Podcast appearances and mentions of Al Martin

Send us a textData's everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is JureLeskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who'sfundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest'srecommendations to tracking the spread of disease. We'll unpack whystructured data is lagging behind the AI revolution, exploring howtechniques like Graph Neural Networks are finally unlocking its potential,and how this all plays out in real-world applications00:57 Meet Jure Leskovec02:31 Knowing When to Move On04:01 Academia versus Industry07:30 Learnings from Pinterest10:28 The Kumo Pitch17:57 The Secret Sauce25:51 Monetization27:12 Only the Enterprise?29:49 The Sandbox to Try Before Buy31:42 The Best Use Cases35:00 Summarizing37:38 Predicting AI40:15 What's True and No One Agrees41:19 LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leskovec/Website: https://kumo.ai/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textData's everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is JureLeskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who'sfundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest'srecommendations to tracking the spread of disease. We'll unpack whystructured data is lagging behind the AI revolution, exploring howtechniques like Graph Neural Networks are finally unlocking its potential,and how this all plays out in real-world applications00:57 Meet Jure Leskovec02:31 Knowing When to Move On04:01 Academia versus Industry07:30 Learnings from Pinterest10:28 The Kumo Pitch17:57 The Secret Sauce25:51 Monetization27:12 Only the Enterprise?29:49 The Sandbox to Try Before Buy31:42 The Best Use Cases35:00 Summarizing37:38 Predicting AI40:15 What's True and No One Agrees41:19 LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leskovec/Website: https://kumo.ai/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textGuest: Kris Kluver, Founder of Life on Your Terms — speaker, facilitator, best-selling author, advisor, and coach helping leaders design fulfillment that matches their ambition.Summary: In this powerful replay, Kris Kluver flips the script on success. Too many high performers master their business but neglect their well-being — Kris shows how to align both. From defining what success really means to knowing when to say no, this conversation is about creating freedom, balance, and impact on your terms.Timestamps: 02:39 Who is Kris Kluver, the coach? 05:33 Are A-type personalities ever truly satisfied? 06:23 The evolution of Kris' brand 12:14 How to grow your business and yourself 20:37 Redefining success 26:09 One action to transform your life 29:59 Just because you can… should you? 31:49 The courage to change 37:39 The Life on Your Terms process 41:31 Rethinking failure 45:59 The offer that changes everythingLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskluver/Kris' Website: https://lifeon-yourterms.com/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textGuest: Kris Kluver, Founder of Life on Your Terms — speaker, facilitator, best-selling author, advisor, and coach helping leaders design fulfillment that matches their ambition.Summary: In this powerful replay, Kris Kluver flips the script on success. Too many high performers master their business but neglect their well-being — Kris shows how to align both. From defining what success really means to knowing when to say no, this conversation is about creating freedom, balance, and impact on your terms.Timestamps: 02:39 Who is Kris Kluver, the coach? 05:33 Are A-type personalities ever truly satisfied? 06:23 The evolution of Kris' brand 12:14 How to grow your business and yourself 20:37 Redefining success 26:09 One action to transform your life 29:59 Just because you can… should you? 31:49 The courage to change 37:39 The Life on Your Terms process 41:31 Rethinking failure 45:59 The offer that changes everythingLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskluver/Kris' Website: https://lifeon-yourterms.com/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textExploring the intersection of creativity and innovation, Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing live experiences. From personalized exhibits to universal storytelling, Geoff delves into the possibilities and pitfalls of harnessing AI to elevate our connections with others. 01:39 Introducing Geoff Thatcher 02:48 Thinking about AI Differently 13:47 What Does it Mean to "Create" Now? 19:32 Augmented Intelligence 22:27 Death By PowerPoint 23:57 Five Rules for Using AI 24:47 Difference between Better and Easier? 30:16 Don't Let AI Steal Moments of Inspiration 33:18 Always Use the Most Reliable Source 34:57 Use AI to Tell Stories 37:36 The Worry of Getting Lazy 39:48 Humanizing AI! