Heart, Soul & Data

Alexandra Mannerings

It takes more than heart and soul to change the world - you also need data. Learn how to measure what matters to drive impact, no matter how 'small' your nonprofit is. Dr. Alexandra Mannerings brings experts from every corner of the public good sector and beyond to have approachable, actionable conversations about how to take your next step with analytics, especially if you don't fancy yourself a 'data person'. If we want to achieve the greatest good you can, we need to know if we're headed in the right direction, if what we're doing is working, and how we can amplify our progress. Combining the insights of data with the wisdom of people is the best way to maximize fundraising, evaluate our programs, make the most of our resources, and drive change. That's why Heart, Soul & Data is here to help you break down the barriers, cut through the confusion, translate the jargon, and guide you along the way to amplifying your nonprofit's impact with data. Listen in and let's explore the world of analytics for good together! Your host, Alexandra Mannerings, is the founder of Merakinos, a data services and analytic education company devoted to nonprofits and social enterprises. A decade of measuring what matters in low-resource environments from Ghana to Atlanta has taught her how to ask impactful questions of data - even when it's just you in the wilderness. She earned her PhD in Veterinary Science (Epidemiology) from the University of Cambridge, UK, and BSc in Biology from Emory University. She has also run the Data Center at a state hospital association, rowed for the Light Blues, built trails across Colorado parks, and is currently raising two spirited toddlers. read less

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A Blueprint For Your Nonprofit Data

A Blueprint For Your Nonprofit Data

Today we explore the Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI) and what we can learn from their effective approaches to improve our own nonprofit data. We discuss the importance of taking a holistic approach to data, including measuring impact, collecting and managing data, and leveraging technology. Erin shares her organization's journey with PDI and the improvements they made in data collection and cleanup. Alberta explains how PDI helps organizations identify gaps and develop skills to achieve the next level of data. We'll also dive into recommendations for organizations to start their own data journey. Takeaways Taking a holistic approach to data is essential for nonprofits to measure impact and make informed decisions.Building comfort and confidence with data requires a combination of technical capacities and a data culture.Prioritizing and making incremental improvements in data collection and processes can lead to significant progress.Defining terms and asking the right questions are crucial for effective data measurement and analysis. Bios Erin MacKenny has a background in education and close to 10 years of experience working in poverty reduction in the non-profit sector. Throughout her career she has developed a passion for evaluation as a means to understand impact. Currently she is the Program Director and Measurement, Evaluation and Learning Lead at the Saint John Learning Exchange in Saint John, NB Canada. In her role she leads the charge in developing stronger and more efficient data collection processes, creating and incorporating new tools, building the organization's data culture, and getting the team excited about the impact of their work. She loves to make talking about data fun and has been known to throw a great data party! Alberta Johnson is the Manager of Data Solutions and Strategy at Blueprint. She leads a team of amazing humans that work on both the Practitioner Data Initiative and Blueprint's Data Solutions team.The Practitioner Data Initiative is a portfolio of projects funded by the Future Skills Centre, that seeks to develop a set of tool to improve data capacity in the non-profit sector. This includes managing a team to work directly with non-profits and engaging in a set of strategic sector-wide research activities. Blueprint's Data Solutions team implements, manages, and integrates Salesforce to support Blueprint's various research activities. Using agile methodologies, we work with every research team across the organization to support the distribution of surveys and incentives, the tracking of administrative data for programs, reporting at the project/program level, and data security a

