Data Driven Leadership

A single error in a medical record can change a child's life.

Theresa Meadows has spent her career making sure that doesn't happen.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Theresa, who recently transitioned from CIO at Cook Children's Health Care System to a new role at symplr. Theresa recalls her unlikely path from transplant nurse to technology leader and shares how those dual perspectives influenced the way she thinks about data, trust, and patient care.

Their conversation touches on the complexity of pediatric records, the challenges of moving entire hospitals onto electronic systems, and the opportunities she sees for AI to ease the burden on clinicians. Woven through it all are the leadership lessons Theresa carried from the bedside to the boardroom, and now into her work guiding the next generation of healthcare innovation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why pediatric hospitals face different data challenges than adult care facilities

• How electronic health record conversions can affect patient safety

• What healthcare leaders should prioritize in their first 90 days in a new role

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Theresa Meadows

(02:15) Training physicians on early physician order entry systems

(08:16) Career lessons from mentors and moving into Cook Children's

(09:53) Unique data challenges faced in pediatric healthcare

(13:17) Transitioning hospitals to electronic health records successfully

(19:38) Advice for leaders in their first 90 days

(23:41) Where AI and technology are taking healthcare next

(30:50) Why mentorship starts with speaking up about your goals

Most data projects don't collapse because of the tech. They collapse when stakeholders aren't involved in the right ways.

In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, Jess Carter sits down with Veronika Durgin, VP of data, to explore why stakeholder engagement makes or breaks a data strategy.

Veronika also shares lessons from two decades in data, from troubleshooting transactional databases to leading enterprise-wide initiatives. She reflects on the moment she recognized data as a true business asset, explains why curiosity and a growth mindset are foundational habits for data leaders, and outlines how to design solutions that deliver value more than once.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to keep stakeholders aligned and invested in your strategy

• Why data leaders should always think about the exit plan

• What to do to make unused data valuable to the business

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Veronika Durgin

(02:25) Learning through doing and building a foundation for strategy

(05:35) Plan B thinking and lessons from a sledgehammer story

(09:04) Early career memories from Y2K to database administration

(12:55) Discovering Infonomics and seeing data as a business asset

(15:43) Why treating data with a product mindset changes outcomes

(19:16) The hidden costs of data hoarding and storage waste

(23:33) How to keep stakeholders engaged and aligned on priorities

(30:38) Using Six Sigma to frame problems and business impact

"Infonomics" by Doug Laney: https://www.amazon.com/Infonomics-Monetize-Information-Competitive-Advantage/dp/1138090387

Veronika's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdurgin/

Veronika's Medium: https://medium.com/@durginv

Veronika's Substack: https://thinksolverepeat.substack.com/

One phone call. One click. That's all it takes.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Jeffrey Foresman, VP of Cybersecurity at Resultant, about why today's most dangerous breaches don't start with technical flaws, but with people.

With over 30 years in the field, Jeffrey shares stories of social engineering attacks that bypass sophisticated defenses, explains why traditional compliance measures fall short, and outlines a more realistic framework for security: prevention, detection, and response.

Jess and Jeff also dig into human risk management, validation protocols, what it takes to build a culture where security is everyone's job, and slowing down just might save you.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How attackers use urgency and familiarity to bypass internal controls

• Why cybersecurity maturity starts with real-world threat alignment

• What business leaders should ask about their help desk and MFA processes

Things to listen for:(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Jeffrey Foresman (06:09) Why compliance training often fails to prevent breaches (08:05) Trusted cybersecurity frameworks for assessing maturity and risk (11:02) How attackers are bypassing firewalls and fooling help desks (13:45) Real-world social engineering tactics every team should know (20:42) Building response plans that reduce downtime and damage (25:25) What to do when employees keep failing phishing tests

Regional workforce boards often have access to labor market data but lack tools to make it usable for the communities they serve.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Executive Director Phedra Redifer and Workforce Research Analyst Jacob Jimenez from Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas about how their team created interactive dashboards tailored to local needs across 14 counties.

Phedra outlines the vision behind the project and what it means to equip employers, educators, and job seekers with actionable data. Jacob shares how they gathered input from stakeholders throughout the build, why usability mattered more than flash, and how this approach is already changing conversations with partners.