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/ Website: https://www.creativeprincipals.com/ Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textExploring the intersection of creativity and innovation, Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing live experiences. From personalized exhibits to universal storytelling, Geoff delves into the possibilities and pitfalls of harnessing AI to elevate our connections with others. 01:39 Introducing Geoff Thatcher 02:48 Thinking about AI Differently 13:47 What Does it Mean to "Create" Now? 19:32 Augmented Intelligence 22:27 Death By PowerPoint 23:57 Five Rules for Using AI 24:47 Difference between Better and Easier? 30:16 Don't Let AI Steal Moments of Inspiration 33:18 Always Use the Most Reliable Source 34:57 Use AI to Tell Stories 37:36 The Worry of Getting Lazy 39:48 Humanizing AI! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/ Website: https://www.creativeprincipals.com/ Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThis is one of my favorite episodes - it's all about the story!Part 2 of our conversation with Vinca LaFleur, Founding Partner of West Wing Writers. From the power of ideas to the art of delivery, Vinca shares what it takes to write words that resonate — and why every great message starts with meaning.00:30 Tricks and tips to a presentation04:14 Speech gotchas07:29 Knowing when you have a hit09:39 How much is delivery11:53 GOAT speech Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kWIa8wSC014:49 Gettysburg case study17:11 ChatGPT?20:26 Mental cups26:55 West Wing Writers31:51 Chief34:30 Book recommended most Made to Stick: https://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-SurviveOthers/dp/1400064287Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThis is one of my favorite episodes - it's all about the story!Part 2 of our conversation with Vinca LaFleur, Founding Partner of West Wing Writers. From the power of ideas to the art of delivery, Vinca shares what it takes to write words that resonate — and why every great message starts with meaning.00:30 Tricks and tips to a presentation04:14 Speech gotchas07:29 Knowing when you have a hit09:39 How much is delivery11:53 GOAT speech Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kWIa8wSC014:49 Gettysburg case study17:11 ChatGPT?20:26 Mental cups26:55 West Wing Writers31:51 Chief34:30 Book recommended most Made to Stick: https://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-SurviveOthers/dp/1400064287Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textWe're joined by Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai and pioneer in RAG research. From deploying AI agents at Fortune 500 companies to shedding light on data privacy and security, Douwe shares his expertise and insights on how to make data simple, effective, and secure.00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go?06:59 LLMs with Context08:20 Making AI Successful10:34 Why Contextual AI?17:18 LLM versus SLMs20:28 Speed over Perfection22:07 Hallucinations26:02 Making AI Easy to Consume28:50 Defining an Agent32:53 Reaching Contextual AI33:14 The Contrarian View34:37 The Risks of AI36:53 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/douwekielaWebsite: https://contextual.ai/ Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textWe're joined by Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai and pioneer in RAG research. From deploying AI agents at Fortune 500 companies to shedding light on data privacy and security, Douwe shares his expertise and insights on how to make data simple, effective, and secure.00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go?06:59 LLMs with Context08:20 Making AI Successful10:34 Why Contextual AI?17:18 LLM versus SLMs20:28 Speed over Perfection22:07 Hallucinations26:02 Making AI Easy to Consume28:50 Defining an Agent32:53 Reaching Contextual AI33:14 The Contrarian View34:37 The Risks of AI36:53 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/douwekielaWebsite: https://contextual.ai/ Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple?  Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next.  The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun. Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThis week, we're rewinding one of our most talked-about episodes! Richmond Alake, Developer Advocate at MongoDB, joins us to explore how databases power the future of AI. From RAG best practices to the truth behind AGI hype, Richmond breaks down what it takes to build systems that scale — and think.Show Notes02:05 Meet Rich Alake 03:57 A Developer Advocate at MongoDB 05:57 Passions and Fate! 08:52 AI Hype 13:14 Oh No… AGI Again 17:30 What Makes an AI Database? 20:42 Use Cases 25:41 RAG Best Practices 27:40 The Role of Databases 30:05 Why MongoDB Does It Better 32:43 What's Next 36:13 Advice on Continuous Learning 38:44 Where to Find RichConnect with Richmond:

