

Making Data Matter
Sawyer Nyquist and Troy Dueck
Conversations about data and leadership at mission-driven organizations with practical insights into the intersection of non-profit mission, strategy, and data.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 13, 2024 • 37min
13. Building and Executing a Data Strategy as a Chief Data Officer - Olivia Kew-Fickus
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 educationCollecting data to measure student outcomesand more.Olivia Kew-Fickus | LinkedIn

Nov 5, 2024 • 35min
12. Collaboration in non-profit health care data - Jessi Smith
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 roadblocksManaging Expectations with stakeholdersAll the moving pieces required for successful data governanceand more.Jessi Smith (she/her) | LinkedInCareOregon - Home

Oct 22, 2024 • 47min
11. Increasing capacity in HBCUs with Data and Analytics - Phillip Wallace
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 more.Phillip Wallace | LinkedInUnited Negro College Fund Home Page - UNCF

Sep 26, 2024 • 36min
10. Designing Data for humans, creativity, and storytelling - Matt Brodie
Matt Brodie, a Data Storyteller at Power to Change, combines creativity with technology to redefine how we interact with data. He discusses how design thinking enhances data work and emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs in data visualization. Brodie explores the art of crafting compelling data narratives and the ethical communication of insights. He believes in integrating diverse disciplines into data practices to improve literacy and foster collaboration, aiming to elevate the human experience in data-driven decision-making.

Sep 11, 2024 • 48min
9. Decentralizing data and using finance to drive impact - Matt Benford
In this episode, we sit down with guest Matt Benford - CFO at Community Action Partnership Sonoma CountyYou will gain insights into:How finance drives impact in community servicesWays 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 | LinkedInSonoma CAN

Aug 29, 2024 • 48min
8. How to build a data culture that feeds your soul and mission - Emily Hicks-Rotella
In this episode, we sit down with guest Emily Hicks-Rotella - Data & Technology Strategist at Make Tech Work For YouYou 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 couragePractical ways to develop a Data Tech role at your organizationand more.Emily Hicks-Rotella | LinkedInMake Tech Work For You

Aug 15, 2024 • 38min
7. Making 1% improvements with data to change lives - Sam Elliott
In this episode, we sit down with guest Sam Elliott - Director, Data and Analytics at Calgary Homeless FoundationYou will gain insights into:Innovating with data to improve real people's livesNavigating the challenges of data collection and data management for various programs and servicesHow to measure progress and KPIs for serving people experiencing homelessness.How to increase the maturity of data in an organization that's ready to be data-drivenand more.Sam Elliott | LinkedInCalgary Homeless

Aug 2, 2024 • 37min
6. Cohorts and Bootcamps - Learning and growing with data this summer
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 dataLearning experiences and methodsLeadership vs. individual contributor problems and challengesand more.Technical and Strategic Data Leader cohort.Join the DataExpert.io Academy

Jul 9, 2024 • 40min
5. How to get leadership to notice you and practical tips for measuring success.
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 metrics.Tactical tips for designing metricsExamples of how this works in practice.Sawyer P. Nyquist | LinkedIn

Jun 19, 2024 • 49min
4. How to design and build a data architecture for maximum impact - James Serra
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 best pieces for your data architecture.and more.James Serra | LinkedInJames Serra's Blog


