AI Radicals

Hosted by Alation

Technology BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Some people can see things that nobody else can. They seem to be able to peer around corners and into the future. These seemingly super powers come from being able to synthesize the data all around us. They approach problems with a curious and rational mind. They think differently and encourage others to embrace data culture. We call them “data radicals” because they transform themselves and the world around them In this podcast, we talk to these Data Radicals to understand what makes their approach so unique and how it can be replicated.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 19, 202649 min

Is Business Intelligence Truly Dead? Insights from Francois Ajenstat, Founder & CEO of Golden Analytics

Analytics tools are getting a total rewrite for the AI era. What does it actually take to build a "Cursor for data"? In this episode of AI Radicals , host Satyen Sangani is joined by Francois Ajenstat, founder and CEO of Golden Analytics, to discuss how AI is reshaping data analysis workflows. A three-decade veteran of the analytics space — from Cognos to Microsoft to a decade as Chief Product Officer at Tableau — Francois explores why context and metadata still matter more than ever, and why the next generation of data tools needs to be built with a "slider of autonomy." "What we generate is we know how data is being used for different use cases and how people traversed our tool to get to that answer... every step that somebody does in Golden is essentially recorded in a time machine." Listen to this episode to learn: Why visualization was never the hard part of BI — and what actually is How Golden built a per-user pricing model to align incentives with customers Why context and metadata need to be built through the job itself, not managed as an end unto itself -------- “As you go through the journey, not every model is great at every part of the analytical flow. Do you use Sonnet for everything or Opus or Fable? When is it appropriate to use different things? There's a factor of cost, there's a factor of latency, accuracy. All those things have to be really considered as you come through it, and how do you make this work also when you've never seen the data in the first hand?” – Francois Ajenstat -------- Time Stamps *(03:12): From Cognos to Microsoft to Tableau: building the BI industry *(08:32): Is BI dead? Why visualization was never the hard part *(12:21): Building Golden: two-click dashboards and a constellation of LLMs *(19:19): Why data isn't software: the unique challenges of AI + data *(31:41): The blurring boundaries between metadata, context, and BI *(48:05): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Francois Ajenstat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoisajenstat/ Learn more about Golden Analytics: https://goldenanalytics.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 12, 202638 min

Rewriting the Governance Playbook for the Agentic Era with Erin McIntosh, VP of Global Data Operations at CNA Insurance

Data quality problems don't just create bad reports; they create mistrust. And once trust is gone, people stop using your systems and start building their own workarounds. In this episode of AI Radicals, host Satyen Sangani sits down with Erin McIntosh, Vice President of Global Data Operations at CNA Insurance, to talk about what it actually takes to modernize data governance at a global commercial insurer in the age of agentic AI. Erin shares how CNA is rethinking decades-old governance playbooks, why "build vs. buy" decisions have been upended by new AI tooling, and how her team is shifting from automating decisions to actually improving them. Erin also opens up about the hardest part of leading transformation at speed: getting an organization to trust new systems, rebuild processes from the outcome backward instead of the process forward, and move from slow, bureaucratic governance to agentically-led governance that can actually scale. "Good data governance is actually effective. Bad data governance is actually slow and burdensome." Listen to this episode to learn: Why the shift from automating decisions to improving decisions is where real AI ROI comes from Why agentic governance—not more process—is the path to finally scaling stewardship, compliance, and data quality Why seeking perfection instead of progress is the biggest waste of time and money in AI deployments today -------- “ Each person had to learn which version that they wanted to trust and which one they wanted to use based on their own experience. That became the system of finding the right pieces of information that helped their story. That's really when it clicked for me that this isn't just a data problem, and it wasn't just a reporting problem, and it wasn't just a technology problem. It was a trust problem. Once trust is gone, people don't stop working. They really just build their own version of reality.” – Erin McIntosh -------- Time Stamps *(04:00): A year of rapid transformation—modernizing BI and third-party data at CNA *(13:52): Automating a decision vs. improving a decision—and why that distinction matters *(20:41): Why AI's fidelity comes down to governed context *(28:48): Building an agentically-led governance organization *(35:02): Quick hits: AI's biggest misconceptions, wasted effort, and governance myths *(36:26): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Erin McIntosh on LinkedIn Learn more about CNA Insurance Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 29, 202655 min

Why Enterprise AI Is Entering Its ROI Era with Mark Nelson, Venture Partner at Madrona

