A Masterclass on AI with Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist IBM: From Prompt Engineering to Agentic AI (Part 1)

Send us a text🎧 Episode Description: This week on Making Data Simple, we welcome David Hirschfeld, Founder and CEO of Tekyz. With a background spanning major tech firms and startup trenches, David brings grounded, data-backed insight into what makes or breaks a startup. From tackling the #1 reason startups fail to exploring the value of validation and the real meaning of product-market fit, this episode is a no-fluff masterclass in entrepreneurial strategy. David’s message is clear: "Don’t focus on your product. Focus on the client’s problem."Whether you're a first-time founder or scaling your next venture, David offers hard-earned truths, including surprising takes on unicorns, VCs, and what really matters more — the founder or the technology?⏱ Time Markers: 01:20 – Meet David Hirschfeld 05:55 – THE Reason Startups Fail 08:50 – Lifetime Value 11:33 – The Value of Validation 14:48 – What Do the VCs Say? 16:20 – Startup Success Rate 17:10 – Tekyz 23:01 – Product Market Fit 29:18 – Startup Ideation 31:37 – Unicorns 38:12 – Unexpected Truths 42:45 – Founder or Technology?🔗 Connect with David: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhirschfeldWebsite: https://tekyz.com #MakingDataSimple #StartupAdvice #ProductMarketFit #TechLeadership #VCInsights #FoundersJourney #Entrepreneurship #DataDrivenDecisions #StartupFailure #Innovation #ClientCentric #PodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textBuckle up—automation is shifting into high gear! In Part 1 of our Automation mini-series, host Al Martin VP WW Technical Sales sits down with IBM insiders Sarah McAndrew (VP WW Automation, Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (VP App Mod & IT Automation, Development) to decode the now and next of enterprise automation.🔑 What’s inside00:53 Meet Sarah McAndrew VP WW Automation, Technical Sales01:29 Meet Vikram Murali VP App Mod & IT Automation, Development03:25 A crisp, boardroom-ready definition of automation09:21 Why observability is automation’s super-power11:45 The latest breakthroughs propelling innovation faster than ever22:29 How Aspera rockets data transfer into warp speed23:43 The big “Why IBM?”—and why it matters for your bottom lineExpect practical tips you can deploy tomorrow, myth-busting insights, and bold predictions that will have your Dev & Ops teams buzzing. Hit play, share with a tech-curious friend, and let’s #MakeDataSimple—together. 🔗 Connect: Linkedin Sarah McAndrew | LinkedIn Vikram Murali  🌐 Explore IBM Automation: ibm.com/automation#MakingDataSimple #IBMAutomation #AI #Observability #TechPodcast #FutureOfWorkWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textIn this powerhouse episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Dave Martin—CEO, tech entrepreneur, investor coach to elite CEOs, and bestselling author of Mega Thinking: A Simple, Powerful Process to Think Smarter and Make Better Leadership Decisions.From Silicon Valley to boardrooms worldwide, Dave breaks down how top leaders think differently, make high-stakes decisions with clarity, and unlock their full leadership potential. Whether you’re scaling a startup or leading a Fortune 500, these are the insights that move the needle.⏱️ Episode Breakdown02:38 – Meet Dave Martin: From tech entrepreneur to investor coach—Dave’s leadership journey05:27 – Silicon Valley Secrets: What makes this innovation hub tick?08:17 – The Inception of Mega Thinking: Where breakthrough leadership strategies begin10:57 – Startups Unfiltered: What it really takes to succeed (and survive)14:00 – What is Mega Thinking?: The simple yet powerful framework to level up your leadership21:05 – Mega Thinking in Action: How top performers apply it daily24:07 – What Holds People Back?: The hidden barriers between you and your next big idea27:26 – Mega Thinking Summary: Your rapid-fire leadership playbook33:06 – Reminiscing IBM: Timeless leadership lessons from a tech giant34:28 – The Most Powerful Leaders: How they think differently—and why it works36:42 – Final Thoughts: Dave’s rapid-fire leadership advice you can apply today38:46 – How to Reach Dave Martin: Continue