When you're tasked with managing critical data that impacts public services and societal outcomes, the stakes couldn't be higher. That's exactly the challenge that Akira Bell, Chief Information Officer of Mathematica, tackles every day. I came across Akira’s recent interview with MIT Sloan Management Review to distill insights. Her approach offers valuable lessons for data stewards and managers working to make data more impactful in their organizations.
Who is Mathematica?
Mathematica is a research and data analytics consultancy that is employee-owned and dedicated to enhancing public well-being. They work at the intersection of data, social science and technology to turn big questions into deep insights, reimagining how the world collects, analyses, and applies data to solve pressing problems.
Commitment to data quality
The foundation of Mathematica’s success lies in their commitment to data quality. Working with sensitive government data, particularly in healthcare and social services, requires more than well-defined security measures. It demands a comprehensive approach to data governance.
Bell’s team recognized early on that data quality issues could severely impact their ability to serve agencies like Medicare and Medicaid effectively. Rather than accepting this limitation, they took an innovative approach: partnering with New Wave to develop Imersis, a cloud-based data quality platform.
For data stewards, the key takeaway is clear: when faced with data quality challenges, consider looking beyond your organization’s boundaries. Strategic partnerships can bring complementary expertise and accelerate solutions.
On governance and security
Bell’s approach to emerging technologies like AI offers another valuable lesson. Despite the pressure to adopt new solutions, Mathematica takes a measured approach. They’re currently evaluating AI technologies through careful “bake-offs” – testing multiple technologies and tools to determine which is the best one for the purpose at hand – behind closed doors, prioritizing governance and security before commencing any production implementation.
This methodical approach to innovation aligns with best practices in data stewardship. It reminds us that rushing to implement new technologies without proper governance frameworks can create more problems than it solves.
Perhaps the most practical lesson from Bell’s experience is the importance of building a solid foundation before attempting more advanced initiatives. Mathematica’s journey began with strong networking and security infrastructure, followed by cloud migration, and only then moved to developing sophisticated analytical platforms.
We’re often caught between the pressure to innovate and the need to maintain data quality and security. Bell’s approach at Mathematica shows that these aren’t mutually exclusive goals. By focusing on strong foundations, ethical considerations, and strategic partnerships, we can create data systems that not only meet technical requirements but also serve their intended purpose: improving outcomes for the people who depend on our services.
Good data stewardship isn’t just about managing data. It’s about ensuring that data serves its highest purpose in improving people’s lives. That’s a lesson worth carrying forward in all our data initiatives.
Let’s start the conversation
Link Digital is a global data catalog services company, operating out of Canada and Australia with clients around the world. If you’d like to explore how your organization’s data catalog system can enhance data quality, I’d be happy to help start the conversation.
