I believe data, when harnessed responsibly, has the power to reshape societies and drive meaningful change. As strategist, advisor and speaker with over 20 years of experience in transforming data into a strategic asset for economic and social impact, I have a strong commitment focussed on the intersection of data and social good. As the Chief Data Officer for the State of Maryland, my current position is dedicated to building data-driven organizations that go beyond managing data effectively to connecting it with purpose, ensuring it is trustworthy, accessible, and used ethically to address society's most pressing issues. During my time as a Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer in the Obama Administration, I founded The Data Cabinet, a federal data science community of practice across 40+ agencies, and co-created The Opportunity Project, a multi-sector initiative to develop digital tools that make government data more accessible to the public. These experiences reinforced my commitment to creating ethical, transparent, and responsible data ecosystems that empower both organizations and communities. I also co-founded BrightHive, a data trust platform where I designed data integration and governance solutions, helping social service providers improve access to essential social sector data. My commitment to data ethics extends globally through the Global Data Ethics Project, a community of 1,200+ data professionals that I launched to strengthen ethical practices in data science. One of my most meaningful initiatives, the Black Wealth Data Center, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, aims to advance racial equity through data, addressing long-standing barriers that limit the economic potential of underserved communities. This initiative reflects my ongoing commitment to using data for measurable social change and for addressing deep-rooted economic and social disparities. Throughout my career, I have focused on designing data strategies for civic tech, social impact, and public sector organizations, helping them transform data into actionable insights that drive equity and prosperity, and I am honored to speak and advise globally on data’s transformative potential.Looking ahead, I aim to further build my voice in the civic technology space, support organizations as a strategic advisor, and continue creating data frameworks that empower communities and improve systems at scale. If you are looking for an expert discussion, please get in touch with me.