Ep 208: Making AI a Team Sport with Alteryx CEO Andy MacMillan

208: Making AI a Team Sport with Alteryx CEO Andy MacMillanIn this episode of Alter Everything, Alteryx CEO Andy MacMillan joins host Joshua Burkhow to explore what it takes to move AI from personal experiments to tools an entire team can trust. Andy shares his journey from software developer to CEO, why businesses get stuck in the “single-player” AI trap, and how empowering the people who know the business best can help unlock AI’s potential. Tune in for a candid conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and why your business expertise matters more than ever.Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything0:00 How AI Earns Trust at Work2:08 Andy MacMillan's Path from Developer to CEO7:31 Making Enterprise AI Practical12:12 The Single-Player AI Trap21:36 From Early Web Tools to Multiplayer AI29:12 Empowering Business Experts Without Code34:26 How AI Changes Software Development40:12 Combining Probabilistic AI with Business Logic48:18 The Second AI Aha Moment54:55 Rapid-Fire Questions on Enterprise AI1:00:54 Building with AI and Scaling Across Teams

In this episode of Alter Everything, our host, Joshua Burkhow, sits down with Jordan Morrow, SVP of Data and AI Transformation at AgileOne and the “Godfather of Data Literacy”, to explore what it really takes to thrive in the age of AI.They discuss why curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence matter more than mastering the latest tools, how leaders can build cultures that encourage learning and experimentation, and why successful AI adoption starts with investing in people before technology.Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everythingEpisode Chapters0:00 AI and the Human2:00 Jordan Morrow's Data Literacy Journey5:35 First Principles and AI Fundamentals13:37 The Confidence and Skills Gap15:00 Focus, Anxiety, and Being Human18:48 AI, Work, and Leadership25:01 Curiosity as AI Literacy26:44 Psychological Safety and AI Culture29:33 Mental Workouts and Human Creativity33:27 Lightning Round: Skills, Confidence, and Critical Thinking37:45 Everyone Has a Seat at the Table38:39 Final Takeaway

In this special Inspire Alter everything episode, we unlock the secrets of building trustworthy AI to drive real impact. In a world flooded with flashy demos, it’s important to understand what separates those leading the pack from those chasing trends. This episode reveals how top executive leaders are transforming AI from experimental pilot projects into reliable business engines that truly serve customers.Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everythingEpisode Chapters0:00 AI Beyond the Demo1:18 Ben Canning: Building AI People Can Trust2:36 Hands-On Product Leadership3:26 Leading Teams Through AI Change7:01 Turning AI Experiments Into Practice10:51 The Future of AI Interfaces12:32 Michelle Huff: AI in Marketing15:32 Experimentation and Business Value18:40 The AI "Aha" Moment21:12 Derek Bates: AI in Sales24:26 AI as a Sales Advantage27:18 Alteryx One and MCP30:34 Closing Thoughts

This week on Alter Everything, dive into a comprehensive discussion on how AI is reshaping marketing teams, outlining what tasks AI is best suited for, and emphasizing the critical role of human oversight. This episode offers practical insights on integrating AI tools effectively while maintaining brand integrity and governance.Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everythingEpisode Chapters0:00 AI meets real marketing teams1:35 What inbound marketing means4:08 Where AI in marketing stands today7:11 Adoption challenges: tools, workflows, and mindset12:00 The 80/20 shift for AI work15:50 Copywriting, brand voice, and human editing22:37 AI, design, and human creativity27:48 Marketing tech stacks and AI literacy34:04 Governance, security, and shadow AI40:32 What AI-first marketing teams may look like45:32 Lightning round: tools, skills, and mistakes51:18 Closing reflections

In this episode of Alter Everything, we sit down with Fern Halper to discuss how most companies are now hitting a stage where productivity gains plateau because foundational elements like data, governance, and measurement are overlooked. Fern, a seasoned data and AI expert, reveals how organizations often chase quick wins with off-the-shelf tools, only to hit a wall when results stop improving or are unmeasurable.Panelists:Fern Halper, VP of Research @ TDWI -  LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx -  @JoshuaB , LinkedInResources and LinksData Makes the World Go RoundEU AI ActReady to get hands-on with Alteryx One? You can now dive into two brand-new learning paths—Workspace Administrator and Account Administrator—designed to help you build real expertise, fast. Even better, you’ll be able to validate your skills with official certifications launching May 1.Explore these new paths and unlock all of our free learning content today on Alteryx Academy.Start learning now: [Visit Alteryx Academy]Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything0:00 Opening Question2:01 Why 2026 Is a Building Year7:59 The Value Ceiling14:40 Measuring Real AI Progress17:56 Why AI Governance Is Different20:06 Governing Agentic Systems27:34 Original Thought as Competitive Edge32:09 Designing for Augmentation35:36 Predictive Analytics and Agentic AI38:54 Lightning Round42:08 Moving Beyond Productivity Theater44:17 Key Takeaways

