In this episode, Andy Davis talks with Chris Bick, Head of Data Product at Equiniti, about what it really takes to get an organisation ready for AI. They discuss why AI success starts with trusted, well-structured data, the cultural shift from tech-led to demand-led adoption, and how to balance governance with enablement. Chris shares practical use cases, from automating admin tasks to real-time fraud detection, and explains why “fleshware” – people and mindset – is the biggest factor in AI transformation.

In this episode, Andy Davis is joined by Elettra Damaggio, Director of Internal Data Science at Visa, to discuss what AI readiness really looks like from the inside. Elettra shares sharp insights on the pressures data teams face, the operational realities of deploying LLMs, and why clean data is still the unsolved challenge behind the AI hype.

They explore how internal AI use cases—like querying and explaining data—can transform operations, but only when the foundational layers are mature. From MLOps to the myth of quick wins, this is a transparent look at where businesses really are on their AI journey.

If you're grappling with where to start or how to scale, Elettra's practical and grounded advice is essential listening.

In Episode 13 of our AI Readiness series, Andy Davis is joined by Alex Blyth, Head of Data at NEST (National Employment Savings Trust), for a candid conversation on what it really takes to prepare an organisation for AI.

They discuss why cultural readiness matters more than technical capability, how tools like CoPilot are helping drive practical adoption, and the risks of applying AI to the wrong problems. Alex shares his philosophy on removing unskilled tasks to unlock real value, the importance of strong data governance, and why transformation should always be approached step by step.

This episode offers a grounded, inside view of AI adoption in the public sector — full of lessons for any organisation thinking about how to turn hype into impact.