Topic: Data-driven Decisioning in the Future of Business and Work

In today's fast-paced business environment, making the right decisions can mean the difference between success and failure. This presentation will explore the role of data-driven decision-making in the future of business and work. It will cover the advantages of data-driven decision-making over anecdotal evidence, the difference between data as signals and actionable data, and the benefits of artificial intelligence in decision-making. The presentation will also discuss the importance of inclusive models and how models can become polluted if not regularly refreshed. Finally, the presentation will address the question of when to trust your gut and when to rely on data.

Key Takeaways: 

• The advantages of data-driven decision-making over anecdotal evidence: While anecdotal evidence may be compelling, it can be biased and unreliable. Data-driven decision-making, on the other hand, is based on objective data and can lead to better outcomes.
• The difference between data as signals and actionable data: Not all data is created equal. Data, as signals can provide insights, but actionable data, is necessary to make informed decisions. It is essential to identify actionable data to make informed decisions.
• The benefits of artificial intelligence in decision-making: AI can analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, identify patterns and trends, and provide insights that would be impossible to discover manually. AI can help businesses make better decisions by providing actionable insights and predictions.

In conclusion, data-driven decision-making is critical in the future of business and work. By relying on objective data, identifying actionable data, and using AI to analyze and provide insights, businesses can make better decisions and achieve greater success. However, it is also essential to ensure inclusive models and regularly refresh them to avoid pollution. Knowing when to trust your gut and when to rely on data is also a critical factor in decision making.

Our Speaker: Linda Schulte 

Linda is a transformational Software Leader, Board Member, and Certified Software Quality Engineer (ASQ-CSQE) with extensive experience driving organizational change to optimize quality and execution for software teams. She has successfully led digital transformation of teams for multiple industries and platforms and executed multiple organizational agile testing and automation transformations. Linda is influential in planning, design, project management, integration, development, deployment and Customer Experience for enterprise software projects, and is currently the VP of Platform Engineering for Commercial Solutions at Mastercard. 

Driving Directions

The best parking is in the garage entrance on Wilmington Street between Hargett Street and Morgan Street. Exit the garage on the Fayetteville Street side and cross the street to enter the building.

Smith Anderson Law Offices 

Wells Fargo Capitol Center – 23rd floor in downtown Raleigh, NC

From RTP/RDU (Airport)/Durham/Chapel Hill

Take I-40 East to the Wade Ave. exit, number 289. 

Take Wade Ave. approximately 4.5 miles, through several traffic lights, and bear right onto Capital Blvd. (toward downtown). 

Upon reaching the downtown Raleigh area, Capital Blvd. will turn into Dawson St. 

Continue on Dawson Street to the intersection with W. Hargett Street 

Turn left onto W. Hargett Street and continue to the intersection with Wilmington Street 

Turn left onto Wilmington Street. 

Alexander Square parking deck is to the left. 

Our building is directly across Fayetteville Street from the parking deck.

From the Beltline (440): (view maps)

Take Person Street/Hammond Road exit, number 299. 

Take a left at the light if you are coming from the west, a right if coming from the east, and go straight on Person Street until the intersection with West Hargett Street

Take a left onto West Hargett Street, then a right onto Wilmington Street (the second light)

Alexander Square parking deck is to the left.

Our building is directly across Fayetteville Street from the parking deck.

From North Raleigh via Glenwood Avenue

Take US 70 (Glenwood Avenue) toward downtown.

Follow Glenwood until the intersection with Wade Avenue

Take the Wade Avenue exit, after you cross the overpass, toward downtown.

Please see the instructions above regarding directions from I-40 to Wade Avenue

Our building is directly across Fayetteville Street from the parking deck.

Our offices are located on the 23rd floor. Take the "13-28" series elevators to the 23rd floor. The receptionist will notify your party. You can park at Alexander Square (parking deck) on Wilmington St. or on Fayetteville St.

See you at the FENG meeting on Wednesday, September 13^th. 

Registration: If you are planning to attend, please register early to help us get an accurate headcount and help our hosts plan for their hospitality needs. 

Please Register no later than EOD, September 10^thso our host has a good headcount to plan for food and drinks. 

Agenda 

6:00 to 6:30 pm – Open Networking 

6:30 to 6:45 pm – Welcome, thank our host, up-coming events, and general comments. 

6:45 to 7:45 pm – The speakers will talk for 45 minutes to an hour saving time for questions.

7:45 to 8:00 pm – Open networking

About the Raleigh, NC Chapter: 

The Raleigh chapter has over 800 members and usually meets monthly on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Meeting location varies depending on the host company. Guests and prospective FENG members are always welcome. First-timers and those who are newly in transition are given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the other chapter members and make any special requests. Most meetings include a speaker and current topic of interest to our members. 

See you at the FENG meeting on Wednesday.