (09:48) Smart energy usage requires intelligent management of consumption and generation. (10:49) Data enables personalized insights to help customers choose the right energy plan. (14:24) A forecasting model simulates usage and market data to guide five-year energy planning. (20:00) GenAI boosts productivity and improves customer engagement through automated support. (25:02) The challenge isn’t adopting GenAI — it’s clearly defining what to do with it. (28:57) Ongoing transformation is fueled by a tech-first mindset and a focus on delivering value. Resources Mentioned: Dak Liyanearachchi https://www.linkedin.com/in/dak-liyanearachchi-0664381/ NRG Energy | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/nrgenergy/ NRG Energy | Website https://www.nrg.com/ Renew Home https://www.renewhome.com/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

    ٣٠ من الدقائق
  3. Scaling Efficient Marketing Through Generative AI Automation with Lillian Pierson of Data-Mania

    ٢٠ أغسطس

    Scaling Efficient Marketing Through Generative AI Automation with Lillian Pierson of Data-Mania

    AI is everywhere, but what does meaningful adoption actually look like in marketing? We’re joined by Lillian Pierson, Fractional CMO and Growth Advisor of Data-Mania, to unpack how organizations can use AI strategically to drive results. Lillian outlines practical examples and a maturity model for AI in marketing, helping teams align tech with business outcomes. She breaks down where AI delivers the most value — from low-risk productivity tools to fully automated, cross-functional workflows — and offers guidance on the metrics that matter, how to tackle data fragmentation and why upskilling is critical for growth.  Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction 02:53 AI shifts marketing from manual campaigns to real-time systems. 05:29 Marketing success with AI depends more on strong data foundations than flashy tools. 10:41 The bigger the AI investment, the more strategic de-risking it needs. 15:59 Humanic uses AI to find hidden user segments from behavioral data. 19:57 Marketing issues often stem from data silos and fragmentation. 22:22 Without a data layer, ad algorithms can’t optimize or validate market fit. 26:27 AI bridges marketing and tech through vibe coding and automation. 30:29 Try vibe coding tools — you’ll be surprised what you can build. Resources Mentioned: Lillian Pierson https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillianpierson/ Data-Mania | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/data-mania/ Data-Mania | Website https://www.data-mania.com/ Cursor https://cursor.com/ Windsurf https://windsurf.com/editor Humanic https://www.humanic.com/ Growth Solutions https://growthsolutions.in/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

    ٣٢ من الدقائق
  4. Moving Beyond Chatbots: Rethinking AI Interfaces with Ozair Ali of ekai

    ٦ أغسطس

    Moving Beyond Chatbots: Rethinking AI Interfaces with Ozair Ali of ekai

    AI can mimic human language, but does that make it intelligent? We’re joined by Ozair Ali, Co-Founder of ekai, to unpack what it truly takes to turn cutting-edge AI into real-world solutions. Drawing on his global experience in startups, government and academia, Ozair brings unique insight into the limitations and possibilities of LLMs in the enterprise. He walks us through the practical UX challenges of working with LLMs, the statistical roots of modern AI and what makes an interface more than just a chat window. Key Takeaways: (02:56) AI terms often come from engineering, causing common confusion. (05:57) Like the brain, LLMs show emergent behavior that’s hard to explain. (09:00) LLMs mimic human speech but lack calibration. (16:11) RAGs aren’t the first step — cheaper, simpler methods often get the same results. (20:07) It’s mind-blowing that chat is still the default AI interface, as something better must exist. (25:18) Non-technical users can build fast, blurring the line between data and software engineers. (31:00) LLMs favor data-rich giants, but there’s hope for new disruptors to emerge. (32:49) AI can unlock opportunities globally despite local infrastructure challenges. Resources Mentioned: Ozair Ali https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozairali/ ekai | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ekaiai/ ekai | Website https://www.ekai.ai/ Conway’s Game of Life https://playgameoflife.com/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

    ٣٥ من الدقائق
  5. Solving Business Problems With Smarter Data Products with Manav Misra of Regions Bank

    ٢٣ يوليو

    Solving Business Problems With Smarter Data Products with Manav Misra of Regions Bank

    Most data teams focus on building assets — only a few focus on making them useful. Manav Misra, Chief Data and Analytics Officer of  Regions Bank, explores what it takes to make data genuinely useful in a complex enterprise. Manav shares lessons from academia, startups and enterprise leadership, walking us through how he applies a product mindset to drive real impact with data in the banking sector.  Key Takeaways: (02:25) Falling in love with AI led Manav from engineering to academia and beyond. (06:16) Startups offer a faster learning curve for early career professionals. (10:02) Start with the customer problem and keep solutions as simple as possible. (15:04) A data product must be usable, measurable and deliver real impact. (19:49) Manav added “analytics” to his title to highlight a focus on business impact. (23:03) Data product partners bridge tech teams and business users to deliver real value. (26:19) Starting from consumption ensures governance efforts stay focused and impactful. (28:28) Federated governance builds ownership and relevance across teams. Resources Mentioned: Manav Misra https://www.linkedin.com/in/manavmisra/ Regions Bank | Website https://www.linkedin.com/company/regions-financial-corporation/ Regions Bank | Website https://www.regions.com/ Colorado School of Mines https://www.mines.edu/ The opinions expressed in the presentation are statements of the speaker’s opinion, are intended only for informational purposes, and are not formal opinions of, nor binding on Regions Bank, its parent company, Regions Financial Corporation and their subsidiaries, and any representation to the contrary is expressly disclaimed. Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