AI can write code faster than ever. But what if code is no longer the hard part? In the premiere episode of AI Radicals , host Satyen Sangani is joined by Mark Nelson, Venture Partner at Madrona and former CEO of Tableau, to explore what AI is actually changing—and what remains fundamentally the same about building great software and great businesses. Having led companies through the rise of databases, cloud computing, SaaS, and self-service analytics, Mark offers a rare perspective on today's AI boom. He explains why judgment and customer understanding are becoming the new competitive advantage, why enterprise buyers are shifting from AI experimentation to demanding measurable ROI, and why today's token-based pricing models may be rewarding the wrong behavior. "Code is easy to generate. Great software isn't. The bottleneck has shifted to understanding what to build." Listen to this episode to learn: Why generating code is no longer the bottleneck – but building great software still is Why enterprise AI is entering an ROI-driven phase where customers expect measurable business value Why the next generation of AI companies will win by understanding customers, not just building better models -------- “ We all come with towering strengths and our own weaknesses. Not just being a product person, not just being an engineer, not just being a salesperson, all of those skill sets. One thing I'll always say about any founder that is true is like, Do you understand your customer? Do you understand what you're solving and why? Do you really kind of first personally feel that pain? Understanding who they're building for and what problem they're solving for.” – Mark Nelson -------- Time Stamps *(02:21): Why AI is different from every technology wave before it *(07:48): AI won't replace judgment—and that's what matters most *(12:17): What venture investors are really looking for in AI founders *(20:27): AI makes code cheap—but great software is still hard to build *(30:18): Enterprise AI moves from experimentation to ROI *(35:15): Why token-based AI pricing is due for a reckoning *(45:19): The future of enterprise software and the next AI winners *(54:06): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://caspianstudios71626.activehosted.com/f/73 * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Mark Nelson on LinkedIn Learn more about Madrona Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 22, 20261 min

AI Radicals: Season 4 Trailer

AI Radicals is back for Season 4 — and trust in AI has never been more contested. This season, host Satyen Sangani, CEO and co-founder of Alation, sits down with leaders, builders, and operators working at the edge of AI transformation to ask the question everyone's dancing around: can we actually trust the systems we're building? New conversations dig into data quality, governance, and the feedback loops that separate AI that works from AI that just demos well. If you care about making AI matter inside your company, your team, or your own career — Season 4 starts July 29, 2026. -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

June 18, 202547 min

Why AI Builders Need a Metadata Goldmine with Chris Aberger, VP at Alation

The future of business intelligence is being rewritten. Have you ever wondered how AI will unlock the power of unstructured data? In this episode of Data Radicals , host Satyen Sangani is joined by Chris Aberger, newly-minted VP at Alation to discuss building AI-powered data workflows. A startup pioneer, Chris explores the importance of metadata in enhancing AI applications within organizations, the significance of quick iterations, and the evolving role of AI engineers. “ That two-step realization is what's causing a lot of this activity that we're seeing in the market, which is, I know I need to plug into databases. I'm now coming to terms with the fact that this is actually a really tough problem to get right.” Listen to this episode to learn: Why metadata curation and feedback loops are crucial for making AI effective The necessity of a fast-paced, iterative approach in developing AI solutions How to enable end-users to become builders through AI and metadata tools Listen now: alation.com/podcast/episodes/ai-builders-metadata-chris-aberger *Satyen’s narration was created using AI -------- “People have realized that, okay, like structured data is actually like the hard problem to get right. And all these organizations' really valuable data is inside their databases in the structured formats. We have to figure out how to make this ready for the AI era. And then the kind of second level problem that people are discovering is how do I make this structured data actually work? Oh, it's metadata. And I think that realization that that kind of two-step realization is what's causing a lot of this activity that we're seeing in the market, which is, I know I need to plug into databases. I'm now coming to terms with the fact that this is actually a really tough problem to get right. In order to get it right, I need to effectively go build a data catalog or metadata provider, and therefore we're seeing a lot of activity in this space.” – Chris Aberger -------- Time Stamps *(02:04): From the Stanford AI Lab to founding Numbers Station *(12:10): From chat with your data to act with your data: From data users to business builders *(19:23): The value of metadata to production-ready AI *(28:46): What are precision agentic workflows? *(35:35): Empowering enterprise data users to build with AI *(45:50): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 28, 202534 min

Perfume, Power, Prediction: Inside a Luxury Giant's Data and AI Strategy with Julie De Moyer, Chief Data Officer of LVMH Beauty

