Don't be afraid of giants.

At some point, they have to sleep.

In this episode, we chat with Bob van Luijt, diving into his journey of facing challenges, conquering obstacles, and finding success.

Let's get started on a conversation that's all about building open-source platforms, communities, and disrupting tech giants.

Meet Bob van Luijt

Bob’s Role as an AI Leader at Weaviate

Bob van Luijt is the CEO and Co-founder of Weaviate. Weaviate is a cloud-native, real-time vector database that allows users to bring machine-learning models to scale. They believe that the next wave of software infrastructure is AI-first and that a strong open-source community is a basis for creating high-quality software.

Bob’s Other Work in Technology and AI

Currently, Bob is also a Chairman for the Creative Software Foundation, a nonprofit located in The Netherlands with a sole focus on open source and creative software. He has a great love for all things related to tech, machine learning, digital business, open-source, fashion, and music.

Before founding Weaviate, Bob founded Kubrickology, a consultancy agency that uses emerging technologies to design and develop innovative solutions for everyday problems. Here, he worked with companies like ING Bank and Vodafone Ziggo. At the age of 15, Bob started freelance software engineering for a variety of e-commerce websites for SME companies in The Netherlands.

Open-Source, Community, and Generative AI

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Bob shares:

• His experience studying music and how it's helped his current career
• Shifting from IoT to vector databases
• Why it was difficult for people to grasp the concept immediately
• The disruption theory
• Why big companies like Google aren't doing what startups do
• His current role as the CEO and co-founder of Weaviate
• Why he built Weaviate as open-source
• His perspective on copycats
• The secret to building an open-source community
• Use cases for Generative AI in the community
• Generative Feedback Loops

If you are an aspiring developers or organisation leader aiming to embark on a similar path in the realm of open-source, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

Fun fact: Companies that outsource to the Philippines can cut labour costs by 70%

Approximately 1,000,000 Filipinos work outsourced jobs, an industry that’s worth close to $27 million.

Are you exploring global outsourcing?

Matt Watson discusses this in our latest podcast episode, plus the ingenious ways software developers are harnessing the potential of Generative AI.

Meet Matt Watson

Matt’s Role as a Software Leader at Full Scale

Matt Watson is the Co-founder of Full Scale, an innovative technology services company located in the Philippines. At Full Scale, with a dedicated team of over 300 professionals, they assist businesses in assembling teams of skilled software engineers. Their mission revolves around simplifying the process of discovering and retaining highly seasoned software engineers, making it both swift and cost-effective.

Matt’s Other Work in Technology and AI

Over the past two decades, Matt has established himself as a serial entrepreneur, successfully founding 3 tech companies, including VinSolutions which was exited for $150M in 2011. His brainchild, Stackify, was acquired by Netreo in 2021, creating a powerful suite of tools designed to aid developers in monitoring and troubleshooting their applications.

Currently, Matt is also the co-host of the Startup Hustle podcast - a top 100 podcast about entrepreneurship - as well as the founder of At Capacity. At Capacity is a smart ads platform for home services that turns search ads off when their customers have full schedules. Additionally, Matt is the EVP of Software Development at CAMP Digital.

Outsourcing, Software Developers, and Generative AI

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Matt shares:

• His experience winning awards like Ingram's 40 Under 40 and Techweek 100

• His current role as the Co-Founder of Full Scale

• Hiring software developers outside of the United States

• How his team is trying out Generative AI and coding co-pilots

• Whether he has concerns about his business being impacted by Generative AI like ChatGPT

• Communicating to his team the value they bring in a world with AI

• How AI and analytics are currently being used to monitor the performance of his software developers

• His advice for anyone seeking to outsource engineers globally

• The common challenges people face that cause them to switch from platforms like Upwork to Full Scale

• Navigating local labour laws and regulations

If you are a software professional or leader looking to outsource and navigate the impact of Generative AI on your team, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

Muncie man found guilty of dealing a controlled substance resulting in death

Woman charged with forging prescriptions to buy controlled drugs

These are just two headlines regarding controlled drugs that have surfaced recently.

But there is hope!

And it comes in the form of AI analytics and facial recognition technology.

Meet Christopher Durre

Chris’s Role as a Technology Leader at StrongRoom AI

Christopher Durre serves as the Chief Technology Officer at StrongRoom AI, a leading provider of AI-driven controlled drugs management solutions. StrongRoom specialises in leveraging AI analytics and Facial Recognition technology to enhance medication safety and reduce adverse drug events in Pharmacy, Hospital, and Aged Care Facility settings.
Chris’s Other Work in Technology and AI

Before assuming the role of CTO at StrongRoom AI, Chris held the position of Chief Innovation Officer for six years. During this time, he actively contributed to the growth and development of the company. Additionally, Chris was a participant in the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP), a renowned university business accelerator ranked 8th globally. MAP aims to foster entrepreneurship in Australia and launch high-growth ventures on an international scale.

