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What if the rush to AI is actually costing you millions in failed implementations? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, host Amy Horowitz, GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, sits down with Jim Kruger, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Informatica, to explore why data quality and governance must come before AI ambitions. Drawing from his unique experience as a CMO with full pipeline accountability, Jim shares why the "trust paradox" is the biggest hurdle to AI success and how leaders can prepare for the next era of agentic business.

If successful enterprise AI adoption is on your list for 2026, you’ve got to focus all your effort on strategy, not tools. In this episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, host and GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, Amy Horowitz, welcomes Kavita Ganesan, Chief AI Strategist & Architect, Opinosis Analytics, for a browse through her playbook of getting AI right. Together, they unpack why strategy must come before tools, how to identify which AI projects will actually move the needle for your organization, and the critical steps leaders must take to govern innovation responsibly. AI’s all the rage, but it’s time to sit down and truly understand what it can and cannot do.

The year may have changed from 2025 to 2026, but some fundamental truths about AI haven’t. In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, host and GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, Amy Horowitz, kickstarts the year with Lillian Pierson, Fractional CMO & Growth Advisor, Data Mania LLC and a marketing AI educator, for a candid and eye-opening conversation on how companies can build AI-native growth systems that deliver measurable ROI, architect high-performing teams with fewer resources, while avoiding the pitfalls of "shiny object syndrome." These are the frameworks and real-world strategies that help early-stage startups and Fortune 100 companies alike harness AI for exponential growth. But most importantly, the strategies that keep humans in control of what matters most.

As we draw the curtains on 2025, it’s time to celebrate and reflect on the tectonic shifts the data and AI landscape have brought our way. In this episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, hosts Amy Horowitz and Nick Dobbins reflect on a remarkable year of conversations with industry leaders, unpacking breakthrough insights that separate organizations thriving with AI from those merely chasing the hype. Featuring memorable moments from guests including Alana Val-Hackett, Sean Farney, Joe Reis, Karen Pfeifer, Cara Dailey, Kevin Petrie and Eric Siegel, this episode captures the strategic themes reshaping how enterprises operationalize trusted data and responsible automation.

Regulations and governance don’t have to slow you down in the age of AI. They can actually be your competitive advantage. In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, host and GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, Amy Horowitz, welcomes Anand Vijai, Head of Risk, Finance, Compliance and Enterprise Data Platforms at Citizens Bank, for a play-by-play on building the idea data experience. Tune in for actionable insights on driving innovation without sacrificing governance, an understanding of why real-time data integration and AI-ready architectures matter in banking and the practical guide for modernizing your platform at scale. Plus, Anand's three guiding principles for driving meaningful technical change in regulated industries. This conversation delivers battle-tested strategies to turn data challenges into business opportunities.

Placing bets is always a risky game, and yet, everyone’s looking to do it with AI. So, how can you make the best possible bet? In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, host and GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, Amy Horowitz, welcomes pioneering AI strategist and Forbes-ranked #1 Futurist, Jonathan Brill, to figure it out. Backed by his rich experience shaping technology at Microsoft and Samsung, he shares his insights on AI transformation today - from why the "octopus organization" model beats traditional hierarchies, to the four ways of thinking your teams need to master - these are the battle-tested strategies for building cultures where AI amplifies human capability rather than displacing it. This conversation reveals how to balance innovation with governance, rethink talent strategy and position your organization to compete in a world where technology has gone global. Most importantly, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about AI transformation.

Predictive models are the yin to Gen AI’s yang and yet, they’re often forgotten about and left behind; especially in the context of driving business value. In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, host Nick Dobbins, VP and Worldwide Field CTO at Informatica, sits down with Eric Siegel, CEO of Gooder AI and bestselling author of "The AI Playbook," to explore the practical implementation of machine learning in business operations and how we can cut through AI hype and unlock real business value through predictive analytics. Tune in to learn why predictive AI deserves equal attention as generative AI, how to bridge the gap between technical and business metrics, and discover a six-step framework for successful ML deployment.

The only thing worse than not using Agentic AI in today’s day and age is using it badly! If you want to avoid the chaos that often accompanies Agentic AI and enjoy its perks to the fullest, tune into the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life with host Nick Dobbins, VP and Worldwide Field CTO, Informatica. In this episode, he welcomes Kevin Petrie, VP of Research and Head of Data Management Practice at BARC, to explore the transformative impact of Agentic AI on modern enterprises. Kevin shares invaluable insights on architecting for AI success, implementing effective governance frameworks, and managing the proliferation of AI agents across organizations. From practical strategies for metadata management, to balancing human oversight with automation, this conversation delivers essential guidance for data leaders navigating the evolving landscape of AI implementation.