In the luxury world where artistry is key, how is AI enabling personalization, optimization, and speed? In this episode of Data Radicals , host Satyen Sangani is joined by Julie De Moyer, Chief Data Officer of LVMH Beauty to break down the role of data and AI in business transformation. A seasoned strategist and leader of innovation across 15 beauty brands, Julie shares practical examples of AI application in various aspects of LVMH's operations, from product development to supply chain management. “ The AI is often the cherry on the cake. We're moving towards those new technologies that are helping us dream even bigger.” Listen to this episode to learn: The importance of collaboration, change management, and consumer-centric approaches. How to work closely with CEOs to drive meaningful data-driven decisions. How to balance AI and human creativity within the luxury beauty industry. Listen now: https://www.alation.com/podcast/episodes/lvmh-data-ai-strategy-julie-de-moyer *Satyen’s narration was created using AI **LVMH is vendor-neutral and this does not constitute an endorsement **All views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their own -------- “ If you look at the making of perfumes or the way we actually make the wines, in other industries, we would use the AI in order to help those, I would say, those scientists to go faster, to optimize their trials. It will never replace the final scent or the final product that is decided on, but it can help with the substitutions of products that might need to go out, as a result of regulatory changes. It might also help with making sure that the quality of the products last as long as possible. We really help those researcher scientists do their job better and easier.” – Julie De Moyer -------- Time Stamps *(01:34): Julie’s background: From economics student to technology leader *(07:55): AI in action: How stakeholders collaborate *(14:42): The role of data in luxury today (and 5 ways to apply AI in retail) *(22:09): Leading data in a multi-brand environment *(28:18): How to become a trusted AI leader: Key tips *(33:40): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Julie on LinkedIn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 14, 202538 min

The Rise of AI: Voices from the Frontlines

In this special compilation episode, we're bringing together the most insightful conversations from our latest season exploring the rise of AI. You'll hear from thought leaders like Fortune's AI editor Jeremy Kahn on rebuilding the middle class, marketing executive Michael Olaye on creative acceleration, and Tom Davenport on what real AI transformation looks like. Plus insights from numerous other AI experts including CDOs, academics, and tech entrepreneurs who are shaping our AI future today. We'll explore practical AI use cases, examine how data leaders can leverage these technologies, and discuss how the CDO role is evolving in response to AI's momentum. Listen to this episode to learn: How AI copilots are fundamentally changing the way we work and uplifting workers across industries. Why it's important to have data leaders who can translate between technical possibilities and business realities. How solid data infrastructure, clear business objectives, and thoughtful human oversight leads to successful AI transformation. Whether you're a data professional, business leader, or simply curious about AI's impact, this episode offers perspectives from those on the frontlines of the AI revolution. -------- “I think this is gonna be a tremendously transformative technology, and I think there's some really big positive effects, particularly I think we are gonna see a huge uplift in labor productivity, and I don't think we're gonna see sort of mass joblessness from this technology. I think actually this is a technology that could enable people to sort of be lifted back up into the middle class.” – Jeremy Kahn “You can do stuff that would take weeks before in days. You can collaborate with people who have no technical knowledge on technical things. We have tools now that you can code by like verbally speaking natural language. We have tools that you can do design without having any design skills. So, I think it's opened up a whole new site for agencies, consultancies, companies, but it's also opened a whole new site for a new like economy of like content creators. When you build anything with AI, having a human in that loop where we are today, having humans in that loop, checking that also, it's good.” – Michael Olaye “It's not rocket science. It's having senior people who are interested in analytical, decision making, hiring people who can do the work. The day-to-day work of analytics, both the data management and the data analysis. And ultimately having some sort of unique data that is proprietary to you, that will really differentiate you. Because ultimately data is a fuel of analytics and AI. And if you don't have something distinctive, you're gonna have the same models that everybody else has.” – Tom Davenport -------- Timestamps *(01:18): AI as copilot *(04:30): AI: It’s still early days *(06:13): AI Use Cases *(11:26): How data leaders can leverage AI *(14:07): Data leadership and systems thinking *(18:17): The future (and limits) of the CDO *(29:15): Predictions *(35:16): Career advice -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ * David’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwchao/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 30, 202549 min

Delegate to Innovate: How Letting Go Makes You a Better Leader with Todd James, Founder & CEO of Aurora Insights

What does it take to turn AI hype into operational value at enterprise scale? In this episode of Data Radicals , host Satyen Sangani sits down with Todd James, former Chief Data and Technology Officer at 84.51° and Kroger executive, to unpack the realities of leading AI transformation inside one of America’s largest grocery retailers. Drawing on a career that spans the Coast Guard, consulting, and Fortune 100 leadership, Todd shares how scaling AI isn’t just about building advanced algorithms—it’s about solving real problems, embedding with the business, and building reusable infrastructure that lasts. “If the people at the consumption end of your sciences aren’t bought in, they don’t get implemented.” Listen to this episode to learn: How effective leaders “delegate to innovate” and create space for team growth How AI reduced Kroger’s pick-order travel time by 10% and truck route distance by 8.6% Why the CDO role is likely transitional—and what’s next for data leadership What it takes to embed data science into the operational core of a business This conversation is a must-listen for anyone building AI programs, leading data teams, or navigating digital transformation. Listen now: https://www.alation.com/podcast/episodes/delegate-innovate-todd-james *Satyen’s narration was created using AI -------- “ I think we should go into every project, every initiative, saying, ‘I own an outcome around bringing people along and convincing them.’ If you're doing that right, you're probably spending more than half of the project or half the initiative on managing those organizational dynamics. Working with people and how they think and how they feel to be able to drive them to an outcome to listen. I think that's more than half the work that needs to happen in the space. We talk about data and analytics and how hard the math is and how cool the outcomes are, but this is transformation. This is about people.” – Todd James -------- Time Stamps *(01:46): Todd’s career journey: From the Coast Guard to Fidelity *(10:03): Great leaders delegate: Advice for aspiring executives *(12:53): AI retail use cases: Quicker routes and personalization at scale *(26:12): Reapplying data-science processes across distinct problems *(40:21): Is the CDO role transitional? *(48:27): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Todd on LinkedIn Learn more about Aurora Insights Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 16, 202549 min