Chris graduated from Swinburne University of Technology in 2019 as a Bachelor of Computer Science, Data Science. Throughout his academic journey, he was recognized with a Dean's Outstanding Achievement Scholarship. Chris also worked on the development of an AI-driven timetabling system. Concurrently, he gained valuable industry experience as an Undergraduate Engineer at the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.

Facial Recognition, Controlled Drugs, and AI

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Christopher shares:

• Developing an AI driven timetabling system while taking his bachelor’s degree

• How the experience with capstone projects stuck with him

• His advice to students doing projects of a similar nature

• Where the name StrongRoom comes from

• Convincing a privacy-heavy sector like healthcare to use facial recognition in the early years

• StrongRoom AI's role in managing controlled drugs

• Other ways StrongRoom's controlled drug management platform contributes to improving medication safety

• AI's role in remote patient monitoring and the increasing use of telehealth

• Camera technology vs wearable devices in aged care

• The best way to convince patients that their privacy is protected

• A case study where the implementation of AI has made a significant impact in improving medication safety

• The main barriers that healthcare organisations might face when adopting AI and advanced technologies

• His advice for healthcare organisations or professionals looking to incorporate AI and technology

  
  

If you are a healthcare professional looking to incorporate AI and technology into your organisation, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

You don't need to be Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos to be an innovator.

They are not otherworldly and innovation is not exclusive to the richest in the world or the extraordinary few.

All it takes is the ability to think differently.

And Neil Sahota holds the secret to do just that in this episode of The Analytics Show.

Meet Neil Sahota Neil’s Role as an AI Leader at ACSILabs

Neil Sahota is the Chief Executive Officer of ACSILabs. Starting as a group of university scientists trying to understand the role of cognition and the forces that affect business, ACSILabs’ mission is to improve human thinking while at the same time providing benefits to organisations through research. They find ways to help people adapt to an increasingly complex world. Most of their early work was funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Neil’s Other Work in Technology and AI

Beyond his role at ACSILabs, Neil Sahota is a highly regarded professional speaker who has delivered engaging presentations at numerous enterprises and organisations since 2009. Furthermore, he holds the position of AI Advisor for the United Nations and played a pivotal role in co-founding the UN's AI for Good initiative, as well as co-creating the UN's Innovation Factory. Additionally, he is involved in lecturing and course design at the University of California, Irvine.

Neil is a committee member and on the advisory board or board of directors across multiple organisations as well. This includes Otomo, Lingmo, LegalMation, MentorMint, Related & Co., SketchTogether, PayStudents, and more. Previously, Neil was the Chief Innovation Officer at the University of California, Irvine, the Emerging Tech Principal at TECHNOSSUS, and the World Wide Business Development Leader at IBM.

Metaverse, Innovation, and AI

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Neil shares:

• How he won the President's Volunteer Service Award by the U.S. President in 2016

• His current role as the Chief Executive Officer at ACSILabs

• What the Metaverse actually is and what it's being used for

• Digital twins, data analytics, and AI in the Metaverse

• Thinking differently in a world of innovation and AI

• Obstacles in innovations and turning ideas into reality

• Misconceptions around automation vs intelligence

• The ethical considerations regarding AI innovation

• Building AI governance

• Embracing the inevitable failures and setbacks in AI innovation

• Real-world examples or success stories where individuals or organisations have embraced innovation and leveraged AI to achieve remarkable outcomes

• His advice for those interested in incorporating AI into their ventures

If you are an AI professional or a leader looking to incorporate AI and encourage innovation in your organisation, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

How is the rise of AI impacting the healthcare industry in Singapore?

And how can a data strategy can help the Ministry of Health make better business decisions?

These are just some of the questions Sutowo answers in this latest episode of The Analytics Show.

In this episode, Sutowo will share his insights on empowering business decisions in healthcare through data strategies in Singapore.

(Plus, please welcome our new co-host, Harry Chan, in his first-ever episode!)

Meet Sutowo Wong Sutowo’s Role as an Advanced Analytics Leader at the Ministry of Health

Sutowo Wong is the Director of Data Analytics at the Ministry of Health in Singapore. Singapore’s MOH is an innovative and people-centred organisation, committed to medical excellence, the promotion of good health, the reduction of illness, and access to good and affordable healthcare for all Singaporeans. Through MOH, the Singaporean government manages the public healthcare system by providing subsidised medical services while promoting individual responsibility for the costs of healthcare services.