Send us a textThis week, we're rewinding one of our most talked-about episodes! Richmond Alake, Developer Advocate at MongoDB, joins us to explore how databases power the future of AI. From RAG best practices to the truth behind AGI hype, Richmond breaks down what it takes to build systems that scale — and think.Show Notes02:05 Meet Rich Alake 03:57 A Developer Advocate at MongoDB 05:57 Passions and Fate! 08:52 AI Hype 13:14 Oh No… AGI Again 17:30 What Makes an AI Database? 20:42 Use Cases 25:41 RAG Best Practices 27:40 The Role of Databases 30:05 Why MongoDB Does It Better 32:43 What's Next 36:13 Advice on Continuous Learning 38:44 Where to Find RichConnect with Richmond:

Send us a textReplay Episode: Python, Anaconda, and the AI Frontier with Peter WangPeter Wang — Chief AI & Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda — is back on Making Data Simple! Known for shaping the open-source ecosystem and making Python a powerhouse, Peter dives into Anaconda's new AI incubator, the future of GenAI, and why Python isn't just “still a thing”… it's the thing.From branding and security to leadership and philosophy, this episode is a wild ride through the biggest opportunities (and risks) shaping AI today.Timestamps: 01:27 Meet Peter Wang 05:10 Python or R? 05:51 Anaconda's Differentiation 07:08 Why the Name Anaconda 08:24 The AI Incubator 11:40 GenAI 14:39 Enter Python 16:08 Anaconda Commercial Services 18:40 Security 20:57 Common Points of Failure 22:53 Branding 24:50 watsonx Partnership 28:40 AI Risks 34:13 Getting Philosophical 36:13 China 44:52 Leadership StyleLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/pzwangWebsite: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anacondainc/, https://www.anaconda.com/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textReplay Episode: Python, Anaconda, and the AI Frontier with Peter WangPeter Wang — Chief AI & Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda — is back on Making Data Simple! Known for shaping the open-source ecosystem and making Python a powerhouse, Peter dives into Anaconda's new AI incubator, the future of GenAI, and why Python isn't just “still a thing”… it's the thing.From branding and security to leadership and philosophy, this episode is a wild ride through the biggest opportunities (and risks) shaping AI today.Timestamps: 01:27 Meet Peter Wang 05:10 Python or R? 05:51 Anaconda's Differentiation 07:08 Why the Name Anaconda 08:24 The AI Incubator 11:40 GenAI 14:39 Enter Python 16:08 Anaconda Commercial Services 18:40 Security 20:57 Common Points of Failure 22:53 Branding 24:50 watsonx Partnership 28:40 AI Risks 34:13 Getting Philosophical 36:13 China 44:52 Leadership StyleLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/pzwangWebsite: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anacondainc/, https://www.anaconda.com/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThis week on Making Data Simple, join Ajay Kulkarni, CEO and co-founder of TigerData, as we dive into the rapidly evolving world of data. Ajay shares his front-row perspective on the challenges and opportunities of building and scaling time-series databases in an era of AI-driven automation.From the mechanics of managing massive data streams to the bold bets shaping the future of IoT, this conversation goes deep into what's breaking, what's working, and what's next. Whether you're a data engineer, tech leader, or simply fascinated by the speed of AI innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.01:15 Meet AJ Kulkarni04:29 TigerData07:16 Timeseries 09:25 Use Cases 11:03 Why Progress? 11:58 Why TigerData16:05 AI is Everything21:06 The Fastest Postgres 25:45 Advanced Features28:53 Future of IOT36:48 The Future of TigerData38:03 San Francisco38:26 A Big Bet41:06 Good BooksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaykulkarni/Website:  https://tigerdata.comWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThis week on Making Data Simple, join Ajay Kulkarni, CEO and co-founder of TigerData, as we dive into the rapidly evolving world of data. Ajay shares his front-row perspective on the challenges and opportunities of building and scaling time-series databases in an era of AI-driven automation.From the mechanics of managing massive data streams to the bold bets shaping the future of IoT, this conversation goes deep into what's breaking, what's working, and what's next. Whether you're a data engineer, tech leader, or simply fascinated by the speed of AI innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.01:15 Meet AJ Kulkarni04:29 TigerData07:16 Timeseries 09:25 Use Cases 11:03 Why Progress? 11:58 Why TigerData16:05 AI is Everything21:06 The Fastest Postgres 25:45 Advanced Features28:53 Future of IOT36:48 The Future of TigerData38:03 San Francisco38:26 A Big Bet41:06 Good BooksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajaykulkarni/Website:  https://tigerdata.comWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textWhat if AI could tap into live operational data — without ETL or RAG? In this episode, Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, reveals how her company is transforming enterprise data access with intelligent data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and a governance-first approach. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the future of AI and the startup journey behind it.We explore how companies are revolutionizing their data access and AI strategies. Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, shares her insights on bridging the gap between live operational data and generative AI — and how it's changing the game for enterprises worldwide.We dive into Snow Leopard's innovative approach to data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and governance-first architecture.04:54 Meeting Deepti Srivastava 14:06 AI with No ETL, no RAG 17:11 Snow Leopard's Intelligent Data Fetching 19:00 Live Query Challenges 21:01 Snow Leopard's Secret Sauce 22:14 Latency 23:48 Schema Changes 25:02 Use Cases 26:06 Snow Leopard's Roadmap 29:16 Getting Started 33:30 The Startup Journey 34:12 A Woman in Technology 36:03 The Contrarian View