Episodes

A Blueprint For Your Nonprofit Data

A Blueprint For Your Nonprofit Data

Today we explore the Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI) and what we can learn from their effective approaches to improve our own nonprofit data. We discuss the importance of taking a holistic approach to data, including measuring impact, collecting and managing data, and leveraging technology. Erin shares her organization's journey with PDI and the improvements they made in data collection and cleanup. Alberta explains how PDI helps organizations identify gaps and develop skills to achieve the next level of data. We'll also dive into recommendations for organizations to start their own data journey. Takeaways Taking a holistic approach to data is essential for nonprofits to measure impact and make informed decisions.Building comfort and confidence with data requires a combination of technical capacities and a data culture.Prioritizing and making incremental improvements in data collection and processes can lead to significant progress.Defining terms and asking the right questions are crucial for effective data measurement and analysis. Bios Erin MacKenny has a background in education and close to 10 years of experience working in poverty reduction in the non-profit sector. Throughout her career she has developed a passion for evaluation as a means to understand impact. Currently she is the Program Director and Measurement, Evaluation and Learning Lead at the Saint John Learning Exchange in Saint John, NB Canada. In her role she leads the charge in developing stronger and more efficient data collection processes, creating and incorporating new tools, building the organization's data culture, and getting the team excited about the impact of their work. She loves to make talking about data fun and has been known to throw a great data party! Alberta Johnson is the Manager of Data Solutions and Strategy at Blueprint. She leads a team of amazing humans that work on both the Practitioner Data Initiative and Blueprint's Data Solutions team.The Practitioner Data Initiative is a portfolio of projects funded by the Future Skills Centre, that seeks to develop a set of tool to improve data capacity in the non-profit sector. This includes managing a team to work directly with non-profits and engaging in a set of strategic sector-wide research activities. Blueprint's Data Solutions team implements, manages, and integrates Salesforce to support Blueprint's various research activities. Using agile methodologies, we work with every research team across the organization to support the distribution of surveys and incentives, the tracking of administrative data for programs, reporting at the project/program level, and data security a

67: Are You Ready For Data? With Cindy Eby

67: Are You Ready For Data? With Cindy Eby

Are you ready for data? This isn't always a question we realize we need to ask. Luckily, Cindy Eby from Results Lab is here to help us ask and answer that key question. In this episode, we cover the importance of: Defining Clear Objectives: It's crucial to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve with your program and define specific outcomes. By doing this, you can design interventions that are targeted and effective.Execute Consistently: If you aren't delivering your programs more or less the same way every time and with every client, then there's nothing yet that you can evaluate. Start with building a sustainable, reliable process for delivery before attempting evaluation.Ethical Responsibility: Data plays a vital role in identifying who benefits from a program and who doesn't. Organizations have an ethical responsibility to ensure that their programs are appropriate for their target populations and, when necessary, refer individuals to more suitable services.Start Small: When incorporating data into program evaluation, it's wise to start with small, focused questions. Don't try to collect and analyze all data at once. Begin by asking specific questions, collecting relevant data, and gradually building your data analysis capabilities.The Human Element: While data is crucial, it's equally important to consider the human element. Understanding the needs and perspectives of the people you're serving is key. Combining quantitative data with qualitative insights can provide a more holistic view of program effectiveness. Cindy Eby (she/her), Founder and CEO of ResultsLab, is an innovator when it comes to impact in the social sector and a nationally experienced specialist in guiding nonprofit organizations to build their capacity for using data to catalyze positive change. With a reputation for talking about data in a way that is accessible for stakeholders at every level, she operates her Denver-based company, ResultsLab, on the belief that every team deserves the data mindset, skillset and toolset necessary to deliver on social impact and expand smartly. Cindy applies more than 25 years of experience in helping organizations leverage data to catapult their outcomes. She graduated from the University of Denver with a Master of Arts in Sociology. Her career experience has included leadership and advisory roles with organizations such as the Nurse-Family Partnership, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and Mile High United.

66 - Evaluation, Done Better with Corey Newhouse

66 - Evaluation, Done Better with Corey Newhouse

In this enlightening episode, join Alexandra as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Corey Newhouse, founder of Public Profit, about the essential intersection of values and evaluation in the nonprofit sector. Corey provides profound insights into the significance of aligning organizational values with the process of data collection and evaluation, challenging the extractive roots of traditional evaluation practices. They delve into the crucial role of values in shaping evaluation questions, data collection methods, and analysis, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach. Corey talks about the Equitable Evaluation Initiative's principles and explores practical strategies for integrating values into the evaluation process. From language access to equity gap scores, they discuss tangible steps that nonprofits can take to humanize the data collection process and enhance its rigor. Whether you're a nonprofit professional or an advocate for social change, gain a deeper understanding of how to transform evaluation into a collaborative, values-driven endeavor that maximizes impact and promotes equity in the nonprofit world. Corey Newhouse has been a dedicated advocate for educational equity and social justice since the 1990s. As the visionary founder of Public Profit, she spearheads a mission to empower purpose-driven organizations. Her dynamic leadership shapes the team's strategic direction, external relationships, and business development. Prior to that, Corey was a Senior Policy Associate with Children Now, supporting the policy team with data and evaluation, and as an Associate with HTA, a strategy and fundraising consulting firm.

