Shows
Heart, Soul & Data72: Enhancing Data Visualization, with Dr. Ama Nyame-MensahDr. Ama Nyame-Mensah, an expert in data storytelling and visualization, discusses the problem of oversimplification in data visualization in this podcast episode. She explains how this issue can occur during data aggregation, visualization selection, and a lack of artistic expression. Emphasizing critical thinking, she advocates for a balance between complexity and accessibility, using interactivity and storytelling to engage audiences.
Key Takeaways
Question everything and seek clarification when consuming data visualizations.
Read the fine print, including annotations, notes, and data sources, to gain a deeper understanding.
Take a holistic approach to data visualization...
2024-07-0146 min
Heart, Soul & Data71: Building Resilient Communities Through Data, with Dr. Tasha Parker
Dr. Tasha Parker, a clinical social worker and community psychologist, shares her journey into data and founding the Institute of Development. She emphasizes using data in a therapeutic, trauma-informed way to address systemic inequities and promote harm reduction. Dr. Parker discusses barriers like fear of judgment and lack of resources, stressing the importance of trust and cultural humility. The conversation highlights data's role in building resilient communities, collaboration, accountability, and diverse voices in evaluation.
Key Takeaways
Data should be used in a therapeutic and trauma-informed way, addressing systemic inequities and...
2024-06-2036 min
Heart, Soul & Data70: Nonprofit Analytics & AI Pitfalls, with Dan WagnerDan Wagner, CEO and founder of Civis Analytics, discusses the importance of understanding the data journey for nonprofits. He emphasizes the risks of rushing into artificial intelligence without having the fundamentals in place. By highlighting the challenges of automation, Dan offers solutions for nonprofits without dedicated data teams, including collaboration and resource pooling. In this episode we discuss various aspects of data science, including challenges, ethical considerations, and the role of data science in society.
Key Takeaways
Nonprofits should avoid rushing into artificial intelligence without having the fundamentals in place.
A use c...
2024-06-1345 min
Heart, Soul & Data69: Data Governance with Taj CarsonTaj Carson, founder of Inciter, shares her journey from academia to creating Inciter. She discusses the challenges of data collection, the need for efficient systems, and thoughtful tool selection. Taj emphasizes data governance, clear policies, and regular quality assessments, exploring data strategy and the choice between building internal capacity or partnering.
Key Takeaways
Regular data quality assessment is essential to ensure accurate and reliable data for decision-making.
Small to medium-sized nonprofits should assess their skills and capacity internally and consider partnering with external experts.
Organizations should make intentional choices about their data...
2024-05-2143 min
Heart, Soul & Data68: Erin MacKenney and Data PartiesErin MacKenney from the St John Learning Exchange discusses her journey to implement a data plan and outcomes-based funding model. Through collaborative efforts and engaging practices like 'data parties,' she's embraced a culture of data-driven decision-making. Erin's expertise highlights the importance of focused learning, balanced with a commitment to progress over perfection, for nonprofits navigating similar paths.
Key Takeaways
Transitioning to an outcomes-based funding model can provide more freedom and flexibility in achieving key outcomes.
Engaging the team through data parties and collaborative processes can help overcome resistance and build buy-in.
...
2024-05-0943 min
Heart, Soul & DataA Blueprint For Your Nonprofit DataToday 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 e...
2024-03-1240 minHeart, Soul & Data67: Are You Ready For Data? With Cindy EbyAre 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 e...
2023-09-2034 minHeart, Soul & Data66 - Evaluation, Done Better with Corey NewhouseIn 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...
2023-08-1740 minHeart, Soul & Data65 - 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 s...
2023-08-0346 minHeart, Soul & Data64 - Excel Tricks with Matt BrattinIn 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...
2023-07-1435 min
Sense & Signal: Leading Through SensemakingRumble in the Data Thunderdome!In the digital age, data analytics has emerged as a transformative sensemaking tool, empowering organizational leaders with valuable insights to make informed decisions. However, despite its potential for driving meaningful change, data analytics is often misinterpreted, leading to flawed conclusions and misguided actions. What is a leader supposed to do? How do leaders create a data centric environment? How do leaders train data informed teams? And how can leaders making using data fun?
