About the podcast

Welcome to "How I Met Your Data," where we explore the fascinating world of data work from a human perspective. As consultants who have worked closely with various companies, we've had a front-row seat to the complex interplay between people, organizations, and data.

Our podcast isn't just about numbers and spreadsheets. It's about the people behind the data—their stories, challenges, and triumphs. From the dynamics of teamwork in data-driven projects to the intricacies of organizational structures that shape data work, we dive into it all.

But we're not alone in this journey. Joining us at the table are voices from across the data ecosystem—data executives, strategic advisors, software executives, and more—all of whom play a crucial role in shaping what organizations can achieve with data.

Through our conversations, we aim to shed light on the human side of data work. We believe that understanding the people and organizations involved is key to unlocking the true potential of data. Whether you're a data enthusiast, a business leader, or simply curious about how things work behind the scenes, there's something here for you.

So, join us on this journey as we uncover the human stories behind the data and explore the fascinating world where people and data intersect.

Thanks for being part of our community!

Happy listening,

Anjali. Karen & Junaid

About the Hosts

Anjali Bansal

Anjali Bansal is a senior data and AI leader dedicated to turning data chaos into strategic clarity. With over two decades of experience, she has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth innovators across industries including life sciences, CPG, biotech, media, financial services, and energy—guiding them through enterprise data governance, master data management, and AI-enabled data quality transformation.

Anjali is a passionate evangelist for data and AI governance as a strategic enabler, championing its role in driving cultural change and unlocking the true value of data. She works with executive leaders to shift mindsets—reframing governance from a compliance obligation into a business accelerator. Her focus is on embedding trust, accountability, and fit-for-purpose quality into the data culture, enabling organizations to scale responsibly with AI, foster innovation, and make confident, insight-driven decisions.

She is an invited keynote speaker and global panelist, regularly sharing insights on AI value realization, data leadership, and the future of governance. Her global impact was recognized with her inclusion on the CDO Magazine Global Data Power Women List (2023).

Beyond her professional commitments, Anjali co-hosts the podcast How I Met Your Data, where she explores the human side of data transformation with industry changemakers. She also enjoys life offline—spending time with her husband and daughter, playing golf and pickleball, and pursuing her passion for wine as a certified Level 1 Sommelier.

Junaid Farooq

Karen Meppen

Karen Meppen is a powerhouse in data strategy with over 20 years of experience transforming business challenges into data-driven opportunities. Known for architecting privacy-forward, AI-enhanced ecosystems, she’s led digital innovation across fintech, medtech, insurance, education, retail, and transportation & 3rd-party logistics sectors—always with a clear eye on customer value, security, and scale.

As the founder of Village Consulting, Karen helps Southern Nevada’s most forward-thinking organizations harness the power of AI to unlock smarter, faster growth. Her previous role as Director of Client Services at Hakkoda showcased her knack for blending vision with execution: accelerating Snowflake adoption and implementing AI governance frameworks that actually stick.

Karen doesn’t just build data frameworks—she builds momentum. At Slalom, she directed high-profile data governance initiatives, formed strategic partnerships, and championed scalable policies that enhanced data literacy and operational efficiency. She’s also a founding member of the Data Product Leadership Community (DPLC), a community of data product management and UX leaders who focus on AI products and analytics solutions.

Certified in everything from privacy (CIPP/US, CIPM, CIPT) to cloud architecture (AWS), Karen’s credentials are as deep as her commitment to doing things the right way. Her work has earned her recognition as a thoughtful, future-focused leader in AI governance and digital transformation.

Karen’s most complex operating system is her family. She spends her off-hours keeping up with two energetic kids and a wonderfully patient husband. She’s even been known to bend AI to her will for clever mom hacks—because if AI can optimize metadata management, why not bedtime, laundry, and last-minute science projects?