65 - Data Science for Good with Peter Bull

65 - Data Science for Good with Peter Bull

Join Alexandra and data science guru, Peter Bull, as they dive into the fascinating world of data analytics and its impact on the nonprofit sector. They explore the common misconception that data science is only for large corporations and how nonprofits can leverage it to supercharge their impact. Learn about real-life data science projects that have made a difference for nonprofits, including the powerful combination of data and automation to free up human resources for more valuable tasks. Throughout the episode, Peter shares valuable insights on avoiding pitfalls when embarking on data science projects. He emphasizes the importance of starting simple and building iteratively towards more sophisticated solutions. You'll discover how having a strong data collection strategy and an observability mindset are critical for success in the data science world. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, data enthusiast, or simply intrigued by the power of data, this episode will leave you inspired to unlock the full potential of data science. Peter Bull is the Principal Data Scientist and Co-founder at DrivenData, an organization dedicated to harnessing the power of data science for social good. With a passion for leveraging data to drive positive change, Peter has made significant strides in helping nonprofits and social organizations maximize their impact through data-driven decision-making.

64 - Excel Tricks with Matt Brattin

64 - Excel Tricks with Matt Brattin

In this episode, SaaS CFO, data nerd, and Excel fanatic Matt Brattin joins Alexandra to explore the key elements of successful data management. They emphasize the importance of consistency and integrity in data collection, as well as the need for data to be accurate and usable for its intended purpose. The conversation covers practical tips for cleaning and transforming data using Excel, highlighting its versatility as a beginner-friendly tool for data analytics. They also provide valuable resources for learning Excel and improving data literacy. This episode serves as a concise guide for those interested in harnessing the power of data through efficient data cleaning and Excel proficiency. Matt Brattin is a SaaS CFO, data nerd, and Excel fanatic who uses his platform to help professionals "doing the work" learn new ways of thinking and doing that will propel them in their careers. As a nearly 20-year professional in the space, he's looking to support the development of the next generation of data leaders.

63 - Building Bridges with Rebecca Gosla

63 - Building Bridges with Rebecca Gosla

In this episode, we sat down with Rebecca Gosla of Simplicity Education to discuss what it takes to succeed as a data manager, how being a data manager can mean different things to different orgs, what the day to day experience of a data manager looks like, and what those of us who are not data managers can do to better support this role so that we all have the information that we need to be successful at the change we are trying to achieve. Rebecca is an Associate at Simplicity Education. Her role at Simplicity focuses on building data analysis tools for the organization’s school partners and working with school leaders to gain actionable insights about their student data. Prior to working at Simplicity, Rebecca worked for four years at Codman Academy Charter Public School - a K-12 school serving 345 students - in Boston as the Data Manager and Student Recruitment & Enrollment Lead. Through her work, she doubled the number of recruitment events the school held, analyzed student achievement data, created dashboards to drive instructional and operational change, and spearheaded the school’s transition to a new gradebook. She is also Co-Chair of the Young Professionals Board for Friends of the Children-Boston, a non-profit dedicated to providing high-quality 1:1 mentoring. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from UC San Diego.

62 - 5 Questions Before You Start a Study with Neil Krohn

62 - 5 Questions Before You Start a Study with Neil Krohn

"When you're thinking about doing a research study, define and design. So you define what you wanna know, then you design how you're gonna find that out. That's everything. Everything goes back to those two words." If you're one of those people who think that scientific research is just for academic scientists or the lab rats working hard at their lab bench benches with their pipettes, today's episode is for you. I am joined by Neil Krohn, founder and principal of Advanced Healthcare Analytics, to share his expertise in doing research that really matters, and how research isn't just for academic scientists. Stick around till the very end of this episode and learn how your organization, even a small nonprofit, could benefit from designing your own research projects. Neil Krohn is the founder and principal of Advanced Healthcare Analytics, which provides both quantitative and qualitative analytic services. Neil earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Tulsa and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Administration and Evaluation Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver. For more than 20 years Neil has worked in healthcare analytics in both the public and corporate domains. He is particularly interested in helping organizations design and implement research studies that assist them in defining their goals and furthering their missions. He also taught Statistics and Research Methods to psychology graduate students for many years and served as the research design member on doctoral papers and dissertations. Currently, Neil is launching an initiative to have experts in science and technology share their knowledge in small-group discussions in the community. Neil lives with his wife in Denver, Colorado. He’s an avid cyclist, riding about 150 miles per week on Denver’s amazing trail system.