In this episode of the Sense and Signal podcast, Jodah and Dan welcome Dr. Alexandra Mannerings to learn the common pitfalls of data analytics...
2023-07-011h 06Heart, Soul & Data63 - Building Bridges with Rebecca GoslaIn 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...
2023-07-0132 minHeart, Soul & Data62 - 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...
2023-06-1443 minHeart, Soul & Data61 - Why You Need A CIO with Tim LockieThink 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...
2023-06-0141 minHeart, Soul & Data60: 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 data
Causality - What you can do: Experiment more
Confirmation bias - What you can do: Ask "What data would change my/your mind?"
Attribution - W...
2023-05-1831 minHeart, Soul & Data59: 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 data
Causality - What you can do: Experiment more
Confirmation bias - What you can do: Ask "What data would change my/your mind?"
Attribution - W...
2023-05-0431 minHeart, Soul & Data58: 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 con...
2023-04-2739 minHeart, Soul & Data57: 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 t...
2023-04-2042 minHeart, Soul & Data56: 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 wo...
2023-03-2329 minHeart, Soul & Data55: Promoting Equity with Data with Khanh VuKhahn 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...
2023-03-1041 min
The Evolution Exchange USAEvo USA #8 - Moving from Hiring to Retaining & Elevating Women in Data ScienceWelcome to Evo USA #8, where we discuss the transition from hiring to retaining and elevating women in data science. Our host, Austin Roden, is joined by two experts who share their insights and experiences on creating inclusive workplaces and supporting women in data science.
Our guests include Alexandra Mannerings, Founder and Principal at Merakinos, and Alexandra Robinson, Data Ethics and Cross-functional Project Manager.
In this episode, our guests discuss the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for women in data science, strategies for retaining and elevating women in the field, and ways to overcome the challenges and...
2023-03-0217 minHeart, Soul & Data54: Your Next Content Strategy Framework with Brian PiperIf 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. A...
2023-02-1734 minHeart, Soul & Data53: What Should I Measure? with Dr. Haywan ChiuOn 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...
2023-02-0938 minHeart, Soul & Data52: Four Steps to Useful Data with David Mackey and Tim NeCampGreat, 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...
2023-02-0239 minHeart, Soul & Data51: Data Renovations with Liz CroweImagine 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 ge...
2023-01-2629 minHeart, Soul & Data50: Mistakes I MakeTo 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 m...
2023-01-1926 minHeart, Soul & Data49: Small Data, Big PlansSuccess 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, th...
2023-01-0537 minHeart, Soul & Data48: Data + Values = WINIt's not just a bad idea to try to make decisions from pure logic - it's actually impossible. Join me in today's podcast episode to walk through my framework for understanding why values are a requirement for any sized decision, personal or professional, and how you can combine a clearer understanding of your values with the right data to make more effective choices.
Values are essential for making decisions because they are what give weight to different outcomes and costs. Consider the last time you used Apple or Google Maps. First, you had to know w...
2022-12-2233 min
The Technopath Way: Productivity through tech for nonprofitsHow to Choose a Database for Your NonprofitSign up for our weekly newsletter, The Technopath Way Tips, here: https://www.technopath.ac-page...One of the most common questions I get from nonprofits is how to decide whether or not they really need Salesforce. I spoke with Alexandra Mannerings last week on her podcast, Heart, Soul & Data, about how to pick the right tech stack for your nonprofit. This inspired today’s episode of The Technopath Way. While Salesforce is a robust and customizable tool, it may not be the best fit for every organization. I also dive into a few alternatives I’ve hear...
2022-12-1620 minHeart, Soul & Data47: Data for Program Managers with Tait KelloggWhat does it mean to build an effective learning culture? Why is it important to expect that we have a learning culture? Why are your questions are your most valuable assets? Listen to today's podcast with Tait Kellogg to hear about how you can implement a learning culture in your team or organization. She outlines a 4 step process to help create a structure to build an effective learning culture, and discusses common challenges she sees for each step.
