How to Use AI and Data Better in Everyday Life with Jess Carter
Release Date: 07/02/2025
What Data Means for the Future of Pediatric Hospitals
Data Driven Leadership
A single error in a medical record can change a child’s life. has spent her career making sure that doesn’t happen. In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Theresa, who recently transitioned from CIO at Cook Children’s Health Care System to a new role at . Theresa recalls her unlikely path from transplant nurse to technology leader and shares how those dual perspectives influenced the way she thinks about data, trust, and patient care. Their conversation touches on the complexity of pediatric records, the challenges of moving entire hospitals onto electronic systems, and the...
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How to Win Stakeholder Buy-In: Lessons from VP of Data, Veronika Durgin
Data Driven Leadership
Most data projects don’t collapse because of the tech. They collapse when stakeholders aren’t involved in the right ways. In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, Jess Carter sits down with , VP of data, to explore why stakeholder engagement makes or breaks a data strategy. Veronika also shares lessons from two decades in data, from troubleshooting transactional databases to leading enterprise-wide initiatives. She reflects on the moment she recognized data as a true business asset, explains why curiosity and a growth mindset are foundational habits for data leaders, and outlines...
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Cybersecurity Isn’t Just the CIO’s Job Anymore
Data Driven Leadership
One phone call. One click. That’s all it takes. In this episode, Jess Carter talks with , VP of Cybersecurity at , about why today’s most dangerous breaches don’t start with technical flaws, but with people. With over 30 years in the field, Jeffrey shares stories of social engineering attacks that bypass sophisticated defenses, explains why traditional compliance measures fall short, and outlines a more realistic framework for security: prevention, detection, and response. Jess and Jeff also dig into human risk management, validation protocols, what it takes to build a culture...
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Empowering Employers and Job Seekers with Real-Time Labor Insights
Data Driven Leadership
Regional workforce boards often have access to labor market data but lack tools to make it usable for the communities they serve. In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Executive Director and Workforce Research Analyst from about how their team created interactive dashboards tailored to local needs across 14 counties. Phedra outlines the vision behind the project and what it means to equip employers, educators, and job seekers with actionable data. Jacob shares how they gathered input from stakeholders throughout the build, why usability mattered more than flash, and how this approach is...
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Solving for Mission-Aligned Outcomes with AI-Driven Grant Management Tool Eddi
Data Driven Leadership
Public sector leaders are sitting on a wealth of valuable data. But too often, they can’t act on it. In this episode, Jess Carter talks with , founder and CEO of , about how his platform helps government-funded organizations make sense of scattered financial and performance data. Jeremy shares what led him to start Eddi, how the pandemic brought long-standing issues in grant funding and reporting to the surface, and why the focus should be on outcomes, not just compliance. He explains how Eddi is supporting better decisions around budgeting, reporting, and impact. Jess and Jeremy also...
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How to Use AI and Data Better in Everyday Life with Jess Carter
Data Driven Leadership
From writing better emails to helping her son learn the alphabet, is using AI in unexpected ways. In this Q&A episode, Jess shares how she’s integrating AI into both her professional and personal routines, with real examples that span leadership, data storytelling, parenting, and everyday problem-solving. She offers practical advice for getting started with AI, from building stronger prompts to identifying the tasks where it saves the most time and adds the most value. Along the way, Jess answers listener questions about increasing data literacy without a technical background, working...
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Duolingo's Winning Data Strategy with Bilal Zia, Head of Data Science and Analytics
Data Driven Leadership
Most people know Duolingo as the fun language app with the green owl, but behind the scenes, it’s a data science team using AI and analytics to transform how we learn. In this episode, Jess Carter sits down with , head of data science and analytics at , to discuss what it takes to lead with data within one of the world’s most popular edtech platforms. Bilal shares how his team builds trust through accurate forecasting and why embedding data scientists into cross-functional teams has changed how Duolingo operates. Drawing on his past roles at the World Bank and Amazon, he reflects on the...
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Southwest Airlines on Making AI Work Across the Enterprise
Data Driven Leadership
AI can feel abstract until it’s tied to something real. At Southwest Airlines, it’s used to improve flight operations, support frontline staff, and help leaders make faster decisions. In this episode, Jess Carter chats with , managing director of artificial intelligence at . He shares how the airline built an AI strategy that works across departments by pairing smart technology with strong data practices. From infrastructure and governance to AI model training and deployment, Justin walks through what it really takes to operationalize AI in one of the world’s most complex industries. He...
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Building Trust with Data: Inside Indiana DWD’s Governance Journey
Data Driven Leadership
Data governance depends on data management and vice versa. You need both working together to make data reliable, usable, and secure. In this episode, Jess Carter talks with and from the (DWD). With data management already in place, they recognized the need for data governance to create shared standards, improve data access, and protect sensitive information. That realization led to a phased implementation of data governance by starting with the most urgent needs and working closely with teams to build understanding and trust. They also share how DWD protects sensitive information through...
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Where Creativity Meets Data: Inside Asana’s Marketing Strategy with CMO Shannon Duffy
Data Driven Leadership
Marketing is often misunderstood, seen as either all creativity or all data. In truth, it’s both. Great marketing lives at the intersection of bold ideas and sharp analytics, and few leaders navigate that space better than , chief marketing officer at . In this episode, Shannon joins to share how she drives marketing that delivers real business results. She explains how data brings credibility to creative work—and how creativity can move the needle on key business goals. They also talk about setting expectations for long-term efforts like brand building and events, helping leaders...
info_outlineFrom writing better emails to helping her son learn the alphabet, Jess Carter is using AI in unexpected ways.
In this Q&A episode, Jess shares how she’s integrating AI into both her professional and personal routines, with real examples that span leadership, data storytelling, parenting, and everyday problem-solving. She offers practical advice for getting started with AI, from building stronger prompts to identifying the tasks where it saves the most time and adds the most value.
Along the way, Jess answers listener questions about increasing data literacy without a technical background, working effectively with consultants, and determining what actually works in digital engagement. If you're curious about how to use AI and data more confidently and more creatively, this episode is a great place to begin.
Jess also references a few favorite resources throughout the episode, including:
In this episode, you will learn:
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Ways to begin using AI in your daily work
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How to build confidence in data analysis without a technical background
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What to look for when bringing in a consultant to support your team
Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Jess Carter
(01:54) How Jess uses AI as a parent, leader, and executive coach
(05:19) Simple ways to get started with ChatGPT in your daily work
(08:57) Books and tools to improve your data literacy
(13:49) When to bring in consultants and how to get real results from them
(24:27) Jess’s go-to method for making sense of messy data
(26:52) Jess’s reflection on cancer and story of resilience