61 - Why You Need A CIO with Tim Lockie

61 - Why You Need A CIO with Tim Lockie

Think about the pieces of technology in use in your organization or your team today. In most nonprofits out there, you'd be surprised that there are dozens and even up to 50 different pieces of technology being used across your organization. In today's episode, I am joined by Tim Lockie of The Human Stack, who specializes in optimizing this interface between technology and humans. Learn how these tech systems work within the ecosystem, and how a CIO plays a part in managing these interactions—regardless of how big or small your organization is. We also discuss the skills required for a chief information officer (CIO) position, the need for effective communication and collaboration within organizations to harness the power of data, the challenges nonprofits face in utilizing data effectively, and how you can take action to address these challenges. Tim Lockie is the CEO and Founder of The Human Stack, and co-host of the Why IT Matters podcast. Tim has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and tech world, with roles including volunteer, youth worker, camp counselor, music instructor, foster parent, board member, finance director, bookkeeper, recruiter, and community administrator among others. He's passionate about Digital Transformation and believes it's something that all nonprofits can benefit from, no matter their size.

60: Using Data While Human - Part 2

60: Using Data While Human - Part 2

In this two-part episode, you will get a better idea of how we use data as humans and understand how our brains work to analyze the data that we acquire every day in powerful and effective ways and the possible mistakes we might make along the way. Learn more about the four biases and what you can do about them: Pattern-seeking - What you can do: Triangulate your dataCausality - What you can do: Experiment moreConfirmation bias - What you can do: Ask "What data would change my/your mind?"Attribution - What you can do: Keep your language within Knowing these and finding out the signs to look out for and what to do gives us a chance to become better when it comes to decision-making not only at work but also in our personal life. Merakinos provides analytics as a service, data strategy consulting, analytic project work, and data fluency training for individuals and organizations seeking to build and strengthen analytic capacity and data-driven decision-making. We can work with your organization to identify the key analytic insights you need from your data, develop and maintain actionable dashboards or reports, and deliver them across your organization monthly, weekly, or on your schedule. Or if you would like to develop internal capacity, we can provide training on key platforms like Power BI, Tableau, or Alteryx. And if you aren't sure where to start, our advisory services can help you design and implement effective analytic strategies to amplify your impact.

59: Using Data While Human - Part 1

59: Using Data While Human - Part 1

In this two-part episode, you will get a better idea of how we use data as humans and understand how our brains work to analyze the data that we acquire every day in powerful and effective ways and the possible mistakes we might make along the way. Learn more about the four biases and what you can do about them: Pattern-seeking - What you can do: Triangulate your dataCausality - What you can do: Experiment moreConfirmation bias - What you can do: Ask "What data would change my/your mind?"Attribution - What you can do: Keep your language within Knowing these and finding out the signs to look out for and what to do gives us a chance to become better when it comes to decision-making not only at work but also in our personal life. Merakinos provides analytics as a service, data strategy consulting, analytic project work, and data fluency training for individuals and organizations seeking to build and strengthen analytic capacity and data-driven decision-making. We can work with your organization to identify the key analytic insights you need from your data, develop and maintain actionable dashboards or reports, and deliver them across your organization monthly, weekly, or on your schedule. Or if you would like to develop internal capacity, we can provide training on key platforms like Power BI, Tableau, or Alteryx. And if you aren't sure where to start, our advisory services can help you design and implement effective analytic strategies to amplify your impact.

58: Data-Informed Messaging with Colin Clapp

58: Data-Informed Messaging with Colin Clapp

"Make friends with Google" In today's episode, we're going to take a broader view of how Google Analytics can be an incredibly powerful tool for understanding the performance of your content and marketing efforts on your websites. By connecting Google Analytics to your website, you can gain insights into how users are interacting with your content, where they are coming from, what pages they are spending the most time on, and much more. Colin Clapp talks about how optimization isn't a one-and-done and isn't something you can just set and then forget, but something you need to continually engage with. Find out how you can get the results you want without getting overwhelmed in the process, including knowing what your goals are and paying attention to the bigger picture. Colin Clapp is the Co-Founder of Online Marketing Done For You, an online marketing solutions catering to people who are too busy to market online. His purpose in life is to inspire "Significance through a philosophy of Give. Take. Invest. Enjoy." and help other people reach their potential by staying accountable to their dreams. He likes to spend his time with his wife, who he considers his first accountability partner, and his two children.

