The Data Chief

• How Yum! Brands is Using Data & AI as a Recipe for Innovation with CDO Cameron Davies

  Learn how one of the world’s biggest restaurant companies is turning data and AI into a recipe for global innovation. Cameron Davies, Chief Data Officer at Yum! Brands, shares how he’s combining strategy, technology, and change management to drive gobal growth. He explains how Yum! is building AI literacy from the top down, reimagining operations with generative AI, and partnering with NVIDIA to scale innovation. Cameron reveals what true data leadership looks like, balancing bold ideas with business impact, and proving transformation starts with people, not technology.Key Moments:Start with the Business Problem, Not the Tech (04:27): Cameron recalls advice from a mentor, “start with the business problem down, not the technology up.” He emphasizes that innovation only matters when it solves real business challenges, reminding data leaders not to get enamored with the “cool” factor of technology at the expense of impact.Balancing Global Scale with Local Agility (07:45): Cameron unpacks the challenge of scaling analytics across 160 countries and four major brands, 98% of which are franchise-owned. He explains how Yum! balances centralization and autonomy, ensuring smaller markets have a voice while global teams leverage shared technology and insights.Building AI Literacy from the Top Down (13:44): Cameron describes Yum!’s investment in digital upskilling, from Harvard-led training for executives to hands-on AI workshops for employees. He outlines how the company is embedding AI tools, like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, into daily workflows to build confidence and accelerate adoption.Digitizing the Restaurant: Byte By Yum! (17:18): Cameron introduces Byte By Yum!, a suite of proprietary software that simplifies restaurant operations. He explains how it unifies e-commerce, point-of-sale, voice AI, and kitchen systems to make running a restaurant easier and more efficient in an increasingly complex digital environment.Partnering with NVIDIA to Power the Future (25:12): Cameron shares how Yum!’s strategic partnership with NVIDIA is fueling next-generation restaurant innovation. He reveals how the collaboration gives Yum! early access to cutting-edge AI engineering and product strategy, extending his team’s capabilities with some of the best minds in the field.Key Quotes:“Technology’s actually a whole lot easier than people, and the more successful the people are, the harder it is to get them to change.” - Cameron DaviesThe business problem is the business problem. You never have as much data as you want, as fast as you want, as cleanly as you want. People are always people, but the opportunities are always the opportunities.” - Cameron Davies“I think sometimes we get so enamored with the technology… We forget it’s all in the service of a business problem.” - Cameron DaviesMentionsByte By Yum!Yum! Brands to accelerate AI innovation in an industry-first collaboration with NVIDIA2025 AI & Data Leadership Executive Benchmark SurveyGuest Bio Cameron Davies currently serves as the Chief Data Officer at Yum! Brands since July 2020. Prior to this role, Cameron held the position of Senior Vice President of Corporate Decision Sciences at NBCUniversal, Inc. from September 2013 to July 2020, overseeing the Corporate Management Sciences and NBCU News Group Insights teams, focusing on advanced analytics and data strategies. Cameron's career at Walt Disney Co. spanned from October 1996 to September 2013, where responsibilities included leading the Walt Disney World Resort Forecast and Planning teams and managing global Yield Management. Cameron established and led the Corporate Center of Excellence in Management Science and Integration, collaborating with Disney executives on analytics initiatives. Earlier in the career, from May 1989 to June 1996, Cameron served as a Professor of Finance and Accounting at Pensacola Christian College, teaching various business courses. Cameron holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing Research and Operations Management from the UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business/Accounting from Pensacola Christian College. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

  --------  

  40:16

  --------

  40:16
• Alghanim Industries on Why the Middle East Is the New Frontier for Data-Driven Innovation

