Data-powered Innovation Jam

Do we hear sleigh bells in that surf rock soundtrack? Well, anything can happen when you tune in to the Data-powered Innovation Jam podcast—especially in the very last episode of the year! Our hosts Weiwei Feng (winning top honours for her Christmas sweater), Robert Engels, and Ron Tolido gather with their producer Arne Rossmann by a cozy fireplace to reflect on an unforgettable 2024. From groundbreaking moments in data and AI to the soundtrack of the year, it’s a heartfelt and insightful rewind.

But wait, there's more! It wouldn’t be the Innovation Jam without a bold look ahead and discussion on some predictions for 2025. Any chance of being accurate amid such unpredictable times? Well, to paraphrase the contemporary poet Zack de la Rocha, “some of those that hype new courses, are the same that ignore real causes.” Of course, this doesn’t keep our hosts from forecasting. Drawing from the visions of 7 leading innovation movers and shakers, the team pieces together a picture of a new year that promises to be transformational, and of course packed with a whole lot of data-powered magic.

Will the future hold surprises? Undoubtedly. But if one thing’s certain, it’s that this extra special holiday episode delivers inspiration, insights, and plenty of holiday cheer. Join us by the fire for data, analytics, robotics, AI, and all that data jazz!

Timestamps:

00:40 – Ron and Robert reflect on some of the most memorable musical moments shared throughout the podcast series.

12:50 – As AI continues to evolve and its misuse in criminal activities rises, conversations are shifting from abstract ideals to pressing, real-world challenges.

23:58 – A clear trend for 2025 is emerging: a strategic blend of diverse cloud solutions will be critical for effective data management.

29:07 – Synthetic data is set to take center stage, offering realistic, pattern-rich data without exposing sensitive information.

48:05 – The hosts wrap up the year with a recap of 2024's highlights in data and AI, while offering a look ahead at 2025, all by the warmth of a fireplace and a glass of Glühwein.

Curious about the latest in data and AI? Explore our newly launched thought leadership magazine, Data-powered Innovation Review Wave 9.

Connect with our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng and our producer Arne Rossmann on LinkedIn.

Autonomous AI isn’t just a futuristic dream—it’s here, and robots are redefining industries. But who would have thought the human touch is so crucial to success? In this electrifying episode, hosts Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng, and Ron Tolido are joined by Kence Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Composabl and author of “Designing Autonomous AI: A Guide for Machine Teaching.”

Kence shares his expertise in designing autonomous robotic systems that seamlessly fuse human insight with machine intelligence—like crafting the perfect rock ballad with just the right balance of grit and melody. The conversation explores “data science colonialism”, the revolutionary potential of machine teaching, and why subject matter experts are the real stars of AI. And yes, there’s even a nod to Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder for good measure!

While the world rides the generative AI wave, Kence makes a compelling case for exploring diverse AI approaches and engineering systems that truly harmonize with human capabilities. This episode is your backstage pass to the future of AI. It’s a conversation that will leave you inspired and ready to embrace the autonomous AI revolution.

No November rain here—just insights that hit all the right notes. Join the autonomy, don't miss this episode!

Timestamps:

00:38 – Ron and Robert explore the fascinating history of the "Synthesizer."

15:38 – What’s the perfect music genre for Composabl platform? Plus, the magic of improvisation.

23:40 – Kence dives into his report, "Intelligent Autonomous Agents – The Missing Ingredient in the Autonomous Enterprise."

36:40 – Can we teach machines to create the ultimate soundtrack?

38:53 – Weiwei takes the stage for some myth busting brilliance.

Connect with our guest Kence Anderson and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Bayer, a global powerhouse with a diverse portfolio spanning pharmaceuticals via consumer health, all the way to crop science. So, what do you get when you have a guest from Bayer discussing data and AI? Even more diverse topics, of course. In this episode, hosts Weiwei Feng, Robert Engels, and Ron Tolido are joined by Mukesh Dubey, Product Management & Architecture Lead for Data and Commercial Platforms at Bayer US, for a lively and thought-provoking exchange.

The agenda? Generative AI, of course. To stay in style: is it really a “Big Aspirin” ready to tackle the toughest headaches, or is a strategy of well-planned baby steps be the better approach?

