How Data Has Transformed Social Good: A Conversation with Steve MacLaughlin, VP of Data and Analytics at Blackbaud

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Steve MacLaughlin (@smaclaughlin),Vice President of Data and Analytics at Blackbaud. Steve reviews the dramatic increase in the use of data in recent years, examining how it has changed his work as technology continues to evolve. Steve explains how data has transformed the environment for social good by removing guesswork and promoting prescriptive analytics. Instead of focusing on opinion, organizations are using data to analyze opportunities for improvement. Steve talks about the fears users have when working with big data, such as data cleanup and exporting, and offers ways to overcome these fears to successfully approach problem-solving. Steve then discusses how leveraging internal data, while searching for external data, can provide optimal feedback that allows organizations to strategize over time. Steve and Jamie also talk about the power of storytelling and how data can add credibility to a story.

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