Send us a textWhat if AI could tap into live operational data — without ETL or RAG? In this episode, Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, reveals how her company is transforming enterprise data access with intelligent data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and a governance-first approach. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the future of AI and the startup journey behind it.We explore how companies are revolutionizing their data access and AI strategies. Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, shares her insights on bridging the gap between live operational data and generative AI — and how it's changing the game for enterprises worldwide.We dive into Snow Leopard's innovative approach to data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and governance-first architecture.04:54 Meeting Deepti Srivastava 14:06 AI with No ETL, no RAG 17:11 Snow Leopard's Intelligent Data Fetching 19:00 Live Query Challenges 21:01 Snow Leopard's Secret Sauce 22:14 Latency 23:48 Schema Changes 25:02 Use Cases 26:06 Snow Leopard's Roadmap 29:16 Getting Started 33:30 The Startup Journey 34:12 A Woman in Technology 36:03 The Contrarian View

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Send us a textGet ready for an insightful conversation on the future of data integration and real-time decision making with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management at StreamSets.We cover everything from the “why StreamSets” story to its secret sauce, how it plays in regulated industries, and what makes it a powerful player in data fabric, AI, and streaming use cases. If you're passionate about the future of data pipelines, governance, and AI-driven insights, this one's for you!⏱️ Episode Guide:02:02 | Meet Dima Spivak04:19 | Why StreamSets?06:00 | What is StreamSets?09:48 | On-Demand Expense11:34 | Regulated Industries12:36 | The Secret Sauce14:41 | A Competitive View15:50 | Data Fabric + StreamSets18:25 | StreamSets + AI21:12 | Use Cases That Matter24:02 | The Future of Streaming25:48 | Quality + Testing31:19 | For Fun

Send us a textGet ready for an insightful conversation on the future of data integration and real-time decision making with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management at StreamSets.We cover everything from the “why StreamSets” story to its secret sauce, how it plays in regulated industries, and what makes it a powerful player in data fabric, AI, and streaming use cases. If you're passionate about the future of data pipelines, governance, and AI-driven insights, this one's for you!⏱️ Episode Guide:02:02 | Meet Dima Spivak04:19 | Why StreamSets?06:00 | What is StreamSets?09:48 | On-Demand Expense11:34 | Regulated Industries12:36 | The Secret Sauce14:41 | A Competitive View15:50 | Data Fabric + StreamSets18:25 | StreamSets + AI21:12 | Use Cases That Matter24:02 | The Future of Streaming25:48 | Quality + Testing31:19 | For Fun

Send us a textReady to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker, to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential.From the Four Disciplines of Execution to Atomic Habits and the role of AI in coaching, Jacob shares practical, real-world insights you can put into action today. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking to get more out of your day, this conversation will give you the frameworks and mindset shifts you need.

Send us a textReady to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker, to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential.From the Four Disciplines of Execution to Atomic Habits and the role of AI in coaching, Jacob shares practical, real-world insights you can put into action today. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking to get more out of your day, this conversation will give you the frameworks and mindset shifts you need.