They also explore how public sector teams can reimagine their role in workforce development by rethinking how data is shared and decisions are made. To check out the dashboards referenced in this episode, use this link.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How a small team built three dashboards in three months

• Why flexible design improves usability across different stakeholder groups

• What it looks like to lead data projects with empathy and intent

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Phedra Redifer and Jacob Jimenez

(03:20) Phedra and Jacob explain their roles and regional focus

(07:46) Why stakeholder requests revealed the need for better data tools

(09:20) Common data questions from EDCs and how patterns emerged

(13:40) Overview of the three dashboards and how each one is used

(17:53) Stakeholder feedback leads to rethinking the career lattice design

(21:52) Phedra explains the broader value of real-time, interactive tools

(25:02) Advice for boards starting data projects with limited resources

(28:44) Why workforce development is more essential than ever

Public sector leaders are sitting on a wealth of valuable data. But too often, they can't act on it.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Jeremy Bhatia, founder and CEO of Eddi, about how his platform helps government-funded organizations make sense of scattered financial and performance data.

Jeremy shares what led him to start Eddi, how the pandemic brought long-standing issues in grant funding and reporting to the surface, and why the focus should be on outcomes, not just compliance. He explains how Eddi is supporting better decisions around budgeting, reporting, and impact.

Jess and Jeremy also discuss what it takes to build trust with users, utilize AI in thoughtful ways, and navigate the practical challenges of working in the public sector. They provide a candid look at how data and AI are being leveraged to address challenges in complex public systems.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The role AI can play in making complex data easier to use

• Why motivation and culture matter more than technical readiness

• How flexible tools can improve grant management and support long-term outcomes

Things to listen for: (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Jeremy Bhatia

(02:46) Eddi's role in helping organizations make data-driven decisions

(05:21) How the pandemic created funding challenges and new opportunities

(06:01) Overcoming data integration hurdles in public sector organizations

(08:51) Jeremy's lessons from Eddi's first year in business

(13:22) The importance of flexibility in grant management

(21:55) How Eddi helps match grants with the right organizations

(30:02) Measuring outcomes and lessons learned from the pandemic

From writing better emails to helping her son learn the alphabet, Jess Carter is using AI in unexpected ways.

In this Q&A episode, Jess shares how she's integrating AI into both her professional and personal routines, with real examples that span leadership, data storytelling, parenting, and everyday problem-solving. She offers practical advice for getting started with AI, from building stronger prompts to identifying the tasks where it saves the most time and adds the most value.

Along the way, Jess answers listener questions about increasing data literacy without a technical background, working effectively with consultants, and determining what actually works in digital engagement. If you're curious about how to use AI and data more confidently and more creatively, this episode is a great place to begin.

Jess also references a few favorite resources throughout the episode, including:

• Data Literacy: A User's Guide by David L. Herzog

• storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic

• How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff

• The study Double-blind test of the effects of distant intention on water crystal formation by Dean Radin, Dail Hayssen, Masaru Emoto, and Takashige Kizue

In this episode, you will learn:

• Ways to begin using AI in your daily work

• How to build confidence in data analysis without a technical background

• What to look for when bringing in a consultant to support your team

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Jess Carter

(01:54) How Jess uses AI as a parent, leader, and executive coach

(05:19) Simple ways to get started with ChatGPT in your daily work

(08:57) Books and tools to improve your data literacy

(13:49) When to bring in consultants and how to get real results from them

(24:27) Jess's go-to method for making sense of messy data

(26:52) Jess's reflection on cancer and story of resilience

Most people know Duolingo as the fun language app with the green owl, but behind the scenes, it's a data science team using AI and analytics to transform how we learn.

In this episode, Jess Carter sits down with Bilal Zia, head of data science and analytics at Duolingo, to discuss what it takes to lead with data within one of the world's most popular edtech platforms.

