Data Driven Leadership

How can leaders make better data-driven decisions?

Jess Carter shares some of her recent reflections on leadership, from improving workflows within the organization to navigating AI. She talks about how leaders can stay hands-on, spot problems before they turn into bigger issues that impact the business, and earn their team's trust.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The questions leaders need to ask to identify problems in the organization

• Tips for democratizing decision-making

• How a personal philosophy around AI leads to more confident decisions

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to the episode

(01:05) A methodology for spotting problems you might otherwise miss

(04:40) Showing up and building trust with your team

(06:26) Democratizing problem-solving

(08:23) How to start figuring out your AI philosophy

Jess's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaccarter/

"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast." This saying rings true when it comes to AI adoption in today's fast-paced world. While everyone seems to be rushing toward the next big AI breakthrough, the reality is that hasty decisions often lead to costly mistakes.

In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, Jess Carter sits down with Patrick McQuillan, global head of AI and data governance at a Fortune 500 company to discuss how leaders can adopt AI thoughtfully and sustainably. Patrick shares his expertise on balancing rapid innovation with long-term success, the critical role of AI governance, and how organizations can avoid common pitfalls in their AI journey.

Tune in to learn how a strategic, measured approach to AI can drive lasting impact for both businesses and their customers.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How AI governance reduces failure rates and protects trust

• Why data foundations matter more than new models

• What leaders should ask before they fund or scale AI

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Patrick McQuillan

(05:50) Guidance for early AI adopters on pace and expectations

(12:41) When AI governance becomes a leadership priority

(15:28) The likelihood of public AI failures

(20:10) Long-term AI adoption

(26:36) AI in higher education and job readiness

(31:10) Responsible use of GenAI tools in the workplace

Patrick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjmcquillan/

2025 was a breakthrough year for AI adoption, with new tools enabling seamless integration between business and technical teams. Organizations leveraged AI to improve operations, enhance decision-making, and unlock growth opportunities, though not without challenges.

In this episode, Jess Carter sits down with Michael Schwarz, Senior Vice President of Professional Services at Resultant, to reflect on the key lessons from 2025. They discuss the successes and hurdles organizations encountered in their AI journeys and share actionable insights for leaders heading into 2026. Michael also offers his predictions for 2026 and how businesses can leverage AI to lead in the next phase of digital transformation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How 2025 accelerated AI adoption across industries

• The balance between power and responsibility in using AI

• Key priorities for leaders to focus on in 2026, especially within industries like healthcare

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Michael Schwarz

(06:08) Reflections on 2025 with fast-moving technology

(11:31) What leaders need to know about the future of AI

(18:07) Predictions for 2026

(25:10) Where to focus AI investment for growth (31:15) Improving patient experience for 2026

Michael's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwarzmike/

With the right data foundation, hospitals can better support medical staff and improve patient outcomes.

Tony Pastorino, commercial health strategy lead at Resultant, joins Jess Carter to discuss how data-driven insights are transforming hospital efficiency. Tony shares his experiences from overseeing information systems at IU Health. He also highlights the critical role of predictive analytics in improving patient flow and streamlining daily operations.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How predictive models can improve staffing and resource allocation

• The challenges of managing complex healthcare data

• How hospitals can use their existing data to make clearer, more confident operational decisions

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Tony Pastorino

(02:06) Breaking down the complexity of healthcare data

(05:12) How hospitals are building data lakes

(10:02) Predictive analytics in health care

(16:45) Improving the patient experience in hospital systems (21:00) Predictive analytics for nurse staffing and burnout

(24:56) Using AI to create more distraction-free patient interactions

(26:40) How hospitals can start using data today

(29:28) The future of data-driven health care

Tony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonypastorino/

What can we learn from the leaders shaping the future of tech, health care, and cybersecurity?

In this solo episode, Jess Carter reflects on recent conversations with industry leaders across various fields. Each discussion reveals how mission, people, and structure drive key leadership decisions and strategies. Jess invites listeners to pause and consider their own leadership: How clear is your mission? What support do your teams need? And do your systems align with the way you want to work?

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why a clear mission makes data easier to work with

• The way you support people changes data outcomes

• A simple way to check if your systems help or get in the way

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Jess Carter

(00:51) Why data-driven leadership starts with mission

(03:57) Keeping people at the center of data decisions

(07:36) How structure and culture build sustainability

In today's fast-paced world, organizations can't rely on static, long-term plans. Strategies must continuously evolve to stay relevant.

In this episode, Resultant EVP of Professional Services Mike Hughes shares his insights on leading through rapid change. He discusses how to maintain organizational health, align culture with strategy, and foster clarity and accountability across teams. Mike also offers advice on balancing priorities and keeping teams focused, no matter the challenges.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to assess the health of an organization

• Ways to strengthen culture through clarity and alignment

• What great consultants do differently to add value

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Mike Hughes

(02:17) Staying passionate throughout a career in consulting

(06:17) How client expectations are shifting

(10:44) Defining and measuring organizational health (13:52) The link between culture and results

(17:52) How to manage priorities and implement change

(22:07) Where leaders should start to improve organizational health

Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hughes-15038b/

AI is everywhere, but it can't succeed without the judgment, creativity, and collaboration of real data science.

