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PODCAST

Women in Data Podcast

Welcome to the Women in Data Podcast, where every other week your host, Karen Jean-Francois interviews some of the most inspiring women working in data. Through each episode, they share their invaluable experience and knowledge. Leaving no stone unturned, the WiD Podcast series will provide you with information on the use of data in various industries, plus helpful tips for career development. More importantly, it will enable you to become the data professional you want to be.

technology careers

All Episodes

33:50

Ep. 148 - Startup Speed vs. Corporate Scale:...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/11/25

Are we getting AI transformation all wrong?Organisations are racing to adopt AI, but the gap between ambition and execution is wider than ever. In this Women in Data episode, host Cecilia Oliveira speaks with technology leader Saloni Thanki about turning strategy into tangible business outcomes. Saloni, who advises both nimble startups and global corporates, cuts through the hype to explore the dual realities of AI adoption: The fast-paced, "defensible moat" challenge for startups. The budget

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31:32

Ep.147 - Building trust in data & AI: how data...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, Karen is joined by Barr Moses, CEO and Co-founder of Monte Carlo, to explore how AI agents are transforming how data teams work — and why trust must sit at the heart of every data and AI initiative.Barr shares how troubleshooting agents save days of work mimic human reasoning to identify and fix data incidents, how teams can “operationalize trust” in their data and/or AI systems, and what it really takes to bridge the gap between hype and reliable business value. Together, they

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38:00

Ep. 146 - The Data Behind better Care

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/10/28

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Cecilia chats with Beth Bauer, a healthcare data leader with nearly four decades of experience bringing data, people, and purpose together.Beth introduces the idea of positive friction — those intentional pauses that invite reflection, discussion, and sometimes disagreement — as a way to make better decisions in healthcare. She explains how this approach helps achieve the Healthcare Quintuple Aim, balancing patient outcomes, provider wellbeing,

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25:57

Ep.145 - Thriving on the technical path in data

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Progress in data careers doesn’t have to mean management!In this episode, Karen speaks with Niruta Talwekar, Staff Data Engineer, about carving out a fulfilling career on the technical track — and why progress doesn’t always look like a new job title. Niruta shares her perspective on: Why a technical career path could be a better option for many data professionals Why slow title changes don’t mean stagnation — true progress comes from building expertise and impact The importance of having more

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23:42

Ep.144 - 5 Strategies to Get Promoted in Data Careers

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/09/30

Getting promoted isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about knowing how to show it, when to ask, and what “next level” really means. In this candid conversation, co-hosts Karen Jean-Francois and Cecilia Oliveira break down five essential strategies to help you move your career forward.Karen shares a personal story about giving a colleague advice that landed him a promotion while she stayed behind, a wake-up call that doing excellent technical work isn’t enough. Together, she and Cecilia unpack

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23:59

Ep.143 – Fixing Women’s Health Data Blind Spots

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/09/16

In this episode, Cecilia welcomes Katherine Church to discuss the systemic gender data gap in healthcare and its impact on women’s health.Katherine explains how women have long been underrepresented in research and clinical trials, leading to misdiagnosis, overlooked conditions, and unsafe treatments. She shares innovative partnerships, such as Boots and Tesco using loyalty card data to detect ovarian cancer earlier, and stresses the importance of recording women’s symptoms. With insights on

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30:36

Ep.142 – The future of careers in data

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/09/02

In this episode, Karen speaks with Cali Wood, Head of Data & AI Strategy & Culture at AXA UK, about what it really means to future-proof your career in a world where GenAI is reshaping the skills landscape.From the rise of AI agents and natural language as a “coding language” to the growing importance of human skills like communication, ethics, and business understanding, Cali shares her experience based view on how AI is changing our field. She delves into: Practical AI use cases at AXA

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31:36

Ep. 141 - Beyond Fairness Building Strong Communities...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/07/22

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast, Cecilia is joined by Jo Portlock, VP of People, Culture and Belonging at LexisNexis, for a powerful conversation about what fairness truly means in today’s workplace — and why it’s so much more than a buzzword.They explore how fairness is about visibility and access, not advantage, and why organisations must intentionally build cultures that support everyone, especially in times of uncertainty. Jo shares how mentorship and sponsorship are essential

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27:56

Ep.140 - Guide to returning to your career in data...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/07/08

In this candid and empowering episode, Karen sits down with Maaike Van Der Branden, Chief Data Officer, to explore the real, unfiltered experience of returning to work after maternity leave. From battling imposter syndrome and skill gaps to rebuilding confidence and reshaping leadership, Maaike shares insights that every working mum, colleague, and employer should hear.Together, they discuss what it’s really like to return to your job as a new mum: the double guilt, the pressure to catch up, the

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36:54

Ep.139 - Stay Relevant or Fall Behind:Thriving in the...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/06/24

Karen is joined by Cindi Howson—Chief Data & AI Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot and host of The Data Chief Podcast. If you saw her speak at the Women in Data flagship conference, you’ll know how inspiring and bold her perspective is.In this episode, Cindi shares her take on where data and AI are heading—and it’s not business as usual. They explore: How generative AI and AI agents are already changing the landscape of work What it means for data professionals, particularly women, and their

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25:48

Ep. 138 - Data Teams Habits that Make us Cringe

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/06/10

Screenshots of dashboards. Dashboards no one uses. Naming conventions we regret. In this cohosted episode, Cecilia and Karen unpack the everyday habits in data that might just make us cringe in 20 years.Inspired by the Future Data Cringe, https://www.futuredatacringe.com/, where 50 data leaders shared what they think will age badly, this conversation is full of laughs, reflection, and a reminder that we’re all learning as we go.