Bilal shares how his team builds trust through accurate forecasting and why embedding data scientists into cross-functional teams has changed how Duolingo operates. Drawing on his past roles at the World Bank and Amazon, he reflects on the mindset shift required to move fast without sacrificing rigor and how AI helps them achieve new possibilities while maintaining a focus on the human experience at the heart of learning.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to structure data teams to increase influence

• Why fast-growing companies need different data strategies

• How to build trust through data accuracy

Things to listen for:(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Bilal Zia (02:58) Why intrinsic motivation guided Bilal's career (06:12) How Bilal turned a struggling data team into a high-performing one (08:15) Adapting data strategy to the S-curve model (11:39) The moment Bilal's team earned leadership's trust with a single forecast (16:57) What happens when data scientists are treated like product leaders (20:21) Tracking fluency and learner progress in the app (27:40) A look at the AI tools helping Duolingo move faster without losing control

AI can feel abstract until it's tied to something real. At Southwest Airlines, it's used to improve flight operations, support frontline staff, and help leaders make faster decisions.

In this episode, Jess Carter chats with Justin Bundick, managing director of artificial intelligence at Southwest Airlines. He shares how the airline built an AI strategy that works across departments by pairing smart technology with strong data practices. From infrastructure and governance to AI model training and deployment, Justin walks through what it really takes to operationalize AI in one of the world's most complex industries.

He also explains why understanding business processes is needed to make data useful, how human-centered design influences their work, and what it looks like to align AI with ethical standards and long-term strategy.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What it takes to scale AI across an enterprise

• How AI can improve complex operations without overwhelming people

• Why understanding the process is just as important as understanding data

Things to listen for:(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Justin Bundick (02:52) How Southwest's data strategy evolved (06:30) Using data to reduce noise and find focus (09:57) Why AI needs strong data governance and process insight (14:07) Building AI models into everyday operations (17:11) Managing risk and ethics with AI governance (24:47) Justin's vision for the future of AI in airlines

Data governance depends on data management and vice versa. You need both working together to make data reliable, usable, and secure.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Diana Barrett and Stephanie Semaan from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). With data management already in place, they recognized the need for data governance to create shared standards, improve data access, and protect sensitive information. That realization led to a phased implementation of data governance by starting with the most urgent needs and working closely with teams to build understanding and trust.

They also share how DWD protects sensitive information through strong privacy practices, clear access controls, and data sharing agreements that define how data can be used and who can access it.

Stick around 'til the end of the episode for a sneak peek at something special we've never done before! Want to be part of it? Check out Jess' LinkedIn post or DM her to submit a question—we might feature yours in the upcoming episode.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How strong governance can improve public programs
• Why cultural buy-in is essential for data governance
• The role of trust and transparency in data sharing initiatives

Things to listen for:

• (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Diana Barrett and Stephanie Semaan
• (02:18) Data governance at the Department of Workforce Development
• (06:17) Challenges with buy-in and siloed systems
• (09:56) How governance ensures privacy and compliance
• (15:47) What data sharing agreements really mean
• (23:04) Applying public sector lessons to private companies

Marketing is often misunderstood, seen as either all creativity or all data. In truth, it's both. Great marketing lives at the intersection of bold ideas and sharp analytics, and few leaders navigate that space better than Shannon Duffy, chief marketing officer at Asana.

In this episode, Shannon joins Jess Carter to share how she drives marketing that delivers real business results. She explains how data brings credibility to creative work—and how creativity can move the needle on key business goals. They also talk about setting expectations for long-term efforts like brand building and events, helping leaders understand the value of patience and the metrics that matter.

Stick around 'til the end of the episode for a sneak peek at something special we've never done before! Want to be part of it? Check out Jess' LinkedIn post or DM her to submit a question—we might feature yours in the upcoming episode.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The importance of aligning marketing goals with broader business objectives
• Metrics that matter for brand and event performance
• Ways to balance creativity with data in marketing leadership

Things to listen for:

• (00:00) Introduction to the episode with Shannon Duffy
• (03:46) Key business metrics every marketer should know
• (07:22) Helping executives understand marketing
• (11:09) How to prove ROI for large-scale events
• (15:19) Aligning creative marketing with company goals
• (19:40) Using data and instinct to know when to pivot
• (21:55) Brand awareness beyond advertising