57: Mom Lessons for Work with Tasha Van Vlack

57: Mom Lessons for Work with Tasha Van Vlack

“Data is a labor of love” Children can teach us valuable lessons about work and inspire us to be better workers, and as parents, both Tasha and I can definitely attest to that. In this episode, we talked about how we apply these lessons in marketing, data, supporting non-profits, and more. From sleepless nights to endless battles over wearing underwear, we deep dive into the ways we can lean into research to learn more and become better at what we do, and why it's essential to find balance in learning from the lessons of others and personalizing them to suit your needs. Tasha Van Vlack is a relationship growth specialist at Yeeboo Digital - where she empowers nonprofits to 'lead with digital' and embrace new marketing, fundraising, and technology practices. When she isn't chatting with nonprofit professionals she spends her time connecting with cool people on LinkedIn, writing content, creating customer journeys, and generally being pulled in ten directions. She is also a proud mom to 3 spirited children who keep her continuously on her toes.

56: Operations + Data with Adam Kogeman

56: Operations + Data with Adam Kogeman

“Don’t be fooled – EVERY system needs maintenance.” Nonprofits are often chronically under-resourced, and thus unable to put in the time, money, and expertise required to optimize their operational systems. The old comic of the guy pushing the square wheel because he doesn’t have time to invent the round one is painfully true for nonprofits everywhere! Fortunately, we have Adam Kogeman here today from Good Bones Consulting to share his secrets of how nonprofits of any size can evaluate how they do what they do – and find more efficient and effective ways to accomplish the great work we’re all here to do. Adam Kogeman is co-founder and principal consultant at Good Bones Consulting, an organizational development consultancy which supports purpose-driven organizations to enhance operational systems, processes, and efficiency. Adam is an experienced social sector leader who has overseen programs and operations at prominent nonprofit and social enterprise organizations and has expertise in diverse issue areas including workforce development, homelessness and housing, and refugee resettlement. He is an engaged member of multiple nonprofit boards, including Good Business Colorado, a statewide advocacy group and network of values-driven small business owners.

55: Promoting Equity with Data with Khanh Vu

55: Promoting Equity with Data with Khanh Vu

Khahn Vu immigrated to America as a young child. As he grew up among American friends and worked for American companies, he found himself straddling two worlds - he was expected to act one way at home and another in American society. In his role now as the leader of the Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers, he helps others who find themselves existing across different spaces. In today's episode, Khahn explores data from the point of view of needing your numbers to know if there are issues – what really is the makeup of your community, your organization vs your leadership? Are there groups getting left behind? You can’t know that unless you look at the numbers. He addresses the resistance to being transparent with these numbers, and that we MUST move beyond that. Ask yourself: is my team or organization honest and transparent with the data on our people? If so, what story is the numbers in your organization showing? If we aren’t, why not? What would it take for us to open up? Are we collecting that data but sitting on it? Or have we not even begun to collect it? Khanh Vu is the CEO of SASE, the Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers, the largest nonprofit of AAPI talent and leadership. Khahn came to America at the tender age of 5 as a war refuge. He has had decades of experience in the non-profit sector. He is also a son, brother, husband and father. Learn more about SASE as www.saseconnect.org and follow Khanh at www.linkedin.com/in/vuqkhanh/.

