S5 | Ep 47 | AI Readiness: What Comes Next for Data Teams and Their Careers with Mike Leverington, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at SkyScanner

Driven by Data: The Podcast

In Episode 47, of Season 5 of Driven by Data: The Podcast, Kyle Winterbottom was joined by Mike Leverington, Senior Director of Data & Analytics at Skyscanner, where they discuss the evolving landscape of data analytics in the era of AI, which includes;

• How AI and GenAI are transforming not only the way we work but the way we think, impacting creativity and originality across the workforce.
• Why the decline of junior and entry-level data roles is reshaping the traditional career ladder in data.
• The societal and ethical implications of AI-driven workforce changes.
• How the automation of foundational work could affect how the next generation of data professionals learn and develop.
• How leaders can strike the right balance between “future-fitting” now and managing the risks of waiting.
• The implications of AI becoming a key trainer of the workforce, and what that means for learning, upskilling, and talent development.
• The potential risks smaller businesses face in the AI race against well-funded competitors.
• Whether the industry is over-talking “data value” and what that means for real business impact.
• Why a persistent gap remains between how data teams define value and what executives actually care about.
• The lessons from the “bold claims” era when inflated ROI promises were needed to secure investment.
• How organisations can hedge their bets in a rapidly shifting AI landscape.
• What an “AI-ready culture” truly looks like and why it matters for long-term success.

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