# 166 - Machine Learning and AI Innovations at WooliesX Ram Radhakrishnan, General Manager for Customer Analytics, AI & Data Science

# 166 - Machine Learning and AI Innovations at WooliesX Ram Radhakrishnan, General Manager for Customer Analytics, AI & Data Science

Author: Felipe Flores October 6, 2021 Duration: 35:55

Organisations are in constant need of innovation to fulfill their end consumer’s needs. That’s why several companies have started innovation areas to help update and grow their main business. Today we are focusing on starting a Machine Learning and AI initiative within these innovation areas to grow the value they are providing, scale their results and positively impact the rest of the organisation.

We are joined by Ram Radhakrishnan, General Manager for Customer Analytics, AI & Data Science at WooliesX, where he is building world-class capabilities thanks to 250+ data practitioners coming together. Ram is certain that AI and ML are future capabilities able to take organisations to new heights, whether it be solving business problems or providing a unique customer experience.

The AI & ML space is quite big and diverse, but both Ram and Felipe share how they’ve seen a huge rise in the demand for machine learning engineers due to the growing need of scaling and operationalizing models.

When it comes to hiring, the most important skill he looks for in candidates is the right attitude and the desire to always keep learning. WooliesX has a focus on teams and their members and works for them to dedicate nearly 20% of their time towards developing their own skills and knowledge.

Tune in for the full conversation where Ram goes into detail about WooliesX agile practices, their scope of work, growing their teams and what he believes are the most important upcoming skills in the data space.

Enjoy the show!

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Read the full episode summary here.


In a field dominated by discussions of algorithms and infrastructure, Data Futurology carves out a different, crucial space. Host Felipe Flores guides conversations toward the human-centric challenges that ultimately determine whether an AI initiative succeeds or fails. This isn't a technical deep dive into model architectures; it's a series of dialogues about strategy, organizational change, and the practical leadership required to bridge the gap between potential and real-world impact. You'll hear from practitioners and executives who have navigated the complex last mile of deployment, where the real work of integrating technology into business processes and culture happens. The podcast explores how to select the right problems, build effective teams, and cultivate an ethical, forward-thinking approach to data science and machine learning. For leaders, managers, and anyone responsible for steering their organization through the adoption of these powerful tools, Data Futurology offers grounded insights and actionable perspectives. It’s about moving beyond the hype to create sustainable value, ensuring that the rapid pace of advancement in artificial intelligence is matched by thoughtful and effective human leadership. Tune in for a necessary complement to the more code-focused shows in your feed.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Data Futurology - Leadership And Strategy in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science
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