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36:21

Ep. 137 - What Data Job is Right for you? Breaking...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/05/27

In this episode, Cecilia welcomes Riya Joshi, a Data and Applied Scientist on the Microsoft Edge Browser team, to demystify the wide world of data roles. Riya breaks down the field into four core paths—analyst, engineering, science, and product—explaining the purpose, required skills, and career fit for each.Drawing from her journey from India to the USA, Riya offers guidance on how to assess your strengths, explore industry niches, and build skills that align with your goals. The conversation

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24:13

Ep. 136 - Data: The Most Transferable Skill

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/05/13

In this episode of the podcast, Cecilia speaks with Celine Liu, who transitioned from nonprofit coaching to leading global analytics at Uber. Celine’s story is a testament to how data is one of the most transferable and empowering skills across any industry.Together, they explore the top three non-technical skills for success in data: everyday communication, strategic thinking, and business acumen. Celine shares how asking the right questions and understanding business context can amplify impact

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40:05

Ep.135 - Success in Data & Tech: Lessons from 30+...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/04/29

In this episode, Karen is joined by Dora Boussias, an Award-winning Data & AI Exec & Founder with 30 years of experience across industries. Dora shares her journey from Greece to the USA., and from corporate leadership to full-time coaching and mentoring. Together, they explore the importance of soft skills in a data-driven world—especially communication, self-awareness, and personal branding. Dora reflects on managing imposter syndrome, differentiating yourself beyond technical skills,

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41:48

Ep.134 - The Path to Data Leadership: Skills,...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/04/15

In this episode, Caroline Florence, founder of Insight Narrator, discusses the essential non-technical skills required to become a leader in data, and what they look like and evolve at every stage of one’s career. She emphasises that being a data leader is about leadership first, with transferable skills like communication, influence, and managing teams becoming even more critical in the AI era. Caroline highlights the challenge for data leaders in letting go of technical tasks to focus on

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32:17

Ep.133 - From Risk Analyst to Data Leader: Bindu's...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/04/01

In this episode of Women in Data, Bindu Bakrania, Head of Data Analytics for Capital Investments at Legal & General shares her journey from a risk analyst to heading an entire Data Analytics team. She discusses the importance of strategic career moves, embracing sideways transitions, and stepping into business roles to gain a broader perspective. Bindu highlights networking, leadership development, and the importance of managing imposter syndrome. She also discusses time management and

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37:16

Ep.132 - Should You Stay or Walk Away? Making the...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/03/18

This episode explores the tough decision of staying in or leaving a role. Karen Is joined by Marli van der Merwe and Rianna Kelly share personal experiences, discussing career growth, work environment, and well-being. Marli, a Data Engineer, had only been in the UK for a few months when she decided to leave her role. Rianna, a Senior Manager for Data Analytics Engineering, on the other hand decided to stay when she found herself in an organisation where uncertainty was constant. The episode

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25:53

Ep.131 - How Data Teams and Stakeholders Can Work...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/03/04

Collaboration between data teams and stakeholders isn’t always smooth. Misaligned expectations, shifting requirements, and a lack of mutual understanding can lead to frustration on both sides. In this cohosted episode, Karen and Cecilia dive into the key challenges data teams face when working with stakeholders —and, more importantly, how to overcome them. They share practical strategies to: Get stakeholders to bring problems, not just predefined solutions Align expectations early and avoid

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36:03

Ep.130 Data Protection 101: What Every Data...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/02/18

Data privacy isn’t just for legal teams—it’s a responsibility shared by everyone working with data. In this episode, Karen sits down with Sachiko Scheuing, European Privacy and AI Governance Officer at Acxiom, to explore the crucial role privacy plays in the data industry and why it matters more than ever. They discuss: How data privacy differs from other roles in data and why strong communication is key The role every data professional should play in protecting personal information Common

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30:23

Ep.129 Breaking Barriers:Skills and Strategies for...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/02/04

In this episode of the Women in Data podcast hosted by Cecilia, Manca Vitorino shares her journey from journalism to a data leadership role at ICIS, part of LexisNexis. Initially a markets reporter, Manca's exposure to data-driven journalism led her to identify automation and data visualization opportunities, sparking her transition into data.She discusses how skills from journalism—investigating, verifying, and storytelling with data—are directly transferable to data analysis. Manca emphasizes

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145 results

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