the conversation and go deeper🔗 Connect with Dave: LinkedIn 🌐 Website: megathinkingbook.com#MegaThinking #LeadershipUnlocked #ExecutiveMindset #ThinkSmarterLeadBetter #StartupSuccess #SiliconValleySecrets #BusinessInnovation #LeadershipDecisions #MakingDataSimple #CEOInsights #TechLeadership #PodcastPowerWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textWhat makes IBM TechXchange different — and why is it a must-attend for techies? In this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouses behind the scenes: Amy Tennison, VP of IBM TechXchange & Client Advocacy, and Graeme Noseworthy, TechXchange Content & Experiences. We explore the ethos of TechXchange, how it's curated for technologists of all skill levels, and why it's more than just an event — it's an experience that continues all year long. From strategic content design to the future of tech conferences, you’ll hear insider insights and behind-the-scenes stories that bring TechXchange to life.⏱️ Time Markers:03:06 Meet Amy Tennison03:54 Meet Graeme Noseworthy05:51 What IS TechXchange10:31 TechXchange is Always On!16:32 The Cost of Learning: Time22:12 Targeting Different Skill Levels27:07 Where Are Tech Events Heading?28:52 Session Curation33:03 The WHY of TechXchange34:00 Finally, What to Know36:29 For Fun💡 Whether you're a hands-on architect, an emerging developer, or a tech lead looking to sharpen your edge — this episode is for you. #TechXchange #IBMPodcast #MakingDataSimpleWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a text👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow and Chief Scientist at IBM Research. He’s a master inventor with 70+ patents and decades of leadership in scalable AI, chip innovation, and open-source contributions. From Watson to watsonx, he’s been shaping the AI landscape for decades — and he’s not slowing down.Inside This Episode In Part 2, Ruchir unpacks the macro forces shaping AI — from Jensen Huang’s bold prediction to IBM’s leadership in open-model ecosystems and the emerging blueprint for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). It’s a mix of sharp insight, grounded realism, and future-forward thinking.⏱️ Chapters & Timing00:12 – Jensen Huang's Prediction Ruchir’s take on NVIDIA’s CEO and whether the 2029 AGI forecast holds water.04:15 – The Open-Model Ecosystem Why IBM is betting on openness — and what that means for enterprise AI.07:21 – Why IBM Granite? A breakdown of Granite’s strengths, flexibility, and why it’s built to scale responsibly.09:58 – Model Indemnification The legal side of LLMs. Ruchir explains how IBM handles risk and accountability.11:32 – AI Implementation Challenges Beyond the hype: What really gets in the way of successful AI deployment?14:20 – AI in Politics A frank look at how AI is already reshaping elections, media, and power dynamics.15:35 – AI Chipsets From GPUs to custom silicon, Ruchir highlights what’s next in the AI compute race.18:37 – AGI = IQ, EQ, RQ Artificial General Intelligence, demystified. Why intellect alone isn’t enough — and how reasoning and empathy fit in.24:15 – The Human Brain’s Efficiency What AI can learn from 20 watts of organic genius.💬 Key IdeasYou can’t have AGI without reasoning. That’s the ‘RQ’ — and it’s the missing piece.The future isn’t one model to rule them all. It’s an ecosystem — modular, open, and responsible.IBM’s commitment to indemnification isn’t just legal — it’s about trust in enterprise AI.🔥 Why You Should Listen This episode goes beyond buzzwords. If you're serious about what’s coming next in AI — how we’ll build it, govern it, and live with it — Ruchir offers a rare combination of technical clarity and visionary leadership.🎧 Subscribe for More Don't miss upcoming episodes that help you lead with clarity in the AI era — the Making Data Simple way.Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a text🎙️  Ruchir Puri (Part 1): From Prompt Engineering to Agentic AI Guest: Ruchir Puri, Chief Scientist at IBM Research 📍 Website: ibm.com/watsonx 🎧 Host: Al Martin, Worldwide VP, Technical Sales, IBM 📨 Want to be a guest? Email us at [email protected]👤 About the Guest Dr. Ruchir Puri is IBM Fellow, Chief Scientist of IBM Research, and one of IBM’s most prolific inventors. With over 70 patents and a lead architect behind IBM’s AI breakthroughs including Watson and watsonx, Ruchir is a globally respected authority on AI, chip design, and scalable compute. He’s led groundbreaking work from Deep Blue to Agentic AI and is shaping how AI will drive the next era of enterprise transformation.