Tait began her work at the intersection of data capacity and college access when she served as Data Analyst f...
2022-12-1540 minHeart, Soul & Data46: Getting the Right Tech Stack with Sarah EptingDeterminig the right technology for your organization can be challenging. There are many options out there for any one function in an organization. Balancing the inherent capabilities, the amount of customization needed, and the price of the technology is key. Today, Sarah Epting discusses how to find the right technology stack for an organization. She discusses things to consider when making an decision and some pitfalls to avoid.
Sarah's advice for an initial step if you're considering enacting or switching technology is to first identify the pain points you're dealing with in whatever process you're completing, and un...
2022-12-0845 minHeart, Soul & Data45: Have Data, Will Travel with Luke KomiskeyWe use data in our everyday lives - even when we go on vacation. Listen to Luke Komiskey explain how his data analytics knowledge empowered him and his wife to take an extended vacation and travel around the world. Luke discusses how he was able to accomplish his goal of traveling for a full year, and how a simple data collection model made this trip of a lifetime possible
What gets measured, gets managed: Luke's first piece of advice when embarking on a new project (whether it be a long trip or other data-related project) is to b...
2022-12-0123 minHeart, Soul & Data44: A Growth Story with Ryan RuckerAny of us can find our way to data. So many of the guests on this show have accidentally fallen into data, and the diversity of backgrounds, academic disciplines and skillsets add strength to the data community. It's truly the difference between the mindset of I can learn anything given time and support vs. I'm not a numbers person.
Ryan Rucker is an example of someone who accidentally found her way into data - and now she's helping bring an extraordinary non-profit forward in how it uses its data to achieve its' mission. Come listen along as s...
2022-11-1833 minThe Technopath Way: Productivity through tech for nonprofitsHow do Your Organization's Values Inform Its Data?Sign up for our weekly newsletter, The Technopath Way Tips, here: https://www.technopath.ac-page.com/the-technopath-way-sign-upAlexandra Mannerings is the founder of Merakinos, a data services and education company devoted to helping nonprofits sustainably access the analytics they need to grow and thrive. She earned her PhD in epidemiology and public health from the University of Cambridge in England. Studying the risk of disease spillover from fruit bats in Ghana, West Africa, taught her firsthand how to ask impactful questions and creatively leverage limited resources to answer them. Today on The Technopath Way...
2022-11-1141 minHeart, Soul & Data43: Assessing Analytic Maturity with Christen NgThere's a difference between data maturity and analytics maturity. Data is about the foundation, and analytic maturity is the work to get the insights from data. Maturity is not about fancy tech or how complex things are, it's about consistency. A data organization is mature when they can do all the of activities that are involved in succeeding with data consistently.
Analytic maturity and data maturity look different for every organization. Today's guest, Christen Ng, talks to us about analytic maturity and what that means for your organization.
About Christen Ng
Ch...
2022-11-1138 minHeart, Soul & Data42: Silo-Busting in Data with Amanda HoffmanAre you at the start of your journey with data? Or maybe you're in the middle of it and not sure what your next step should be? Today, let's hear about an incredible journey that the League of Conservation Voters has been on with data that may provide inspiration or answers for anyone walking a similar path right now. Listen in as Amanda tells her story and shares what has worked and what hasn't as she helped shaped her organization's data.
Amanda Hoffman is the Vice President of Data and Operations at the League of Con...
2022-11-0334 minHeart, Soul & Data41: Culturally Competent Data with Kim HuntResearch will always be done through the lens of the researcher – we can never fully leave behind who we are and how we see the world. But by bringing awareness to our own cultural biases and the diversity of others’ cultures, we can mitigate many of the possible errors our blind-spots produce.
Kim Hunt joins Heart, Soul & Data to talk about cultural competency in data collection, analysis, and application. We how culture is more than just nationality or race; culture is any collection of norms (dress, language, observances, morals) that are shared by a group. There is a mi...
