On February 11, 2025, UWEBC hosted an enlightening Data and Analytics event, Metrics That Matter: Letting Purpose Focus Analytics. Led by Technology Practice Director Heidi Rozmiarek and Customer Care Practice Director Matthew Cone, the event explored the critical role of aligning data with business strategy to drive meaningful decision-making. With insights from expert speakers and interactive discussions, attendees gained practical frameworks for transforming data into actionable intelligence.
The event opened with an engaging discussion on information overload, a phenomenon in which organizations collect vast amounts of data yet struggle to extract valuable insights. Heidi shared a thought-provoking video illustrating that the average person consumes 100,000 words of information daily but retains only 10%. This set the stage for the core theme of the event: ensuring that organizations focus on the right metrics rather than being overwhelmed by unnecessary data.
Following this introduction, Nishant Upadhyay, Vice President of Data & Analytics at UW Credit Union, delivered an insightful keynote. He emphasized that organizations do not need a separate data strategy—they need a business strategy that integrates data. He shared best practices for identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) that truly drive organizational success while eliminating vanity metrics. Nishant also discussed the importance of decentralizing data analysis, allowing business units to work with relevant data while maintaining governance and oversight.
Next, Kory Weisman, Director of Global Commercial Excellence at Clarios, demonstrated how his organization translates corporate strategy into measurable targets. He outlined a structured approach to cascading metrics from high-level business objectives down to specific employee performance indicators, ensuring alignment across departments. Kory stressed that effective analytics require adaptability as industry trends and priorities continuously evolve.
In addition to these keynote presentations, the event featured breakout discussions where attendees examined what purpose-focused analytics means in their own organizations. These conversations reinforced the idea that businesses must continuously evaluate the relevance and impact of their metrics, ensuring they support overarching goals. As we advance through 2025, Metrics That Matter underscores the importance of thoughtful, strategic analytics. By refining how organizations use data, they can move beyond information overload and towards purpose-driven decision-making that creates real business impact.
UWEBC members can view the full event recording and download slides from the event here.