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  6. Balancing Innovation and Security in Analytics with Oren Falkowitz of Gigasheet

    ٢٦ يونيو

    Balancing Innovation and Security in Analytics with Oren Falkowitz of Gigasheet

    Security isn’t just a checkbox — it’s the foundation of trustworthy data analytics. Oren Falkowitz, Advisor at Gigasheet, joins us to explore what it really takes to secure data in the digital era. With a background spanning NSA, US Cyber Command, Amazon and Cloudflare, Oren brings a deep understanding of how to strike a balance between access and protection, especially as analytics demands grow. He explains why most companies fail to define what they need to protect, why phishing remains a top vulnerability and how treating security as a technology — not just a human — problem changes the game. Key Takeaways: (03:24) Government and private sector data security face similar foundational challenges. (06:08) User training alone won’t stop phishing — it’s like expecting drivers not to text. (10:29) Apache Accumulo shows cell-level controls matter more than having all the data. (18:50) Intelligence turns technical data into real decisions. (24:42) LLMs need rich, licensed data — scraping alone isn’t enough. (27:59) Cyberattacks work because they look real, visually or organizationally authentic. (31:03) Security improves by mastering the basics, not chasing the newest trend. (32:43) Strong analytics matter more than the breach itself when it comes to security impact. Resources Mentioned: Oren Falkowitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/orenjfalkowitz/ Gigasheet | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigasheet/ Gigasheet | Website https://gigasheet.com/ Apache Accumulo https://accumulo.apache.org/ Cloudflare https://www.cloudflare.com/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

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  7. Amplifying Community Voices Through Data with Russell Stevens of MIT Center for Constructive Communication

    ١٣ يونيو

    Amplifying Community Voices Through Data with Russell Stevens of MIT Center for Constructive Communication

    Data doesn’t just reflect communities — it can help shape more inclusive, constructive conversations. We’re joined by Russell Stevens, Head of Strategy and Development at the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, to explore how qualitative data, storytelling and ethical AI design can bridge gaps in society and decision-making. Russell shares how his team moved beyond traditional media analytics to build a platform that amplifies unheard voices through small-group conversations. He explains why trust, local context and human-in-the-loop sense-making are critical for turning narratives into actionable insight. Key Takeaways: (03:50) MIT used early language models to analyze media data and gauge public opinion. (09:27) Ingesting more data only amplified the loudest voices, not diverse perspectives. (18:31) Peer-led talks in Newark schools revealed stories that would never be revealed to adults. (24:55) Like Tamr, the process uses humans to guide AI through iterative coding. (30:40) Radical transparency and consent are core to ethical data use. (37:07) Hearing humanity in others is essential to overcoming division. (41:32) Replacing people with AI personas is a rejected dystopian shortcut. (43:12) Without humanity, all you’re left with is empty thematic summaries. Resources Mentioned: Russell Stevens https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell5mit/ MIT Center for Constructive Communication | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cccatmit/ MIT Center for Constructive Communication | Website https://www.ccc.mit.edu/ Cortico https://cortico.ai/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

    ٤٥ من الدقائق
  8. Building Emotional Loyalty Through Data with Claudia Infante of Margaritaville

    ٢١ مايو

    Building Emotional Loyalty Through Data with Claudia Infante of Margaritaville

    Data is the backbone of every great brand, but for Margaritaville, it’s also the bridge to a lifestyle of laid-back escapes and unforgettable memories. Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer of Margaritaville, joins us to explore how this iconic brand blends data-driven decisions with the spirit of escapism. Claudia shares insights into the company’s unique licensing model, their approach to data governance, and how they prioritize customer experience while managing diverse data sources. Key Takeaways: (02:12) Margaritaville grew from a song to a lifestyle brand, starting with a t-shirt shop in Key West. (06:26) Hotels handle more complex customer and operational data than restaurants. (11:56) Margaritaville is an emotion, creating deep connections and lasting memories. (17:27) Strong brands build community and connections beyond just products. (20:43) Intentional data collection focuses on purpose and meaningful use over hoarding. (27:03) Clear data purpose reduces risk and aligns with business goals. (31:23) Marketing focuses on storytelling and letting customers engage on their terms. (37:36) Margaritaville offers diverse experiences, letting customers choose their own path. Resources Mentioned: Claudia Infante https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiainfante/ Margaritaville | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/margaritaville/ Margaritaville | Website https://www.margaritaville.com/ Thanks for listening to the “Data Masters Podcast.” If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe so you never miss our latest discussions and insights into the ever-changing world of data. #DataStrategy #DataManagement #DataMastersPodcast

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Data Masters is the go-to place for data enthusiasts. We speak with data leaders from around the world about data, analytics, and the emerging technologies and techniques data-savvy organizations are tapping into to gain a competitive edge. Our experts also share their opinions and perspectives about the hyped, or overhyped, industry trends we may all be geeking out over.

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    TAMR
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    Data Masters Podcast