Alter Everything

208: Making AI a Team Sport with Alteryx CEO Andy MacMillan
In this episode of Alter Everything, Alteryx CEO Andy MacMillan joins host Joshua Burkhow to explore what it takes to move AI from personal experiments to tools an entire team can trust. Andy shares his journey from software developer to CEO, why businesses get stuck in the “single-player” AI trap, and how empowering the people who know the business best can help unlock AI’s potential. Tune in for a candid conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and why your business expertise matters more than ever.

Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfA
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything

0:00 How AI Earns Trust at Work
2:08 Andy MacMillan's Path from Developer to CEO
7:31 Making Enterprise AI Practical
12:12 The Single-Player AI Trap
21:36 From Early Web Tools to Multiplayer AI
29:12 Empowering Business Experts Without Code
34:26 How AI Changes Software Development
40:12 Combining Probabilistic AI with Business Logic
48:18 The Second AI Aha Moment
54:55 Rapid-Fire Questions on Enterprise AI
1:00:54 Building with AI and Scaling Across Teams

In this episode of Alter Everything, our host, Joshua Burkhow, sits down with Jordan Morrow, SVP of Data and AI Transformation at AgileOne and the “Godfather of Data Literacy”, to explore what it really takes to thrive in the age of AI.

They discuss why curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence matter more than mastering the latest tools, how leaders can build cultures that encourage learning and experimentation, and why successful AI adoption starts with investing in people before technology.

Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverything

Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfA
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything

Episode Chapters
0:00 AI and the Human
2:00 Jordan Morrow's Data Literacy Journey
5:35 First Principles and AI Fundamentals
13:37 The Confidence and Skills Gap
15:00 Focus, Anxiety, and Being Human
18:48 AI, Work, and Leadership
25:01 Curiosity as AI Literacy
26:44 Psychological Safety and AI Culture
29:33 Mental Workouts and Human Creativity
33:27 Lightning Round: Skills, Confidence, and Critical Thinking
37:45 Everyone Has a Seat at the Table
38:39 Final Takeaway

In this special Inspire Alter everything episode, we unlock the secrets of building trustworthy AI to drive real impact. In a world flooded with flashy demos, it’s important to understand what separates those leading the pack from those chasing trends. This episode reveals how top executive leaders are transforming AI from experimental pilot projects into reliable business engines that truly serve customers.

Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverything

Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfA
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything

Episode Chapters
0:00 AI Beyond the Demo
1:18 Ben Canning: Building AI People Can Trust
2:36 Hands-On Product Leadership
3:26 Leading Teams Through AI Change
7:01 Turning AI Experiments Into Practice
10:51 The Future of AI Interfaces
12:32 Michelle Huff: AI in Marketing
15:32 Experimentation and Business Value
18:40 The AI "Aha" Moment
21:12 Derek Bates: AI in Sales
24:26 AI as a Sales Advantage
27:18 Alteryx One and MCP
30:34 Closing Thoughts

This week on Alter Everything, dive into a comprehensive discussion on how AI is reshaping marketing teams, outlining what tasks AI is best suited for, and emphasizing the critical role of human oversight. This episode offers practical insights on integrating AI tools effectively while maintaining brand integrity and governance.

Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverything

Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfA
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything

Episode Chapters
0:00 AI meets real marketing teams
1:35 What inbound marketing means
4:08 Where AI in marketing stands today
7:11 Adoption challenges: tools, workflows, and mindset
12:00 The 80/20 shift for AI work
15:50 Copywriting, brand voice, and human editing
22:37 AI, design, and human creativity
27:48 Marketing tech stacks and AI literacy
34:04 Governance, security, and shadow AI
40:32 What AI-first marketing teams may look like
45:32 Lightning round: tools, skills, and mistakes
51:18 Closing reflections

In this episode of Alter Everything, we sit down with Fern Halper to discuss how most companies are now hitting a stage where productivity gains plateau because foundational elements like data, governance, and measurement are overlooked. Fern, a seasoned data and AI expert, reveals how organizations often chase quick wins with off-the-shelf tools, only to hit a wall when results stop improving or are unmeasurable.
Panelists:
Fern Halper, VP of Research @ TDWI -  LinkedIn
Joshua Burkhow, Chief Evangelist @ Alteryx -  @JoshuaB , LinkedIn
Resources and Links
Data Makes the World Go Round
EU AI Act

Ready to get hands-on with Alteryx One? You can now dive into two brand-new learning paths—Workspace Administrator and Account Administrator—designed to help you build real expertise, fast. Even better, you’ll be able to validate your skills with official certifications launching May 1.
Explore these new paths and unlock all of our free learning content today on Alteryx Academy.
Start learning now: [Visit Alteryx Academy]

Start your 30 day free trial of Alteryx desktop or the Analytics cloud platform at https://www.alteryx.com/AlterEverything

Subscribe to the Alter Everything podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alter-everything/id1356137854
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/17KLxb23QlvgcbvLiaPck1?si=FWmOQEITRFCQ42smFjOpfA
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alteryx/alter-everything

0:00 Opening Question
2:01 Why 2026 Is a Building Year
7:59 The Value Ceiling
14:40 Measuring Real AI Progress
17:56 Why AI Governance Is Different
20:06 Governing Agentic Systems
27:34 Original Thought as Competitive Edge
32:09 Designing for Augmentation
35:36 Predictive Analytics and Agentic AI
38:54 Lightning Round
42:08 Moving Beyond Productivity Theater
44:17 Key Takeaways