Data Products for Dummies with Sanjeev Mohan, Principal at SanjMo

What if the future of data management isn’t just about governance—but about growth, speed, and strategic advantage? From reshaping data operations to unlocking new levels of productivity, data products and AI agents are redefining what’s possible in the world of data. In this episode of Data Radicals , Satyen Sangani sits down with Sanjeev Mohan, Principal at SanjMo, to discuss the definition, impact, and lifecycle of data products. They also examine how AI agents are revolutionizing job functions and industries, and practical applications for harnessing this technology’s full potential. Listen to this episode to learn: What data products are and their importance in delivering measurable value, building trust, and improving user experience. The challenges in adopting data products, including the need for a cultural shift within organizations and the potential resistance to change. How generative AI and autonomous agents can revolutionize data management, business processes, and job functions. Discover how forward-thinking data leaders are using these tools not just to manage data—but to build trust, accelerate outcomes, and drive measurable business value. *Satyen’s narration was created using AI -------- “ The systems that are running really well, in a lot of organizations, why would they rip out and then go down the path of data products? Because, the problem with data products is it's also a cultural issue. It's a mindshift and you have to think from a completely different long-term point of view. We are so used to – in IT – somebody gives me a problem, I'm like, ‘Yes, I got it. I'll solve it for you.’ Then you move on to the next problem. With data products, it's a mindset shift.” – Sanjeev Mohan -------- Time Stamps *(02:28): What is a data product? *(12:30): Why data products demand a mindset shift in IT *(27:19): What is an AI agent? *(36:39): How will data management evolve with the advent of AI? *(47:56): Satyen’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * Satyen’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssangani/ -------- Links Connect with Sanjeev on LinkedIn Learn more about SanjMo Download Sanjeev’s book Data Products for Dummies Subscribe to Sanjeev’s podcast It Depends Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

April 2, 202547 min

GTM is a Data Management Problem — How AI (& Better Data) Can Fix It with Copy.ai’s CEO, Paul Yacoubian

Generative AI is reshaping the way go-to-market teams create content, optimize workflows, and drive velocity — but only when it’s powered by the right context and data. In this episode of Data Radicals , Alation CMO David Chao sits down with Paul Yacoubian, CEO and co-founder of Copy.ai, to explore how large language models (LLMs) are transforming content creation and sales execution at scale. Paul shares lessons from building Copy.ai since 2020 and how his team is helping over 15 million users streamline operations through AI-powered automation. You’ll learn why content without context falls flat, how siloed systems slow down GTM execution, and why AI isn’t replacing roles — it’s augmenting them to unlock new levels of efficiency and insight. Listen to this episode to learn: How LLMs enable end-to-end automation by taking in data, executing workflows, and generating outputs — without manual bottlenecks. Why unifying siloed systems is critical to improving GTM velocity, content relevancy, and business decision-making. How AI is transforming — not replacing — roles like SDRs and marketers, and what that means for the future of sales teams. What CEOs and business leaders must do to operationalize AI successfully: from standardizing best practices to enabling faster, data-driven decisions. If you're navigating the challenges of scaling AI in your GTM org — from data sprawl to inefficient workflows — this episode offers practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and a blueprint for AI-powered transformation. -------- “ The most important problem to solve is how close can you get to customers? How close can you get everyone at the company close to the market and close to customers in every interaction? That's never been possible before. Content is one way that we take action. The other way we take action is how do we deliver the content? If we know who we are trying to reach out to now, we can predict and understand what content is going to be hyper-relevant to that person. Once you have that production process for content, now you can go create the content and distribute it right through your SDR, right to that account.” – Paul Yacoubian -------- Time Stamps *(02:18): Why high-quality content needs context *(09:11): Best practices for leveraging LLM tools *(11:42): The path to insight: from data silos to shared context – and better content *(31:00): Which roles will be replaced or augmented by AI? *(38:29): How should CEOs approach AI? *(45:45): David’s takeaways -------- Sponsor This podcast is presented by Alation . Learn more: * Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alation.com/podcast/ * Alation’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alation/ * David’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwchao/ -------- Links Connect with Paul on LinkedIn Learn more about Copy.ai Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.