Send us a textEpisode Description: Taking a break doesn't mean you miss the good stuff. Last year, while I was on a much-needed vacation, I invited one of my favorite coaches back on the mic — Lynne Snead, Principal & Owner of Talent Evolution Systems.Lynne walks us through the Three Circles Model — a powerful framework for maintaining focus, expanding influence, and leading with intention. We explore what separates managers from true leaders, the role of mindset and energy in influence, and why how you speak to yourself matters just as much as how you speak to others.If people would follow you even if they didn't have to… that's leadership.Timestamps: 02:47 Meet Lynne Snead Again 03:47 The Circles Model 09:30 The Circle of Personal Control 14:05 It's the How You Say It, Also to Yourself! 20:43 Thought Management 22:53 Leadership = Influence 25:08 A Manager vs a Leader 27:05 Mindset & Energy 29:59 Stress 31:11 Atomic Habits 33:47 Mindmapping 36:19 Emotional Intelligence 39:38 Read, Study, Learn or Be Left BehindReading List:Stephen Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleJames Clear – Atomic HabitsJohn A. Daly – Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing OthersGuest Links:Lynne Snead on LinkedInTalent Evolution SystemsSocial: #Leadership #ReplayEpisode #MakingDataSimple #ExecutiveCoaching #Influence #Focus #LeadershipDevelopment #MindsetMatters #PersonalGrowth #AtomicHabits #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowthWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textEpisode Description: Taking a break doesn't mean you miss the good stuff. Last year, while I was on a much-needed vacation, I invited one of my favorite coaches back on the mic — Lynne Snead, Principal & Owner of Talent Evolution Systems.Lynne walks us through the Three Circles Model — a powerful framework for maintaining focus, expanding influence, and leading with intention. We explore what separates managers from true leaders, the role of mindset and energy in influence, and why how you speak to yourself matters just as much as how you speak to others.If people would follow you even if they didn't have to… that's leadership.Timestamps: 02:47 Meet Lynne Snead Again 03:47 The Circles Model 09:30 The Circle of Personal Control 14:05 It's the How You Say It, Also to Yourself! 20:43 Thought Management 22:53 Leadership = Influence 25:08 A Manager vs a Leader 27:05 Mindset & Energy 29:59 Stress 31:11 Atomic Habits 33:47 Mindmapping 36:19 Emotional Intelligence 39:38 Read, Study, Learn or Be Left BehindReading List:Stephen Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleJames Clear – Atomic HabitsJohn A. Daly – Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing OthersGuest Links:Lynne Snead on LinkedInTalent Evolution SystemsSocial: #Leadership #ReplayEpisode #MakingDataSimple #ExecutiveCoaching #Influence #Focus #LeadershipDevelopment #MindsetMatters #PersonalGrowth #AtomicHabits #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowthWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textEpisode Description (Show Notes): Step into the world of IBM Power Systems with insider insights from Tom McPherson, former GM of IBM Power. In this conversation, Tom shares leadership lessons, debunks common misconceptions, and dives deep into the innovations shaping the future of Power infrastructure. From AI integration to hybrid cloud strategies, competitive positioning to compelling client use cases — it's a powerhouse discussion you won't want to miss.Timestamps: 00:49 Meet Tom McPherson 03:00 Leadership Advice 04:58 Hobbies 07:53 IBM Power 10:24 Power 11 13:53 Common Misconception 14:39 Favorite Power Features 21:51 Promise to Profits of AI 25:28 Hybrid Cloud 27:34 Power Competitors 28:36 Compelling Use Cases 29:51 The Future of Power 31:20 Rapid Fire 33:51 Business Partners in Power 35:16 LeadershipGuest Links:

Send us a textEpisode Description (Show Notes): Step into the world of IBM Power Systems with insider insights from Tom McPherson, former GM of IBM Power. In this conversation, Tom shares leadership lessons, debunks common misconceptions, and dives deep into the innovations shaping the future of Power infrastructure. From AI integration to hybrid cloud strategies, competitive positioning to compelling client use cases — it's a powerhouse discussion you won't want to miss.Timestamps: 00:49 Meet Tom McPherson 03:00 Leadership Advice 04:58 Hobbies 07:53 IBM Power 10:24 Power 11 13:53 Common Misconception 14:39 Favorite Power Features 21:51 Promise to Profits of AI 25:28 Hybrid Cloud 27:34 Power Competitors 28:36 Compelling Use Cases 29:51 The Future of Power 31:20 Rapid Fire 33:51 Business Partners in Power 35:16 LeadershipGuest Links:

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Send us a textDeep Diving into the future of AI: Join Dr. Sean Falconer — AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, software engineering leader, and developer relations expert — for a deep dive into the future of AI, data streaming, and what it really means to build at the edge of innovation. From managing multiple LLMs to testing autonomous agents and sharing his bold contrarian takes, Sean helps us simplify the complexity of today's tech.

