Roxane Heaton, MD of Digital Colleague Experience at Barclays on Designing Better Work with AI

Want to equip your workforce with the data and AI skills they need to drive real transformation? Cambridge Spark partners with global organisations to build high-impact, scalable training programmes that deliver measurable business outcomes. Learn more at cambridgespark.com. In this episode of Data & AI Mastery, Dr. Raoul-Gabriel Urma speaks with Roxane Heaton, Managing Director of Digital Colleague Experience at Barclays, about what it means to design digital systems for real people—at scale. Roxane shares her unique journey across the public and private sectors, from the Cabinet Office to Macmillan and now at Barclays, and brings an unshakable focus on user-centered innovation. In a world obsessed with digital transformation, Roxane challenges conventional thinking by arguing that AI doesn’t replace thinking—it deepens it. Whether you're a digital leader, HR strategist, or AI practitioner, Roxane offers an inspiring and grounded vision for inclusive, impactful transformation. Tune in to discover how to unlock human potential through data-driven design. Chapter Markers: (05:46) How to Measure the Impact of Digital Tools (08:32) Using Passive vs Active Data in AI Design (10:47) Automation, Copilots & Rethinking Workflows (13:07) Why Upskilling Requires More Than Just Tools (16:33) The Role of Ethics and Data Governance (19:51) Storytelling as a Leadership Skill in the AI Era (20:21) Why Design Thinking is the Must-Have Mindset (26:01) Raoul’s Reflections Useful Links: Connect with Roxane Heaton on LinkedIn Visit the Barclays Website Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programs at cambridgespark.com