Navigating the Data Quality Crisis & Demystifying The Data Ecosystem: Part 1 with Joe Reis
September 4, 2025
Today’s data ecosystem is less an absolute and more an ever-evolving mystery that’s always got eyes on it. Our eyes too - on the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, welcomes Joe Reis, bestselling author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and Data Engineer, in this two-part series, to explore the evolving landscape of data engineering and AI implementation. Tune in to understand why focusing on fundamentals remains crucial amid rapid technological change, unpack the ways to build robust data systems without falling into “hype cycles”, and learn practical strategies for aligning architecture, governance, and tooling with real business outcomes.
It’s time to balance innovation with proven principles, while emphasizing the often-overlooked importance of security and governance in modern data engineering.
Today’s data ecosystem is less an absolute and more an ever-evolving mystery that’s always got eyes on it. Our eyes too - on the latest episode of Bringing Data and AI to Life, our host Nick Dobbins, Worldwide VP and Field CTO at Informatica, welcomes Joe Reis, bestselling author of "Fundamentals of Data Engineering" and Data Engineer, to explore the evolving landscape of data engineering and AI implementation.
What You’ll Learn
What You’ll Learn
- Why fundamental data principles remain essential even as AI technologies evolve
- How to transition from tool-first thinking to problem-first approaches that deliver real business value
- The critical importance of security and governance in building AI-ready data pipelines
- Why active listening and business literacy are crucial skills for modern data practitioners
- How to communicate data initiatives effectively by speaking the language of business stakeholders
- Why combining traditional sciences with philosophy and arts creates stronger data professionals in the AI era
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This podcast is brought to you by Informatica, the leader in enterprise cloud data management.
Links:
Joe Reis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephreis
Joe’s Practical Data Modeling Substack: https://practicaldatamodeling.substack.com/
Joe’s Book “Fundamentals of Data Engineering”: https://www.amazon.in/Fundamentals-Data-Engineering-Systems-Grayscale/dp/9355421540
Nick Dobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-dobbins-guiding-data-modernization-with-responsible-ai
Informatica Website: https://www.informatica.com/
Data & AI Architecture Summit: https://now.informatica.com/ai-architecture-summit2025.html?Source=INFAPodcast
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Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica
Check out our Top episodes:
Bringing Data and AI to Life Guest and Audience Feedback
Leave us a voice note!
Previous guests include:
Salema Rice host of Data Governance and Data Integration Solution Sales, Willem Koenders of ZS Associates, Tanja Ubert of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Graeme Thompson of Informatica
Check out our Top episodes:
- Why Do We Still Struggle to Trust AI? with Graeme Thompson from Informatica
- Data Quality Over Quantity and the Human Element, with Tanja Ubert from Rotterdam University
- The Power of Data Governance and Responsible AI with Salema Rice, Chief Executive Officer at CDO Today