Send us a textDeep Diving into the future of AI: Join Dr. Sean Falconer — AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, software engineering leader, and developer relations expert — for a deep dive into the future of AI, data streaming, and what it really means to build at the edge of innovation. From managing multiple LLMs to testing autonomous agents and sharing his bold contrarian takes, Sean helps us simplify the complexity of today's tech.

Send us a textShe's the legal powerhouse behind IBM's AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery, formerly IBM's Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what's now, what's next, and what needs rethinking when it comes to trust, synthetic data, and the future of AI law.

Send us a textShe's the legal powerhouse behind IBM's AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery, formerly IBM's Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what's now, what's next, and what needs rethinking when it comes to trust, synthetic data, and the future of AI law.

Send us a textThe AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple, we're joined by Jonathan Mast, AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™. Jonathan's not just riding the AI wave—he's teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it, with simple, actionable tools that unlock meaningful results from large language models.If you've ever stared at a prompt box wondering what to type—or worse, gotten garbage back from AI—this episode is for you. We talk about what works, what doesn't, and what's coming next (agents, anyone?). Plus, Jonathan breaks down his 4-step framework that's helping 300K+ community members and clients scale AI with clarity and confidence.⏱️ Episode Timestamps01:34 Introducing Jonathan Mast04:13 Digital Agency05:29 Whitebeard Strategies08:06 ADD09:57 Back to Whitebeard14:51 The Perfect Prompting Framework21:36 The Four Step Method24:58 What if You Don't Use AI?28:37 Agents30:08 Whitebeard Engagements32:42 Getting Started36:39 What's True But Not a Consensus?37:23 For Fun

Send us a textThe AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple, we're joined by Jonathan Mast, AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™. Jonathan's not just riding the AI wave—he's teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it, with simple, actionable tools that unlock meaningful results from large language models.If you've ever stared at a prompt box wondering what to type—or worse, gotten garbage back from AI—this episode is for you. We talk about what works, what doesn't, and what's coming next (agents, anyone?). Plus, Jonathan breaks down his 4-step framework that's helping 300K+ community members and clients scale AI with clarity and confidence.⏱️ Episode Timestamps01:34 Introducing Jonathan Mast04:13 Digital Agency05:29 Whitebeard Strategies08:06 ADD09:57 Back to Whitebeard14:51 The Perfect Prompting Framework21:36 The Four Step Method24:58 What if You Don't Use AI?28:37 Agents30:08 Whitebeard Engagements32:42 Getting Started36:39 What's True But Not a Consensus?37:23 For Fun

Send us a textWe're back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison, leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement.In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just charisma). Plus: how to rethink your approach to hiring and the controversial take on using AI in leadership decisions.Stick around for a surprise recap guest who brings it all home.

Send us a textWe're back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison, leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement.In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just charisma). Plus: how to rethink your approach to hiring and the controversial take on using AI in leadership decisions.Stick around for a surprise recap guest who brings it all home.

