Making Data Matter (Sawyer Nyquist and Troy Dueck)

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

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

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

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

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 | LinkedIn

James Serra's Blog

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 | LinkedIn

United Negro College Fund Home Page - UNCF

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 ready to be data-driven

and more.

Sam Elliott | LinkedIn

Calgary Homeless

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.

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 Sawyer.

and more.

Jim Bennett | LinkedIn

Camp Barakel

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

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

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 metrics
• Examples of how this works in practice.

Sawyer P. Nyquist | LinkedIn

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

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-Rotella | LinkedIn

Make Tech Work For You