Behind the Growth

Valerie McMurtry, President & CEO of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, joins Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to discuss how purpose-driven leadership, data, and partnerships are reshaping outcomes for children and youth in care. Drawing from her experience leading Canada’s largest charity in this space, Valerie explains how aligning mission, strategy, and innovation drives measurable change. The conversation begins with Valerie’s career journey from corporate marketing to the nonprofit sector. She shares how her upbringing shaped her focus on solving complex social issues and why she pursued work with deeper purpose. This background informs her leadership approach today, where she prioritizes long-term outcomes over short-term wins. Valerie then outlines the foundation’s mission: improving education, employment, mental health, and stability for young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, and abandonment. She explains why these priorities matter, the scale of the challenge in Canada, and how data guides funding decisions. She also discusses redefining success based on youth feedback, broadening it beyond traditional metrics to reflect individual progress. Finally, she highlights how the foundation has evolved from traditional philanthropy to testing new service models through social innovation and venture funding. Using examples like the TELUS Mobility for Good program, Valerie demonstrates how corporate partnerships can go beyond sponsorship to deliver real impact. She closes by urging business leaders to integrate social responsibility into their strategies, not as a side effort, but as a way to build stronger organizations and communities. Valerie dives into topics like: - Leaving corporate to find purpose - The hidden scale of child welfare - Why success metrics needed rewriting - Taking risks with social innovation - Building partnerships that actually work Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Brian Shickluna, Director of Software Engineering at Staples Canada, joins Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to unpack the leadership principles and organizational design strategies that have shaped his career. Drawing on experience from startups to large enterprises, Brian shares what it really takes to build and scale high-performing engineering teams. The conversation begins with Brian’s reflections on his career path and how working across industries taught him the value of seeing beyond technical expertise. He explains why leaders need a breadth of perspective to guide teams effectively, especially as they move from hands-on roles to broader organizational influence. Further diving deep into the concept of “legacy mindset,” Brian explores why outdated thinking and overcomplicated processes often hold organizations back more than their tech stacks. He challenges common assumptions about transformation and describes how simplifying workflows and clarifying roles can unlock speed and agility at scale. Finally, Brian shares his approach to fostering a culture of experimentation, empowering teams to take ownership of their ideas, and avoiding the traps of micromanagement. He closes with practical insights on servant leadership, psychological safety, and why senior executives should prioritize structure and mindset as the foundation for sustainable growth. Brian unpacks topics like: - The silent risks of structural debt - Designing orgs that outlast people - Breaking out of micromanagement - Protecting engineers from alert fatigue - When structure beats great ideas Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Naresh Babu, AI Technology Leader and Digital Transformation Specialist at mobileLIVE, joins Mudassar Malik to unpack the tough decisions behind core banking modernization. Together, they explore how leaders can balance customer demands, operational resilience, and the rising costs of legacy systems. Naresh shares how his early career as a COBOL developer shaped his understanding of resilience and why banks today must rethink their technology stacks to stay competitive. He highlights the primary drivers for modernization, including talent shortages, escalating OPEX, and shifting customer expectations, and contrasts how traditional and digital-first banks experience these pressures differently. The discussion dives into the pros and cons of incremental upgrades versus full system replacements, with Naresh offering practical frameworks for assessing risk tolerance and aligning modernization strategies with organizational workflows. He also warns against relying on satellite systems that create blind spots and long-term technical debt. Finally, Naresh examines how AI and cloud technologies are reshaping modernization efforts and why governance, KPI design, and a “customer downtime zero” mindset are critical for success. Naresh dives into topics like: - Rethinking customer expectations in banking - The true costs of legacy systems - When incremental upgrades backfire - AI tools in modernization strategies - The trap of satellite architectures Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode. Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Zahid Salman, President and CEO at GreenShield, joins Imran Mian on Behind the Growth to unpack the strategy behind building Canada’s first payer-provider platform, and how a nonprofit model is enabling innovation at enterprise scale. Zahid opens with the personal experiences that shaped his purpose-driven approach to leadership and shares how he moved from a traditional actuarial career into healthcare transformation. He breaks down GreenShield’s initial hypothesis: that Canadians would benefit from a single organization delivering both insurance and care. He further sheds light into how they moved early, acquiring eight companies in 18 months to accelerate the shift from coverage to service delivery during the pandemic. He also discusses the internal and external complexities of that pivot, from winning the trust of plan members and advisors to unifying employees behind a new mission. Zahid also shares how GreenShield Ventures helps the organization look beyond its near-term roadmap, building IP and capabilities around where the market is heading, not just where it is today. Throughout the conversation, Zahid reflects on how identity shapes leadership, why DEI remains central to GreenShield’s strategy, and what it takes to drive real impact in underserved communities. He closes with insights on AI's potential in proactive care, the growing role of private sector in delivering public healthcare, and the discipline required to scale without losing sight of purpose. Zahid also explores: - Diversifying with success - Betting on a model before demand - Gaining trust as a healthcare insurer - Scaling impact without chasing profit - The role of tech in unlocking M&A value Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Janet Sherlock, Founder & CEO at Org.Works, joins Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to challenge how most companies approach transformation, org design, AI strategy, and why their structures are often built to fail. Drawing from her executive experience and doctoral research, Janet breaks down what she calls “the hidden architecture” that shapes performance across every level of an enterprise. The conversation starts with a critique of role bloat at the top, like Chief Digital Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, Chief AI Officer, and how overlapping mandates erode clarity and accountability. Janet outlines how these roles are often a symptom of structural misalignment, not a solution to it. Introducing the Org.Works philosophy, “less but better,” she explains why simplicity, not complexity, is what drives resilience and execution. From there, the episode moves into the three most common org design pitfalls, using real-world examples like Unilever’s model shift and omnichannel challenges in retail and banking. Janet shares the telltale signs of structural dysfunction—misaligned KPIs, constant pre-meetings, unclear decision ownership—and why fixing these isn’t just about new titles or reorgs but about rethinking how teams are built to collaborate. The second half of the conversation dives into AI: not tools or talent, but structure. Janet introduces her CFD model: Center of Enablement, Federated AI and Modeling, Democratized Data. She elaborates on why governance, flexibility, and accountability matter more than hype. Finally, she breaks down how boards are shifting from AI education to execution, and why CEOs must stop chasing ROI and start investing in long-term capabilities. Janet explores topics like: - When org design creates friction - Why bloated C-suite roles backfire - The hidden cost of transformation layers - How structure drives AI performance - What boards now ask about AI Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Hanni Doch, VP of Digital Technology, joins Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to explore what enterprise transformation really looks like when it's done sustainably, incrementally, and with an eye toward value—not buzzwords. With experience spanning telecom, insurance, banking, and retail, Hanni brings a grounded view into why so many digital initiatives fall short and how leaders can avoid those traps. He opens with a sharp critique of the “big bang” approach to transformation, arguing that long, all-encompassing projects often fail to deliver value. Instead, he lays out a case for incremental change, focusing on areas where the business will feel the impact early. From there, the conversation moves into cloud strategy. Hanni explains how many organizations “lift and shift” their workloads without actually realizing the benefits of cloud—and offers a clear, cost-effective example of how to do it right, leveraging GPU-intensive workloads and cloud-native services. On AI, Hanni discusses how his team used generative tools to accelerate software development and testing—while maintaining a strong role for human creativity and quality. He also shares lessons from leading high-scale teams, including his approach to hiring engineers from open-source communities and developer forums rather than traditional channels. Throughout the conversation, Hanni emphasizes the importance of aligning people, processes, and tooling around meaningful outcomes. Whether he's talking about data governance, automation, or AI adoption, his focus remains on what drives results—and what slows them down—in large, complex environments. Hanni shares his take on: - Why “big bang” rollouts collapse - Cloud migrations that don’t deliver - AI’s role in accelerating development - When data lakes become swamps - Rethinking how great developers are hired Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Charu Pujari, Vice President of Engineering and Data Science at Loblaw Digital, joins Imran Mian on Behind the Growth to break down what it really takes to architect enterprise systems that move fast, scale reliably, and stay relentlessly focused on the customer. Opening the conversation with insights into his early shift from data science into engineering, Charu shares hard-won