Send us a text 👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow and Chief Scientist at IBM Research. He’s a master inventor with 70+ patents and decades of leadership in scalable AI, chip innovation, and open-source contributions. From Watson to watsonx, he’s been shaping the AI landscape for decades — and he’s not slowing down. Inside This Episode …

Send us a text 🎙️ Ruchir Puri (Part 1): From Prompt Engineering to Agentic AI Guest: Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist at IBM Research 📍 Website: ibm.com/watsonx 🎧 Host: Al Martin, Worldwide VP, Technical Sales, IBM 📨 Want to be a guest? Email us at [email protected] 👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow, Chief Scientist of IBM Resea…

Send us a text Part 2 of 2 We’re back with Part 2 of our fascinating conversation with Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD. In this episode, we explore the next frontier: how intelligent algorithms don’t just support organizations—they shape them. From AI ethics and algorithmic bureaucracy to the future of hum…

Send us a text Part 1 of 2 How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently? In this episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD, to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design. From tools and teammates to blockchain and the …

Send us a text ✨ Updated April 1, 2025 What do Tickle Me Elmo, bourbon, and Taylor Swift tickets have in common? Scarcity. And in the world of marketing, it's one of the most powerful forces you can harness. This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our most insightful interviews — a conversation with Dr. Mindy Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Marke…

Send us a text 🎙️ From Host to Hot Seat! This week on Making Data Simple, Al Martin flips the mic and becomes the guest as Ian Smith, co-founder of Lighthouse Technology, steps in to host a fast-paced, thought-provoking episode of the Baseline Podcast. It’s a casual convo with some serious zingers—think startup energy, AI honesty, automation truths…

Send us a text 🚀 What’s the secret to building a world-class influencer marketing program? Ryan Debenham, CEO of GRIN, joins Making Data Simple to break down the future of creator-driven marketing, AI’s role in the space, and how GRIN is reshaping brand-influencer partnerships. 💡 From Red Bull’s marketing playbook to a key conversation about the “S…

Send us a text Innovating on Wall Street: Kristen McGarry on Data, AI, and Technical Sales 🎧 Tune in for an insider’s look at the technical strategies shaping the future of finance. Kristen McGarry, Principal Account Technical Lead for IBM’s Financial Services Market, returns to Making Data Simple to dive deeper into the intersection of technology …

Send us a text 🚀 The Coaching Discussion Reprise with Katie McLuckie and a special guest! In this episode, we dive into the value of coaching—what it takes to find the right coach, the ups and downs of the journey, and what to watch out for. If you're considering a business coach, this one's for you! 🎧 Episode Breakdown: ⏱️ 01:33 – Meet Katie McLuc…

Send us a text In this special replay episode of Making Data Simple, Al Martin sits down with Matt Cowell, CEO of QuantHub, to dive deep into data literacy, upskilling, and solving learning challenges. Matt shares his expertise on defining data fluency, the best ways to learn, and how organizations can close the data skill gap. From client use case…

Send us a text The master of Artificial Intelligence: Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist of IBM Research, an IBM Fellow, and Vice-President of IBM Corporate Technology. AI questions you were afraid to ask, from hallucinations to watsonx. #makingdatasimple #watsonx Welcome to the enlightening world of AI with Ruchir Puri, the Master of Artificial Intellig…

Send us a text In this Part 2 of our conversation with Marco Rota, VP of Strategic Technology Alliances at Lumen Technologies, we dive headfirst into the technical side of Lumen’s mission. From fiber-optics and edge computing to quantum breakthroughs—all propelled by powerful industry partnerships—Marco sheds light on how Lumen is enabling cutting-…

Send us a text Welcome back to Making Data Simple, where we explore how data-driven strategies ignite innovation and transform businesses. In this exciting episode, we sit down with Marco Rota, VP of Strategic Technology Alliances at Lumen Technologies, whose incredible journey spans from the glitz of Hollywood to leading-edge telecommunications. T…

Send us a text Money Ball is back! Nancy Hensley, Chief Marketing Officer for Stats Perform, gives us the latest on data analytics in sports. If you like sports don't listen unless you have time to be entertained. Show Notes 04:09 What does Money Ball look like now? 07:30 Mrs Chicago's personal update 08:40 Fan website: The Analyst 11:16 Stats Perf…