  Step inside a conversation on the art and architecture of AI transformation. Vedran Karamani, Group Data Analytics & Agentic AI – CDAIO at Alghanim Industries, shares how he’s embedding intelligence across one of the Middle East’s largest conglomerates. He breaks down what it takes to make AI approachable in the boardroom, why data literacy is now a business imperative, and how to balance innovation with operational reality. Discover how Vedran is redefining the role of data, technology, and human insight in shaping the next generation of enterprise transformation.Key Moments:From Deterministic to Probabilistic Thinking (10:19): Vedran explains how today’s AI shifts decision-making from predictable, rules-based systems to adaptive, probabilistic ones. He shares how leaders must learn to balance control with flexibility to build trust in AI’s potential while managing its unpredictability.AI Literacy in the Boardroom (12:55): Vedran emphasizes that real transformation begins with leadership understanding. He shares how he uses storytelling and analogies to educate executives on AI fundamentals, turning abstract concepts like “deterministic vs. probabilistic” into relatable, actionable insights.The Readiness Factor (17:29): Not every business is equally prepared for AI. Vedran breaks down the difference between change management and change readiness, urging leaders to assess cultural alignment, technical infrastructure, and data maturity before diving into transformation.Data as the Differentiator (25:15): Vedran argues that as algorithms become commoditized, competitive advantage will come from the quality and context of a company’s data. He outlines how clean, well-modeled, and contextualized data will form the backbone of any successful AI strategy.The Middle East’s AI Momentum (32:05): Vedran highlights how ambition, experimentation, and government investment are fueling rapid AI growth across the Middle East. He contrasts this energy with slower-moving Western markets, suggesting the region’s “learn fast” mindset could shape the future of global innovation.Key Quotes:"Today, no business has an excuse not to be data-driven.” - Vedran Karamani“ With today's AI, we are almost unleashing this immense power that's very probabilistic… We need to learn how to coexist with that and how to leverage it for the greatest benefit of our businesses.” - Vedran Karamani“ If you want to stand the chance to have AI help you transform your business, you better get your data to a certain standard for that to be even possible.” - Vedran KaramaniMentionsDemis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind TechnologiesGuest Bio With over two decades at the forefront of Data Analytics and AI leadership, Vedran Karamani charted a path of innovation across global landscapes, from the dynamic markets of the Middle East to the dynamic tech hubs of North America. Guiding multi-million-dollar portfolios, Vedran pioneered disruptive solutions, propelling sectors like Aviation, Retail, Telecom, Defense, Oil & Gas, Digital, Logistics, and Education into the future.Renowned for his collaborative leadership approach, Vedran empowered diverse teams to navigate challenges with agility, fostering an environment of continuous growth and individual excellence. From concept to execution, he’s led the charge in delivering game-changing strategies, business cases, and prototypes, ensuring organizations stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving landscape. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

  --------  

  44:49

  --------

  44:49
• When Navan Chose to Build, Not Buy: The AI Decision That Changed Everything

  In this episode of The Data Chief, Ilan Twig, co-founder and CTO of Navan, shares why large language models will revolutionize our relationship with technology—just like the mouse did for the keyboard. From pushing AI to its limits to launching Navan Cognition, built for zero critical hallucination, Ilan reveals what it really takes to lead through change and build AI that people can trust. He also dives into a critical question every company must face: Will you build AI from scratch, or build with AI partners?? And if you're curious about the next frontier, Ilan paints a bold vision of agent-to-agent communication—where AI services talk to each other and your admin work disappears into the background.  A must-listen for anyone building the future of AI-powered user experiences.Key Moments:Agent-to-Agent Communication (A2A) (17:00): Ilan envisions a future where dedicated AI services communicate with each other in natural language, without the need for an API. This "mother of all bots" would manage administrative tasks by talking to other bots, simplifying complex tasks for the user.AI as a "Human" Experience (27:16): Ilan was surprised by the release of ChatGPT in 2022 because it was the first time a technology felt human. This led him to spend four months building and testing the technology's boundaries, including its ability to lie or be "jailbroken" with creative prompts.Identifying the Core Business (31:43): Ilan advises companies to decide if they want to become an "AI company" or simply use AI. He explains that building a core AI platform requires a huge commitment.A Case Study in Building (35:32): The conversation furthers, as a light is shed on the building of “Navan Cognition”, because no solution existed at the time to prevent critical hallucinations in AI models. This system includes a supervisor agent that works to catch and correct undesirable responses, creating a "zero critical hallucination" experience for its users.Key Quotes:"LLMs would do to the mouse what the mouse did to the keyboard when it comes to how humans interact with computers."  - Ilan Twig“My role is to always apply the best technology in order to drive, to create the best product and best experience. That's my role. And it is not technology for the sake of technology. It is technology for the sake of creating value for the users." - Ilan Twig“We ended up using ThoughtSpot. We also applied the generative AI capabilities that you guys have built into your product. That's build versus buy. That's the benefit of buy.”  - Ilan TwigMentionsNavan Introduces World’s Smartest T&E Personal AssistantNavan CognitionAI jailbreak method tricks LLMs into poisoning their own contextSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)  - Richard P. FeynmanGuest Bio Ilan Twig is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Navan, the leading modern travel and expense management platform, globally. As CTO, Ilan drives Navan’s product development and engineering efforts, leveraging cutting-edge technologies — including AI — to enhance user experience and operational efficiency. This is Ilan’s second successful venture with Navan CEO Ariel Cohen, following their previous company, StreamOnce, a business multimedia integration platform acquired by Jive Software. With nearly two decades of engineering experience, Ilan has a proven track record of leading innovative research and development teams. He previously held key roles at Hewlett-Packard and Rockmelt, where he managed large-scale engineering initiatives. Ilan holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Academic College of Tel-Aviv, Yaffo. As a forward-thinking technologist, Ilan is passionate about integrating AI-driven solutions to redefine the future of corporate travel and expense management. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

