A Class Act: Conversations in Data and Leadership
A Class Act: Conversations in Data and Leadership
Podcast Description
Welcome to A Class Act: Conversations in Data and Leadership. Hosted by Michael Young of MBN Solutions, a data talent expert with nearly two decades of experience at the forefront of tech recruitment, this show dives deep into what it really takes to build high-performing teams. Each episode features candid conversations with the leaders behind the progress - those hiring top tech talent, scaling data science teams, driving digital transformation, and leading with purpose (not just a job title).Whether you're a data leader, people manager, recruiter, or simply passionate about building great teams, you'll walk away with insights, lessons learned, and fresh perspectives on talent, strategy, and leadership in today’s tech economy.Follow A Class Act for honest, human-first leadership conversations in the data and tech space.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes such as data leadership, team dynamics, and personal growth, with episodes featuring topics like leading with trust, building diversity in teams, and navigating complexity in tech environments. For example, episodes have explored how cognitive diversity improves decision-making and the importance of vulnerability in leadership.
What does it really take to build world-class tech teams and lead with impact in today’s data-driven AI landscape?
I’m Michael Young from MBN Solutions and after two decades placing top talent across data, AI, and tech, I’ve seen the real stories behind high-performing teams.
On A Class Act, we go beyond buzzwords. You’ll hear real life, experience-led conversations with the AI and data leaders shaping digital transformation – those hiring top tech talent, building data science capability, and leading with purpose.
Whether you’re a data leader, people manager, or recruiter, join us for honest, human-first insights into hiring, leadership, strategy, and building great teams in AI and data.
Follow A Class Act for honest, beyond the hype leadership conversations in the AI, data and tech space.
Nina Habicht has been building AI since 2011 and is one of Switzerland's Top 100 Women in Data and AI.
In this conversation with Michael of MBN Solutions, she's direct about what she actually thinks about why so much AI being built right now feels disposable, why the funding bubble is coming even if the technology bubble isn't and why generalist AI startups don't have an easy road ahead.
In this episode, Nina shares:
- Why so much AI being built right now feels easy to copy and hard to defend
- Why she believes the funding bubble may come before any technology bubble
- What she would avoid building today, even if it looks popular or fundable
- Why domain depth matters more than generic AI capability
- What founders should stop doing if they feel overwhelmed by the speed of AI change
- Why under-digitised, less fashionable sectors may hold the biggest opportunity
- The new AI roles she believes are coming next from agent controllers to ethical AI leadership
Guest information
Nina Habicht is the Founder and CEO of dreamleap, an Agentic AI tech company with AI consultancy and an own training academy based in Zurich, and one of Switzerland’s Top 100 Women in Data and AI.
Across her career, she has built AI systems into production in multiple industries, including one of the first voice assistants for the Swiss federal train system and Swisscom.
Dreamleap is her third venture, starting as a training business and evolving into both a training and technology company. Today, the company trains around four companies a week, employs 12 people, and is based in Zurich.
Connect with Nina Habicht on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-habicht-%F0%9F%AA%84%F0%9F%91%80-b840a553/
Connect with dreamleap: (1) dreamleap: Übersicht | LinkedIn
Visit dreamleap Agentic Factory: www.dreamleap.com
Visit dreamleap’s Applied Academy: www.voicetechhub.com (powered by dreamleap)
About Your Host
Michael Young is the Managing Director of MBN Solutions and host of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership. With nearly two decades of experience helping organisations build high-performing data, analytics, and AI teams, he brings frontline insight into what makes exceptional talent and leadership.
Please note: The views expressed by the guest in this episode are their own and do not reflect those of their current or former employers.
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Connect with MBN Solutions:
If you’re hiring for data or AI leadership roles, scaling AI capability, or rethinking how talent supports your AI strategy, the team at NBN partners with organisations to build data and AI teams that actually deliver.
MBN Solutions on LinkedIn: Explore industry updates, groundbreaking projects, and the latest in data and analytics talent. Join the conversation and discover how MBN Solutions is shaping the future of data leadership. Visit the company page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbn-recruitment-solutions
For questions, guest recommendations, or to connect:
Email: [email protected]
Visit MBN Solutions website atwww.mbnsolutions.com
![S2E8: Nina Habicht [ Top 100 Women in Data & AI ] on the AI Funding Bubble & Founder Advice on Building AI that Lasts](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/f1o26egmagy0vmyh8gasn5cva1ci?.jpg)
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