Hub & Spoken: Data | Analytics | Chief Data Officer | CDO | Data Strategy

Being right isn't enough. If people don't understand the insight, trust it or know what to do with it, its value can quickly disappear.
 
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Aubrey HB, senior executive data leader, to explore why communication and storytelling are such critical skills for data leaders.
 
Drawing on Aubrey's journey from computational mathematics and data science into senior leadership, they discuss the shift from explaining how something works to making clear why it matters. They explore how data teams can move beyond being order takers by asking what decision an insight will enable and what value it is ultimately there to create.
 
The conversation also looks at adapting your message for different audiences, building trust through the story behind the data and coaching teams to communicate with greater impact. Because whether you're speaking to a CEO, presenting to a board or working with a business stakeholder, how you communicate the insight can be just as important as the work itself.

AI might be moving quickly, but moving quickly without the right foundations can create more problems than it solves.
 
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Judy Howarth, Director of Data and AI at the Law Society, to explore how a 200-year-old institution is approaching data and AI while staying true to its purpose.
 
Judy shares why trusted, well-governed data has to come before ambitious AI adoption. She explains how the Law Society is balancing enthusiasm for new technology with responsible implementation and the importance of keeping human oversight at the heart of its use.
 
They also discuss how to give people the skills and confidence to use AI effectively, particularly when appetite across the organisation is high and there are plenty of opportunities to pursue.
 
The conversation explores where value is already emerging, from removing time-consuming manual tasks to creating more tailored AI tools that could improve how the organisation serves its members.
 
Judy also shares her perspective on leadership and why different experiences and backgrounds matter when building strong data and technology teams.

What does it really take to create an environment where different ways of thinking can thrive?
 
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Peter Laflin, senior data leader and former CDO at Morrisons, to explore neurodiversity in data and AI and what it means for building high performing teams.
Peter explains why many strengths associated with neurodivergent thinking are particularly valuable in data and AI. From spotting patterns to thinking in systems, different ways of processing information can bring huge value to the work these teams do.
 
The conversation also looks at strength based leadership and the importance of understanding how individuals work best. They explore where traditional recruitment processes can create barriers and the practical changes leaders can make to help people thrive.
 
Ultimately, it is about moving away from a one size fits all approach to leadership and creating teams where different ways of thinking are recognized as a strength.

Most organisations were built for a world that no longer exists.
 
Traditional structures were designed around hierarchy, control and clearly defined responsibilities. But today's knowledge based organisations operate differently. People are expected to spot problems, connect information across teams and make decisions at speed. And AI is accelerating that shift even further.
 
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Andros Payne, Founder and Managing Partner of Humatica and organisational transformation specialist, to explore what makes an organisation genuinely adaptable.
 
They discuss:
Why leadership needs to move from solving problems to enabling others to solve them

Why trust is fundamental to an organisation's ability to respond to change

How data and transparency help people recognise and act on the signals around them.

 
The conversation also turns to AI and the fundamental impact it could have on knowledge work, organisational structures and the role of leaders themselves.
 
A timely conversation about building organisations that can respond, adapt and keep moving as the world around them changes.

AI may be advancing at extraordinary speed, but making it work inside an organisation is about far more than the technology.
 
In this episode of Hub & Spoken, Jason Foster, CEO & Founder of Cynozure, is joined by Alex Sidgreaves, Chief Data Officer at Zurich Insurance, to explore how leaders can move from AI experimentation towards meaningful business value - while bringing their people with them.
 
They discuss why organisations need to start with the problem, not the technology, and why the businesses that succeed won't necessarily be those using the most AI, but those putting it in the right places.
 
The conversation also tackles one of the harder questions surrounding AI: trust. From employees being asked to work differently without knowing exactly what the future looks like, to customers wanting human empathy at critical moments, successful adoption depends on understanding where technology helps and where human judgement and connection still matter.
 
Jason and Alex explore the role of leadership, governance, skills and culture in making that happen, and why middle managers could ultimately determine whether AI transformation succeeds or fails.