  --------  

  48:16

  --------

  48:16
• Canva’s Moe Kiss on Why Creativity Is the Missing Ingredient in Data

  Join us for a masterclass in building data-driven marketing cultures. Moe Kiss, Director of Data Science in Marketing at Canva, shares how she bridges analytics and storytelling to make data approachable across teams. She breaks down the shift from attribution to experimentation, why storytelling is a must-have skill for every data professional, and how to balance intuition with evidence. Discover how Moe’s redefining the balance between technology, trust, and empathy in data leadership.Key Moments:Data as “Part of the Meal” (09:09): Using a cooking analogy, Moe describes how data should be integrated into decision-making, not as a garnish or afterthought, but as part of the meal itself. She highlights Canva’s culture of balancing intuition with data, ensuring both creative instinct and analytics inform every decision.Storytelling as a Data Superpower (10:57): Moe breaks down her “insight headline” method, turning flat dashboards into stories that drive action. She argues that data storytelling isn’t about aesthetics but understanding, and that trust comes from how clearly insights connect to business impact.Technical Fluency in the Age of AI (18:16): While some leaders claim programming is obsolete, Moe insists it’s more important than ever. Understanding what’s under the hood helps data professionals vet AI outputs, maintain data quality, and confidently guide stakeholders through rapid technological change.Buy vs. Build: The Cost–Benefit Equation (20:11): Moe breaks down how Canva evaluates when to build internal tools versus buy off-the-shelf solutions. She stresses that the best answer depends on scalability, cost, and time to market — and that implementation costs are often underestimated.AI’s New Role in Marketing (24:48): Moe shares how AI is reshaping marketing teams and their relationship with data. She highlights how generative AI tools can democratize access to insights, but warns that without trusted, high-quality data foundations, AI can just as easily amplify mistakes.Key Quotes:"Data is about creativity…It’s not about it being pretty, it’s about being understood.” - Moe Kiss“ We are leveraging AI tools more, and so understanding what's under the hood, I would say, is more essential than ever.” - Moe Kiss“[Know] the business appetite. You need to know how to get the answer with the right level of certainty or uncertainty…at pace with the business.” - Moe KissMentionsAnalytics Power Hour PodcastWhy Are Semantic Layers Suddenly Sexy?The Agentic Semantic Layer and OSI: A New Standard for AIThoughtSpot Joins Forces with Snowflake and Industry Leaders to Spearhead Open Semantic Interchange, Ushering in a New Era of Data and AI InteroperabilityGuest Bio Moe is a Director of Data Science in Marketing at Canva. Prior to that, she was in senior product and marketing analytics roles at THE ICONIC and in an attribution agency, Datalicious. Moe is passionate about growing and developing data scientists, driving industry leading measurement techniques and tooling and expanding the business impact of her team.She is a passionate and active member of the analytics community, co-hosting a bi-weekly podcast, the Analytics Power Hour. She served as the president of the Analytics Association of New South Wales for 7 years and is an ongoing committee member where she helps run Data Analytics Wednesday, a monthly meet up, and Sydney MeasureCamp, yearly unconference. She won the Digital Analytics Association USA's top new practitioner award in 2018. In 2024 was nominated in the Women Leading Tech Awards in the Data Science category and was awarded Snowflake's Data Hero of the Year award. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

  --------  

  40:17

  --------

  40:17
• 3 Must-Read Data and AI Books for 2025 with Geoff Woods, Wendy Batchelder, and Malcolm Hawker