54: Your Next Content Strategy Framework with Brian Piper

54: Your Next Content Strategy Framework with Brian Piper

If you have a website or blog, or produce content for others, you may be wondering how to determine if your content is effectively reaching the right audience. How do you know if your website/blog posts are working? Can you optimize it? Listen along this week as we talk to Brian Piper about how to break down this question into manageable parts that allow us to decipher if our content is effective. His first question is what is your goal? While this question sounds logical, there's a lot of nuances to it that can be overwhelming. As he says, "Data without goals are just numbers". Tune in today to hear Brian discuss helpful tips for tracking your content's effectiveness and optimizing it for your intended audience. Brian Piper is the Director of Content Strategy and Assessment at the University of Rochester and is also an author, international keynote speaker, and consultant. Brian has been optimizing digital content since 1996. He has created online training programs for hundreds of companies including Xerox, L3Harris, IBM, and Volvo. He has spent the last 8 years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. Since 2021, he has been diving into Web3, community building, NFTs, social tokens, and is the founder of $PIPER coin. He recently co-authored the second edition of Epic Content Marketing with Joe Pulizzi which releases in March 2023. He is also a contributing author and editor of The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever with Mark Schaefer, which releases in May 2023. Brian is a volunteer and Board member of the nonprofit Higher Education Web Professionals Association, he is a member of the Ed3DAO, and a mentor for the Content Marketing Institute. When he's not creating data visualizations, he teaches wingsuit skydiving and spends time with his wife and six children.

53: What Should I Measure? with Dr. Haywan Chiu

53: What Should I Measure? with Dr. Haywan Chiu

On today's podcast, we're trying something new for the first time - a live coaching session. Listen as I talk to Dr. Haywan Chiu about what he should measure in his business to help determine its impact. Dr. Chiu had a unique idea during the pandemic to record his and his partner's surgeries and add voice overs and descriptions for specific parts of the surgeries. In doing so, he has assembled a comprehensive video library where they give insight into each procedural step they do. These in-depth videos have turned into a subscription business that has grown since its inception. However, he's wondering what he needs to be monitoring to know if what he's doing is effective. What is the impact of these videos? Where should he be spending his time/resources moving forward with his business to have the maximum impact? Listen in as I spend this episode talking through his goals and discussing different ways to measure his impact. We discuss a couple different methods of measuring his impact such as an equivalency study, using a proxy variable and conducting surveys, and the pros and cons of each. Dr. Haywan Chiu, DPM FACFAS is a board-certified podiatric specialist for foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery at Albuquerque Associated Podiatrists in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He specializes in diabetic limb salvage. Dr. Chiu's medical education has taken him from coast to coast in the United States. He completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2007, before moving east for medical school, graduating from the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2013. His residency took him back to the west coast and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Palo Alto Podiatry Residency Program and Stanford University. Before joining private practice, Dr. Chiu was an assistant clinical professor at the University of New Mexico in the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation department. It was during his early years of practice that he found his specialty area: diabetic limb salvage. Dr. Chiu works with countless patients with diabetes who come to him with severe infections in their legs. The conventional approach is to amputate the leg to get rid of the disease, but Dr. Chiu has found that many patients are willing to try alternative approaches to save their foot.

52: Four Steps to Useful Data with David Mackey and Tim NeCamp

52: Four Steps to Useful Data with David Mackey and Tim NeCamp

Great, so you have data! Now how do you make it useful? There is a difference between looking at data and using data. The successful use of data is when an organization is using data to take strategic action related to its goals/direction. Come listen along as Data Bloom co-founders David Mackay and Tim NeCamp discuss their method for making data useful. The four stages they outline are Planning, Collection, Analysis and Reporting and in today's episode they give lots of helpful information on ways to execute each of these stages and common mistakes they see when going through each one. David Mackey David is passionate about working with mission-driven organizations to achieve impact. He has 14 years of professional experience in design, operations, and project management. As a project manager, David guides organizations, teams, and individuals towards a shared goal. He will ensure our work aligns directly with your mission and theory of change. His design experience allows him to think creatively to solve problems with data. This design-thinking has informed David’s belief that everything must be done with purpose. His operations background has shown him how to use data and technology to improve efficiency and implement successful initiatives throughout an organization. David has seen the value of data to inform decision-making throughout his career and is excited that Data Bloom allows him to partner with those making the most impact in the world. David has a B.S. in Graphic Design from the College of Design, Architecture, Art & Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Tim NeCamp Tim has spent his adult life seeking out ways to combine his interests in mathematics with his desire to make the world a better place. Tim first fell in love with community development and working with vulnerable populations to create meaningful change through Teach For America as a middle school mathematics teacher in a high-needs school district. While in graduate school, Tim used his statistical knowledge to impact his community by volunteering for Statistics in the Community (STATCOM), an organization that provides free statistical and data consulting for local nonprofits. As a member, project leader, and eventually the president of STATCOM, Tim saw how data thinking and data usage could help community organizations achieve their goals. Tim is excited that Data Bloom allows him to dedicate his time, energy, and resources to continue this work. Tim has a B.S. in Mathematics from The Ohio State University, a M. Ed. from University of Nevada Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Michigan.