But that’s just the start. Being architects themselves just like Mukesh, Robert, and Ron exchange perspectives on the evolving role of architecture, strategy, data platforms, and governance in organizations. Meanwhile, Weiwei takes on her signature myth-busting challenge, tackling the feasibility of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the question; do we need it?

And because this is the Data-powered Innovation Jam, expect some surprising connections play into the mix. Like how do everybody’s favourite Bon Jovi songs fit exactly into this equation?  And who was in the same school class as German singer Nena?

Don’t miss this engaging episode filled with insights, debates, and a few unexpected twists!

Timestamps:

01:41 – Ron shares his claim to fame, recounting the time he met Joseph Bowie, founder of the legendary band Defunkt!

25:01 – Strategies for preparing architects to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

29:41 – Exploring key concepts in data management, including the data mesh.

37:10 – Insights into fostering seamless data sharing within organizations.

41:15 – Mukesh dives into his perspective on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

Connect with our guest Mukesh Dubey and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Sometimes, language is universal – one could win the Eurovision Song Contest with lyrics like “la-la-la” or “ding-a-dong! But when it comes to sharing data across companies, sectors, and countries, we need a little more than catchy choruses. Enter Gaia-X: a pan-European platform designed to enable trusted, decentralized data sharing and digital ecosystems, all aligned with EU values.

In this episode, we’re joined by Alberto Palomo, Chief Strategy Officer at Gaia-X, to explore what’s required for seamless data sharing – even among organizations determined to do things their way. With hosts Weiwei Feng, Robert Engels, Ron Tolido and our producer Arne Rossman, Alberto unpacks the challenges, shares key insights and lessons learnt from his time as Spain’s Chief Data Officer. Turns out that speaking the same language isn’t necessary for collaboration—as long as you’re referring to the same things and concepts.

Curious about the future of data ecosystems? Or just wondering about the team’s favourite Eurovision tracks? Don’t miss this lively new episode of the Data-powered Innovation Jam podcast!

Timestamps:

01:15 – Ron and Robert dive into a discussion on “Eurovision.”

06:07 – Alberto introduces Gaia-X and explores its benefits.

17:22 – A deep dive into Data Mesh, user sovereignty, and ethics with Gaia-X.

37:25 – Weiwei leads a myth-busting session.

40:33 – What’s next for Gaia-X?

Connect with our guest Alberto Palomo and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Blue is the new green! Data is key to achieving sustainability goals and a greener planet, but what about a bluer planet? Our guest, Heidi Karlsson, Director of Open Footprint Forum at The Open Group, joins us to ‘dive deep’ into this topic. As a facilitator in creating open data standards for global carbon emission exchange, Heidi shares insights on how to bring hundreds of diverse members together to collaborate on impactful data models and standards. But that’s just the beginning.

As a maritime environmentalist, Heidi is also a passionate advocate for the Blue Economy — the sustainable use of ocean resources to support economies, livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health. Before you know it, our hosts Robert Engels, Weiwei Feng and Ron Tolido are surfing with Heidi on concepts such as sea agriculture, marine habitat mapping, and environmental conflict resolution. Of course, data and AI (‘deep sea learning,’ anyone?) are at the heart of making it all happen.

And if that’s not enough, get ready for a mini lecture on musical scales and some surprising vintage Blues song recommendations. Tune in and take the plunge!

Timestamps:

00:19 – Ron and Robert kick things off with a chat about Blues music.

11:00 – Heidi dives into the meaning of the "Blue Economy" and its importance.

15:12 – A deep dive into the data model and its synergy with AI.

19:14 – Discussion on the regulatory framework for leveraging data.

34:31 – Weiwei takes the lead in a myth-busting session.

Connect with our guest Heidi Karlsson and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

What’s bigger news in 2025: The Gallagher brothers reuniting Oasis, or generative AI going enterprise scale? Tough call, but we’ll stick with AI for now. Just as Noel Gallagher’s grounded presence is complemented by his rebellious brother Liam, generative AI stands to benefit from Graph technology. Graphs bring context, semantics, and deeper understanding—all qualities urgently needed by the probabilistic nature of large language models.

Join hosts Weiwei Feng, Robert Engels, and Ron Tolido as they dive into this compelling topic with the one and only Jim Webber, Chief Scientist at Neo4J, who confesses he is happy to step out of the “basement” for the occasion, seeing some proper podcast daylight. He shares insights on how Graphs can boost AI’s confidence. With Robert as a fellow Graph enthusiast, the conversation dives deep into how natural language could be more suitable to query graph databases.