🧠 What’s Inside This Episode This episode is a masterclass in where AI is headed. Ruchir takes us on a journey from the fading relevance of prompt engineering to the rise of agentic AI systems that think, plan, execute, and reflect. You’ll hear his candid views on inference at scale, memory in systems, and why 2025 is the year of agents.⏱️ Chapters & Timing01:22 – Hints for the IBM THINK Conference Sneak peek into what’s coming at THINK — and what not to miss.04:09 – What Drives Ruchir From childhood curiosity to global impact. How does a mind like his stay inspired?10:00 – Where Are We Now: Feedback Systems Why the “training is done” mindset is outdated and how feedback loops change the game.12:21 – Prompt Engineering Gone! Hot take alert! Ruchir declares the death of prompt engineering — and what replaces it.13:39 – Inference Scaling How scaling inference (not just training) is the next AI frontier.16:26 – Systems with Memory Why “forgetting” systems are failing us — and how memory transforms intelligence.17:56 – Agentic AI: Think, Plan, Act, Execute, Observe, Reflect A full walkthrough of what makes AI “agentic” and where we’re headed next.21:02 – Future of Work and MCP (Multi-Contextual Personas) AI in the workplace isn’t about job replacement — it’s about augmentation.23:45 – 2025: The Year of Agents Why this year will be the breakout moment for agents in enterprise AI.23:58 – The Open Ecosystem Open-source meets enterprise grade. Ruchir breaks it down.26:38 – Agentic AI Leader Final thoughts on leadership in AI and how to stay ahead.💬 Quotes to Remember“Prompt engineering is dead. It’s like writing assembler. You needed it at first. But not anymore.”“The true intelligence lies in systems that can remember — not just respond.”“We’re heading into an era where your agent will know you better than your coworkers do.”🔥 Why You Should Listen If you want a front-row seat to the future of AI — especially in enterprise environments — this is it. Ruchir combines deep tech insights with strategic vision, all while keeping it practical and human.📩 Subscribe & Stay Ahead Follow us on your favorite platform and never miss an episode that helps you lead with tech — simply.Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textPart 2 of 2We’re back with Part 2 of our fascinating conversation with Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD.In this episode, we explore the next frontier: how intelligent algorithms don’t just support organizations—they shape them. From AI ethics and algorithmic bureaucracy to the future of human-AI teams, universal income, and debunking myths, Phanish offers a provocative look at how organizations can—and should—adopt AI in a human-centric way.⏱️ Chapters00:12 – Algorithmic Bureaucracy01:23 – AI Ethics04:24 – Blockchain07:51 – AI as Team vs. Individual Agents11:59 – New Skills15:12 – Predictions & Universal Income17:20 – Adopting AI in a Human-Centric Way19:02 – AI Myths🔗 Connect with Phanish PuranamLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phanishpuranamWebsite: insead.edu/faculty/phanish-puranamWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textPart 1 of 2How do we make organizations not just run — but run intelligently?In this episode of Making Data Simple, we welcome Phanish Puranam, Professor of Strategy and Organizational Design at INSEAD, to explore the intersection of AI, organizational science, and intelligent design. From tools and teammates to blockchain and the metaverse, Phanish walks us through the evolving relationship between humans, algorithms, and the systems we build.We dive into real-world use cases, research-backed insights, and surprising pitfalls — plus a contrarian take on why bad ideas might be the key to better innovation.