Let's Talk Data

Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard

Let’s Talk Data is a platform where Lebogang aims to empower professionals and enthusiasts by simplifying complex data concepts, sharing industry insights, and fostering a community passionate about the impact of data in decision making and innovation.

Episodes

  1. The 2026 CDO Mandate: Semantic Models and Reciprocal Africa-US Partnerships | Wendy Turner Williams

    1D AGO

    The 2026 CDO Mandate: Semantic Models and Reciprocal Africa-US Partnerships | Wendy Turner Williams

    In this episode of Let’s Talk Data, Lebogang Langa sits down with Wendy Turner Williams to explore what the 2026 Chief Data & AI Officer mandate truly demands. From enterprise intelligence and semantic modelling to board-level accountability, this conversation examines how the role of the CDO is evolving beyond data management into systems leadership. What does it mean to design architectures that don’t just scale technically, but scale responsibly? How do leaders prove ROI while managing regulatory exposure, model risk, and long-term societal impact? Drawing from her leadership across Microsoft, Salesforce, Tableau, and now as Co-Founder of SymphraAI, Wendy shares how enterprise intelligence is shifting from dashboards to decision systems, where semantic clarity, governance discipline, and predictive value are non-negotiable. The conversation also moves beyond enterprise walls to global equity. We challenge the dominant model of AI education partnerships, often structured as one-way transfers of funding, curriculum, or talent. What would a truly reciprocal data and AI education partnership look like between Africa and the United States, where both sides contribute knowledge, shape standards, and learn from one another? This episode is about leadership in the intelligence era: architecting meaning through semantic models, designing systems that outlast market cycles, and redefining global collaboration.

    46 min
  2. Building High Performing Tech Teams: Platform Engineering and Client Centricity at Scale with Blessing Mgaga

    JAN 13

    Building High Performing Tech Teams: Platform Engineering and Client Centricity at Scale with Blessing Mgaga

    In this episode, Lebogang Langa sits down with Blessing Mgaga, Divisional Executive for Retail Client Experience Delivery at Capitec Bank, for a masterclass on building technology organisations that deliver real impact. Blessing unpacks the critical balance between innovation and execution — from cutting through AI hype to focus on measurable outcomes, to implementing platform engineering principles that scale without creating legacy debt. He introduces the "product health" framework that's democratising data across Capitec, turning every business owner into a data-informed decision In this conversation, we explore: - Building high-performing tech and data teams that understand client outcomes - Platform engineering roadmaps: bringing product, architecture, and DevOps together - Why tech fluency at leadership level matters (but client centricity matters more) - Measuring what matters: governance frameworks for AI and data investments - Designing for equality in diverse markets with infrastructure challenges - The importance of walking in your client's shoes (literally) - Micro-learning, certifications, and accessible paths into tech careers - The future of agentic AI and what leaders should watch Drawing from over two decades in financial services and his journey from the township of Kagiso to leading product development for millions of clients, Blessing offers practical frameworks for sustainable growth and a refreshing perspective: the best technology decisions start with understanding the people you serve. Whether you're scaling engineering teams, modernising platforms, or leading digital transformation, this conversation delivers actionable insights from building South Africa's largest digital bank.

    47 min

About

Let’s Talk Data is a platform where Lebogang aims to empower professionals and enthusiasts by simplifying complex data concepts, sharing industry insights, and fostering a community passionate about the impact of data in decision making and innovation.