lessons on engineering for scale. Having learned the hard way that scale cannot be an afterthought, Charu emphasizes why performance and reliability can’t be added later, and how designing for agility up front enables real-time experimentation across digital platforms. He unpacks how his team replatformed critical systems to support modularity, faster decision-making, and direct user feedback loops. Throughout the conversation, Charu emphasizes the operational choices behind building high-performing teams: trust first, reduce blockers, and align everyone around solving real problems. He discusses how personalization in retail is no longer a feature—it’s a foundation—and why merchandising, pricing, and promotion must now adapt dynamically to individual customer needs. Drawing from his time at Loblaw leading his team through a full platform re-architecture, he explains why agility, not perfection, is the priority—and how customer feedback, not internal consensus, drives meaningful product decisions, enabling faster iteration and greater composability across digital experiences. From introducing new features in 72 hours to balancing autonomy with alignment across teams, Charu shares what it looks like to operationalize customer-centricity at scale. The episode also dives into turns to the intersection of media, loyalty, and personalization in retail. From zero-time search to AI-native interfaces, Charu offers a candid, technical, and practical view into how enterprise platforms—and the teams behind them—can move with purpose to meet customers where they are—with the right product, at the right time, at the right value. He explores topics like: - Engineering platforms for real-time scale - Re-platforming to unlock team agility - Personalization as retail infrastructure - Building autonomy into high-performing teams - Rethinking media as part of CX Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Akua Mensah, Senior Director of Process Engineering & Business Enablement at CIBC, joins host Mudassar Malik on this episode to explore the real drivers of transformation—and why soft skills aren’t just a “nice to have,” but a strategic necessity. Drawing from her work leading process design, service improvement, and enterprise change across banking and consulting, Akua brings a grounded perspective on how large organizations actually move forward. The conversation begins with how Akua’s team centres the customer’s “why” in service design, data, and Lean Six Sigma programs across the bank. She shares how transformation work must balance operational logic with human insight—and how resilience, adaptability, and diplomacy serve as the glue that holds major initiatives together. From there, Akua shares why communication is still the top failure point in large-scale projects—impacting timelines, budgets, and trust. She explains how leaders can set the tone through clarity, active listening, and confidence built through competence. The discussion also dives into conflict resolution, creative problem solving, and the importance of coaching that goes beyond instruction to true development. The episode closes with Akua outlining the human success factors she sees as non-negotiable for the post-AGI enterprise: communication, coaching, problem-solving, meta-learning, and confidence built on real competence. For leaders navigating change, it’s a clear call to invest in what really drives outcomes—your people. Akua explores topics like: - Why poor communication still breaks projects - Handling conflict in high-stakes teams - Leading with customer-first design thinking - Coaching beyond performance reviews - Building confidence through competence Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Sid Kumar, Head of Global GTM Strategy & Planning at Databricks, joins host Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to unpack what it really takes to design and run a connected go-to-market engine—one that aligns across marketing, sales, customer success, and operations, from first touch to renewal. Sid shares hard-earned lessons from leading GTM functions at CA Technologies, Amazon, HubSpot, and now Databricks. He walks through what it means to think of go-to-market as a closed-loop system instead of a linear process, and why shared language, unified metrics, and functional accountability across the full customer lifecycle are non-negotiables at scale. Along the way, he explains how concepts like HubSpot’s “flywheel” and Amazon’s input-output discipline shaped how he approaches alignment, planning, and operating rhythm. The conversation also tackles the balance between centralization and regional autonomy—particularly in planning and compensation design—and how Sid works to ensure standardization never disconnects from field realities. He talks about the role of regional GTM COOs and the importance of feedback loops from country-level teams back into global processes. Finally, Sid dives deep into how AI is reshaping GTM workflows—from prospecting and rep productivity to strategic operations and RevOps. He shares clear use cases, practical advice, and a firm reminder to start with the workflows, not the tech. For enterprise leaders looking to modernize how their organizations go to market, this is a conversation worth pausing for. Sid dives into topics like: - AI’s role in RevOps strategy - Connecting funnel stages into one system - Centralizing planning without losing nuance - Time-and-motion studies for workflow clarity - How shared language drives accountability Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Hamza Qamar, Senior Director of Product, Innovation & Design at mobileLIVE, joins Mudassar Malik on Behind the Growth to break down what it really takes to lead product innovation inside enterprise environments—and why technical talent alone doesn’t cut it. Starting with a story from his early days as a software engineer, Hamza explains how a single round of informal user conversations reshaped not only a feature, but his entire approach to product leadership. Throughout the conversation, Hamza lays out a practical framework for managing uncertainty across the product lifecycle—balancing experimentation, iteration, and scale by asking two deceptively simple questions: How certain are we that this adds value for users? And how urgently does the business need results? He explains how this model has helped him make sharper decisions while still giving room for exploration. The conversation moves into how AI is influencing the product function, with Hamza highlighting the shift from spreadsheet-heavy reporting to conversational analytics that accelerate understanding and action. He shares how he’s using these tools with teams today—not just to extract insights, but to turn data into collaborative decision-making moments. Finally, Hamza reflects on the leadership behaviours that drive consistent performance in product teams. From shared ownership to inclusive problem-solving, he emphasizes the need for environments where creativity and accountability can coexist. For product and technology leaders navigating scale, pace, and complexity, this episode offers a grounded, execution-first lens on innovation that delivers. Hamza shares his perspective on: - Scaling without sacrificing user insight - Being cautious of misleading data - Testing trends instead of chasing them - Measuring true product innovation impact - Lessons from telecom product misfires Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Justin Bundick, Managing Director of AI and Data Transformation at Southwest Airlines, joins host Imran Mian to explore the real-world complexities of scaling AI in one of the world’s most operationally intense industries. With a focus on turning experimentation into enterprise impact, Justin outlines what most organizations overlook when moving beyond pilots—highlighting the critical role of infrastructure, data readiness, governance, and change management. He shares the story behind the Leading Indicators Alert Tool (LIAT), a predictive system that uses hundreds of real-time and historical data points to forecast operational disruptions 24 hours in advance. Built on Southwest’s integrated data foundation and cloud-native platforms, Liat exemplifies how AI can shift from insights to action—if embedded correctly into workflows and decision-making. Throughout the episode, Justin stresses the importance of human-centred design and empathy-driven AI development. He explains how his team begins by deeply immersing themselves in business processes to ensure AI solutions are not only technically sound but also usable and trusted by the people they serve. The conversation also explores Southwest’s partnerships with AWS and Anthropic, and how these collaborations enable rapid development and responsible scaling of both traditional and generative AI. For technology and business leaders aiming to move AI out of the lab and into production—without losing momentum or mission—this episode offers a tactical, no-fluff perspective from the frontlines of enterprise transformation. Justin shares his perspective on: - Operationalising AI in complex environments - Forecasting disruption through predictive modelling - Embedding AI into business workflows - Breaking down barriers to AI scale - Driving AI outcomes with cloud strategy Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Vipul Lalka, Vice President of Canadian Personal Banking Digital Transformation and Strategy at TD, joins Behind the Growth to discuss how technology is reshaping banking. He breaks down the challenges and opportunities in driving digital adoption, from modernizing legacy systems to meeting evolving customer expectations. He shares insights on TD’s approach to digital strategy—balancing innovation with security, enhancing customer experiences, and staying ahead in a competitive landscape. Vipul also highlights the role of AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making in shaping the bank’s future. Imran and Vipul dive into the human side of transformation, exploring how culture, leadership, and collaboration drive change. From redefining customer journeys to navigating regulatory frameworks, this episode unpacks the key elements of digital banking success. Whether you're in financial services or leading digital change in another industry, Vipul’s expertise offers valuable takeaways. Vipul shared his perspective on: - Aligning technology with business - Engaging digital banking customers - Differentiating in the technology space - The value in nurturing your network - Navigating career transitions and progression Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Imran Mian speaks with Shalu Bains, Chief Information and Analytics Officer at Trillium Health Partners, about the vital role of technology and analytics in modern healthcare. Shalu shares how her non-clinical background enables her to drive impactful change through data-driven solutions, emphasizing the importance of understanding client needs and supporting them through technological transitions. She highlights the effectiveness of co-designing solutions and maintaining open communication during large-scale transformations. Shalu discusses how Trillium Health Partners leverages