Creating Transformation Through a Culture of Inquiry with Sebastian Wernicke

How can leaders use data to make better decisions and drive real change? In this episode, Kevin talks with Sebastian Wernicke about why so many organizations invest heavily in data and AI yet still struggle to achieve breakthrough results. Sebastian explains the difference between being data-driven, data-frustrated, and data-inspired. He believes that data should not only confirm and optimize what organizations already do but also challenge assumptions, reveal unexpected possibilities, and inspire new directions. They explore common myths about data, including the belief that it is always objective, that deeper analysis will automatically reveal the right answer, and that complex decisions can be reduced to a simple yes or no. Sebastian also shares why leaders must balance depth with decisiveness and become more comfortable with uncertainty and probability. They also discuss the opportunities and risks of AI, particularly its tendency to fill in gaps and generate appealing answers based on hidden assumptions. About Sebastian Wernicke Sebastian Wernicke, Ph.D., is the author of Data Inspired: Building an Organizational Culture of Inquiry for Lasting Transformation. He is a partner at Oxera Consulting, one of Europe's oldest economics and finance consultancies, where he leads the data science and AI practice. Sebastian is a leading expert in data and AI strategy and a former Chief Data Scientist. For two decades, he has guided organizations around the world to achieve breakthrough transformation through the power of data. His ability to make complex topics around data accessible, engaging, and actionable has made Sebastian a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. His three acclaimed TED Talks have reached over 5 million viewers. For more information, follow Sebastian Wernicke on LinkedIn or visit www.datainspired.org. Resources Mentioned Data Inspired: Building an Organizational Culture of Inquiry for Lasting Transformation by Sebastian Wernicke Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence by Kevin Eikenberry  The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, DeepMind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian Mallaby Timestamps 0:00 Introduction — why "data driven" isn't the whole story 1:55 Meet Sebastian Wernicke & his book, Data Inspired 3:13 Why Sebastian wrote the book 6:02 Data driven vs. data frustrated vs. data inspired 10:33 The 3 myths about data — setting the stage 11:48 Myth #1: Data isn't objective truth 13:18 Myth #2: The three TV shows example 17:15 Myth #3: Data won't give you a clean yes-or-no 18:37 Embracing complexity (and getting comfortable with discomfort) 20:04 Why this is really a culture problem, not a tech problem 23:08 Balancing depth and decisiveness in decision-making 26:09 Machine learning vs. today's AI — what's actually different 30:29 Resisting the "AI will make it easy" temptation 32:09 Purpose first, data second 34:14 What Sebastian's reading & where to find him 36:19 Closing: what are you going to do about it? --- 🎧 Subscribe and Listen to the Remarkable Leadership Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://remarkablepodcast.com/applepodcasts  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4G4KyDG8rvNcvVVbgwKGIl  Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1ad13b5c-68f3-4a03-9a4a-e5f1485c5cb2/the-remarkable-leadership-podcast  iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-the-remarkable-leadership-30949517/  RSS: http://remarkablepodcast.libsyn.com/rss  Learn more about our offerings: ➡️ FREE NEWSLETTERS: Sign up for any of our newsletters: <