Welcome back to Alter Everything! Explore the evolving landscape of AI and its increasing integration with human decision-making, collaboration, and societal impact. This episode features insights from Tiankai Feng, a thought leader in human-centered AI governance, discussing how organizations can responsibly deploy AI while maintaining accountability, authenticity, and social trust.Panelists:Tiankai Feng, Data & AI Strategy Director @ Thoughtworks - LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx - @JoshuaB, LinkedInResources and LinksHumanizing Data Strategy - by Tiankai FengHumanizing AI Strategy - by Tiankai FengThoughtWorks - Official websiteBooks on AI ethics and governanceYouTube - Data & AI Music ParodiesStart your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everythingEpisode Chapters0:00 Opening teaser2:09 Meet Tiankai Feng3:41 Why AI failures are really human failures8:55 Should humans adapt to AI or constrain it?13:19 Defining your relationship with AI16:02 Decision-making, prompting fatigue, and trust19:27 AI, teams, and collaboration27:37 The "they" layer and unseen stakeholders32:18 Deepfakes, disinformation, and critical thinking36:02 The environmental cost of AI39:48 Why AI governance must evolve42:14 A dual-track AI strategy for leaders45:54 Lightning round48:28 Where to find Tiankai Feng

In this episode of Alter Everything, we are joined by Dr. Ami Bhatt for a discussion around her multifaceted role in healthcare, emphasizing the integration of AI in clinical practice. She highlights the potential of AI to improve access to care, enhance clinical decision-making, and support drug development. Dr. Bhatt also addresses the challenges of implementing AI in healthcare and the importance of human expertise in leveraging technology effectively.Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverythingSubscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfAStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything00:04 Opening: Why healthcare AI is different01:39 Dr. Ami Bhatt's role across care, innovation, and policy06:14 Three major areas where AI is shaping healthcare12:41 Why AI on EKGs is especially promising14:46 Collaborative intelligence vs. replacing humans21:16 Ambient documentation and the doctor-patient connection24:47 What "good enough" means when access is limited31:41 Prevention, digital health, and patient agency34:55 Self-diagnosis with AI and advice for clinicians41:42 Lightning round

We’re back! In this episode of Alter Everything, Josh Burkhow sits down with Ari Kaplan, Head of Evangelism at Databricks and a pioneer of AI in sports. From building operating systems as a kid and studying at Caltech to transforming baseball analytics and now shaping enterprise AI strategy, Ari shares how physics-inspired thinking, relentless curiosity, and better data have driven his career. They explore the evolution from databases to generative AI, common mistakes organizations make with GenAI, why data engineering matters more than prompt engineering, and how true evangelism is about planting seeds and not pushing hype.PanelistsAri Kaplan, Head of Evangelism @ Databricks – LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx – @JoshuaB, LinkedInTopicsDatabricksMajor League Baseball analytics & the Moneyball eraAI in sports, healthcare, and enterpriseGenerative AI & data engineering foundationsData + AI governanceRaoul Wallenberg humanitarian investigationAlter Everything podcast

We’re back! Explore the future of artificial intelligence in the year 2026 with Patrick McGarry, Federal Chief Data Officer at ServiceNow, and Dr. Jupiter Bakakeu, Lead Generative AI Technologist at Alteryx. This milestone 200th episode examines the critical shift from AI as an answer machine to AI as an autonomous work agent capable of executing tasks independently. Learn about the four characteristics of AI agents (perceive, reflect, act, learn), discover which tasks organizations should and shouldn't delegate to AI, and understand why modernization, trust, and governance matter more than model selection. Panelists:Patrick McGarry, Federal Chief Data Officer @ ServiceNow - LinkedInJupiter Bakakeu, Lead Generative AI Technologist @ Alteryx - LinkedInJoshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx - @JoshuaB, LinkedInShow notes: ServiceNowAlteryxData.world"Beyond the Algorithm" by Patrick McGarry (upcoming publication) Interested in sharing your feedback with the Alter Everything team? Take our feedback survey here!This episode was produced by Cecilia Murray, Mike Cusic, and Matt Rotundo. Special thanks to Andy Uttley for the theme music.

Join us for a special farewell episode of the Alter Everything Podcast as we celebrate the impactful journey of host Megan Bowers. In this episode, Megan reflects on her career in data analytics, her experiences at Alteryx, and the evolution of the podcast. Discover insights on building a personal brand, the importance of networking in the data industry, and the future of data science and AI. Hear memorable stories from past episodes, expert interviews, and practical advice for data professionals. Panelists: Michael Cusic, Sr. Learning Experience Designer @ Alteryx - @mikecusic, LinkedInMegan Bowers, Sr. Content Manager @ Alteryx - @MeganBowers, LinkedInShow notes: Alteryx Community Blog ContentEpisode 194: AI and Data PipelinesEpisode 134: Building Trust in AI with FiddlerEpisode 140: Using Alteryx to Understand Climate ChangeAlteryx ACE program Interested in sharing your feedback with the Alter Everything team? Take our feedback survey here!This episode was produced by Cecilia Murray, Mike Cusic, and Matt Rotundo. Special thanks to Andy Uttley for the theme music.