6 Months of Data & AI Mastery: Raoul-Gabriel Urma, Group CEO at Cambridge Spark Reflects on Lessons, Leaders & the Future

Curious about how you or your organisation can lead in the age of AI? Visit CambridgeSpark.com to explore cutting-edge training programmes and resources. To celebrate the six-month milestone of Data & AI Mastery, we flip the script! This time, host Dr. Raoul-Gabriel Urma steps into the hot seat, interviewed by Cambridge Spark's CTO, Kevin Lemagnen.  In this special anniversary episode, Raoul shares his personal journey—from coding on calculators in high school to founding Cambridge Spark and leading the conversation on data and AI transformation. Together, they also go on to reflect on the biggest takeaways from past guests and why lifelong learning is no longer optional. Plus, Raoul answers a rapid-fire round of personal and professional questions that offer a glimpse into the mind behind one of the industry's most forward-thinking educators. Whether you're aspiring to lead in tech or shaping strategy from the C-suite, this episode offers insights, inspiration, and practical wisdom. Chapter Markers: (05:00) From calculators to classrooms: Raoul’s early love for education (15:00) The ROI of AI: cost vs. customer delight (20:00) Bold prediction: The rise of agentic AI in education (23:00) Favorite guest moments: from NATO to Lloyds to Pearson (26:00) The future of work and why apprenticeships matter (27:30) Quickfire round: contrarian views, reading habits, Python love, and more Useful Links: Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn Connect with Kevin Lemagnen on LinkedIn Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programs at cambridgespark.com Functional Programming in Java by Raoul-Gabriel Urma: Amazon Link