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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

23:19

Ep.156 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Edge

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/03/31

Are we becoming worse at our jobs because we use AI?It’s a question so many of us are quietly asking. If AI can write the code, summarise the findings, build the deck… are we still building our skills, or slowly outsourcing them? In this episode, I sit down with AI researcher Nora Petrova to unpack the guilt, the anxiety, and the real risk behind AI tools. But instead of fear-mongering, we focus on something practical: how to use AI as a learning accelerator. Nora shares a simple but powerful

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31:30

Ep. 155 - Questioning Your Career in Data Could be...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/03/17

In this cohosted episode Karen and Cecilia reflect on questioning their careers in data from imposter syndrome and leadership doubts to navigating fast-moving industry change. They challenge the idea that seniority brings certainty, instead considering how ambiguity is constant and self-questioning can be an advantage. The conversation explores resilience, shifting environments, and detaching identity from job titles. They share a practical framework for gaining clarity: reflecting on strengths,

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31:13

Ep.154 - How to Get Hired, Promoted & Paid What You...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/03/03

The hiring system carries bias, and it shows. While efforts are made to solve this, it’s important that we take ownership of our own career.In this episode, Karen is joined by Nuria Muñoz, Global Talent Leader at Munich Re, to unpack what really happens behind the scenes in hiring, promotions and pay decisions. They talk about why job descriptions are wish lists, why being a perfect match is actually a red flag, bold interview questions that change the dynamic, and how to handle high-pressure

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27:18

Ep. 153 - You’re not Failing, you’re new: Starting a...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/02/17

Starting a new job is meant to feel exciting but often, it’s also tiring, awkward, and quietly overwhelming. Even when it’s the right move.In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, Cecilia is joined by Rianna Kelly to talk honestly about what it really feels like to start somewhere new. From confidence wobbling and long hours without visible output, to rebuilding trust, navigating new relationships, and feeling like the “new person” all over again, even at a senior level. This isn’t a “how to

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29:01

Ep. 152 - AI Vs My Job

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of the Women in Data Podcast, hosts Cecilia Oliveira and Karen Jean-Francois pull back the curtain on the "dirty little secret" of the data world: exactly how they are using AI to change the way they work.Moving past the headlines and the hype, Cecilia and Karen share a vulnerable look at their initial skepticism and how they shifted toward an "Augmentation Mindset." They dive into the practicalities of using AI as a junior collaborator—from cleaning messy data and writing SQL to

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29:17

Ep.151 - How Data Leaders Build Influence Without...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/01/20

In this episode, Karen is joined by Kinnari Ladha, Chief Data Officer, to explore why great data work often fails to land — and how communication turns data leaders into trusted influencers, making it their superpower. Drawing on over two decades in data—from hands-on analyst to executive leader—Kinnari shares candid stories of building “perfect” dashboards that didn’t get used, and how those moments reshaped her approach to leadership. She explains why career progression in data requires doing

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29:21

Ep.150 - Four Mindsets to Set You Up for a Successful...

Women in Data Podcast ·

2026/01/06

What if the secret to a successful year was a shift in mindset?In the first episode of the year on the Women in Data Podcast, Karen is joined by Seana Tomlinson, coach, counsellor, and trainer and coach on the Women in Data LEAP programme, to explore four mindsets that can set you up for a more confident, authentic, and sustainable year. After 18 years in the corporate world, Seana built a portfolio career that truly works for her and her family. On the podcast, she shares her key learnings to help

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23:49

Ep.149 - Do We Really Need Another Meeting?

Women in Data Podcast ·

2025/12/09

Karen and Cecilia tackle a pain point every data professional knows: trying to stay aligned without packing your calendar with even more meetings. From hybrid work and endless notifications to navigating Slack vs. Teams, they explore why the answer isn’t more communication — it’s better communication.They share real stories, practical strategies, and the tools that actually help: async updates, stand-ups, dashboards, wrap-up messages, and ways to protect your deep-work time. They also reveal the

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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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153 results

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