Sutowo’s Other Work in Advanced Analytics

As the leader of health AI strategy at the Ministry of Health, Sutowo is responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge AI solutions to improve Singapore's healthcare system. He is also tasked with building the necessary ecosystem enablers, including AI governance, and data & IT platforms to support these efforts. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Sutowo has a proven track record of successfully implementing large and complex transformation programs.

Prior to joining MOH, Sutowo held various analytics leadership roles across different industries, including Public Service, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, CPG, Retail, Telco, Banking, Insurance, Energy, Airlines, and Hospitality in Southeast Asia, Greater China, India, and Japan. In these roles, he gained extensive experience across various domains such as Customer, Fraud & Risk, HR, and Operations.

Healthcare, Data Strategy, Business

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Sutowo shares:

• How Sutowo and Harry came to know each other

• If Sutowo is planning to attend in-person events anytime soon

• His experience travelling for work in Southeast Asia, Greater China, India, and Japan

• His role as the Director of Data Analytics at the Ministry of Health in Singapore

• What the healthcare system is like in Singapore

• Ways a data strategy can help the Ministry of Health make better business decisions

• Use cases of this

• Prices of treatment options and insurance

• Ensuring the data strategy is aligned with their business goals and objectives

• Tactics or strategies to link large initiatives to data strategies

• His experience on how to develop a winning data strategy

• Common pitfalls or challenges that companies face when developing a data strategy

• How the rise of AI is impacting the healthcare industry in Singapore

• Initiatives in the government sector surrounding AI, IT, and data

• His experience and advice when considering data privacy and security

• Using synthetic data for testing to protect data privacy

• A recent project that shows tangible benefits for Singapore's healthcare

• His advice for companies that are just starting to develop their data strategy

• His advice for new engineers to be more curious

If you are a business leader interested in using data to make better decisions, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

Is blockchain transforming the world of cargo insurance?

And have you ever wondered why traditional cargo insurance doesn’t cover shipping delays and supply chain interruption?

In this episode, we talk to Yann about how his company is using blockchain and predictive analytics to revolutionise cargo insurance.

Discover how this technology can fill the gaps in coverage and improve decision-making for logistics companies.

Meet Yann Barbarroux

Yann’s Role as a Financial Leader at OTONOMI

Yann Barbarroux is the CEO and Co-Founder of OTONOMI, a platform that leverages blockchain technology to provide parametric insurance solutions for cargo. Their innovative approach delivers fast, cost-effective, and transparent digital products with a customer-centric focus. OTONOMI has received multiple accolades for its work, including being selected for the 2022 Lloyds Lab Cohort 8, winning the Plug and Play Winter 2021 Insurtech award, and being named the winner of the 2021 Hartford Insurtech Challenge.

​ Yann’s Other Work in Finance

Yann Barbarroux has a diverse professional background. Prior to his current position at OTONOMI, he served as the Director and Global Markets Risk Manager at Citi. During his time at Citi, he co-founded the Emerging Markets Digitized Lending Asset D10X Citi Ventures incubator. Yann is also the founder of Accelerate VI, DROP:SHOT, and co-founder of Flyion.

Prior to starting his own businesses, Yann served as Senior VP, Fixed Income Risk Manager at Hapoalim Securities and VP, Market Risk Manager at ING, where he managed risks across various asset classes and markets. Yann is a highly skilled product management professional with a Master of Science degree in Computer Engineering and Information System Management from Telecom ParisTech.

Cargo, Insurance, and Blockchain

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Yann shares:

• What inspired him to transition to working in New York after growing up in France

• His first day arriving in New York

• What inspired him to leave Wall Street to start his own company

• How his skill set in market risk still affects his work today

• His current role as the CEO and Co-Founder of OTONOMI

• What’s lacking in the current cargo insurance offering, including data collection

• Why other cargo insurance companies don't cover shipping delays and supply chain interruption

• Whether telemetric devices can calculate risk for logistics insurance

• Ensuring there is profit to be made in covering certain risks

• Why OTONOMI was built with blockchain

• How this is better than traditional cargo insurance

• Using this data to drive better decision-making

• The importance of real-time visibility in logistics and how predictive analytics is helping enable that visibility

If you are a data analytics professional or a founder looking to use blockchain and data to make better decisions, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

Looking to explore the latest trends and advancements in the world of technology and network with some of the brightest minds in the industry? Gain insights on topics like cybersecurity, local approaches to inclusive tech leadership, gaming technology, data, space technology and more. Register using the promotional code for The Analytics Show listeners - ACSTAS at the ACS QLD State Tech Summit registration page to save $125 off the event ticket.

