The Data Storytellers Podcast

The Data Storytellers Podcast
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The Data Storytellers is a leading professional community dedicated to building business influence for data and analytics leaders. Our mission is to empower and enable Data Science & Analytics professionals and organizations to actualize their full potential. In the evolving landscape of business, Data Science and Analytics departments are emerging as a business within a business, driving strategic decisions and influencing outcomes.

  1. The AI Leadership Playbook for Global Enterprises | Elena Alikhachkina

    ٤ سبتمبر

    The AI Leadership Playbook for Global Enterprises | Elena Alikhachkina

    In this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we speak with Elena Alikhachkina, Chief Data and AI Officer at TE Connectivity. With a background spanning Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, and now one of the world’s largest industrial tech companies, Elena shares what it takes to lead AI transformation across global, complex organizations. We talk about the realities of operationalizing data and AI in manufacturing, the soft skills required to drive trust and adoption, and how to move from use cases to enterprise value. Elena also reflects on how she built her career across industries, why curiosity is her superpower, and how data leaders can move from technical execution to strategic leadership. Connect with us: Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Elena’s current role at TE Connectivity 02:41 – Why AI transformation is a leadership challenge, not a tech one 06:50 – How to build trust across functions when driving change 10:22 – The power of storytelling in operational environments 14:36 – Creating a data strategy that scales globally 18:58 – Why speed alone is not a data strategy 23:11 – Aligning AI with core business priorities 27:04 – Moving from isolated use cases to enterprise-wide value 31:17 – Lessons from Nestlé and Johnson & Johnson 36:03 – Defining value clearly in industrial use cases 40:40 – The evolution of the Chief Data and AI Officer role 44:12 – Building multidisciplinary teams that earn business trust 49:18 – Advice for data leaders entering legacy-heavy environments 53:46 – Why curiosity, empathy, and resilience matter most 58:03 – How Elena built her career across industries and functions 1:03:40 – What’s next in data and AI at TE Connectivity 1:08:12 – Closing thoughts on leadership, impact, and lifelong learning 📍 Chapter Timestamps (Accurate for 1h13m runtime)

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  2. How Agentic AI Will Reshape Customer Experience | Rangan Gangavaram (Verizon)

    ٢١ أغسطس

    How Agentic AI Will Reshape Customer Experience | Rangan Gangavaram (Verizon)

    In this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we speak with Rangan Gangavaram, Senior Director of Analytics & Insights at Verizon, about the promise and pitfalls of agentic AI. Rangan shares why agentic AI is more than just another automation wave, how it differs from RPA, and why its reasoning capabilities could redefine customer interactions. We discuss the decision frameworks enterprises need to adopt, the importance of stakeholder-driven adoption, and how AI transformations resemble the digital era more than traditional data initiatives. Rangan also reflects on his career journey from engineering to analytics leadership and the pivotal role of storytelling in driving AI adoption. Connect with us:Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellersApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmAChapters: 00:00 – Introduction and reconnecting after past conversations 01:15 – Why agentic AI is the real deal for enterprises 04:32 – Comparing agentic AI to RPA and automation 07:55 – The multiplier effect of AI-driven reasoning 12:41 – Do today’s AI models really reason? 17:14 – Understanding the driver behind customer problems 19:03 – Key risks and pitfalls in deploying agentic AI 25:12 – Why stakeholder buy-in is essential for adoption 28:40 – AI strategy as part of a holistic transformation 32:58 – How AI transformation mirrors the digital revolution 36:46 – Managing cost concerns for AI at scale 40:33 – Rangan’s career path into data and analytics 46:12 – The importance of storytelling in analytics leadership 52:10 – Advice for aspiring professionals in data and AI 54:40 – Closing reflections and future collaboration

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  3. Data Foundations vs. AI Hype | Eric Gonzalez (Omnificity)

    ٣١ يوليو

    Data Foundations vs. AI Hype | Eric Gonzalez (Omnificity)

    In this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast we speak with Eric Gonzalez, CEO of Omnificity. Eric explains why strong data foundations are more critical than chasing shiny AI solutions and shares how to educate stakeholders without killing their enthusiasm. We explore how to avoid falling into proof of concept purgatory, how to prioritize initiatives based on impact and feasibility, and how to navigate the organizational egos that often get in the way of real progress. Eric also reflects on his career journey from neuroscience and economics to data leadership and offers actionable advice for building trust and clarity in your organization. Connect With Us: Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Eric’s take on AI’s rapid democratization01:08 – Why most enterprises are not ready for AI yet05:30 – How to inspire executives without shutting down excitement07:26 – Examples of AI replacing boring and monotonous tasks14:44 – Why companies get stuck in proof of concept purgatory19:41 – The pitfalls of synthetic data and model collapse24:16 – The limitations of large language models and what comes next28:35 – How to approach stakeholders about real business impact32:57 – Eric’s journey from neuroscience to business intelligence40:29 – Lessons learned working across industries44:31 – Why data teams must align information flows with decision flows55:26 – A prioritization framework for enterprise use cases1:02:16 – The biggest bottleneck in organizations is ego1:04:01 – What Dan Gilbert taught about listening to every idea1:07:53 – Closing thoughts and where to follow Eric’s work

