AI & Data Democratization Podcast

Alexandra Ebert
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGY

A podcast about data innovation, regulations and data privacy. We will bring you exciting and inspiring stories from the frontiers of data and privacy management. Think AI, fairness, privacy-compliance, synthetic data, data literacy, and more. Hosted by Alexandra Ebert, MOSTLY AI's Chief AI & Data Democratization Officer.If you have any suggestions or questions, send a voice recording or DM to Alexandra on LinkedIn.

  1. 53. “The EU Policy Machine Is Broken. Brussels Lacks Courage!”—Kai Zenner on Europe’s Digital Future and the Steps We Must Take in 2026 to Reclaim It

    2D AGO

    53. “The EU Policy Machine Is Broken. Brussels Lacks Courage!”—Kai Zenner on Europe’s Digital Future and the Steps We Must Take in 2026 to Reclaim It

    In the first episode of season 6, Alexandra Ebert sits down with Kai Zenner, Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser to MEP Axel Voss at the European Parliament, for a deep dive into Europe’s digital future. They outline what Brussels is still not getting right on AI and debate what is urgently needed in 2026: a long-term AI, data & digital strategy for Europe, the courage for bold political leadership, and taking action where it matters most.  KEY TOPICS: 00:00 — Intro07:08 — Davos and the geopolitics of AI12:03 — Why the EU lacks a long-term strategy for AI and digital policy16:09 — The “European Way”: Partnerships and more focus on  areas where the EU could actually lead24:00 — Beyond scattered Moonshots: Making AI work across the European economy27:58 — AI Factories and Digital Innovation Hubs? That's not enough! The EU needs an AI innovation ecosystem31:09 — The EU's opportunity costs of chasing frontier models and more compute. Let's focus on AI adoption instead!36:52 — Proprietary business data: The EU’s real competitive AI advantage?39:05 — Where the Data Act &  Data Governance Act fall short50:08 — Why the EU policy cycle is broken — and why Kai calls for more courage and bold political leadership53:25 — The biggest risks & opportunities in 2026 for the EU's digital policy 57:42 — The surprising impact of public procurement on the AI startup ecosystem Follow Kai Zenner on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kzenner/?skipRedirect=true Website: https://www.kaizenner.eu/

    1 hr
  2. 52. Synthetic Data as a Strategic Enterprise Data Asset with AWS' Faris Haddad

    06/06/2025

    52. Synthetic Data as a Strategic Enterprise Data Asset with AWS' Faris Haddad

    Welcome back to season 5 of the Data Democratization Podcast - and our first-ever live studio recording. In this episode, Alexandra Ebert sits down with Faris Haddad, AWS' Global AI Technical Strategy Lead. Together, they delve into the transformative role of synthetic data in modern enterprises.   Faris shares his journey into the world of synthetic data, highlighting its evolution from a niche solution to a cornerstone of enterprise data strategy. He discusses the challenges organizations face with data silos, legacy systems, and privacy concerns, and how synthetic data offers a pathway to overcome these hurdles.   Whether you're grappling with data accessibility issues or exploring innovative ways to leverage your organization's data assets, this episode offers valuable perspectives on integrating synthetic data into your enterprise data strategy.

    45 min
  3. Democratizing AI? Not Without Data Intelligence & Synthetic Data—Ari Kaplan on the Biggest Roadblocks to Scaling AI

    02/20/2025

    Democratizing AI? Not Without Data Intelligence & Synthetic Data—Ari Kaplan on the Biggest Roadblocks to Scaling AI

    AI democratization sounds great in theory, but why do so many enterprises struggle to make it work? In this episode, Ari Kaplan, Head of Tech Evangelism at Databricks, breaks down the biggest roadblocks to scaling AI—and what’s needed to overcome them. From data intelligence and synthetic data to why leading enterprises rely on unified data and analytics Platforms to cut costs, reduce governance complexity, and streamline AI adoption—we explore how organizations can move beyond AI pilot purgatory and use AI to drive tangible impact at scale. Ari dives into the hard truths about AI implementation, including why companies still face governance hurdles, siloed data, and inefficient infrastructure. Ari and I discuss how organizations can get more value from their data, deploy AI responsibly, and use synthetic data to scale securely. Plus, Ari shares his personal approach to balancing a global career, thought leadership, and content creation—including how he manages to make time for writing books while advising enterprises worldwide. We also discuss his take on social media strategy, the skills he’s encouraging his kids to develop for an AI-driven world, and the future of work in an era of intelligent automation. If you care about AI democratization, enterprise AI strategy, and staying ahead of the curve, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

    54 min
  4. 50. How to Democratize Data and Bridge AI's Tech/Business-Gap with Erste Group's Anna Lishchenko

    11/21/2024

    50. How to Democratize Data and Bridge AI's Tech/Business-Gap with Erste Group's Anna Lishchenko

    For the 50th episode of the Data Democratization Podcast, I sat down with Anna Lishchenko, Data & Analytics for Business Platform Lead at Erste Group. As a true champion of data democratization, Anna shares invaluable insights into how to make data widely accessible, actionable, and impactful across a large, decentralized organization. 💡 What you'll learn: The essential elements of building a data-driven culture, including data literacy, governance, and community building.Laying the foundation for success: How to align data and AI initiatives with business goals and secure buy-in from key stakeholders.Breaking barriers to experimentation: Using synthetic data to democratize access and accelerate innovation.Bridging silos: Connecting business and technical teams to drive collaboration and create real impact.Scaling AI and data initiatives: Turning one-off projects into sustainable enterprise-wide strategies.Whether you're just starting on your AI journey or scaling data initiatives, this episode is packed with actionable insights and practical advice. Don’t miss this engaging conversation about the status-quo and the future of data democratization!