51: Data Renovations with Liz Crowe

51: Data Renovations with Liz Crowe

Imagine your organization is a house. The tech stack is the pipes in the house, and the data is the water that flows through the house. When building a house, there are lots of things to take into account to build a successful plumbing system. The same goes for data - your tech stack needs to be correctly accepting the data from the business process that feeds it, you need to size the pipes adequately to allow the data to flow from point A to point B, and you need to have the right tools on the backend to get the water out of the pipes and make the water usable and palatable. Come listen in as Liz Crowe talks through her insightful analogy between data flow in an organization and plumbing in a house, and what she's doing to revamp the city's data analytics. She talks through barriers, lessons learned and the goals she hopes to achieve. Liz Crowe joined in the City in August 2022 as the Director, Urban Analytics & Innovation (Urban AI). She is responsible for championing the use of data and modern data analysis, visualizations, and storytelling to provide a much more engaged approach to performance improvement and change management. Liz is an economist and researcher, who is passionate about civic tech, data and the possibilities they hold for Cleveland. An experienced data manager, she has years of experience in economic development, nonprofit management, venture capital, and the private equity industry. Most recently, Liz served as Principal of Data Governance & Analytics at JumpStart, Inc. Prior to joining JumpStart, Liz worked as a Research Associate at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. where she conducted primary research on the role of government programs and private organizations in supporting low-income families in the U.S. Topics included, cash and in-kind assistance programs, the U.S. social safety net, poverty, inequality and social policy. Liz also worked at the Congressional Research Service at the U.S. Library of Congress, where she provided nonpartisan research assistance to members of Congress and their staff. Liz has a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from the School of Public Affairs at American University, as well as Master of Arts from the Department of Economics at American University.

50: Mistakes I Make

50: Mistakes I Make

To celebrate my 50th episode of this podcast, I'm sharing four major mistakes I make in analytics and life. It's part of a resolution I made for 2023, to share one mistake every Monday on LinkedIn for the entire year. I HATE making mistakes, but I am committed to try to learn everything I can from them and hopefully help others learn something too. In this episode, I talk about how I'm not the best at slowing down and making sure I did all the little things right, I would rather default to a passive decision than actively make one with incomplete data, I love being the 'data superhero' instead of building consistent data practices and team capacity, and how I'm often a terrible listener. I haven't solved these things yet, but I'm getting better. I'd love to hear from you if any of my mistakes and lessons resonate with you, or if you have your own lesson to share! You can contact me or connect with me on LinkedIn. Thank you for sharing this journey with me! You can read the show transcript and find other resources at http://www.heartsouldata.com/ep-50/

49: Small Data, Big Plans

49: Small Data, Big Plans

Success with data isn't about having all the resources, it's about being resourceful (thank you, Tony Robbins!). We dive into exactly what this can look like with Joshua Burkhow, Chief Evanglist at Alteryx. It's starts with recognizing that data underlie virtually everything we do, professionally and personally. Nearly all our actions generate some kind of data, every choice or change has data attached to it, somewhere. The first step is becoming aware of the true extent and existance of the data around you. Once you can see it, then the next steps follow more easily. In fact, the biggest barriers you may face are your own limiting assumptions, such as assuming that you can only work with data if you have a large team of experts. Tools like Alteryx are out there to help empower even "teams" of just one person. Listen in as Joshua shares examples he's seen of small shops driving big impact with data, and how you can too. Joshua Burkhow is the Chief Evanglist at Alteryx, a low-code analytics platform that empowers experts and citizen data workers alike. He brings passion, excitement, and raging optimism to Analytics and Data Science with a nice balance of ensuring he's also an expert and practical solutions-oriented user. He lives in stories and use cases that really drive impact to businesses but have a clear focus on the contributions from people. He loves automation and productivity as a solid foundation to doing bigger and better things. At the end of the day, he has learned to lean on his emotional connection to world of Data and Analytics. It's given him an amazing career and he's seen its practitioners change the world for the better.