Enterprise Wide Search 12: Sofia Zapounidou - Metadata, Meaning and the Machine
In this episode, co-hosts Emma McGrattan and Ole Olesen-Bagneux welcome Sofia Zapounidou, Team Lead at the Publications Office of the European Commission and a lifelong champion of metadata, identifiers, and meaning in a machine-readable world. Drawing on her background in library and information science, Sofia offers a unique perspective on the evolution of data work—from card catalogs to linked open data—and what today’s AI and data communities can learn from the past.Together, they explore:Sofia’s work leading a linked data transformation at the European Commission.What librarians have always known—and technologists often forget—about user context and information architecture..Why data migration is an opportunity to improve data quality, not just preserve it.How FRBR (and now LRM) reshaped library metadata as a graph-based model.Why data needs continuous curation, and how to build a culture that supports it.🎧 Tune in for a conversation that bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, reminding us that behind every intelligent machine is a century of human effort to describe the world clearly.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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Enterprise Wide Search 10: Nagim Ashufta - The Human Layer of Data
In this episode, co-hosts Ole Olesen-Bagneux and Emma McGrattan sit down with Nagim Ashufta, founder of DRIVA and one of the most philosophical voices in the data world today. Known for weaving together history, human nature, and the hard realities of data work, Nagim brings a rare and much-needed perspective to the conversation around data, governance, and transformation.Together, they explore:Nagim’s global journey—from Kabul to Hamburg—and how it shaped his unique worldview on data and systems.Why his work focuses on enablement over abstraction, and how data teams can act as support systems rather than consultants.What a mulberry leaf, silk, and solitude can teach us about the slow, deliberate nature of data work—and why rushing outcomes often misses the point.Why terms like data product and data catalog may need to evolve to reflect more human-centered, collaborative paradigms.The hidden dynamics of power in federated data strategies—and why acknowledging them is key to sustainable governance.🎧 Tune in for a reflective conversation that challenges the way we think about data, control, and collaboration—and why the next big leap in data might just begin with people.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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Enterprise Wide Search 09: Andrew Jones - The Power of Data Contracts
In this episode, co-hosts Ole Olesen-Bagneux and Emma McGrattan sit down with Andrew Jones, Principal Engineer and author of Driving Data Quality with Data Contracts (Packt Publishing). Widely credited with coining the term “data contract,” Andrew walks us through how a deceptively simple idea evolved into one of the most impactful trends in modern data architecture.Together, they explore:Andrew’s journey from software engineering to data leadership.How unreliable data led him to pioneer the concept of data contracts.The surprising connections—and distinctions—between data contracts and data mesh.Why data contracts are gaining momentum as the practical backbone of the “shift-left” movement.Real-world lessons from organizations implementing contracts to improve data quality, governance, and developer experience.🎧 Tune in to understand why data contracts aren’t just a trend—they’re becoming the foundation for reliable, federated data management.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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Enterprise Wide Search 08: Emma McGrattan - Origins of a Data Leader (and Your New Co-Host)
In this special episode, Ole Olesen-Bagneux welcomes Emma McGrattan, Actian’s CTO, as the new co-host of Enterprise Wide Search. Emma shares her journey from coding her first game at age 12 to leading global data innovation at Actian for over three decades.Together, they explore:Emma’s early experiences with technology and her path into data engineering.The pervasive role of Actian’s technology in everyday life, from morning routines to global transportation systems.The evolution of data management: from conserving storage space to enabling AI-driven decision-making.Emma’s favorite cities and the cultural insights she’s gained through her travels.🎧 Join us as we delve into Emma's experiences and perspectives on the podcast, setting the stage for future explorations of enterprise data.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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Enterprise Wide Search 07: Anna Ibrahim - The Meta Grid is already there
I talked to Chief Data Architect, dr. Anna Ibrahim on Episode 07 - and this conversation marks a new direction for my podcast, as I will talk more concretely about the Meta Grid in the episodes going forward.As you will hear, Anna has deep technical understanding and - just as important - organizational experience to testify that the Meta Grid is already out there. In this conversation, we discuss the wealth of metadata repositories, that each at least in principle leverage different, distinct capabilities - albeit they contain the same metadata.However, Anna precisely addresses that this is not always the case, that there is an overlap of capabilities delivered by metadata repositories, and points to the paradox that vendors try to position themselves as unique, although they actually deliver redundant capabilities.Nevertheless, we expand the topic to include not only vendors, but also consultancies and internal employees - this reality that I call the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (all three parties can play all three roles).Also, at least for the next couple of months, I have decided to publish episodes on my podcast a little less frequently, but deeper and slightly longer conversations. I simply have to finalize my book, Fundamentals of Metadata Management (O'Reilly, 2025).In conclusion, I am very happy I got to have this conversation. I think that tech- and consultancy companies should listen to this episode. For each industrial company I sare to claim: The Meta Grid is already there.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
You’re listening to Enterprise Wide Search — powered by Actian.
Hosted by Ole Olesen-Bagneux, Chief Evangelist at Actian, and now joined by Emma McGrattan, Actian’s CTO and global data leader, this show explores the often-overlooked challenge at the heart of modern enterprises: finding and making sense of data.
Why is it still so hard to search across systems and uncover the data you need to do your job? Ole is obsessed with that question — and together with Emma, he speaks with authors, software inventors, data architects, industry leaders, and academics about the tools, processes, and ideas shaping the future of enterprise data search.
From metadata to data intelligence, governance to AI-powered discovery — Enterprise Wide Search is your guide to navigating enterprise data's wild, tangled world.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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