2022-10-2738 minHeart, Soul & Data40: Growing Your Data with Kevin McGheeMarillac St Vincent has served Chicago for over a century, and its data needs have evolved along with its services. Kevin McGhee, the Senior Director of Data Management, walks us through the journey of how this dynamic nonprofit has grown its data and leaned into data for measuring quality of its programs to drive improvement.
Day-to-day, Kevin ensures data quality integrity and approves policies, processes, and procedures related to data. Directly supervises a Data Quality Analyst and Compliance Manager and owns all aspects of the agency-wide dashboard. His work allows MSV to better understand the capacity of t...
2022-10-1332 minHeart, Soul & Data39: Data Workforce with Claudia JuechWe can't amplify our good work with data if we don't have the right people to work on the data. Today's guest, Claudia Juech of the Patrick J McGovern Foundation explores the scope of the analytic workforce shortage and how we as social organizations can creatively solve it. Claudia Juech, Vice President of Data and Society at the Patrick. J. McGovern Foundation, is a technology-focused strategist, pragmatic optimist, and builder of programs and organizations. Her career has been all about using data for decision making – first in the financial sector in Germany and more recently at...
2022-10-0643 minHeart, Soul & Data38: The Imperative for Data LiteracyI believe that a foundational level of data literacy is as important to each and every one of us as knowing how to read and write. Today's episode is an audio recording of a presentation I gave at the NTC 2022 conference this year about the imperative we have to build our own and our team's data literacy.
Not only will data literacy help you in both your personal and professional life, but investing in data literacy at an organizational level will help you retain your employees and amplify the success and sustainability of your nonprofit.
Vi...
2022-09-2926 minHeart, Soul & Data37: Turn a Logic Model into a Data Model with Jennifer OtrembaWhat does making chocolate chip cookies have to do with data? Join Jennifer Otremba of Nonprofit Data Geeks as she explains through the power of baking how to take the logic model of your organization's operations and turn it into your data model. If you aren't familar with logic models, don't worry! Jennifer explains what they are and how you can make your own.
The basic idea is that everything you have and do in your role, your team, and your organization can be arranged into an interconnected flow of inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Understanding where d...
2022-09-2232 minHeart, Soul & Data36: Data Ethics with Alexandra RobinsonShould there be a Hippocratic oath for data? A kind of fiduciary responsibility oath for analysts? We explore the ethics of responsible data collection, analysis and reporting with Alexandra Robinson, the Head of Data Ethics and Social Impact at Threshold World.
Alexandra shared several resources for learning more about ethical data work. All Tech Is Human engages in the development of Responsible Tech Ecosystems for a better future. ResponsibleData.io fosters a community for those using data for social change. They have toolkits, exercises, and more to help. You can get involved with ResponsibleData.io by joining...
2022-09-1544 minHeart, Soul & Data35: Agile for Data"Agile" is a formally designed approach meant to help software developers turn out better software faster and with fewer bugs. Today's guest, Bo Ruan, Head of Data at the Alzheimer's Society, helps us see how we can leverage the core concepts of agile to create more impactful data systems, analytics, and insights.
Now, if you Google Agile Methodology, you can quickly get sucked into a rabbit hole of certifications and masterships and oodles of training. Bo's approach is that you're not aiming to become a formal Agile practioner, but rather to adapt the key Agile principles...
2022-09-0840 minHeart, Soul & Data34: SROI with Kyle KerriganHow do you measure 'social good' in a remotely standardized or comparable way? How do you decide whether it would be better to invest in a program to improve childhood literacy or a STEM program?
We tackle these difficult questions with Kyle Kerrigan of Upbring, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse by empowering children, families and communities. At Upbring, Kyle and his teammates are driving innovation in their social programs by leveraging 'social return on investment' - a calculation designed to facilitate comparisons across ideas and outputs. Social return on investment, or SROI, re...
