In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Peter Coffee—legendary technology researcher, prolific writer, and longtime Salesforce evangelist—to unpack five decades of digital transformation, the dawn of AI, and the future of intelligent business.

Peter shares hard-won lessons from the days of slide rules and room-sized mainframes through the PC revolution, cloud-first innovation, and today’s AI-powered landscape. We explore:

• Why using AI just to do old tasks “better, faster, cheaper” leaves a ton of value on the table
• The difference between incremental improvement and breakthrough, unimagined possibilities with data
• What the “AOL dial-up phase of AI” means for businesses and how AI soon becomes like the air we breathe
• How Salesforce’s strategy (via acquisitions, platforms, and partnerships) reflects the relentless march toward seamless intelligence
• Why the tools of tech should “disappear into their function” and what it takes for leaders to build truly adaptive organizations
• The new world of AI agents, what Minsky got right about “minds,” and how complex digital systems will soon self-orchestrate
• Practical pitfalls and mindset shifts for execs competing in a world where your real rival is the “best digital experience” a customer has... anywhere!

Peter also shares what’s next for him: his work with the Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth and his urgent call for data-driven action on climate change.

From AI’s hidden potential to the cultural (and personal!) changes driving decades of innovation, this episode is packed with stories, strategies, and provocations for anyone building the future of business.

If you’re ready to move beyond the “easy wins” in AI and data, and want to unlock transformational opportunities, this conversation with Peter Coffee is a must-listen.

Connect with Peter:
🔗 Foundation for Intelligent Life on Earth: http://intelligentlifeonearth.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercoffee/

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In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, we sit down with Nadiem von Heydebrand, CEO and co-founder of Mindfuel, to uncover the real secrets behind creating business impact with data and analytics.

Nadiem shares why data teams struggle to demonstrate their value, drawing on stories from consulting and startup life... including why 1,900 out of 2,000 dashboards at one client were simply unnecessary. We discuss:

• The difference between “output” and true business “outcome” in analytics
• How data product management transforms tech output into customer-centric results
• Why most organizations don’t generate (or properly use) their own data early on
• The hidden dangers in data processes, like the paint shop model ruined by overlooked temperature data
• How to build and structure a data team for maximum business value, whether centralized or distributed
• What makes customer satisfaction the most universal KPI, and why click rates are losing relevance
• How AI and data governance are reshaping enterprise priorities

From startup pivots to insurance risk modeling to KPI horror stories, Nadiem’s insights reveal how leaders must link every data asset to a real business impact... or risk getting lost in a forest of unused dashboards.

If you want to know how data teams, product managers, and business leaders can finally crack the value code, this conversation is a must-listen.

Connect with Nadiem:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiemvh/
🌐 Mindfuel: https://www.mindfuel.ai/

Follow the DATA SECRETS Podcast

📬 Get episode recaps & bonus insights at allegroanalytics.com/podcast
🕺🏻 Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
📺 Watch every episode on our YouTube Channel

In this episode of the DATA SECRETS Podcast, I sit down with Brian Benn, CIO of Clark Atlanta University and former CIO at the Atlanta Housing Authority, to explore how business process mastery unlocks the true potential of organizational data.

Brian Benn pulls back the curtain on his journey from NASA software engineer to IT leadership in public sector and higher ed, sharing how confidence, continual learning, and a focus on people shaped his rise to the CIO seat. We discuss:

• Why understanding business processes is foundational to data strategy and digital transformation
• The art of mapping handoffs, avoiding silos, and fostering interdepartmental trust
• Key advice for technology practitioners looking to move into executive roles (including the difference between a mentor and a sponsor)
• Challenges of managing “small-town sized” data at Clark Atlanta, from police departments to museums, sports arenas, and beyond
• How to wrangle mountains of diverse data into a single source of truth for actionable insights
• Real stories of using data to drive investment, improve graduation rates, and support community success
• The critical role of governance, retention policy, and identifying the “right amount” of data for decision-makers
• Vanity metrics, weird KPIs, and the North Star numbers that matter most in higher education

Whether you’re leading data strategy in higher ed, government, or the private sector, Brian Benn offers practical wisdom on connecting technology, process, and people for powerful, enduring impact. If you’ve ever wondered how a CIO views the secret life of data across an entire ecosystem, this episode is packed with insights.

Drop your questions in the comments—we read and respond to every one!

Connect with Brian:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwbenn/
📸 Instagram: @brianwbenn

Follow the DATA SECRETS Podcast

📬 Get episode recaps & bonus insights at allegroanalytics.com/podcast
🕺🏻 Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
📺 Watch every episode on our YouTube Channel