
204: The Surprising Connection Between Data Foundations and AI's Value Ceiling
From Alter Everything by Alteryx
May 13, 2026 · 47 min · Season 1 · Episode 204
About this episode
Fern Halper discusses the importance of data foundations in overcoming productivity plateaus in organizations.
In this episode of Alter Everything, we sit down with Fern Halper to discuss how most companies are now hitting a stage where productivity gains plateau because foundational elements like data, governance, and measurement are overlooked. Fern, a seasoned data and AI expert, reveals how organizations often chase quick wins with off-the-shelf tools, only to hit a wall when results stop improving or are unmeasurable. Panelists: Fern Halper, VP of Research @ TDWI - LinkedIn Joshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx - @JoshuaB , LinkedIn Resources and Links Data Makes the World Go Round EU AI Act Ready to get hands-on with Alteryx One ? You can now dive into two brand-new learning paths— Workspace Administrator and Account Administrator —designed to help you build real expertise, fast. Even better, you’ll be able to validate your skills with official certifications launching May 1. Explore these new paths and unlock all of our free learning content today on Alteryx Academy . Start learning now: [ Visit Alteryx Academy ] Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverything Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast…
People in this episode
Host: Joshua Burkhow
Guest: Fern Halper
Topics covered
- data foundations
- AI
- productivity
- governance
- measurement
- organizational challenges
Keywords
- data
- AI
- productivity gains
- governance
- measurement
- off-the-shelf tools
- quick wins
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: TDWI, Alteryx, Alteryx Academy, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
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- 201: Sports Analytics & Human Rights · February 18, 2026 · 44 min
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- 199: Data, Community, and a Farewell to Megan · December 3, 2025 · 22 min
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