2022-09-0140 minHeart, Soul & Data33: A Heart + Mind Approach with Blaire HamelehleWhile we each may lean a little bit (or a lot bit) towards more heart-centered or more cerebral in how we think and process decisions, both approaches are valid and even necessary for success with data in nonprofits. Today we talk with Blaire Hamelehle, a senior analyst and manger with a knack for "marrying quantitative and qualitative data to uncover compelling stories about our communities."
Blaire Hamelehle serves as the senior data analyst and data manager for TNTP, an education nonprofit reimagining teaching. She supports clients and teams to conduct and tell meaningful stories about research and e...
2022-08-2549 minHeart, Soul & Data32: Human Centered Design with Brian T. O'NeillDesigning an impactful data product isn't just about the data - in fact, it's mostly NOT about the data. It's about the people at the heart of the endeavor. Join me for a conversation about human-centered design with Brian O'Neill from Designing for Analytics, a consulting company that focuses on creating data products people will actually use. Brian is also the host of the acclaimed Experiencing Data podcast.
You can reach Brian on LinkedIn, follow him on Twitter at @rhythmspice, and join his mailing list. He also hosts a bi-annual seminar Designing Human-Centered Data Products, which runs i...
2022-08-1153 min
Fundraising SuperheroesLet’s Simplify Nonprofit Analytics With Alexandra ManneringsIf you have no idea where to start with your data analytics look no further! This week’s episode is all about how you can transform your nonprofit using data analytics without feeling overwhelmed.
Alexandra Mannerings is the founder of Merakinos, a data consultancy striving to help nonprofits better understand their data. As a self-proclaimed “Human-Centered Data Geek” Alex is here to help make data a little less intimidating. In our conversation, we discuss the power analytics have in making more efficient decisions and the different factors your organization should consider when getting started with da...
2022-07-2033 minHeart, Soul & Data31: Communications Data with Jessica MontanaData are useful for determining and implementing impactful communications strategies. Hear success stories from communications expert Jessica Montana on how she uses data to identify her key audiences, measure a nonprofit's ability to reach those audiences, and tweak the communication plan to continually improve.
2022-04-2129 minHeart, Soul & Data30: Crime Data with Debra PiehlToday's episode explores a complex kind of data - crime data. We speak with veteran crime analyst Debra Piehl.
2022-04-1440 minHeart, Soul & Data29: Data Literacy with David MarcoData literacy is a skill we all need. But the particular flavor will vary based on your data usage, your current level of data knowledge, and your mindset around data. David Marco from EWSolutions shares insights from his years teaching data literacy to organizations of all kinds.
David Marco is the founder and president of EWSolutions, a data management consultancy based in Chicago. Be sure to check out the EWSolution YouTube channel, and find Dr. Marco on LinkedIn. The EWSolutions training repository, DataManagementU, also hosts dozens of articles and on-emand webinar recordings.
2022-04-0130 minHeart, Soul & Data27: Health Equity with Data and Heart, with Essey Yirdaw of CHAHealth equity and social determinants of health are hot topics in many spaces today, but do they really mean? How can we use data respectfully and effectively to tackle these huge challenges? My guest today offers a nuanced, thoughtful, and practical approach to balancing data with a human-centered focus.
Essey Yirdaw is the director of data analytics at the Colorado Hospital Association. Essey received her Master’s degree from Colorado School of Public Health in 2015 in Health Systems, Management and Policy. Before coming to work at Colorado Hospital Association, Essey worked for over six years at the Univ...
2022-03-1743 min
AskPat 2.0: A Weekly Coaching Call on Online Business, Blogging, Marketing, and Lifestyle DesignHow Do I Help Those Who Can’t Afford Me One on One?#1213 Today we're speaking with Alexandra Mannerings of Merakinos, a data services and analytic education company devoted to helping nonprofits and mission-driven organizations amplify their impacts through data. Alexandra is trying to transform the way nonprofits use data and analytics to be more successful with their chosen mission. Her services cost a lot, but she doesn't want to exclude organizations that can't afford the services of a data analyst. I help Alexandra brainstorm how she can validate the unique “consortium” model she has in mind for making analytics more accessible to the nonprofit world. She leaves with some interesting questions, idea...