  Welcome to a special author's episode of The Data Chief, where we delve into the minds of three influential authors who are shaping the conversation around data and AI. First, Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader, shares his philosophy of prioritizing strategy over technology to make faster, smarter decisions. Next, Wendy Batchelder, author of The Data Governance Handbook, discusses how to transform governance from a rigid bureaucracy into a business accelerator by focusing on business outcomes. Finally, Malcolm Hawker, author of The Data Hero Playbook, challenges data leaders to adopt a heroic mindset by becoming customer-driven and aligning their incentives with business success. Join us to learn how to lead effectively in the AI era by building a strategy-driven, governed, and customer-centric data function.The Data Chief Podcast: Author Episode Key MomentsGeoff Woods: The AI-Driven LeaderFrom "IT Problem" to Strategic Partner (06:20): Woods advocates for viewing AI as a "strategic thought partner" rather than an assistant or replacement, and emphasizes that AI strategy must align with business strategy.The CRIT Framework for Smarter Prompts (12:25): He introduces the CRIT framework for prompt engineering: Context, Role, Interview, Task. This method helps leaders get non-obvious, high-impact strategies from AI by having the AI ask the right questions.Beyond the Bottom Line: AI's Human Impact (22:17): Woods discusses the ROI of AI, including a case where AI identified savings equivalent to 2% of a company's revenue. Wendy Batchelder: The Data Governance HandbookData Governance as an Accelerator (32:33): Wendy Batchelder addresses the myth that data governance is a "dirty word" or a code for "no," arguing that its true purpose is to be an accelerator.Speaking the Language of Business (35:17): Batchelder emphasizes that data governance should be embedded from the start of a project, not as an afterthought. She provides an example of "bad" vs. "good" communication, urging data professionals to speak the language of the business.Measuring Value with Business Outcomes (40:00): She outlines how to measure the value of data governance by connecting it to business outcomes like increased revenue or improved customer service. Malcolm Hawker: The Data Hero PlaybookFrom Limiting Mindset to Growth Mindset (56:00): Hawker discusses why he wrote the book, calling the current moment a "do or die" opportunity for CDOs. He challenges the "limiting mindset" that leads to defeatism.Customer-Driven, Not Data-Driven (1:08:00): He urges data leaders to be "customer-driven, not data-driven," emphasizing the need for data teams to become more business literate.The Power of Product Management (1:14:00): Hawker advocates for bringing product management disciplines into data teams. This approach focuses on putting the customer at the center and ensures that data products are economically viable and tied to ROI.Key Quotes:"It is not technology first, strategy second. It is strategy first, technology second.” - Geoff Woods"The companies that are treating data as something that helps drive business outcomes are thinking about data at the beginning and set up at the end." - Wendy Batchelder“If you deliver value to your customers, if you are the lever of change and transformation in your organization, if you show value from data, you will get a seat at the table." - Malcolm HawkerMentionsThe AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, SmarterHow AI is transforming strategy developmentData Governance Handbook: A practical approach to building trust in data5 key reasons why data analytics is important to businessThe Data Hero Playbook: Developing Your Data Leadership SuperpowersCDOs and CDAOs: Rethink your role or fade awayGuest Bios:About Geoff Woods Geoff Woods is the #1 bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, host of the AI-Driven Leader podcast, and Founder of AI Leadership and The AI-Driven Leadership Collective™, a highly vetted network of executives collaborating to harness AI to build better businesses and better lives. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, Geoff's strategic leadership helped the company grow its market cap from $750 million to over $12 billion in just four years. Prior to that, he co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, advising businesses ranging from $10 million to $60 billion in annual revenue.About Wendy Batchelder Wendy Batchelder is a three-time Chief Data Officer across financial services, technology & healthcare industries, with a wide understanding of how to take highly technical aspects of data management and translate them into simple, concise business valued solutions that are practical and simple to understand. Her background has led her to lead global data & analytics organizations at four Fortune 500 companies. She approaches situations with curiosity and humility, which has led to applying innovative data solutions to challenges with increased complexity to deliver value that companies can measure.A lifelong learner, Wendy graduated from Miami University with a B.S. in Accounting and Information Systems, from Drake University with a Masters of Accountancy, from University of Iowa with an Executive MBA, and pursues ongoing education through Harvard Business School. Her work history includes EY, KPMG, Aviva, Wells Fargo, VMware and Salesforce.About Malcolm HawkerMalcolm helps senior business leaders harness the power of data to transform their businesses. As a former Gartner analyst, he has consulted with some of the world's largest and best-known brands on their enterprise information management strategies and digital transformation initiatives.He is a frequent public speaker on data and analytics best practices with a passion for Master Data Management (MDM) and Data Governance. He welcomes the opportunity to share practical and actionable insights on how companies can become truly data-driven by implementing the cultural, technical, and organizational changes needed for success in the digital age. He is also the author of The Data Hero Playbook. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.

  --------  

  1:21:27

  --------

  1:21:27

Más podcasts de Economía y empresa

Podcasts a la moda de Economía y empresa

Acerca de The Data Chief

The Data Chief: Podcasts del grupo