What does it take to be a successful Chief Data Officer in today’s fast changing tech data and AI landscape? In the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI To Life, Amy Horowitz, GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica sits down with Cara Dailey, 3-time CDO for major financial institutions, to explore what pragmatic leadership in data transformation really entails. Drawing from her experience at major financial powerhouses, Cara shares invaluable insights on balancing strategic data differentiation, maintaining "clean closets" in data management, and leveraging AI to strengthen governance initiatives. This conversation offers a critical reminder that data-driven decision making is the need of the hour and can make or break your CDO aspirations.

AI this, AI that - but how many of us are actually extracting its complete value and making it work for us? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, host and GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica, Amy Horowitz sits down with Karen Pfeifer, Chief AI Officer at Pythian, to unravel the complexities of enterprise data and AI transformation. Drawing from her extensive experience at industry giants like Disney, Hulu, and Comcast, Karen shares invaluable insights on measuring data success through business impact, developing cross-functional teams, and navigating the challenges of AI governance. Her experiential perspectives offer practical wisdom on building trusted data foundations and embracing emerging trends like Agentic AI. Tune in for a reminder that the bridge between technical innovation and tangible business outcomes exists, and you can cross it!

So, you’ve got your data in place. Now what? The world of data collection, analysis and engineering is undergoing a massive overhaul and it can be hard to keep on. In part 2 of this Bringing Data and AI To Life episode, host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, and Joe Reis, bestselling author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and Data Engineer, continue to unpack why prioritizing business problems over technological solutions in AI implementation is critical. Tune in to discover practical strategies for better active listening, translating technical concepts into business value, and mastering the fundamentals in an AI-first world. The keys to unlocking the potential of the data ecosystem are where you least expect them to be.

Today’s data ecosystem is less an absolute and more an ever-evolving mystery that’s always got eyes on it. Our eyes too - on the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, welcomes Joe Reis, bestselling author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and Data Engineer, in this two-part series, to explore the evolving landscape of data engineering and AI implementation. Tune in to understand why focusing on fundamentals remains crucial amid rapid technological change, unpack the ways to build robust data systems without falling into “hype cycles”, and learn practical strategies for aligning architecture, governance, and tooling with real business outcomes. It’s time to balance innovation with proven principles, while emphasizing the often-overlooked importance of security and governance in modern data engineering.

Data dictates everything - our work, our lives and everything in between. But where does it live? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, sits with Sean Farney, VP of Data Center Strategy for Americas at JLL, to explore the fascinating world of data center innovation. Together, they unpack valuable insights from managing Microsoft's groundbreaking 120MW containerized data center to leading sustainability initiatives across 200 million square feet of mission-critical infrastructure. The world belongs to those who pay attention to AI infrastructure scaling, sustainable data operations and the future of adaptive data centers. So, tune in to understand why data centers are the backbone of our AI-driven future and learn about emerging opportunities in this rapidly growing field. Come, take a peek behind the curtain of modern data infrastructure!

Transforming one’s business with AI while maintaining that human element is the balance everyone’s struggling with. But what if the answer’s hidden in plain sight? In this episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, host and VP of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales at Informatica, Amy Horowitz sits down with Alanna Val Hackett, Manager of Data Solutions at TripleLift, to explore the evolution of modern data teams, effective data-driven product management, and practical AI implementation strategies. Tune in for valuable insights on how to balance automation with human expertise, develop junior talent effectively, and create a documentation culture that empowers self-service analytics. The only data teams that will win are the ones who keep ethical considerations at the forefront.

In the data and AI space, action cannot wait. And, neither can celebration! Tune into the anniversary special of Bringing Data and AI To Life as hosts, Amy Horowitz, GVP Solutions Sales and Business Development at Informatica and Nick Dobbins, VP and Worldwide Field CTO, Informatica, along with special appearances from the podcast team - Rudra Ray, Rameez Ghouz, Stephanie Rogers and Gary Loste, celebrate one year of cutting through data and AI complexity. Together, they reflect on key insights and transformative discussions that have shaped the industry landscape, including AI governance challenges, the importance of trusted data for scaling AI initiatives, and practical strategies for modernizing data stacks. As you listen in, continue to cut through the chaos of data and AI and walk the path of clarity with us!