    54 min
  5. 49. "Forget copying others — every organization needs to build their own AI muscle" with Microsoft's Daragh Morrissey

    11/14/2024

    49. "Forget copying others — every organization needs to build their own AI muscle" with Microsoft's Daragh Morrissey

    In episode 2 of the new season, Alexandra Ebert chats with Daragh Morrissey, Microsoft’s Director of AI for Worldwide Financial Services, recorded live at Money2020 US. Daragh offers a global perspective on AI adoption in financial services, highlighting unique strategies and challenges faced by institutions worldwide. He explains why Canada and Australia stand out in AI progress and why succeeding with Gen AI requires financial institutions to shift from over-strategizing to focusing on tangible outcomes. Daragh also shares insights on impactful AI applications in financial services, from automating contact centers to upselling, enhancing customer relationships, and modernizing legacy code. Lastly, Alexandra and Daragh take a look at the future of work and the role autonomous agents might play. They also debate whether AI will free up advisors time and whether, as a result, banks will have many more human advisors, or if the future of personalized banking will be more automated, yet transformative in enhancing individual financial health and fostering greater inclusivity. Daragh’s compelling anecdotes and strategic insights make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in AI’s future in financial services. Table of Contents: 0:00 - 2:39 Introduction to the Episode and Guest2:39 - 4:42 Daragh's Role and Microsoft's AI Approach in Financial Services4:42 - 6:37 Patterns in Successful AI Adoption Globally6:37 - 8:20 Gen AI Adoption: Early Success Stories and Lessons Learned8:20 - 10:59 Overcoming Challenges: Moving Beyond Perfectionism in AI Projects10:59 - 12:14 The Shift in Financial Services AI Use Cases12:14 - 14:36 Regional Differences in AI Approaches in Financial Services14:36 - 17:55 AI Use Cases in Financial Services: From Advisors to Autonomous Agents17:55 - 20:00 Ethical Challenges and Responsible AI in Financial Services20:00 - 23:25 The Future of Financial Services AI: Customer Relationship Innovations23:25 - 27:32 Expanding Financial Inclusion with AI and Responsible AI Practices27:32 - 29:41 Closing Thoughts on AI’s Impact on Financial Services

    47 min
  6. 48. Driving Impact with (Gen) AI for Financial Services with NVIDIA's Malcolm deMayo

    11/07/2024

    48. Driving Impact with (Gen) AI for Financial Services with NVIDIA's Malcolm deMayo

    Welcome back to Season 4 of the Data Democratization Podcast! In the 1st episode of the new season, Alexandra Ebert sat down with Malcolm DeMayo, NVIDIA's VP of Global Financial Services, live at Money2020 US to dive into what it takes for financial services organizations to succeed with data and AI at scale.  Malcolm shares insights on using data as a true differentiator, why Responsible AI practices are more important than ever, and how modern privacy-enhancing technologies - like federated learning and synthetic data - help tackle common data challenges. He also sheds light on how Gen AI is impacting talent and the surprising ways AI assistants might help organizations counteract the negative effects of employee churn. And, of course, Alexandra asks Malcolm for his vision for the future of AI in financial services.  Check out other episodes of the Data Democratization Podcast for more stories about data, privacy, responsible AI and how to do data democratization well.

    39 min
  7. 47. The secrets of unlocking business value with your data strategy

    12/14/2023

    47. The secrets of unlocking business value with your data strategy

    In the 47th episode of the Data Democratization Podcast, host Alexandra Ebert talks to Maritza Curry, Head of Data at RCS South Africa, to explore practical insights into developing effective data strategies. The discussion delves into the importance of solid data management and data governance. It also covers the topic of whether an AI strategy is necessary and the critical need for integrating business literacy into AI and data initiatives. Maritza offers valuable tips from her extensive experience, emphasizing the importance of good communication. She highlights the necessity of talking not only to executives but also to those on the frontlines in order to develop effective data strategies and tailor them to best fit your organizational culture. Check out the other episodes of the Data Democratization Podcast for more stories about data, privacy, responsible AI and how to do data democratization well.

    51 min
  8. 46. How to (finally) move your AI products to production

    10/19/2023

    46. How to (finally) move your AI products to production

    In the 46th episode of the Data Democratization Podcast, host Alexandra Ebert is talking to Wolfgang Weidinger, AI, Data Science, and Analytics Coordinator at Generali Insurance, Austria, and Chairman Of The Board at the Vienna Data Science Group. Wolfgang is a seasoned data scientist with tons of experience managing AI, data science, and analytics projects.  The episode covers a wide range of topics, offering actionable tips for those looking to deploy AI models in large organizations: selecting the right tools for AI projects,the adoption of AI in various industries,the significance of soft skills, collaboration, and domain knowledge,the organizational role of the data scientist,how to bridge the gap between business and technology.If you would like to learn more about data science and AI in practice, we recommend The Handbook of Data Science and AI - Generate Value from Data with Machine Learning and Data Analytics, co-authored by Wolfgang. If you are in Vienna, Austria, follow the Vienna Data Science Group for great meetups and opportunities to connect with the local data science community!

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A podcast about data innovation, regulations and data privacy. We will bring you exciting and inspiring stories from the frontiers of data and privacy management. Think AI, fairness, privacy-compliance, synthetic data, data literacy, and more. Hosted by Alexandra Ebert, MOSTLY AI's Chief AI & Data Democratization Officer.If you have any suggestions or questions, send a voice recording or DM to Alexandra on LinkedIn.

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