In this episode of AtScale’s Data-Driven Podcast, host Dave Mariani, Co-Founder & CTO at AtScale, is joined by Petar Staykov, Product Director, and Daniel Gray, VP of Solutions Engineering, for a deep dive into composable analytics—the architectural shift that’s transforming how enterprises model, govern, and scale data in the era of AI agents.

Key Takeaway
Composable analytics isn’t just a design pattern—it’s the foundation for governed, scalable, and AI-ready data ecosystems. Learn how AtScale’s Universal Semantic Layer and open-source Semantic Modeling Language (SML) are redefining interoperability across BI, AI, and agent frameworks.

In this episode of the Data-Driven Podcast, AtScale CTO and Co-founder Dave Mariani is joined by Rich Williams, SVP of Partnerships and Strategy at Hexaware, and Prashant Dahalkar, VP of the Cloud Data Practice. They dive into the future of analytics through the lens of agentic AI, semantic layers, and enterprise AI governance.

Fresh from attending Snowflake and Databricks Summits, the trio unpacks the momentum behind AI agents, the rise of semantic standards, and how organizations can accelerate business outcomes with governed data architectures. Rich offers insight into how modern business users can finally talk to their data. At the same time, Prashant highlights the role of modular agents, MDM, and self-healing data tools in Hexaware’s data strategy.

Whether you’re modernizing legacy stacks or scaling data literacy across your organization, this conversation sheds light on how enterprises can move from experimentation to enterprise-grade AI adoption without sacrificing trust or governance.

In this episode of the Data Driven Podcast, Dave Mariani, CTO and Co-Founder of AtScale, sits down with Dale Williamson, EMEA CTO at Databricks, to explore the transformative role of open source standards and semantic layers in modern analytics. They discuss the importance of interoperability in data infrastructure, the impact of generative AI on democratizing analytics, and how the right semantic layer can bridge complex data to natural language for everyone. Together, AtScale and Databricks envision a future where data insights are accessible to all, empowering organizations to build with flexibility, trust, and freedom from vendor lock-in.

In this episode, AtScale’s CTO and Co-founder, Dave Mariani and VP of Engineering John Langton, discuss the exciting open-source release of the Semantic Modeling Language (SML) and its transformative potential for the data analytics industry. They dive into how SML establishes the first open standard for the semantic layer, enabling businesses to seamlessly define, share, and scale their data models across platforms like Power BI, Tableau, and Looker. John also explores the broader industry impact, highlighting how SML will foster cross-platform collaboration, enhance AI capabilities, and drive innovation by creating a unified data language that empowers businesses to unlock the full potential of their data.

For additional details on SML, check out this blog post.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Data-Driven Podcast! Host Dave Mariani is joined by Jeff Curran, Lead Data Scientist at AtScale, for a deep dive into the transformative power of Generative AI in business intelligence. Jeff shares his pioneering research, demonstrating how AtScale’s semantic layer bridges the gap between natural language queries and accurate business insights.

Explore the challenges and solutions in integrating AI with BI tools and learn how this innovation can make data-driven decision-making more efficient and precise. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the evolving landscape of AI and business intelligence.

For more information, download the white paper now!

In this episode, AtScale CTO and co-founder Dave Mariani chats with Greg Deckler, Vice President at a global IT services firm and a seven-time Microsoft MVP. They discuss Microsoft’s strategy with Power BI and its integration with Microsoft Fabric, with Deckler critiquing the rushed release and its early limitations. Both express skepticism about business users adopting more complex tools, citing ongoing challenges like measuring totals.

They also discuss the impact of generative AI on business intelligence tools like Power BI, urging caution about data security and governance. They also highlight the underutilization of natural language queries in Power BI despite frequent demos. Deckler speculates the future of Power BI’s support for various data platforms and Microsoft’s strategy to integrate these with Fabric.

To learn more, read Deckler’s 3 part blog series, “Is Fabric and Direct Lake a Game Changer For Microsoft?”

Dave Mariani interviews Juan Sequeda, the Principal Scientist at data.world. They discuss Juan’s Benchmark report on Knowledge Graphics and semantics. The conversation also covers generative AI and its role in the future of enterprise innovation.

David Mariani interviews Kunal Agarwal, CEO of Unravel Data, delving into his entrepreneurial journey and the innovative world of data observability. Kunal recounts the compelling origin story of Unravel Data, revealing how the company's vision adapted over time. He shares the challenges faced and key learnings, offering priceless advice to future entrepreneurs. The conversation then shifts to the essence of data observability, its distinction from traditional monitoring, and the unique value Unravel Data offers to its customers, illustrated through a notable success story. Kunal concludes by expressing his excitement for future trends, particularly the integration of Generative AI, providing a glimpse into the evolving landscape of data technology.

David Mariani interviews Andrew Jones, Principal Engineer, GoCardless and a thought leader in data and analytics. Andrew outlines the concept of 'data contracts' and their relevance for leaders in the field. He then provides practical advice for fostering a data-driven culture within organizations, highlighting successful strategies and common pitfalls. The discussion also touches on the use of data products as competitive tools and the importance of data quality. Concluding with a look at the future, Andrew shares his perspective on the impact of AI and machine learning tools like ChatGPT and his book. This podcast offers essential insights for anyone looking to excel in the rapidly evolving world of data and analytics.