2022-03-1727 minHeart, Soul & Data26: Data Equity with Heather Krause"The scientific method is objective. The application of the scientific method is NOT objective," says today's guest, Heather Krause of We All Count. This is the heart of data equity, the concept that unexamined, unconscious decisions we make around data, analytics, and science can have unequal impacts and even result in inaccurate or misleading findings. It isn't about getting rid of data or giving up on science. Data equity is about strengthening our science and our data by becoming conscious and transparent with the decisions at every level - and opening the door to the possibility of different decisions.
2022-03-1140 minHeart, Soul & Data25: Three Simple YouTube Metrics with Itai Nusbaum of YouTuber's Tool KitNonprofits can benefit hugely from YouTube, but knowing what data to use to measure your progress and impact can be overwhelming. Itai Nusbaum from the nonprofit PocketTeacher and the consulting company YouTuber's Toolkit, shares his concise framework for which metrics to look at, how to interpret what you see, and how to respond. Check out the shownotes at www.heartsouldata.com/ep-25/ to see a handy graphic that breaks down the metrics we discuss in this episode.
Itai Nusbaum, founder of both YouTuber’s Toolkit and PocketTeacher, single-handedly created an unparalleled YouTube-based educational video company that currently ser...
2022-02-2533 minHeart, Soul & Data24: Measuring Money and More with Dr. Elizabeth SearingPicking the right financial metrics for your nonprofit is like choosing your navigation points for sailing a ship: you don't need to track everything, but you do need to track points that will help you get to your desired destination. Nonprofits aren't the same as for-profit companies, and that's why they need a different set of financial metrics. This episode with Dr. Elizabeth Searing leverages her combined research and "real world" work to chart out four key domains of financial metrics every nonprofit should track, and how they can be used to keep your finger on the pulse of...
2022-02-1749 minHeart, Soul & Data23: Participatory Data Analysis with Veena PankajThere are many methods for data analysis, but we often focus on technical methods. Veena Pankaj of Innovation Network joins me to discuss another approach – participatory data analysis. In this method, the “sensemaking” or interpretation phase of data analysis doesn’t take place in a black box (or the analyst’s cubicle…) in isolation. Instead, key stakeholders and frontline participants in the project are invited to view the data and results, and provide their own insights and interpretation.
This inclusive method has so many benefits that we explore in this episode. Whether you’re new to participatory data analysis...
2022-02-1029 min
AudienceData Doesn't Have to Be Scary w/ Alexandra ManneringsPodcasting can be a really great medium for breaking down long-held ideas about a certain topic.
On this episode, Sam is joined by Alexandra Mannerings of the Heart, Soul, and Data podcast to learn about how she is using her show as a platform to start conversation with organizations and individuals who may have been adverse to all things data in the past while opening new opportunities for her business.
If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to Castos.com/podcast. And a...
2021-11-1136 minFundraising SuperheroesHow to Make Data-Driven Decisions With Alexandra ManneringsData-driven decision-making doesn’t mean you take the emotion out of your decision-making. Instead, it challenges you to look at your decision and ask yourself if the numbers reflect your goals and values?
Alexandra Mannerings founded Merakenos to help nonprofits better understand their data and analytics to make more informed decisions. She discusses how to dive deep into the numbers while staying true to the heart and soul of your organization.
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2021-09-0128 min
The Nonprofit Hero FactoryEpisode 25: How to Use Data to Increase Your Nonprofit’s ROI, with Alexandra ManneringsOne of the key roles of nonprofits is to channel resources—time, money and voice—to communities in need. We work hard to get people to trust us with those resources. So how do we make sure to then allocate them as effectively as we can to do the greatest good? The answer is likely in our data.
Alexandra Mannerings is a data scientist blending human wisdom and values with the insights and knowledge of science to help amplify the impacts of nonprofits. We talk to her about what data can do for nonprofits, where to start (even if you have...
2021-08-2631 min