In this episode, Jess Carter sits down with Alexa Myers, senior data science manager at Resultant, for a conversation about building successful data science teams. They discuss how isolation can hinder even the most skilled data scientists, and what happens when organizations pursue outcomes without the right structure in place.

Alexa shares field-tested lessons on what works, where teams struggle, and why communication matters as much as technical skill. As AI takes center stage, this conversation highlights the kind of leadership and teamwork needed to make data science and the AI it supports truly effective.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What happens when AI is used without science

• Best practices for building strong data science teams

• How to talk about data science with executives and stakeholders

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Alexa Myers (02:09) What data science is and why it's still misunderstood (05:07) The impact of AI in data science (10:12) What to consider when building a data science department (15:01) How to communicate effectively with stakeholders (18:24) Why human insight still matters (22:15) Mentorship and lessons from multi-generational teams (26:19) The next wave of AI and fixing broken AI solutions

Study Finds AI Models Suffer 'Brain Rot' from Clickbait and Junk Data: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQKafFME7he/?igsh=MWQ3azRjNzAyNDBpbQ%3D%3D&img_index=1

Alexa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-myers-b29099135/

Organizations are racing toward digital and AI transformation, but the same problem keeps showing up: people aren't ready.

In this replay episode, Jess Carter revisits her conversation with Allison Grayson, Senior Director of Organizational Change Management at Resultant. They explore the fundamentals that ensure change is well implemented in an organization. Allison explains why strategy and technology fall short without sponsorship, communication, and culture. She also emphasizes the importance of early-stage planning and continuous feedback to ensure lasting success.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to make your "case for change" clear and compelling

• The impact of leadership buy-in on the overall success of change initiatives

• The value of continuous feedback loops during change

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Allison Grayson (03:26) Defining Organizational Change Management (OCM) in simple terms (08:59) How to avoid overwhelming teams with too much change (15:17) Early budgeting and planning for OCM (17:09) Building a clear and compelling "case for change" (18:31) Why training and emails don't lead to adoption (20:39) Turning resistance and fear into engagement (27:00) How executive alignment supports transformation

Allison's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-grayson/

Private companies can be mission-driven. And in today's market, they have to be.

Rob Seaman, Chief Product Officer at Slack, joins Jess Carter to discuss how leading with purpose helps build better teams and better products.

Rob shares lessons from Slack's integration with Salesforce, including the importance of staying close to customers, balancing speed with quality, and accepting that product leadership is never really "done." He also reflects on his path from small startups to global enterprises and what it takes to build teams that work with clarity and intent.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How product leaders can stay grounded in customer feedback

• Ways to build teams that deliver both speed and quality

• Why a clear mission helps teams create better products

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Rob Seaman

(02:42) Behind Salesforce and Slack's integration

(05:19) Why products are never truly done

(08:17) Finding mission in private sector product leadership

(10:02) Building Agent Force and learning from customer adoption

(14:38) Advice for stepping into product leadership roles

(18:15) Separating noise from real customer signals

(23:25) Why product teams need customer insight

(28:44) Lessons Rob still values from early startup experiences

Alex Komoroske's "How Organizations Are Like Slime Molds": https://komoroske.com/slime-mold/

Rob's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seamanrob/

From TikTok skits to tech leadership, Kelly Vega shows why project managers are more than task trackers.

As program director at VML and the creator of Not the Worst PM, Kelly has built a following by turning the chaos of project management into relatable, entertaining content. In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, she joins Jess Carter to share what she's learned leading complex digital projects and building PM teams across industries.

Kelly reflects on her path into the profession, how humor on social media has helped her spotlight the realities of the job, and what separates transactional PMs from effective PMs. She also explains how great project managers influence culture, communication, and outcomes in ways that go far beyond checking boxes.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to recognize the traits of a high-value project manager

• What separates PMs from task managers

• What PMs can do to build trust and credibility with stakeholders

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Kelly Vega

(02:07) Social media stories that capture project manager realities

(04:46) Launching long-form PM content

(07:52) What makes a project manager high value

(10:52) Process-driven PMs versus adaptable leaders

(16:17) Lessons from BBC's failed Digital Media Initiative project

(20:10) Avoiding over-engineering and building progress that's measurable

(22:51) How PMs signal urgency and escalate risks effectively

(28:45) Leading diverse teams while navigating politics and expectations

(32:45) Recognizing PM leadership as culture, engagement, and delivery

Kelly's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-suter/

Kelly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nottheworstpm/

Kelly's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nottheworstpm