In this episode of The Databricks Diaries: AI Readiness Series, Andy Davis speaks with Mukund Pandey. The discussion covers the role of governance as an accelerator, embedding compliance and explainability from day one, and how cultural alignment drives adoption at scale. Mukund also highlights practical AI use cases in risk and margin management, intraday exposure, and generative AI for regulatory efficiency.

In this episode, Andy Davis sits down with Jan Beitner, Director of Data & AI at Inflexion, to explore how private equity–backed organisations can turn AI ambition into measurable business value.

Jan shares a clear, ROI-driven framework for getting “AI ready” — from linking initiatives to value creation plans and embedding accountability at the top, to avoiding the trap of chasing technology without purpose.

They also discuss why 95% of AI projects fail to deliver ROI, how to identify automation and product-feature use cases that actually pay off, and why culture, process mapping, and change management matter more than tooling.

Whether you’re in data leadership or just starting your AI journey, this episode will help you refocus your strategy around what really counts — value, accountability, and measurable impact.

In this episode of The Databricks Diaries: AI Readiness, Andy Davis sits down with Jessica Simons-Boswell, Enterprise Data Officer at Diligenta, to explore how financial services organisations can embrace AI while operating in a highly regulated, risk-averse environment.

Jessica shares candid insights on:

• Why financial services often lag in AI adoption — and why that’s not always a bad thing
• The cultural and governance challenges of introducing AI in regulated markets
• Practical, value-driven AI use cases like complaint handling and correspondence automation
• How to manage executive enthusiasm without becoming the “blocker” in the room
• Why clean data, strong guardrails, and transparency are essential for safe AI deployment

A thoughtful, pragmatic discussion on balancing innovation, compliance, and cultural change in the journey to AI readiness. Perfect for data leaders, CDOs, and anyone shaping AI strategy in financial services.