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Building Digital Africa with Bitange Ndemo

In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, former Permanent Secretary for Information and Communication, and one of the architects of Kenya’s digital transformation.

Widely regarded as a driving force behind the modernization of Kenya’s ICT sector, Prof. Ndemo oversaw landmark reforms including the installation of undersea submarine cables, the liberalization of telecom markets, the reduction of mobile termination rates, the launch of Kenya Open Data, and the rise of innovation hubs such as iHub and mLab. These reforms helped position Kenya as a continental leader in digital innovation.

Now serving in diplomacy while continuing his academic and research work in entrepreneurship and ICT-driven development, Prof. Ndemo reflects on the policy decisions that reshaped a nation, and what Africa must do next.

The conversation explores:

• How infrastructure unlocked Africa’s digital economy
• The political economy of reform and regulation
• Why Africa can leapfrog in AI and emerging technologies
• The power of youth, innovation, and open data
• And what “building digital Africa” truly means in the next decade

A thoughtful discussion on leadership, policy, technology, and Africa’s place in the global digital future.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang speaks with Kirti Singh, Chief Insights Officer at Procter & Gamble, about what it truly means to be consumer-first in a company that serves more than 5.5 billion people worldwide.

Kirti reflects on her 30+ year global career spanning India, China and the United States, and how her very first day at P&G, spent inside a consumer’s home, shaped her philosophy on leadership and growth.

The conversation explores:

• How P&G drives market growth, not just market share
• The rise of emerging markets and generational change
• Why “Data Is Human” and what that means in the age of AI
• How Human + AI is reshaping the analytics profession

A powerful discussion on insight, global leadership and the future of consumer-driven strategy.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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How Data Changed the Climate Conversation
Host: Wolfgang Fengler
Guest: Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhD

How did climate and nature move from the sidelines to the center of global economic decision-making—and what role did data play in that shift?

In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhD—former President & CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund (2021–2025), former President & CEO of the World Resources Institute, and now Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics’ Global School of Sustainability.

Andrew reflects on key turning points in the evolution of environmental economics, including the rise of “natural capital” and the growing demand for evidence-based climate policy. The conversation explores today’s most important data innovations—from satellite and AI-enabled monitoring of forests and carbon stocks to the emerging ability to detect methane emissions from space—and why better measurement doesn’t automatically translate into better action.

They close with a powerful set of numbers about biodiversity loss and the future of development, and what it will take to turn climate data into durable progress.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, we’re joined by Benedikt Höwedes, World Cup winner with Germany, former long-time captain of FC Schalke 04, and a leader shaped by elite football environments.

Benedikt reflects on his journey from academy football to captaining his boyhood club, and on playing every minute of Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph. The conversation explores how football has evolved, from physical demands and tactics to data, performance science, and the growing complexity of the modern game.

At the heart of this episode is a clear message: despite analytics, technology, and commercial growth, football remains a human game. Leadership, trust, team culture, and connection still define success at the highest level.

A thoughtful conversation at the intersection of data, performance, and the people behind the game.

Note this episode is in German

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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This episode of our podcast brings together Wolfgang Fengler and Shamina Singh for a powerful conversation on inclusion, data, and the rapidly changing digital-to-AI economy. Shamina shares the origin story of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the shift from the analog world to a data-driven one, and why networks and access determine economic opportunity. Together, they explore the rising “data divide,” the role of AI in shaping the next decade, and how organizations can ensure technology serves people, not leaves them behind. The discussion spans financial inclusion, privacy, regulation, human-centered innovation, and the global middle-class transformation, all framed through real-world impact and shared values. It’s a thoughtful, energizing episode that captures the spirit of building a more inclusive and connected world.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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Data Talks: Measuring Peace with Steve Killelea

In this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Steve Killelea, respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Global Peace Index.

Steve shares his journey from building successful tech companies to dedicating his life to understanding and measuring peace. Together, they explore how data can quantify something as complex as peacefulness, what the Global Peace Index reveals about today’s conflicts, and how shifting global power, inequality, and technology will shape the future.

An engaging discussion about the data behind peace, and what it tells us about the world we’re building next.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Michael Joseph, the legendary CEO who built Safaricom into one of Africa’s most successful companies and helped pioneer mobile money and digital inclusion across the continent.

From being “sent to fail” in a challenging market to creating a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that redefined how people connect, Michael shares candid insights into leadership, risk-taking, and why trusting your instincts can sometimes outperform data itself.

They explore the early days of Kenya’s mobile revolution, the power of serving consumers at the base of the economic pyramid, and why “never underestimate Africa” remains his lasting message.

Tune in for a conversation that blends business wisdom, digital foresight, and the story of a leader who helped shape an entire nation’s technological destiny.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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Host Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Jesús Crespo Cuaresma, Head of the Department of Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and a long-time collaborator of World Data Lab (WDL). They discuss Crespo’s journey into economics, the art and science of forecasting, and the future of socioeconomic modelling in an uncertain world.

The episode captures the essence of why data matters: using rigorous yet humble science to make sense of the future, balancing complexity with clarity, and optimism with realism.

🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com
Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.