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  4. The AI Revolution in 2025 Explained | Nurtekin Savas (PayPal)

    ٢٢ يوليو

    The AI Revolution in 2025 Explained | Nurtekin Savas (PayPal)

    In this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we speak with Nurtekin Savas, VP and Head of Global Credit Infrastructure, Data & AI at PayPal. Nurtekin shares how PayPal balances innovation with responsibility as it scales global credit products powered by data and AI. From structuring modern analytics platforms to influencing stakeholders and fostering experimentation in regulated environments, Nurtekin offers actionable insights for data leaders navigating fintech complexity. He also reflects on the value of storytelling, leadership trust, and aligning infrastructure with business goals at scale. Connect with us:• Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Meet Nurtekin Savas, PayPal’s Head of Global Credit Infrastructure, Data & AI 04:52 – What Nurtekin’s team owns across data, platforms, and credit 09:45 – The connective tissue between data, infrastructure, and product 14:38 – From AOL to PayPal: a 20+ year fintech journey 19:31 – Why compliance and experimentation must coexist 24:24 – Building the muscle for responsible innovation 29:17 – Creating space to learn and fail in a high-stakes environment 34:10 – Platform architecture: building what’s needed vs. shiny objects 39:03 – Gaining buy-in from senior leadership on infrastructure investments 43:56 – The importance of storytelling in analytics and AI 48:49 – Decision rights, influence, and organizational trust 53:42 – Growing talent: what makes a great data leader 58:35 – Lessons from past roles: Visa, Amazon, Capital One, Fidelity 63:28 – Building systems that scale responsibly across borders 68:21 – Trends Nurtekin is watching in AI and credit innovation 73:14 – Final thoughts on leadership, curiosity, and execution 78:07 – Wrap-up and closing insights

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  5. Building Data-Driven Cultures in Sports, Film, and Streaming | Mikel Davis (VP of Strategic Analytics @ Peacock)

    ١٤ يوليو

    Building Data-Driven Cultures in Sports, Film, and Streaming | Mikel Davis (VP of Strategic Analytics @ Peacock)

    On this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we speak with Mikel Davis, VP of Strategic Analytics at Peacock. Mikel shares her journey from early analytics roles in sports and entertainment—including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Legendary Pictures—to leading customer and growth strategies at one of the world’s top streaming platforms. We explore how data is transforming marketing, content, and customer experience across industries, and the leadership skills that help drive real cultural change in large organizations. Connect With Us:• Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:36 – The rise of AI: déjà vu from the early data days 02:15 – From data literacy to AI fluency: is it just rebranding? 04:52 – Laszlo’s path from military intel to analytics through marketing 06:21 – Mikel’s current role at Peacock and team’s mandate 07:33 – How Mikel accidentally discovered analytics in college 09:30 – Economics + statistics = the original analytics degree 11:03 – From Accenture to the Cleveland Cavaliers 13:15 – Selling tickets with data: pre-LeBron vs. post-LeBron 15:02 – Pandora’s predictive personalization and data obsession 17:35 – Streaming disruption: what seemed crazy is now normal 18:24 – How LeBron changed Mikel’s job and career path 21:43 – Moving to film: data innovation at Legendary Entertainment 23:55 – F1 Movie example: modernizing film marketing with data 27:56 – Using data to greenlight and cast films more strategically 29:52 – Balancing art and science in content creation 31:29 – Transition to AT&T: data for customer retention 33:33 – The big challenge: keeping cable customers in the streaming era 34:02 – The streaming boom and Netflix as a data pioneer 35:33 – Joining NBCUniversal: centralizing customer data 36:59 – Launching Peacock and driving strategic growth 37:46 – Mikel’s career playbook: building data-driven cultures 38:15 – Adapting insights to executives vs. operations 40:24 – Building trust through stakeholder empathy and flexibility 42:24 – The power of asking good questions and connecting people 43:46 – The #1 blocker: when success without data breeds resistance 44:56 – AI parallels: augmenting, not replacing, human judgment 46:02 – Closing thoughts

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  6. Navigating the AI Hype and Building Data-Driven Cultures | Juan Gorricho

