From Disengaged to High-Performing: Dave Garrison’s Data-Driven Playbook for Team Buy-In

Send us a textAre your teams struggling with disengagement and declining performance? What if the real problem isn’t talent or strategy, but a hidden “buy-in” gap quietly draining energy, innovation, and results? Joining us is Dave Garrison, a seasoned leadership strategist who has seen firsthand how a lack of buy-in fuels these issues – costing businesses billions every year. Dave unpacks the seven critical ingredients for real engagement and shows how to build a truly high-performing organization, starting with simple data and practical, repeatable leadership habits.​01:19 Meet Dave Garrison - Again 02:11 The Buy-in Advantage 04:50 Following Your Passions 05:59 The Pandemic's Impact 07:15 A Buy-in Crisis 09:30 Seven Critical Ingredients for Buy-in 17:45 Three Pillars of High Performing Organizations 21:11 A "Yes" Culture 26:05 Prioritization and Focus 31:15 Recognition and Rewards 34:49 Pushback 39:35 Scaling 41:00 Case Studies44:22 The Collective GeniusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-garrison-growth/​ Website: https://www.buyinbook.com​#makingdatasimplepodcast #Leadership #EmployeeEngagement #BuyInAdvantage #HighPerformance #WorkplaceCulture #PeopleAnalytics #TeamPerformance #BusinessGrowth #DaveGarrisonWant 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 textOn this replay of Making Data Simple, Manav Gupta, VP and CTO of IBM Canada, jumps straight into the world of large language models and what they really mean for businesses trying to scale AI. From how today’s models are built and tuned, to where the next generation is headed, Manav translates complex AI concepts into practical guidance for leaders, practitioners, and anyone trying to cut through the hype.The discussion spans everything from model architectures and IBM’s Granite family, to how to pick the right model for your use case, balance innovation with governance, and build the skills needed to stay relevant in an AI-first world. If you want a clear, no-nonsense guide to “all things AI models” from someone advising enterprise clients every day, this replay is for you.​02:04 Jumping Right into AI! 02:59 Meet Manav Gupta 08:17 Let's Talk All Things Models 27:20 How to Choose the Right Models 31:48 Where are the Models Going??? 46:01 How to Learn AILinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgupta76/ IBM Granite Models: https://www.ibm.com/graniteWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to [email protected] and share why you should be next.​Hashtags#makingdatasimplepodcast #MakingDataSimple #AI #LargeLanguageModels #AIModels #ArtificialIntelligence #IBMCanada #ManavGupta #AIInnovation #TechLeadership #TechPodcast #IBMGranite #LearnAIRelatedWant 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 textHit replay on this high-energy conversation with Ben Lowe, Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Technology, as he breaks down what it really takes to build something from scratch in a fast-changing AI world. From finding the right co‑founder and stepping into the CEO role, to navigating the toughest challenges of entrepreneurship, Ben shares practical lessons and hard‑won insights for builders at every stage.Ben also lifts the curtain on Lighthouse Technology’s mission at the intersection of cloud modernisation, cost optimisation, and Agentic AI, and how enterprises can turn AI hype into outcomes with the right GTM motion and architecture. If you care about innovation, AI for the enterprise, or your own startup journey, this replay is packed with career gold, strategic perspective, and a candid look at what’s next.01:34 Finding a Entrepreneurial Partner 04:43 The Creation of Lighthouse 08:10 Becoming the CEO 09:34 The Biggest Challenge of Entrepreneurship 11:30 Lighthouse Technology 19:07 Agentic AI 20:16 The Lighthouse Trajectory 22:12 The GTM 31:39 Reseller versus Innovator 36:53 AI for the Enterprise 41:35 The 2-Min Pitch 43:30 What's True?LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowebenjamin/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://lighthousetechnology.ai/#Entrepreneurship #AgenticAI #TechLeadership #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #CareerAdvice #AIForEnterprise #StartupJourney #MakingDataSimple #LighthouseTechnology #PodcastReplayWant 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 textHit replay on one of the most thought-provoking Agentic AI conversations on Making Data Simple. GTM Account Director Megan Gallagher makes the case for Agentic AI from the Maven AGI front lines, where AI agents stop following rigid decision trees and start acting with real autonomy over enterprise workflows.“We’re still living like everything is deterministic,” Megan argues, “but this new generation of agents is inherently generative and predictive.” In this replay, she unpacks what that shift means for smaller specialized models, using real enterprise data, rethinking “assistant vs person,” and how to get started without boiling the ocean.If you want to understand how Agentic AI moves from slideware to shipped value, this is the episode to queue up again.01:30 All Great Podcasts start with Drinks05:27 Maven AGI 09:13 Smaller Models! 10:50 Why Maven AGI12:04 The Secret Sauce or Use Case15:13 Typical Client Persona 20:31 Using Enterprise Data 26:19 But AGI, Really?30:12 Assistant or Person?39:06 What's Next?40:28 My Thoughts on Getting Started?46:30 The AI Example49:30 The Maven AGI Pitch53:23 LearningMaven AGI: https://www.mavenagi.com/ Megan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megfgallagher/Al's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-martin-ku/#AgenticAI #FutureOfAI #MakingDataSimple #MavenAGI #AIAgents #EnterpriseAI #CustomerExperience #AIInProduction #PodcastReplay​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 textDive into the powerful world of mainframes! Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Tina Tarquinio, reveals the truth behind those eight nines of uptime and explores how mainframes are evolving with AI, hybrid cloud, and future-proofing strategies for mission-critical business decisions. Discover the cutting-edge innovations transforming enterprise computing—from on-chip AIU and Spyre AI accelerators enabling real-time inferencing at transaction speed, to how LinuxONE is redefining hybrid cloud architecture.  Tina discusses DevOps integration, AI-powered code assistants revolutionizing mainframe development, compelling AI use cases, and shares her bold predictions for the mainframe’s next 100 years.  Plus, career advice from a tech leader and what she does for fun!00:46 Tina Tarquinio03:18 The Most Mainframe Surprise09:12 What IS the Mainframe Really?  8 Nines!14:40 On Chip AIU, Spyre Inferencing18:11 Mainframes with Hybrid Cloud19:11 The Linux One Pitch19:59 Exciting Mainframe Innovations22:09 DevOps23:36 Code Assistants26:03 AI Use Case27:49 Future Proofing Decisions37:17 Regulations38:45 Bold Prediction38:58 Mainframe 10040:48 Career Advice42:24 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tina-tarquinioWebsite: https://www.ibm.com/products/z#MakingDataSimple #IBMz #Mainframe #LinuxONE #AIInferencing #SpyreAccelerator #HybridCloud #EnterpriseAI #DevOps #AICodeAssistant #EightNines #TinaTarquinio #MainframeModernization #AIUChip #FutureProofing #TechLeadership #WatsonxCodeAssistant #CloudComputing #TelumIIWant 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 textData’s everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is JureLeskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who'sfundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest'srecommendations to tracking the spread of disease. We’ll unpack whystructured data is lagging behind the AI revolution, exploring howtechniques like Graph Neural Networks are finally unlocking its potential,and how this all plays out in real-world applications00:57 Meet Jure Leskovec02:31 Knowing When to Move On04:01 Academia versus Industry07:30 Learnings from Pinterest10:28 The Kumo Pitch17:57 The Secret Sauce25:51 Monetization27:12 Only the Enterprise?29:49 The Sandbox to Try Before Buy31:42 The Best Use Cases35:00 Summarizing37:38 Predicting AI40:15 What's True and No One Agrees41:19 LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leskovec/Website: https://kumo.ai/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 textGuest: Kris Kluver, Founder of Life on Your Terms — speaker, facilitator, best-selling author, advisor, and coach helping leaders design fulfillment that matches their ambition.Summary: In this powerful replay, Kris Kluver flips the script on success. Too many high performers master their business but neglect their well-being — Kris shows how to align both. From defining what success really means to knowing when to say no, this conversation is about creating freedom, balance, and impact on your terms.Timestamps: 02:39 Who is Kris Kluver, the coach? 05:33 Are A-type personalities ever truly satisfied? 06:23 The evolution of Kris’ brand 12:14 How to grow your business and yourself 20:37 Redefining success 26:09 One action to transform your life 29:59 Just because you can… should you? 31:49 The courage to change 37:39 The Life on Your Terms process 41:31 Rethinking failure 45:59 The offer that changes everythingLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskluver/Kris' Website: https://lifeon-yourterms.com/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 textExploring the intersection of creativity and innovation, Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing live experiences. From personalized exhibits to universal storytelling, Geoff delves into the possibilities and pitfalls of harnessing AI to elevate our connections with others. 01:39 Introducing Geoff Thatcher 02:48 Thinking about AI Differently 13:47 What Does it Mean to "Create" Now? 19:32 Augmented Intelligence 22:27 Death By PowerPoint 23:57 Five Rules for Using AI 24:47 Difference between Better and Easier? 30:16 Don't Let AI Steal Moments of Inspiration 33:18 Always Use the Most Reliable Source 34:57 Use AI to Tell Stories 37:36 The Worry of Getting Lazy 39:48 Humanizing AI! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffthatcher/ Website: https://www.creativeprincipals.com/ 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 textThis is one of my favorite episodes - it's all about the story!Part 2 of our conversation with Vinca LaFleur, Founding Partner of West Wing Writers. From the power of ideas to the art of delivery, Vinca shares what it takes to write words that resonate — and why every great message starts with meaning.00:30 Tricks and tips to a presentation04:14 Speech gotchas07:29 Knowing when you have a hit09:39 How much is delivery11:53 GOAT speech Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kWIa8wSC014:49 Gettysburg case study17:11 ChatGPT?20:26 Mental cups26:55 West Wing Writers31:51 Chief34:30 Book recommended most Made to Stick: https://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-SurviveOthers/dp/1400064287Want 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 textWe're joined by Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai and pioneer in RAG research. From deploying AI agents at Fortune 500 companies to shedding light on data privacy and security, Douwe shares his expertise and insights on how to make data simple, effective, and secure.00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go?06:59 LLMs with Context08:20 Making AI Successful10:34 Why Contextual AI?17:18 LLM versus SLMs20:28 Speed over Perfection22:07 Hallucinations26:02 Making AI Easy to Consume28:50 Defining an Agent32:53 Reaching Contextual AI33:14 The Contrarian View34:37 The Risks of AI36:53 For FunLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/douwekielaWebsite: https://contextual.ai/ 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. 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.