Swallowing the Data Pill with Joel Johansen
"The data is only as powerful as the data set''.
This episode of It’s Not All About the Numbers features guest Joel Johanson, a pharmacovigilance lead and mental health advocate, who joins hosts Chris and Mike for a lively discussion. The conversation kicks off with lighthearted banter about the podcast's growing audience, personal fitness challenges, and the merits of sea swimming. Joel shares insights into his role in pharmacovigilance, explaining how data is used to monitor drug safety, identify side effects, and improve patient outcomes. The discussion highlights the evolution of pharmaceutical regulations and the industry's shift towards transparency, with Joel emphasizing how better data sharing could revolutionize patient care. He also reflects on his career path from bar manager to pharmacovigilance expert and consultant, noting the challenges and rewards of working in an industry that often faces public scrutiny.
The episode also delves into the role of consultants in business transformation, discussing the balance between offering expertise and truly understanding a company’s unique needs. Joel shares a case study illustrating how external consultants can drive change but must also recognize when to step back and allow internal teams to take ownership. The hosts round off with their signature “Good Data, Bad Data” segment, covering topics such as John Lewis’ financial recovery, the questionable reliability of BMI as a health metric, and the ongoing struggles of Welsh rugby. Throughout the episode, the hosts keep the tone engaging and humorous, blending insightful discussions on leadership, data, and industry transformation with plenty of banter and personal anecdotes.
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Author
“Chris Argent isn’t here to play by finance’s old rulebook - he’s here to rewrite it.” From challenging outdated corporate thinking to rallying finance leaders around a more connected, adaptable future, the founder of GENCFO is leading a quiet revolution in how CFOs and finance leadership work, think, and influence. Chris Argent, founder of GENCFO, is a finance leader redefining the role beyond business partnering. A self-described “reluctant accountant,” he’s built a global community for progressive accounting and finance leaders who value connection over competition and action over tradition. Chris believes the greatest risk to the profession is clinging to outdated norms, and that mindset and adaptability outpace any technological change. His work champions leaders who turn new ideas into real-world change, blending people-centred strategies with new ways of working and technology. In conversations, he challenges, provokes, and inspires - proving that the future of finance belongs to those ready to lead it together.