    ٣٠ يونيو

    Navigating the AI Hype and Building Data-Driven Cultures | Juan Gorricho

    In this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we reconnect with Juan Gorricho—former Chief Data Officer at Disney Credit Union and senior data leader at Visa and TD Bank. Juan shares what he’s learned across two decades leading data strategy in some of the world’s most recognized organizations. We discuss the rise of AI-washing, how to lead with impact amid transformation, and the leadership principles that matter most—like stakeholder trust, organizational readiness, and building a culture that attracts top talent. Connect with us: Website: The Data Storytellers LinkedIn: The Data Storytellers Spotify: The Data Storytellers Podcast YouTube: The Data Storytellers Channel Apple Podcast: Listen on Apple Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome back Juan Gorricho: From Visa to TD and beyond 01:57 – What’s exciting about AI right now? Cutting through the noise 04:28 – Why is everything labeled “AI”? Understanding AI-washing 08:57 – Capital deployment, FOMO, and false promises in the AI boom 10:52 – The real readiness challenge: People, processes, and data 14:29 – Balancing urgency with realism: Data leaders in the AI age 17:13 – How talent expectations are evolving in data teams 21:13 – Early lessons from working with the UN and city government 26:47 – From tech to operations: Building trust and data solutions at Disney 32:11 – Forecasting Frozen: Data stories from retail at scale 35:00 – MagicBands, privacy, and doing data right at Disney 38:05 – Lessons in stakeholder engagement and change management 43:11 – Building the data experience at Visa 50:58 – Leading TD’s U.S. data transformation and cloud migration 56:23 – What’s next: Using GenAI to accelerate real business value 1:00:23 – Juan’s career playbook: Trust, empathy, and continuous learning 1:08:53 – Final thoughts and what’s ahead

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  7. Enhancing Fan Experiences Through Data Science | Scott McDade (VP of Data Science)

    ١٠ أبريل

    Enhancing Fan Experiences Through Data Science | Scott McDade (VP of Data Science)

    On this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we explore how data science is transforming the sports and entertainment industry with insights from Scott McDade, VP of Data Science at Aramark. Scott shares how his team leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and AI to enhance fan experiences, optimize operations, and drive profitability at major venues across the U.S. We discuss building a data-driven culture, the challenges of AI adoption, and the importance of trust and governance in analytics. Scott also reflects on his career journey from sports marketing to data leadership and how data teams can become trusted business advisors rather than just reporting functions. Connect With Us: Website: The Data Storytellers LinkedIn: The Data Storytellers Spotify: The Data Storytellers Podcast YouTube: The Data Storytellers Channel Apple Podcast: Listen on Apple Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Scott McDade and Aramark 00:59 - A special recording on a birthday & reflections on 2024 02:06 - What is Aramark? The hidden force behind sports & entertainment experiences 05:19 - How data science impacts customer experience at sporting venues 08:30 - Scott’s career journey: From sports marketing to data science 11:05 - The evolution of data analytics at Aramark & post-pandemic transformations 13:50 - Driving a data-driven culture: How Aramark fosters data curiosity 16:14 - The rise of AI: Hype vs. practical applications in business 21:55 - Balancing data quality, governance, and AI-driven automation 26:44 - The psychology of decision-making: Gut instinct vs. data-driven choices 33:45 - The 3 principles for driving data success in large organizations 38:21 - Infusing objectivity into business culture through analytics 43:08 - Using data as a relationship tool to build trust with stakeholders 47:34 - Moving beyond dashboards: Becoming a trusted business advisor 48:45 - Closing thoughts: The future of data teams and AI in hospitality

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  8. The Secret to Data-Driven Decision Making | Eric Hornyak (Director of Data Visualization)

    ٣ أبريل

    The Secret to Data-Driven Decision Making | Eric Hornyak (Director of Data Visualization)

    On this episode of The Data Storytellers Podcast, we sit down with Eric Hornyak, Director of Data Visualization at Sunbelt Rentals, to discuss how data teams can bridge the gap between analytics and business action through better communication, data storytelling, and strategic reporting. Eric shares his playbook for engaging business leaders, breaking down complex analytics into actionable insights, and building trust through over-communication and delivering results. We explore how Sunbelt leverages data visualization, AI, and predictive analytics to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer experiences. This episode is packed with insights for analytics professionals looking to elevate their impact and move beyond dashboards to drive real business change. Connect with us: • Website: https://thedatastorytellers.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-data-storytellers • Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-data-storytellers-podcast/id1493766476 • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2N0vZtHZHgod4Tll2LX2xa • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz9e56lhYUfORiOHMiLlPmA Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Eric Hornyak and Sunbelt Rentals 02:13 - How analytics impacts Sunbelt’s customers and operations 05:09 - Eric’s career journey: From history major to data leader 08:26 - The evolution of analytics at Sunbelt Rentals 10:24 - The biggest challenges in driving analytics impact 12:12 - The key to building trust in data teams: Over-communication 15:45 - How to develop strong relationships with business stakeholders 18:00 - The “send it to yourself” email hack for executive communication 21:26 - The 3-30-3 framework for designing high-impact reports 26:24 - AI, data visualization, and the future of analytics 29:43 - The biggest opportunities for data professionals in the next 5 years 33:17 - Eric’s playbook: Key takeaways for data leaders

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The Data Storytellers is a leading professional community dedicated to building business influence for data and analytics leaders. Our mission is to empower and enable Data Science & Analytics professionals and organizations to actualize their full potential. In the evolving landscape of business, Data Science and Analytics departments are emerging as a business within a business, driving strategic decisions and influencing outcomes.

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