Send us a text Let's talk business leadership coaching with Kate Mayne, Director of Partner and Digital Technical Sales, IBM. For Kate coaching is a practice. Mission and values. How to map out your 2025 plan. 02:13 Meet Kate Mayne 08:16 Business Coaching 16:00 Mission and Values 22:41 Starting the New Year 26:41 Define the Characteristics you Desi…

Send us a text The AI Patent Attorney, Robert Plotkin is back! Founding partner of Blueshift IP and author of AI Armor and The Genie in the Machine. Robert outlines the new gold rush and how to take advantage of it. 02:59 Meet Robert Plotkin Again 06:56 Robert's Brand 09:21 Why do Another Book 11:33 What Can be Patented? 14:18 Patent Attorneys 19:1…

Send us a text The podcast welcomes Manav Gupta, VP and CTO of IBM Canada. As a frequent collaborator on client visits, we discuss various aspects of large language models. So all things AI models. 02:04 Jumping Right into AI! 02:59 Meet Manav Gupta 08:17 Let's Talk All Things Models 27:20 How to Choose the Right Models 31:48 Where are the Models G…

Send us a text This week, we’re talking to Jon Darbyshire, CEO of SmartSuite, who’s making waves in work management from Kansas to Newport Beach. Learn how he's reshaping business operations with an all-in-one platform that’s turning process management on its head. #Entrepreneurship #WorkplaceAutomation #SmartSuite #TechInnovation #BusinessLeadersh…

Send us a text "Ready to dive deep into the future of intelligent systems? Meet Peter Voss, Founder and CEO of Aigo.ai, who coined the term 'Artificial General Intelligence' and is pioneering hyper-personalized chatbots WITH a brain. Join us as we explore his revolutionary ideas and why Aigo.ai is leading the charge in AI innovation." #AIInnovation…

Send us a text Richmond Alake, Developer Advocate at MongoDB, is an AI/ML practitioner with an academic background in computer vision, robotics, and machine learning. If databases that scale for AI are your thing, this one is for you. 02:05 Meet Rich Alake 03:57 A Developer Advocate at MongoDB 05:57 Passions and Fate! 08:52 AI Hype 13:14 Oh No. AGI…

Send us a text ChatGPT might be a scrape of the internet, but Personal AI is something entirely different—AI that’s personally yours. Join us as we meet Suman Kanuganti, CEO of Personal AI, a visionary on a mission to empower individuals by creating AI extensions of their memory. Get ready to explore how this groundbreaking innovation can transform…

Send us a text Megan Gallagher outlines the case for Agentic AI from the seat of GTM Account Director at Maven AGI. "We are living in times where we're still underneath this construct that things are going to be deterministic and that there are certain decision trees that are followed." "What we have to acknowledge in this new world is that these a…

Send us a text Aaron Cooper, Senior VP of Global Policy at BSA | The Software Alliance, shares insights on advancing emerging tech policies like #DataPrivacy, #Cybersecurity, #AIRegulation, and #DigitalTrade. Topics include balancing regulation with innovation, global vs. local policy, and the future of AI and cybersecurity. Hosted by Al Martin on …

Send us a text Ben Lowe, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Technology, shares insights into building a successful entrepreneurial journey, the creation of Lighthouse, and the transformative potential of Agentic AI for enterprises. Packed with career advice and strategies for innovation, this episode is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and aspiring en…

Send us a text Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [[email protected]] and tell us why you should be next. Synopsis What if hiring wasn’t about flipping through endless CVs but instead focused solely on skills? In this episode of Making Data Simple, we sit down with Tim Freestone, founder of Alooba, th…

Send us a text Phillip Swan is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader renowned for turning complex challenges into strategic opportunities. As Chief Product and go-tomarket (GTM) Officer at The AI Solution Group, Phillip blends customercentric go-to-market strategies with cutting-edge product development, leadership, and partnerships. 01:19 Meet Philli…

Send us a text Peter Wang, Chief AI and Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda, is back. Peter discusses Anaconda’s AI incubator. "It turns out Python is still a thing". Python and much, much more. 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 Ent…

