Beyond the Hype: Making AI Work in Insights with Pankaj Chopra

Most AI projects fail when teams treat AI like a plug-in tool instead of a fully integrated system embedded in real workflows. In this episode, Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis, speaks with Pankaj Chopra, VP & head of Data, Analytics & AI at Edgewell Personal Care, about the biggest myths in AI for insights and why pilots often never scale. They unpack what it takes to move from ad hoc experimentation to measurable business impact, including starting with clear business questions, building a robust proof of concept tied to ROI, making smart build-versus-buy tech decisions, and assembling the right mix of talent to support governance and translation. Pankaj also explains why adoption is the real marker of success and how insights teams can stay valuable through technical fluency, curiosity, and stronger storytelling.

00:00 Why AI Tools Fail

00:20 Podcast Intro and Guest

02:48 AI Myths in Insights

06:44 Tools vs Systems

09:53 Roadmaps and Value Chain

13:38 From Pilots to Scale

14:50 Three Enablers to Scale

21:54 AI as Teammate

24:47 Future Skills for Insights

30:21 Closing Takeaways

Insights & Innovators Podcast from MRII | Hosted by The Greenbook Podcast Network

Explore more episodes and resources → https://www.greenbook.org/podcast-network

Learn more about MRII → https://mrii.org/