Curious about the Graph-tech connection with Sweden? Want to hear about Idiot Savant Chatbots? Tune in for all this and more—and as one famous R&B singer once said, "If you liked it, then you should’ve put a graph on it."

Timestamps:

00:22 – Ron and Robert dive into a fun chat about “Oasis.”
07:25 – Jim shares his unique journey into the world of Graph databases.
15:21 – Exploring how Graphs can enhance Large Language Models (LLMs).
20:30 – A look at Neo4j’s future roadmap and ambitious goals.
38:51 – Weiwei leads a myth busting session.

Connect with our guest Jim Webber and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Get ready for a compelling discussion on diversity in data! Expanding perspectives always uncovers fresh insights and new opportunities—and this is especially true in the world of data. Joining us is Jennifer Belissent, Principal Data Strategist at Snowflake, whose career journey embodies diversity itself. From Peace Corps volunteer to academic researcher, market analyst at Forrester, Jennifer brings a wealth of unique experiences to the table.

In this episode, our hosts dive into diversity in data from multiple angles: internal vs. external, structured vs. unstructured, public vs. private, and even whether CDOs should come from data/IT or the business. Jennifer also introduces the ‘scream test’ to streamline BI portfolios and calls for leveraging the full potential of global data. And it doesn’t stop at data—expect an engaging twist as the discussion spans a diverse range of music, from Sade to Iron Maiden. Tune in for an eye-opening session on diversity, data, and everything in between. This episode offers rich insights and is truly ‘woke’ in the best possible sense. You won’t want to miss it!

Timestamps:

00:20 – Ron and Robert kick off a conversation about "Jazz."
08:26 – Exploring the topic of diversity in data.
20:32 – Snowflake’s vision to harness global data.
31:03 – Myth busting session with Weiwei.
39:17 – Jennifer shares her thoughts on "Women in Data."

Connect with our guest Jennifer Belissent and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Remember the exciting days of data mesh not so long ago? A lot of organizations saw the potential of domain-owned data, federated governance, self-service platforms, and data as a product. Then ChatGPT hit the market, and everybody got distracted. Now the concepts are back, with a vengeance.  

Our guest of today, Pavel Doležal, indeed acknowledges it. He is a trailblazer in the world of startups focusing on data platforms, data management, and innovative data products. As the visionary co-founder and CEO of self-service data platform Keboola, Pavel brings his deep insight into leveraging the power of AI alongside the benefits of data mesh. Join us for his fascinating discussion with our hosts Weiwei, Robert and Ron where you'll also dive into the intriguing world of Norwegian black metal, explore the mysteries of the Cargo Cult, and uncover valuable data wisdom passed down through generations.   

Timestamps: 

01:05 – Ron and Robert dive into a discussion on "Black Metal”! 

05:50 – How did the name "Keboola" originate? 

10:34 – Discussion on the concept of data mesh. 

32:41 - Have you heard of the term "Cargo Cult"? 

40:12 - Myth busting with Weiwei. 

Connect with our guest Pavel Doležal and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn. 

He was the first to teach an MBA AI course at Harvard Business School. He also wrote a book called ‘AI is a Waste of Money’, and he is the founder and CEO of Aible, a company that focuses on delivering seamless generative AI experiences and autonomous intelligence that chats with you. Would he be an interesting guest to discuss data and AI? We thought so too. 

In this episode, our hosts Weiwei, Ron and Robert go in-depth with Arijit Sengupta on how AI is the first technology that is more flexible than humans, the dire need for specialized models and how to avoid expensive GPU compute cycles. They also explore the idea of whether seeking solutions from AI is always the appropriate approach. That and much more, along with some musings around punk rock, Wittgenstein’s philosophy, and the art of Haikus, make up for a podcast episode you don’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

01:55 – Ron and Robert discuss “Punk Rock”!

07:08 – AI conversation with Arijit Sengupta

24:42 - Wittgenstein’s philosophy

30:19 - AI myth busting with Weiwei

Connect with our guest Arijit Sengupta and our hosts Ron Tolido, Robert Engels, and Weiwei Feng on LinkedIn.

Tune in to Data-powered Innovation Jam podcast and get insights on creating value from data for your business transformation. Let’s explore the fascinating intersection of data, technology, creativity, and change.