data to understand community health needs, enhance capacity planning, and address health equity gaps. She offers practical examples of how data-driven insights inform decision-making and improve patient care. Finally, Shalu provides valuable advice for aspiring leaders in digital health and analytics. She emphasizes the importance of gaining a deep understanding of the healthcare system, cultivating a strong professional network, and seeking guidance from mentors. Shalu encourages listeners to embrace change and innovation to make a meaningful impact in this dynamic field. Shalu shares insights on: – Co-designing solutions with frontline staff – Understanding community health needs – Addressing health equity gaps – The dependence on data in healthcare – Cultivating a strong professional network Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian speaks with Saby Waraich, CIO and CISO at Clackamas Community College, about transformative leadership and the evolving role of technology in education. Saby shares his unique leadership framework, CARES (Communicate, Adapt, Relationships, Empathy, Stay Calm), which emphasizes compassion and adaptability in navigating organizational change. He delves into the pitfalls of fear-based management and explains how trust and empowerment drive meaningful transformation. The conversation also explores the intersection of technology and leadership. Saby highlights the accelerating impact of AI and cybersecurity on the education sector, stressing the need for organizations to adapt quickly to technological advancements. He shares real-world examples of leveraging generative AI to streamline operations and discusses the importance of public-private partnerships in preparing students for future workforce demands. Through personal stories, Saby illustrates how leaders can inspire teams, overcome challenges, and foster resilience in high-pressure environments. Saby shares his insights on: - Preventing transformation failures - Public-private collaborations - Setting clear expectations - Building stronger team relationships - Accelerating decision-making Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Holly Heglin, Head of AI Product & Strategy at Layer 6 AI discusses AI innovation and operational transformation with host Imran Mian. A seasoned leader in AI strategy and governance, Holly dives into the critical challenges of scaling AI solutions in heavily regulated environments like banking, balancing the need for innovation with stringent governance. She discusses how organizations can address these challenges through agile approaches and strong governance processes to mitigate risks while ensuring business value. Further delving into how her career evolved alongside the expanding AI field, taking on various roles from proof-of-concept to production-grade GenAI solutions, Holly emphasizes her approach to "delivery excellence," which combines structured processes with creative problem-solving. She explains how this method, along with improved stakeholder interaction, has significantly reduced delivery times for AI solutions. An advocate for democratizing AI tools, she stresses the need to balance broader access with strong governance to enable business users to explore and hypothesize solutions before engaging specialized talent for production. Finally, Holly shares her insights into the future of AI, especially with the rapid evolution of generative AI and its potential for both operational efficiency and ethical concerns. With a focus on responsible AI practices, she highlights the importance of advancing transparency, testing, and learning when deploying AI systems. The discussion concludes with insights on the creation of a formalized job family for AI product delivery at TD Bank, showcasing how an agile, product-minded approach to AI has enhanced responsiveness to business needs and drastically cut delivery timelines. Holly shares her thoughts on: - Balancing AI governance with innovation - Overcoming stakeholder alignment issues - Democratizing AI tools for business - Embracing an agile product mindset - Navigating AI uncertainty Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Dr. Brian Gardner, Interim CIO for the City of Dallas, discusses cybersecurity and the unique challenges of managing a diverse IT department in the public sector. Drawing from his transition from forensic accounting to IT leadership with host Imran Mian, he details his passion for information security and public service, highlighting the importance of balancing cybersecurity, digital transformation, and AI initiatives within limited budgets. Dr. Gardner shares examples of several successful innovation projects, including implementing a software-defined wide area network and city-wide multi-factor authentication. He emphasizes the need to reduce technical debt to free up resources for innovation. He further discusses the influence of AI on cybersecurity strategies, noting both the opportunities and risks it presents. Discussing his involvement with the Coalition of City CISOs, he emphasizes the value of collaboration in this space. He also shares his personal experience of fostering children and how it has shaped his leadership perspective. Finally, he offers advice for aspiring IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, and those considering public service. Dr. Gardner shares his insights on - Managing IT in the public sector - Reducing technical debt with innovation - Balancing security with user experience - Enhancing threat detection with AI - Collaborating in municipal cybersecurity Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

