Re-Air: From Anxiety to Advantage: Navigating Data’s AI Revolution with Barry McCardel of Hex

Jan 14, 2026

Barry McCardel, CEO and co-founder of Hex, shares his vast expertise in data tools and AI integration. He tackles the anxieties surrounding AI’s impact on job roles, emphasizing the shift from coding to strategic problem-solving. Barry discusses the benefits of embedding AI in workflows, enhancing team structures, and fostering innovation. He highlights the infinite demand for data insights and the necessity for organizations to adapt by leveraging AI-driven tools. Overall, he paints a picture of a rapidly evolving data landscape brimming with opportunity.

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INSIGHT

AI Lets Data People Be Problem Solvers

Great data people are problem solvers; tooling changes don't erase that core skill.
McCardel argues AI can free analysts from boilerplate work and let them focus on higher-impact problems.

ANECDOTE

Internal Hiring After A Hard Reset

John Wessel described internally rebuilding a data team by hiring three excellent internal candidates.
He used AI and new processes to make a smaller, domain-rich team highly efficient and cost-effective.

ADVICE

Speed And Governance Preserve Relevance

Provide AI features that return answers in hours, not weeks, and integrate governance to maintain trust.
Use endorsed semantic models and observability so data teams remain relevant and trusted.

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This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Barry McCardel, CEO and Co-Founder of Hex, joins Eric Dodds and John Wessel to discuss the transformative impact of AI on data teams and the broader data industry. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping workflows, team structures, and the very definition of data roles, while also addressing the anxieties and opportunities that come with rapid change. Barry shares Hex’s journey from having a dedicated AI team to fully integrating AI across the product, and offers insights on industry consolidation, the infinite demand for data insights, and the importance of embracing change. Key takeaways include the need for data professionals to adapt and focus on problem-solving, the growing value of context and curation, the competitive advantage for organizations that leverage AI-driven tools and foster a culture of innovation, and so much more.

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

Welcoming Back Barry to The Show (1:07)
Discussing Change, Uncertainty, And Anxiety In Data Roles (3:13)
Exploring Excitement And Opportunity In AI Adoption (6:20)
Redefining Data Roles And The Infinite Demand For Insight (9:37)
The Impact Of AI On Data Workflows And Team Mindset (12:52)
Evolving Team Structures And The End Of The Magic Team (16:49)
Integrating AI Into Product Development At Hex (20:44)
Comparing Industry Approaches To AI Features (24:56)
How AI Changes Daily Workflows For Data Teams (28:52)
The Virtuous Cycle Of Context, Curation, And Self-Serve (32:39)
Managing Context And Evaluating AI Agent Performance (36:52)
The Expanding Role Of Data Professionals In The AI Era (40:45)
Industry Consolidation And The Modern Data Stack (44:32)
Lessons From Acquisitions And Platform Shifts (48:18)
Key Takeaways And Looking Ahead To Future Episodes (52:16)

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