In this episode of The Databricks Diaries, we’re joined by Denny Lee, Project Management Director of Developer Relations at Databricks, to discuss the future of data engineering, AI innovation, and community building.

Denny shares how Databricks is addressing the global skills gap with initiatives like the Databricks Free Edition, free training programmes, and the MVP programme, empowering developers to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of data science and machine learning.

We also explore the importance of community building through the Apache Spark ecosystem and Dev Connect meetups, and how fostering collaboration drives product improvement. Plus, Denny dives into AI readiness, the value of experimentation, and how organisations can stay ahead in the competitive data and AI landscape.

If you’re passionate about Databricks, developer relations, or the future of AI and data science, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

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In this episode of The Databricks Diaries: AI Readiness Series, Andy Davis speaks with Mukund Pandey. The discussion covers the role of governance as an accelerator, embedding compliance and explainability from day one, and how cultural alignment drives adoption at scale. Mukund also highlights practical AI use cases in risk and margin management, intraday exposure, and generative AI for regulatory efficiency.

In this episode, Andy Davis sits down with Jan Beitner, Director of Data & AI at Inflexion, to explore how private equity–backed organisations can turn AI ambition into measurable business value.

Jan shares a clear, ROI-driven framework for getting “AI ready” — from linking initiatives to value creation plans and embedding accountability at the top, to avoiding the trap of chasing technology without purpose.

They also discuss why 95% of AI projects fail to deliver ROI, how to identify automation and product-feature use cases that actually pay off, and why culture, process mapping, and change management matter more than tooling.

Whether you’re in data leadership or just starting your AI journey, this episode will help you refocus your strategy around what really counts — value, accountability, and measurable impact.