Data Literacy | Skill Democratization | Upskilling | Education | Public Speaking
As the Head of Data and Design/Management Skills, Jordan helps individuals and organizations realize their potential through the proper learning and strategy.
He leads Pluralsight’s data and design/management across various channels. Pluralsight is the premier technology skills learning platform.
Before the transition to Pluralsight, Jordan led and developed the world’s first and premier data literacy program at Qlik. While at Qlik, he won numerous awards, both internal (President’s Award) and external. Before his time at Qlik, he was involved in the development of the Business Intelligence group for the United States Consumer Card group at American Express. For my involvement that led to the creation of strategic reports, curriculum, and training for this program, I was awarded the President’s Club Award in 2017. He is passionate about bringing the human touch to a world of numbers. When not working with helping our customers upskill their organizations’ capabilities, I can be found with my family or trail running the mountains of Utah.
What attracted you to data management or IT, and why did you choose to pursue this career?
My overall love and desire to be within data and analytics comes from the background of wanting to empower and teach individuals how to use data from a data literacy perspective. I was working in this space, data science, data analytics, business intelligence, and I saw a gap in the fact that most people are not going to school for data and analytics. I wanted to help bring data and analytical learning to the masses, without having to go back to school for learning around statistics or advanced data work.
What has been your greatest career accomplishment so far, and why has it been important to your career?
For me, the greatest accomplishment should truly be the fact that I helped invent and pioneer the entire field of data literacy. From being one of these first data literacy thought leaders, if not the first, it has grown to a common term and used within organizations around the world.
From organizational work, helping the United Nations with its data strategy and internal learning.
What are the two or three biggest challenges you face as a data management professional / CDO and how can we address them?
- The lack of data literacy within organizations – this skills gap hurts organizations from getting true data and analytical adoption.
- The culture of organizations – this is the number one roadblock for data and analytical success.
- Lack of data strategy – organizations struggle to truly have good, holistic data strategies.
How do you see data management / the role of the CDO / IT changing in the next 2 – 3 years?
Data management, the role of CDO/IT is becoming more and more important. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the need for this even more. With the advancement of data technology, augmented analytics, and more, overall, these things are going to take a bigger role in the world.
Do you have any planned next steps for your career?
I love working within the data and analytics sphere, especially in the world of data literacy and empowering people through education. I also love the work within data strategy. I continue to drive work here and will continue to build my career here.
What is the single best piece of advice you have received in your data management / IT career so far? Why has it been so important to you?
It is an interesting question. For me, it is advice that isn’t data specific: do what you love and create the life you want. For me, a job is a means to an end, not the end itself. We need to be driving our lives in the way that we want not in many ways. By doing this correctly, our job is passion and love, not a chore.
Can you share something about yourself as a person that people wouldn’t know about you?
I have a big family, with 5 kids, and I love to run ultra marathons…yes, I love that pain.
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