<p>👉 Discover how Cambridge Spark helps organisations build the data and AI capabilities needed to turn strategy into measurable impact: <a href="https://cambridgespark.com/" target="_blank">cambridgespark.com</a></p> <p>On this week's episode of Data &amp; AI Mastery, Dr Raoul-Gabriel Urma is joined by Sarah Self, AI Director at Aviva. Sarah brings a rare dual perspective to the conversation of data and AI, having spent nearly a decade in cybersecurity before moving into AI leadership. In this episode, she shares how those two disciplines share the same foundations: people, process and technology, and why that framework is central to delivering responsible, scalable AI.</p> <p>Sarah discusses how Aviva built its own internal AI platform to embed guardrails from day one and why she views risk management and customer value not as a trade-off but as a single, unified objective. She also makes a compelling case for democratising AI across the workforce, using the term "organ rejection" to describe what happens when people are left behind in a transformation.</p> <p>The episode closes with two standout production use cases: a claims summarisation solution that cut customer hold times by over 50% and a medical underwriting tool delivering 99% accuracy, both of which drive efficiency and customer satisfaction simultaneously.</p> <p>Follow Data and AI Mastery on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube so you never miss an episode.</p> <p><b>Chapter Markers</b></p> <p>(00:00) - Opening Insight: Experimentation With Purpose</p> <p>(02:44) - The Parallels Between Cybersecurity and AI</p> <p>(05:46) - Balancing Risk and Customer Outcomes at Aviva</p> <p>(10:29) - Democratising AI: Why Workforce Inclusion Matters</p> <p>(14:28) - Identifying High-Value AI Use Cases</p> <p>(17:27) - Balancing Experimentation With Production: The Portfolio Approach</p> <p>(20:16) - Remaining Challenges and Keeping Perspective on the Hype</p> <p>(23:48) - Quickfire Round: Sarah's AI Aha Moment</p> <p>(25:21) - Raoul’s Reflections</p> <p><b>Useful Links</b></p> <p>Connect with Sarah Self on LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-self-ba0b0642/" target="_blank"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-self-ba0b0642/</a></p> <p>Follow Raoul for more AI insights on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoulurma/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoulurma/</a></p> <p>Explore Cambridge Spark’s AI upskilling programmes at <a href="https://www.cambridgespark.com" target="_blank">https://www.cambridgespark.com</a></p>