This Is Not A Data Podcast

Brendan Ellis
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We get too bogged down in thinking data is the be all and end all. It's all nonsense. The real power is when people bring it to life. That's what this podcast is all about. Data may be mentioned but we talk about everything that affects data, and that starts with people.

  1. 2d ago

    Is "Data First" Just A Marketing Ploy?

    This week, Bren and Lenno are still reminiscing about the CXO Data Summit in Crete, but they dive straight into a question that follows them into every boardroom...what does "data first," "AI first," or "cloud first" actually mean? Lenno questions whether it's really just about fixing whatever's in front of you and calling it a plan. And Bren lays out his theory that 80% of businesses are successful enough to never really need to change, so they throw money at data and AI initiatives without ever fully believing in them. The episode revolves around what really drives change, and what happens to the companies that keep buying the buzzwords instead of tackling problems? Takeaways Problem-first approachInfluence of mindset and collaborationChallenges of data ownershipImpact of data and AI on businesses Chapters 00:00 The Impact of Data and AI on Businesses02:40 Challenges of Data Ownership04:19 The Role of Data Professionals06:33 Influence of Mindset and Collaboration09:26 Freedom and Curiosity in Data Initiatives18:36 Driving Change in Business26:05 The Role of Data Professionals in Business Evolution33:16 The Need for a Problem-First Approach

  2. Sep 18

    Different Brains Built The World We Live In

    This week, Bren and Lenno are joined by Peter Laflin, a chief data officer who's spent the summer researching what it takes for neurodivergent leaders to thrive in data and AI teams. Peter shares what he's learned about building high-performing teams and creating genuinely inclusive environments for neurodivergent individuals. The conversation also touches on the leadership challenges and opportunities in managing a neurodiverse team. One question stands out...how many teams have been quietly built in one leader's image, filtering out the very differences that would have solved their hardest problems? This is a conversation about building teams that think differently on purpose, not by accident. Takeaways Neurodiversity in the workplaceLeadership and neurodiversity Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Neurodiversity08:27 Understanding Neurodivergent Individuals21:09 Leadership and Neurodiversity

  3. Sep 15

    The Best Lessons Are The Most Painful Ones

    This week, Bren and Lenno record face-to-face for the first time at the CXO Data Summit in Crete, on what makes a transformation succeed. Lenno tells the story of the first SAP program, one that had to be pulled apart mid-flight. This painful lesson meant the next one, built on those battle scars, came in pain-free, on time and under budget. That's the essence of the episode...real capability comes from getting it wrong first. So what happens when AI removes the junior roles where those mistakes used to be made before becoming a data leader? Takeaways People are central to the success of transformation initiatives.Experience and learning from past mistakes are crucial for personal and professional growth. Transformation and experience are essential for growth.Behaviour change is hard, and people problems are a significant challenge in data leadership. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of People in Transformation01:16 Challenges of Transformation03:07 The Value of Experience in Learning and Growth15:13 Transformation and Experience16:18 People Problems and Behavior Change17:28 The Impact of Technology on the Workplace18:15 Influence of Generational Differences19:13 The Role of Data Leaders in Shaping the Future of Work19:28 The Importance of Communication and Education20:26 Individuality and the Human Component in Data Leadership

  4. Sep 4

    The Courage To Follow Your Purpose

    This week, Bren and Lenno are joined by their first guest, Alberto Gonzalo Otero, a purpose coach who helps leaders and teams reconnect daily work with why they do it. Alberto talks through the power of "why," the questions he uses to get people past surface answers like money, and the team assessment he built to measure purpose and psychological safety alongside trust and clarity. The conversation also looks at courage and the relationship with purpose, and why staying in a role that doesn't fit your purpose is usually the bigger risk. They discuss how understanding and aligning with your purpose can lead to greater fulfilment, better decision-making, and navigating technological changes like AI. Guest Alberto Gonzalez Otero - https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertogotero/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Alberto Gonzalo Otero and Purpose 00:59 What is Purpose and Why It Matters 03:04 Purpose During the COVID-19 Pandemic 05:03 AI, Technology, and the Future of Work 07:05 The Midlife Crisis and Purpose 08:07 Purpose Across Generations 09:01 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Society 10:57 Using Purpose to Make Better Decisions 13:12 The Role of Leadership and Team Dynamics 15:57 The Value of Purpose in Innovation and Technology 20:09 Balancing Technology and Human Values 24:05 Aligning Work with Personal Purpose 28:04 The Power of Asking 'Why' and Purpose 32:58 Team Dynamics and Purpose 37:08 The Courage to Follow Your Purpose 41:09 Overcoming Societal and Personal Barriers 43:57 Practical Steps to Discover Your Purpose 44:55 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

  5. Aug 28

    The Post-It Note That Hacked Sony

    This week, Bren & Lenno venture into the world of security, starting with a media company whose entire channel went completely offline. Not because of a sophisticated breach, but because of a simple but stupid human action. This episode digs into why data sovereignty and geopolitics get all the corporate attention, while the far bigger risk sits closer to home. And ultimately they address the question that you can spend a billion dollars on security, but what's the point if it only takes one person to undo it?

  6. Aug 21

    The Airline Went Bankrupt, so Google Bought The Data

    This week Bren & Lenno dive into recent but potentially disturbing news of Google being on a buying spree. They didn't buy a bankrupt airline for its planes, but for it's data...years of emails, Teams messages and spreadsheets, all headed off to train AI models. This is a sharp reminder that everything we write on a work account, or hand over to an app, has become a monetizable asset, whether we intended it to or not. So if our data is worth buying, shouldn't we be the ones getting paid for it?

  7. Aug 14

    No-one Wants To Talk To Your Chatbot, Sorry Agent

    This week, Bren and Lenno discuss a shared frustration... chatbots. From there, they ask if AI is making customer service better, or if people are quietly rejecting it in favour of a real human They also unpack a LinkedIn story about connecting family calendars to ChatGPT instead of talking to their own kids. Honest, a little ranty, and very human so exactly the conversation the call centre script never lets you have.

  8. Aug 7

    The World Is Running Out Of Humans

    Bren and Lenno pick up a question sparked by a full-body health scan at a Swedish startup and wonder how far can AI actually take healthcare? They discuss declining global birth rates and shrinking workforces, and what that means for healthcare, economic growth, and data privacy as health tracking gets more personal. There's also a cheeky ChatGPT sign, and an AI-planned run that did not go as planned. Warm, candid, and thinking out loud as always, this is the conversation still finding its shape in real time.

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About

We get too bogged down in thinking data is the be all and end all. It's all nonsense. The real power is when people bring it to life. That's what this podcast is all about. Data may be mentioned but we talk about everything that affects data, and that starts with people.

Information

  • Creator
    Brendan Ellis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brendan Ellis
  • Show Website
    This Is Not A Data Podcast