Making Data Matter

Making Data Matter

Conversations about data and leadership at mission-driven organizations with practical insights into the intersection of non-profit mission, strategy, and data.

Episodes

November 13, 2024 37 mins

In this episode of Making Data Matter, we are joined by Olivia Kew-Fickus - Chief Data Officer at Vanderbilt University.

This conversation offers you insights about:

  • What does a Chief Data Officer do?
  • How do you form a data strategy for your organization?
  • Managing the complexities of systems in higher education
  • Collecting data to measure student outcomes

and more.

Olivia Kew-Fickus | LinkedIn

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In this episode of Making Data Matter, we are joined by Jessi Smith - Business Intelligence Manager at CareOregon.

This conversation offers you insights about:

  • Data cloud migration wins and roadblocks
  • Managing Expectations with stakeholders
  • All the moving pieces required for successful data governance

and more.

Jessi Smith (she/her) | LinkedIn

CareOregon - Home

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In this episode of Making Data Matter we sit down with Phillip Wallace - Director of Knowledge Management at UNCF (United Negro College Fund).

We shared a ton of laughs as Phillip offered his insights for you into

- How data is used to increase impact in Higher Ed

- The role of Qualitative and Quantitative Analytics

- The different functions or personas of a data professional

- The similarities between preaching and data analytics

- and...

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In this episode, we sit down with guest Matt Brodie - Data Storyteller at Power to Change

You will gain insights into:

  • How to apply design thinking to data work.
  • What are ways you can bring art and creativity to technology.
  • Why you should integrate different disciplines into your data thinking.
  • How to design data tools with human experience in mind.

and more.

Matt Brodie | LinkedIn

Power to Change

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In this episode, we sit down with guest Matt Benford - CFO at Community Action Partnership Sonoma County

You will gain insights into:

  • How finance drives impact in community services
  • Ways to build trust when decentralizing data and responsibility.
  • How to lead with curiosity
  • Integrating finance, data, and strategy in non-profit work.

and more.

Matt Benford | LinkedIn

Sonoma CAN

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In this episode, we sit down with guest Emily Hicks-Rotella - Data & Technology Strategist at Make Tech Work For You

You will gain insights into:

  • How to understand and develop a data culture at your non-profit.
  • What are key principles for adult learning tech and data
  • How to approach program evaluation and data with humility and courage
  • Practical ways to develop a Data Tech role at your organization

and more.

Emily Hicks-Rote...

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In this episode, we sit down with guest Sam Elliott - Director, Data and Analytics at Calgary Homeless Foundation

You will gain insights into:

  • Innovating with data to improve real people's lives
  • Navigating the challenges of data collection and data management for various programs and services
  • How to measure progress and KPIs for serving people experiencing homelessness.
  • How to increase the maturity of data in an organization that's ...
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In this episode Troy and I share about two different data learning experiences we've been a part of. Troy in a technical bootcamp and Sawyer with a data leadership cohort.

We discuss:

  • Tech stacks, open source tools, and big data
  • Learning experiences and methods
  • Leadership vs. individual contributor problems and challenges

and more.

Technical and Strategic Data Leader cohort.

Join the DataExpert.io Academy

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No guest interview today - A solo Episode with Sawyer. This is an audio recording of a recent presentation from a Linkedin Webinar.

You can find the video version of this presentation here.

In this episode covers:

  • Why is measuring success for data teams so hard?
  • What are the consequences of doing this poorly?
  • What are the results when data teams do define and measure their success?
  • A practical framework for defining success metri...
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In this episode, we sit down with guest James Serra - Technical Data Architect at Microsoft.

We discuss:

  • What is a data architecture and what purpose does it serve in an organization?
  • History of data architecture, data technologies, and how some things haven't changed.
  • How to decide on a data architecture based on the size and maturity of your organization.
  • Data Mesh, decentralization vs centralization, and picking and choosing the ...
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In this episode, we sit down with guest Josh Burns - Founder and CEO of Spark Collective - a Digital Marketing agency for nonprofits.

We discuss:

  • Why marketing matters for nonprofits
  • How do you make data-driven decisions about marketing?
  • What are some fundamental marketing best practices for nonprofits?
  • How do you decide which metrics to track in your marketing campaigns?

and more.

Josh Burns | LinkedIn

Spark Collective

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In this episode, we sit down with guest Jim Bennett - Director of Business Operations and Technology at Camp Barakel.

We discuss:

  • Jim's background in enterprise consulting and how he ended up at a small camp in Northern Michigan
  • How Jim has tackled strategic digital transformations for a historically low-tech organization.
  • What skills are needed to be successful in data and consulting
  • How Jim took a risk hiring an early career Sawye...
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In this episode, we sit down with guest Joe Squire - Director of Analytics & Data Science at UPMC.

We discuss:

  • How Joe transitioned into data after beginning his career as a nurse.
  • Partnership with business areas to improve and align outcomes.
  • Uses and adoption of AI among data professionals.
  • Ways AI can improve healthcare access and outcomes for patients,

and more.

Joe's LinkedIn

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Welcome to Making Data Matter, where we have conversations about data and non-profit leadership. With practical insights into the intersection of non-profit mission, strategy, and data.

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