Julie Lane, Global Head of Ways of Working in Financial Services at AWS, joins host Imran Mian on Behind the Growth to discuss the evolution of financial services. Julie shares insights from her 20-year career, focusing on digital transformation. She notes the shift from branch-first to digital-first banking and the rise of mobile engagement. Julie discusses the complexities of regulations, legacy technology, and customer expectations. She advises a proactive approach to regulatory changes, partnering closely with governance, risk, and compliance teams. She highlights the need to address data hygiene before implementing large-scale AI projects. Julie advocates for a customer-centric approach to product development, emphasizing the voice of the customer. She stresses the importance of efficient processes, discussing the growing role of FinTechs and the need for collaboration between traditional institutions and these disruptors. Finally, she emphasizes the importance of a solid data foundation for AI success, balancing innovation with compliance, and the need for cultural shifts to support digital transformations. Julie shares insights on: - Navigating regulatory complexity - Data hygiene for AI implementation - Overcoming legacy tech debt - Prioritizing mobile-first for BFSIs - Customer-centric transformations Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, Davood Shamsi, Executive Director at JPMorganChase, shares his journey from academia to industry in the field of AI and machine learning. Davood discusses the importance of understanding business problems before applying AI solutions. He emphasizes the need to dig deep into the core issues, often uncovering better solutions than initially proposed. He also highlights the value of optimization techniques in refining AI model outputs, using examples from advertising and grocery shopping to illustrate practical applications. Looking to the future, Davood predicts that language models will democratize financial information, making it more accessible to the average person. He also foresees significant advancements in drug discovery, driven by increased computational power. Davood concludes by advising aspiring AI professionals to build solid knowledge of AI tools and focus on their unique strengths to create competitive advantages in the field. Davood shares his thoughts on: - Optimizing and refining AI model outputs - AI solutions for specific business problems - Democratizing financial information - Revolutionizing drug discovery - Competitive advantage from AI knowledge Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

On this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian speaks with José Ignacio Sordo Galarza, Founder & Managing Director of CIO Eureka, about his career and insights on bridging the gap between IT and core business functions. José emphasizes that IT professionals often need to better articulate the value of their work in a language understandable to business leaders. He shares his experience in sales early in his career, where he learned the critical skill of communicating effectively with stakeholders and "selling" solutions. This experience proved invaluable when he transitioned to an IT leadership role. He discusses leading IT through a major merger, drawing parallels between integrating complex systems and the need to prioritize people in the process. José advocates for IT leaders to pursue "the harder right" instead of "the easier wrong," making strategic decisions that may be more challenging in the short term but ultimately deliver greater long-term value. José shares insights on: - The communication gap in IT - Selling solutions in tech - Merging complex systems - Choosing the “harder right” - Drivers of tech decisions Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.

In this episode of Behind the Growth, host Imran Mian engages in an insightful discussion with Ujjwal Goel, Senior Director at Loblaw Companies Limited. Their conversation delves into the crucial role of data strategy within the realm of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Ujjwal underscores the critical importance of a robust data strategy for organizations aiming to harness the full potential of AI and emphasizes that this strategy should seamlessly align with business objectives, forming the bedrock upon which AI and ML initiatives are constructed. The conversation then shifts into the intricacies of data architecture, highlighting the evolution of data warehousing to data lakes and the emerging trend of combining both in a lake house concept. Finally, the podcast delves into the evolution from centralization to decentralization in data management, advocating for a hub-and-spoke model that balances centralized governance with decentralized execution. Ujjwal also addresses the ethical dimensions of AI, underscoring the pressing need for organizations to cultivate responsible AI practices. As AI continues to reshape industries, this episode offers invaluable insights for senior executives and professionals seeking to effectively integrate data and AI strategies into their organizations. Key Takeaways - The evolution of data management has accelerated AI adoption. - Aligning your data strategy with your business goals is crucial. - Implementing ethical frameworks in AI adoption is integral to a company’s strategy. - AI adoption may impact jobs but promises a brighter future for everyone. - Embracing AI now is essential for growth and scalability. Visit mobilelive.ca/podcast to learn more about each guest and read key insights for every episode.