Decisions, Not Questions: Bill Schmarzo on AI, Data, and the Future of Thinking

In this episode of Cool, Cool, Cool, we sit down with Bill Schmarzo, the legendary “Dean of Big Data,” to unravel what makes AI and data truly valuable in the real world. Bill shares stories from his early days hustling Strat-O-Matic baseball stats at 12, to shaping digital marketing strategy at Yahoo, and teaching the next generation of data leaders.

His big takeaway? It’s not about asking better questions — it’s about making better decisions. From the power of tribal knowledge on the front lines to how AI personal agents will soon help us navigate daily life, Bill drops wisdom on critical thinking, value creation, and why curiosity is still humanity’s sharpest tool.

If you care about AI, data strategy, decision science, or just want to hear from one of the best minds in the business — this one’s for you.