Send us a text Part 2 with Mr. Ian Smith, the most interesting man alive… Serial Entrepreneurial and Co-founder of Lighthouse Technology, accelerating AI in the data center to optimize IT, Cloud and Data environments. 00:50 Lighthouse Technology 02:23 A Closed, Free AI Model?? How is it Monetized? 08:17 Back to the Data Center 10:44 The Edge 11:51 …

Send us a text Mr. Ian Smith, the most interesting man alive… Serial Entrepreneurial andCo-founder of Lighthouse Technology, accelerating AI in the data center to optimize IT, Cloud and Data environments. 00:58 Meet Ian Smith 03:24 Knowing when to Walk Away 06:32 Back to Ian 08:14 Startup Companies 09:51 A Wine Making Distraction 14:54 Exercise? 16…

Send us a text Part 2 : Learning leadership from a 2-star General : "The harder right versus the easier wrong". Hear about the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) 00:12 How to become a 2-Star General 01:22 Raising 3 girls 4:10 Leadership style 05:21 MDMP to civilian leadership 09:55 General McConville's book recommendation 10:54 How military in…

Send us a text More on GenAI, Hallucinations, RAG, Use Cases, LLMs, SLMs and costs with Armand Ruiz, Director watsonx Client Engineering and John Webb, Principal Client Engineering. With this and the previous episode you'll be wiser on AI than 98% of the world. 00:12 Hallucinations 02:33 RAG Differentiation 06:41 Why IBM in AI 09:23 Use Cases 11:02…

Send us a text We all need to tell a better story. Meet Vinca LaFleur of West Wing Writers. As a writer, the West Wing is the dream job. Learn how to embody "The story is the difference". Fascinating and only Part 1. 02:28 Meet Vinca LaFleur, the diplomate, wait?! 08:25 Politics? Continuous news? 10:40 "Hanging" with Bill Clinton 18:41 The craft of…

Send us a text Talking data with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management, StreamSets. Data integration and real-time decision making. 02:02 Dima Spivak is Here! 04:19 Why StreamSets? 06:00 What is StreamSets? 09:48 On Demand Expense 11:34 Regulated Industries 12:36 Secret Sauce 14:41 A Competitive View 15:50 Data Fabric and StreamSets 18:25 Str…

Send us a text A watercooler talk with the incredibly smart, Greg Hintermeister, IBM Distinguished Engineer, Master Inventor, and AI+ Enterprise Transformation Lead. From Design, the AI Method, to Music. 00:40 What Are You Singing? 03:09 Meet Greg Hintermeister 06:16 The Role of Design 09:19 Becoming a Distinguished Engineer 11:33 The Game Changer …

Send us a text Chris Konarski, VP Client Engineering, IBM, talks about how to place client obsession, co-creation, and curiosity to work within the Enterprise. 01:55 Who is Chris Konarski? 04:41 Client Engineering 09:02 Client Obsesses, Biased to Action, Curiosity 11:49 Love to Designers 13:37 Four Weeks to Deliver 16:04 3 Most Successful AI Use Ca…

Send us a text The master of Artificial Intelligence: Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist of IBM Research, an IBM Fellow, and Vice-President of IBM Corporate Technology. AI questions you were afraid to ask, from hallucinations to watsonx. #makingdatasimple #watsonx Welcome to the enlightening world of AI with Ruchir Puri, the Master of Artificial Intellig…

Send us a text I took a much needed vacation and invited my favorite coach back on the show. Lynne Snead, Principal and Owner of Talent Evolution Systems, discusses how to maintain focus and expand influence, using the three circles model. Leadership is is influence; are you a manager or leader? Would people follow you even if they didn't have to? …

Send us a text For the Electrical Engineers in Test out there, this is your episode. Todd VanGilder, CTO and CRO, and Ryan Smith, Tech Fellow, for Genuen join the podcast to talk about achieving reliable performance through Systems Engineering and Custom Test Equipment. And their secret sauce: Replica. 02:26 Meet Genuen Leaders 08:33 Boeing 09:21 G…

Send us a text Learn AI Ethics, Risks, and Regulation with Christina Montgomery, IBM's Chief Privacy and Trust Officer. Yes, Law can be fun AND very interesting. 01:00 Christina Montgomery! 04:36 My Daughter and the Bar 08:36 Chief Privacy and Trust Officer 11:37 Keeping IBM Out of Trouble 13:34 Client Conversations 16:23 Where to Be Bullish and Be…