David Mariani sits with Jordan Morrow, a renowned expert in Data Literacy. They discuss effective strategies for embedding data literacy in organizations, emphasizing its significance beyond a buzzword. Jordan shares insights on fostering a data-driven culture, including key dos and don'ts. The conversation highlights the impact of data literacy through real-world success stories and explores the role of tools, processes, and cultural shifts in enhancing industry-wide data literacy. They also delve into the challenges and successes of data leaders in creating engaging, data-informed environments, balancing self-service with data integrity.

Elif Tutuk interviews Liat Ben-Zur, a tech executive, on applying product-led growth (PLG) principles to data management. They discuss understanding customer needs, defining value propositions, and PLG techniques like freemium models. The conversation also covers key metrics and feedback methods for data product success, offering valuable insights for those aiming to leverage data for organizational growth.

Join host Elif Tutuk in a captivating conversation with Mark Stange-Tregear as they uncover the power of Financial Operations (FinOps) in the realm of data analytics. The episode starts with a primer on FinOps, explaining its significance in today's data-driven landscape.

Diving into Data and Analytics FinOps, they explore how it streamlines operations and optimizes costs, providing practical insights for all.

Cross-functional collaboration is key. Elif and Mark discuss aligning finance, IT, and data teams for maximum value.

They examine cutting-edge tools and technologies, including AtScale Metrics dashboard, which offers invaluable insights into analytics query consumption and semantic model usage on cloud data warehouses.

Cost allocation and chargebacks are demystified, ensuring equitable distribution of analytics expenses.

The episode concludes with a glimpse into the future, discussing emerging FinOps trends that will shape the data analytics landscape.

Whether you're a data enthusiast or FinOps practitioner, this episode promises invaluable insights into mastering Data Analytics FinOps. 

In this interview Dave Mariani welcomes Richard Langlois, President at IT Architecture and Strategy. Richard discusses his history, being an early adopter of AtScale, and how he achieved significant performance improvements. He delves into the importance of a strong data foundation, including ontology, governance, MDM, and a flexible data analytics platform. Richard emphasizes the need for a well-planned roadmap aligned with business benefits and highlights the potential of AI and innovation in the future of data and analytics.

In this episode Jess Ramos, a senior data analyst at Crunchbase shares her journey into the field of data analytics, starting with her background in Math and Spanish during her undergraduate studies. She discusses how she discovered her passion for data analytics while working as a data analyst intern and eventually pursued a master's degree in business analytics. Jess also talks about the challenges and biases she has encountered as a woman in the tech industry and provides insights on building a more inclusive culture. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of representation, encouragement, and equitable practices to attract and retain women in analytics and technology fields.

In this episode of the Data-Driven podcast, host David Mariani sits down with Justin Borgman, the CEO and founder of Starburst. The two seasoned entrepreneurs discuss the evolution of big data analytics, sharing their own journeys from the early days of Hadoop to the current landscape of data lakes and cloud-based solutions. Justin delves into the founding of Starburst, the challenges and opportunities in building a startup, and why he believes data lakes are experiencing a resurgence. The conversation also touches on the importance of focus and experience for entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating the complex world of data analytics.

In this interview, Dave Mariani interviews Ryan Janssen, the CEO and founder of Zenlytic, and Paul Blankly, the CTO and founder of Zenlytic. They discussed the importance of Generative AI, Natural Language Query, and analytics in the data industry. The conversation delves into the role of analysts in the evolving landscape and the potential of LLMs and the semantic layer to revolutionize data consumption. Overall, they explore the opportunities and considerations in leveraging LLMs and the semantic layer for data-driven insights.

In this interview, Dave and David J will discuss the value of the semantic layer in data management. They explored two different perspectives on delivering this value and shared insights about their respective paths that led them to co-found and start companies. The conversation will revolve around data analytics, the role of the semantic layer, and their experiences in the field of data management.

Listen to 🦾Jepson Taylor and discover the transformative power of generative AI and its impact on the future of artificial intelligence. Gain insights into the role of analytics leaders in driving AI adoption and overcoming challenges in legacy systems and data modernization. Explore strategies for success and understand the benefits of integrating platforms like Dataiku and AtScale in accelerating data transformation and delivering actionable insights across industries.

Listen to Christopher Wagner discuss paths into analytics, bridging the gap between technical and business aspects, and his experience working with business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing technologies such as Oracle and Microsoft Power BI. You also get to learn more about the evolution of Power BI and its interconnectivity. Chris also talks about the importance of enjoying what you do and having a passion for data and analytics.

Listen to Carly Taylor, an expert in gaming and machine learning. She shared insights on the rise of mobile gaming, player engagement, and how machine learning improves gaming experiences. We also discussed Carly’s experience with ChatGPT, finding it engaging and informative. The episode provides a look at how gaming and machine learning intersect, and the potential for chatbots like ChatGPT in various industries.

Listen to Sharon Richardson, Databricks talks about the data mesh concept and how Databricks enables organizations to implement it. Elif and Sharon also discussed the four principles of data mesh, which include domain-oriented data ownership, managing data like a product, having a common self-service data infrastructure as a platform, and governance through federated computational governance. They focus on the challenge of understanding what is meant by federated computational governance and how technology enables it

Listen to Vin Vashishta sharing about his experience in the data industry for over 20 years, helping organizations make data-driven decisions and achieve their business goals through effective data management and analysis. Vin spoke about data strategy, data monetization, and the future of data, and has worked with a diverse range of clients across industries.