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Send us a textFrom Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at SamaEpisode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms at Zoox to game-changing data products at Google. Today he leads a 160-person team that's reinventing how training data is curated, labeled, and audited so enterprises can ship production-ready GenAI—without the lurking model risk. Sama's newest release, Sama Automate, is already cutting annotation time by 40 percent while keeping quality above SLAs, and Duncan says they're “aiming for a 10× improvement by 2025.” (aiuserconference.com, sama.com)If you want the inside track on AI ROI, ethical guardrails, and why A's hire A's (but B's hire C's!), lean in—this one's for you. (And yes, we do get to elephant butts.)Timestamped roadmap00:46 Meet Duncan Curtis03:51 The Duncan Brand05:52 Making Time for Yourself08:47 Autonomous Cars — 9× Safer12:21 Favorite Jobs13:24 Inside Sama14:39 Data & LLM Training16:04 De-Risking Models19:08 Ethical AI22:43 Stopping Hallucinations27:18 Data Labeling Deep-Dive31:56 Production-Ready GenAI33:44 AGI Horizons35:34 What Makes Sama Different36:31 Calculating AI ROI38:50 State of the LLMs44:48 Elephant Butts & Closing ThoughtsQuick linksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-curtis/Sama: https://www.sama.com/Latest blog: “Sama Introduces New Data Automation Platform” (sama.com)Hear more: Duncan on “Human Guardrails in Generative AI” (DataCamp podcast) (datacamp.com)Hashtags#MakingDataSimple #AIProduct #GenAI #DataLabeling #EthicalAI #AIROI #AutonomousVehicles #PodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textFrom Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at SamaEpisode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms at Zoox to game-changing data products at Google. Today he leads a 160-person team that's reinventing how training data is curated, labeled, and audited so enterprises can ship production-ready GenAI—without the lurking model risk. Sama's newest release, Sama Automate, is already cutting annotation time by 40 percent while keeping quality above SLAs, and Duncan says they're “aiming for a 10× improvement by 2025.” (aiuserconference.com, sama.com)If you want the inside track on AI ROI, ethical guardrails, and why A's hire A's (but B's hire C's!), lean in—this one's for you. (And yes, we do get to elephant butts.)Timestamped roadmap00:46 Meet Duncan Curtis03:51 The Duncan Brand05:52 Making Time for Yourself08:47 Autonomous Cars — 9× Safer12:21 Favorite Jobs13:24 Inside Sama14:39 Data & LLM Training16:04 De-Risking Models19:08 Ethical AI22:43 Stopping Hallucinations27:18 Data Labeling Deep-Dive31:56 Production-Ready GenAI33:44 AGI Horizons35:34 What Makes Sama Different36:31 Calculating AI ROI38:50 State of the LLMs44:48 Elephant Butts & Closing ThoughtsQuick linksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-curtis/Sama: https://www.sama.com/Latest blog: “Sama Introduces New Data Automation Platform” (sama.com)Hear more: Duncan on “Human Guardrails in Generative AI” (DataCamp podcast) (datacamp.com)Hashtags#MakingDataSimple #AIProduct #GenAI #DataLabeling #EthicalAI #AIROI #AutonomousVehicles #PodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

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Today on the show we attend a memorial service for one of the most disliked men in comedy, Al Martin. It's true. He had alot of haters BUT he outlasted most of the comedy clubs in New York City AND, most importantly, it turned out I was the most famous person to attend (after Marina Franklin left for the bathroom)

Send us a textThis week on Making Data Simple, we welcome Ralph Gootee, CTO and co-founder of TigerEye, a company reshaping strategic sales intelligence with a data-driven edge. Ralph's journey spans Pixar, Sony, and PlanGrid — and now he's building tools to help sales leaders see around corners. From the secrets behind TigerEye's intuitive reporting to the realities of entrepreneurship and the affordability of LLMs, this episode hits both the business brain and the tech heart.00:52 Meet Ralph Gootee 01:43 TigerEye 04:49 PlanGrid 07:43 Monetization 08:50 TigerEye's Objective 12:38 Reinventing Reporting 17:06 How it Works 22:21 The Secret Sauce 27:48 LLM Affordability 34:14 Last Call 38:57 The Entrepreneur Dilemma 39:47 Where to Reach TigerEye 40:07 Do Code Assistants Work? 47:32 For Fun

Send us a textThis week on Making Data Simple, we welcome Ralph Gootee, CTO and co-founder of TigerEye, a company reshaping strategic sales intelligence with a data-driven edge. Ralph's journey spans Pixar, Sony, and PlanGrid — and now he's building tools to help sales leaders see around corners. From the secrets behind TigerEye's intuitive reporting to the realities of entrepreneurship and the affordability of LLMs, this episode hits both the business brain and the tech heart.00:52 Meet Ralph Gootee 01:43 TigerEye 04:49 PlanGrid 07:43 Monetization 08:50 TigerEye's Objective 12:38 Reinventing Reporting 17:06 How it Works 22:21 The Secret Sauce 27:48 LLM Affordability 34:14 Last Call 38:57 The Entrepreneur Dilemma 39:47 Where to Reach TigerEye 40:07 Do Code Assistants Work? 47:32 For Fun

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Send us a textWe're back for Part 2 of our Automation deep-dive—and the hits just keep coming! Host Al Martin reunites with IBM automation aces Sarah McAndrew (WW Automation Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (App Mod & IT Automation Development) to push past the hype and map out the road ahead.