Send us a text An avid rock climber and passionate advocate for digital services, Meg Gallagher, Director of Sales, WalkMe. WalkMe is a digital adoption platform (DAP) that helps businesses simplify the user experience and increase user engagement on their websites, mobile apps, and software platforms. 01:19 Meg Gallagher! 02:09 Favorite Spirits 04…

Send us a text Mastering SEO and Consumer Insights with Sam Torres, CDO of Gray Dot Company. And getting educated on gaming. Sam Torres is the Chief Digital Officer and co-founder of The Gray Dot Company, Gray Dot Company is a consulting firm that specializes in search engine optimization. Sam outlines expertise in complex digital analytics and con…

Send us a text A chat about leading Fortune 100 clients with Clodagh Daly, Director of Account Technical Leaders at IBM for UKI. So fun. Stories, sound bites, charisma and lies. 01:41 Introducing Clodagh Daly 05:49 Charisma & Lies 20:40 Account Technical Leader Magic 28:04 C-suite Influence Stories 34:41 The Best Account Technical Leaders 37:06 Con…

Send us a text Part 2 : With Roger Premo, General Manager, Corporate Strategy and Ventures. We transition from 5 truths on GenAI to 5 truths on Hybrid Cloud. Everything inquiring minds want to know! 01:40 Hybrid Cloud 02:32 Truth #6, ROI on Cloud 13:51 #7, Hybrid Multi-cloud is the Norm 18:06 Hybrid Landscapes Today 20:50 #8, Hybrid is Not Just for…

Send us a text Part 1 : Let's talk IBM's view on IT Strategy with Roger Premo, General Manager, Corporate Strategy and Ventures. This is Roger's 5 truths on GenAI. 01:31 Roger Premo is BACK 02:37 IBM's Ventures 08:06 10 Truths of GenAI and Hybrid Cloud 08:39 Let's Start with Facts 13:37 The First Truth : Multi-model 18:41 Second Truth : GenAI will …

Send us a text Want to go deep into Intelligent Systems, meet Peter Voss, Founder and CEO of Aigo.ai. Peter coined the term ‘Artificial General Intelligence’ and is perfecting the hyper-personalized Chatbot, WITH a brain. 01:56 Meet Peter Voss 08:23 Passion for Intelligent Systems 12:54 Why only Aigo 16:31 ChatGPT? A Different View 22:03 A Use Case…

Send us a text This is always a good interview; an interview from last year with Dr. Mindy Weinstein discussing how we try to reach humans through digital marketing, and the power of scarcity. I am reminded of this concept every time I look at the resell price of Taylor Swift tickets. Marketing : The Power of Scarcity with Mindy Weinstein, Founder …

Send us a text Kathy Stares, EVP of North America for Provenir talks about AI-powered risk decisioning software, processing more than four billion transactions annually for disruptive financial services organizations in more than 50 countries worldwide. 01:14 Meet Kathy Stares 04:34 The Start of Summer 08:01 AI Powered Risk Decisioning 11:31 The Te…

Send us a text Part 2: Ayal Steinberg, GM Technical Community and Client Engineering. A life in Sales is discussed in terms of Tech, leadership insights, and calling your shots. You're guaranteed to find at least one nugget to operationalize. 00:12 The State of AI 03:45 Instruct Lab, Open & Closed Models 08:49 Exciting Tech 15:51 Ayal the Outlier 1…

Send us a text Part 1: Ayal Steinberg, GM Technical Community and Client Engineering. A life in Sales is discussed in terms of Tech, leadership insights, and calling your shots. You're guaranteed to find at least one nugget to operationalize. 01:24 Tech Community and Client Engineering 05:03 Client Sales versus Technical Sales 07:27 5 to 10% More P…

Send us a text This week we chat with Rob Thomas, Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer at IBM. Rob talks health and hobbies, the state of AI, and IBM's overall vision. 01:57 Maintaining Health 03:57 Where is IBM Today? 06:58 Modernizing the Data Center 08:08 Acknowledged Mistakes 10:41 The State of AI 13:48 IBM's Position on…