Building AI and data teams for operational scale with SumUp’s Ana Isabel Casado

In this episode of Builders, Lee Haynes speaks with Ana Isabel Casado Gómez, Head of Operations, Data and AI at SumUp. They discuss Ana’s career journey, the evolution of data challenges, and the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency. Ana shares insights on building data teams, hiring challenges, and the importance of curiosity in candidates. The conversation also covers the differences in data approaches between product and operations, measuring AI success, and the future trends in AI and data.Chapters(00:00) Introduction to Data and AI in Operations(01:16) Ana’s Journey into Data and AI(05:54) The Evolution of Data Challenges(06:11) Overview of SumUp and Its Operations(10:02) Building a Centralized Data Team(11:27 AI Initiatives in Customer Support(16:27) Hiring Challenges in AI and Data Teams(19:11) Assessing Curiosity in Candidates(22:58) Differences in Data Approaches: Product vs Operations(26:53) Measuring AI Success in Operations(30:41) Stakeholder Engagement in AI Projects(34:45) Maintaining Relevance in AI Solutions(37:33) Self-Service Analytics and Data Literacy(42:08) Understanding Complexity in AI Development(44:20) Future Opportunities and Limitations of AI(48:45) Trends in AI and Data for the Future