⏱️ Chapters01:50 – Meet Phanish Puranam03:36 – Organizational Design08:39 – Where is Org Design Today12:41 – A Research Example15:59 – Technologies as Tools & Teammates17:54 – A Real Use Case Example20:30 – The Metaverse, Eliminate Bad Ideas Fast21:28 – Pitfalls23:30 – Use Case Deep Dive30:06 – The Power Structure🔗 Connect with Phanish PuranamLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/phanishpuranamINSEAD Profile: insead.edu/faculty/phanish-puranam#OrganizationalDesign #ArtificialIntelligence #PhanishPuranam #FutureOfWork #AIinBusiness #AlgorithmicOrganizations #Leadership #INSEAD #MakingDataSimple #AIandWork #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #OrgDesignWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a text✨ Updated April 1, 2025What do Tickle Me Elmo, bourbon, and Taylor Swift tickets have in common? Scarcity. And in the world of marketing, it's one of the most powerful forces you can harness.This week, we’re throwing it back to one of our most insightful interviews — a conversation with Dr. Mindy Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Market MindShift, marketing professor at Grand Canyon University, Columbia Business School, and Wharton, and author of The Power of Scarcity.We dig into:The psychology behind scarcity and why it drives us to act nowThe four types of scarcity (you’ll want to write these down!)How top brands — and yes, bourbon sellers — use scarcity to spark actionWhy "reaching humans" in digital marketing is more nuanced than everHow you can ethically and effectively use scarcity to boost business results📚 About the Book: In The Power of Scarcity, Dr. Weinstein combines her background in marketing and psychology to break down how scarcity messaging influences decision-making — and how you can leverage it to drive revenue, deepen loyalty, and create urgency without manipulation. With research, real-world examples, and interviews from brands like McDonald’s and 1-800-Flowers, it’s a must-read for anyone looking to up their marketing game.📌 Timestamps: 01:41 Meet "Marketer" Mindy Weinstein 04:42 Technology in Marketing 07:50 One of the top women in digital marketing 09:12 The Power of Scarcity 19:16 The Four Types of Scarcity 20:41 Bourbon Scarcity 21:47 Businesses Leveraging Scarcity🧠 Connect with Dr. Weinstein: 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mindydweinstein 📘 Book: persuasioninbusiness.com 🌐 Website: marketmindshift.com🎧 Originally aired: Season 7, Episode 5Want to be featured on Making Data Simple? Drop us a note at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next! Hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales at IBM — where we explore cutting-edge tech, business innovation, and the human side of leadership... all while keeping it simple & fun.Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a text🎙️ From Host to Hot Seat! This week on Making Data Simple, Al Martin flips the mic and becomes the guest as Ian Smith, co-founder of Lighthouse Technology, steps in to host a fast-paced, thought-provoking episode of the Baseline Podcast.It’s a casual convo with some serious zingers—think startup energy, AI honesty, automation truths, and even a little NFL shoutout. You won’t want to miss this one!🕒 Episode Highlights 00:52 – How Making Data Simple got started 06:11 – IBM as a Startup?! 08:38 – Why IBM, really 11:49 – Competing with “Real-time” AI 23:20 – How to get clients to truly embrace automation 32:12 – The test AI flunked… but still got a B 🤖 33:06 – GO CHIEFS! 🏈 37:54 – The real IBM use case 47:06 – “Nothing went wrong” (famous last words?)🔗 Connect with Ian: linkedin.com/in/ian-smith-a803701 🌐 Learn more: baselinepodcast.com💡 Want to be featured on Making Data Simple? Pitch us your story at [email protected]—we’re always on the lookout for brilliant minds in tech, data, leadership, and innovation.🎧 Hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM. LinkedIn. Executive Producer, Katherine Mayne LinkedIn. We talk trending tech, bold ideas, and big leadership—all with a focus on keeping it simple and fun. #MakingDataSimple #BaselinePodcast #TechLeadership #AIConversations #StartupTalk #AutomationInnovation #IBMTech #DataDriven #PodcastGuest #BusinessInnovation #LighthouseTechnology #AlMartin #IanSmith #GoChiefsWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at [email protected] and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.