Business-First Enterprise Data: Creating Analytics Capabilities and Culture

The Chicago Transit Authority can trace its roots back over 150 years. Though our means have evolved in countless ways since the mid-1800’s, our fundamental mission remains the same: we deliver quality, affordable transit services that link people, jobs and communities. The CTA is essential to Chicago’s economic development -- and data and analytics are essential to the CTA. Though data and analytics capabilities have always been available within operational systems and processes at the CTA, in recent years leveraging enterprise-level data has become a higher priority. Some of CTA’s data analytics challenges are familiar to both the private and public-sector, but others are unique. The CTA’s Data Analytics department was created in late 2014 to drive better data access and quantitative management throughout the agency. Since then, the group has evolved into an internal consulting team that provides a range of services and capabilities that were previously unavailable. We will discuss the evolution of the group and highlights of wins and lessons learned throughout the journey. This session will cover:

Taking a quantified business-centric approach to all data analytics activities
Using an internal consulting engagement model to deliver value quickly and iteratively
Leading cultural change to be a more data analytics-driven organization
Challenges encountered in migrating to the cloud in a public-sector organization
Coexisting alongside already-established departments with overlapping roles
Where data governance fits into the picture

Anthony J. Algmin helps businesses use data to get better at what they do. He is currently the Chief Data Architect at Uturn Data Solutions, a company specializing in helping businesses move to the cloud. Learn more at www.uturndatasolutions.com. Previously, Anthony was the Chicago Transit Authority's first Chief Data Officer, developing data analytics capabilities to help the CTA improve transit services for millions of Chicagoans. Anthony also spent several years as a data strategy and management consultant with experience across many industries. His early career was in the capital markets industry performing technical and management roles to improve business performance with data and analytics. Anthony frequently speaks at national and local events, and contributes to the data governance and data management communities. He has a BA in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.