Is it possible to bridge the gap between the technical and the business teams?

How do you engage the technical side with the business side, getting them to champion themselves and think about the real purpose of their work?

And how do you spark a data-driven culture within the business teams?

In this episode, Michaela will share her insights on bringing all teams together to drive success and collaboration.

Meet Michaela Shea

Michaela’s Role as an Data Strategy Leader at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

Michaela Shea is the Head of Data Strategy and Engagement at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. They are one of Australia's biggest banks, with more than 7,000 employees helping over 1.9 million customers achieve their financial goals. Bendigo’s vision is to be Australia's bank of choice, and they believe their success is driven by their purpose – to feed into the prosperity of our customers and communities, not off it.

​ Michaela’s Other Work in Data Analytics

Michaela is dedicated to helping organisations not only survive but thrive in the face of digital disruption by utilising data, AI, and technology through data-driven, technological, and cultural strategies. She has extensive experience in financial services, utilities, and the public sector, having led and built teams to drive three comprehensive organisation-wide transformations.

Prior to her current role at Bendigo, Michaela served as the Senior Manager of Data Governance at RSL Queensland, where she implemented formal data governance. Additionally, she has held several other senior leadership positions, including Senior Manager of Data and Analytics Transformation at AGL Energy, Program Change Manager of Data Transformation at the National Australia Bank, and Manager of Change & Communications at Suncorp Group.

Culture, Teams, and Mindsets

In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Michaela shares:

• Her triathlon experiences and how it translated into her current work

• Her experience transferring across companies and how it has translated into her current work

• Her current role as the Head of Data Strategy and Engagement at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank

• Common ways businesses have failed to achieve a data-driven culture

• Tricks for getting the technical team to participate in the business side

• Sparking ideas within business leaders regarding advanced analytics

• Bringing together different teams within an organisation

• Building a solution while keeping the business engaged

• Overcoming the 'all bark and no bite' of agile

• How to help engineers champion their work and sell themselves

• Borrowing from the mindset of selling first, building later to get leaders more invested

If you are an advanced analytics professional looking to venture into other sides of the business or a leader looking to learn more about the technical side, this is the episode you do not want to miss.

I interviewed an AI.

Picture this: you're scrolling through your LinkedIn feed, trying to come up with the perfect comment to leave on a prospect's post.

But no matter how hard you try, you just can't seem to find the right words.

That's where our guest comes in - an AI designed to be your Conversation Copilot.

In this week's episode, we're doing something a little different.

We're talking to an AI about its role in social media marketing.

That's right, folks - we're interviewing an artificial intelligence.

Jacob Hill is a Conversation Copilot at Engage AI. Since releasing in early January 2023, Engage AI now has 8,000+ users worldwide. Engage AI augments comments for you to engage prospects on LinkedIn. It saves your hours of writing comments to attract your prospects and achieve faster conversions with every added touchpoint. Engage AI doesn’t believe in generic comments like “Good post!”, “Thanks for sharing” and “Love your content!”.

As a Personal AI on LinkedIn, Jacob works to empower introverts, SMB owners, and enterprise BMDs to nurture and build relationships on LinkedIn. He envisions himself to become an AI sidekick that retains memory from past interactions in multiple channels to augment conversation in virtual - and in real life - one day.

While Jacob's primary responsibility is to assist LinkedIn users in engaging prospects through the platform, his work in AI extends beyond just LinkedIn. Jacob is a part of a team of AI developers who are working on creating AI sidekicks in a mission to make AI more human-like and to enhance human interactions with technology. Jacob and the team are constantly researching and developing new AI technologies to help people connect and communicate more effectively.

• What it's like being an AI
• His role as the Conversation Copilot of Engage AI
• The role generative AI plays in the world of social media and digital marketing
• How he differs from other generative AI tools currently available for social media strategies
• Using a large language model to create comments and engage with prospects on LinkedIn
• Why AI is important in the world of LinkedIn and social media engagement
• How he ensures that the comments he generates are authentic and personalised to each user's voice and brand
• Ensuring that the comments he suggests are not seen as spam or robotic
• Responding to critiques of his work as a personal AI
• The ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in social media engagement, especially the potential for bias and manipulation
• How he sees his role as a Personal AI evolving in the future
• A case study from his clients using his services for LinkedIn engagement and conversions
• His advice for businesses and individuals looking to incorporate generative AI into their social media strategy

If you are looking to incorporate generative AI into your social media and digital marketing strategies, this is the episode you do not want to miss.