In this episode of Data Tech Talks, I’m joined by Roy Chan to explore how the relationship between finance and data teams has evolved, and what finance functions really need from analytics today.

Drawing on Roy’s own background in finance, we discuss how commercial understanding can shape the way data solutions are built and why the strongest analytics teams need more than just technical capability. We explore the importance of understanding the business, building strong relationships with finance stakeholders and ensuring analytics is connected to the decisions the business is trying to make.

We also unpack some of the common challenges organisations face when data and finance teams work together, including the tendency to focus too heavily on dashboards and reporting rather than the insights and outcomes behind them.

Finally, we look at how expectations of data teams have changed over the last five to ten years and what the next evolution could look like as AI becomes more embedded within analytics and finance.

A great conversation on bridging the gap between finance and data, building commercially focused analytics teams, and ultimately using data to drive better business decisions

In this episode of Data Tech Talks, Raed Mahboub is joined by Ambrish Kinariwala, a senior Data & AI leader with over 15 years of experience across telecommunications, financial services, health, government and consulting.

With organisations investing heavily in AI, the conversation focuses on one of the biggest challenges facing leaders today: how do you move beyond the hype and turn AI investment into measurable business value?

Raed and Ambrish discuss how organisations should prioritise AI use cases, why initiatives need to be anchored to genuine business problems, and the importance of proving value early through focused, practical use cases. They also explore why so many AI pilots struggle to make it into production and what separates an interesting experiment from an AI capability that can actually scale.

The discussion also covers the importance of data foundations, governance, workflow redesign, human-in-the-loop controls and business adoption, as well as why not every process needs AI applied to it.

A practical conversation for Data & AI leaders looking to understand how to approach AI investment with greater discipline and build solutions that deliver genuine value beyond the pilot stage.

Joining me on this episode of Data Tech Talks is Himanshi Juneja. We explore the importance of starting AI projects with a clear focus on creating measurable business value, ensuring initiatives are tied to metrics like revenue, cost, or customer outcomes. Himanshi shares insights on avoiding costly experiments and aligning AI with tangible results.

We also discuss the critical role of decision-making clarity and collaboration with business leaders to identify high-value use cases. Himanshi highlights the need for sufficient data quality and realistic benefit assessment, offering practical guidance for organisations looking to implement AI successfully.

Joining me on this episode of Data Tech Talks is Ben Nguyen, a data leader with experience in finance and healthcare. We discuss the challenges of leveraging data analytics in healthcare, including building modern data infrastructure, ensuring governance and security, and using AI to improve processes and outcomes. Ben shares insights from his journey transitioning into healthcare data and the strategies needed to drive effective analytics.

We also explore the importance of creating user-friendly data products that empower stakeholders and support data-driven decision-making. Ben offers practical advice for building impactful analytics programs and fostering a culture where data is accessible and actionable, providing a clear perspective on the future of data in healthcare.

In our latest episode of the Data Tech Talks podcast, we dive deep into the critical role of data quality in modern data platforms with Melvin Widodo, a seasoned data leader with over 20 years of experience. Discover how data quality underpins successful analytics and platform development and learn about the evolving landscape of data governance and AI integration. Melvin shares insights on building robust data quality frameworks and the importance of collaboration between business and technology teams.

Joining Raed on this episode of Data Tech Talks is Thomas Winsnes, a technology leader. In this episode, they explore the evolving relationship between AI, data privacy and compliance and how it’s impacting modern business processes. Thomas offers a deep dive into designing AI systems with compliance in mind, ensuring accountability in AI development and navigating the role of government regulations.

They also discuss the positive potential of AI, its integration into DevOps and the importance of fostering strong collaboration between AI and tech teams. Thomas shares practical insights and success stories around automation and compliance, highlighting how organisations can harness AI responsibly and effectively. This episode provides valuable perspectives on AI strategy, regulatory alignment and the future of data-driven business processes.

Joining Raed on this episode of Data Tech Talks is Alexander Fetisov, a BI analytics leader with extensive experience across the construction and infrastructure sectors. In this conversation, they explore the complexities of managing data in industries with varying levels of maturity and the critical role communication plays in successful BI delivery.

Alex reflects on his career journey from banking to construction, offering insights into the unique challenges and opportunities each sector presents. He shares practical strategies for effective stakeholder engagement, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical users, and designing BI solutions with the end user in mind.

The discussion covers the importance of data quality, dispelling common misconceptions about business intelligence, and demonstrating value through quick wins and pilot projects. Alex also highlights the influence of regulatory requirements on data maturity, sharing a success story in building a sustainability reporting solution.

This episode offers valuable perspectives for data professionals and business leaders navigating complex organisational environments, providing actionable advice on driving transformation and delivering lasting impact through BI.

Joining Raed on this episode of Data Tech Talks is Shubhankar Thatte, a technology leader with deep experience in the hospitality industry. In this episode, they explore the transformative journey of modernising legacy systems and how a data-driven approach is reshaping hospitality operations from enhancing guest experiences to driving operational efficiency and business growth. Shubhankar offers a deep dive into the challenges of implementation, the strategic considerations behind selecting the right technology stack, and the tangible business value unlocked through modernisation.

They also discuss the growing role of AI in improving data management processes and how the hospitality sector is embracing innovation to stay competitive. Shubhankar shares practical advice for leaders undertaking digital transformation and highlights the capabilities needed to deliver successful outcomes in this dynamic industry. This episode provides valuable insights into tech-driven change, data strategy, and the evolving future of hospitality.