Decoding the Art of Leveraging Data for Better Government Outcomes with Alex DerHovhannessian

Welcome to AI Decodes the System, the podcast where we decode the complex systems of data, tech, law, and public policy for everyone to understand. I am your host, Amber Ivey, also known as AI. In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Alex DerHovhannessian, the Vice President of Services at Qlarion, a GCOM Company, where he helps governments transform using data and analytics. Alex has over twenty years of experience and has built a successful career in consulting, driving data-informed decisions, improving user experiences, and developing public/private partnerships.

Alex resides in Richmond, VA with his family and is actively involved in the local community. He sits on the board of Families Forward Virginia and enjoys guest lecturing on Leadership, Business, Networking, and Data.

During our conversation, we explore Alex's entrepreneurial journey, his transition into the data space, and his experience carrying the Olympic torch in the 1996 Olympics. Alex shares his insights on engaging with stakeholders, real-world examples of how data can improve lives, and advice for those interested in diving into the data world without a math or analytical background.

We also discuss the importance of understanding and participating in the data space and why it's crucial for our listeners to be aware of the opportunities available to them.

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes.

If you like the content, feel free to support the show by donating to my Patreon account at this link: https://www.patreon.com/Aidecodes

Social Media

Alex DerHovhannessian: LinkedIn
AI: Decodes the System: Website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok

Transcript

00:00.00
Alex D
Yes, yes, all right.

00:01.38
aidecodes
Alex der hovinnessian serves as the vice president of services at clarion a gcom company overseeing the Virginia portfolio he has taken 20 years of experience and is accomplished and is an accomplished executive with successful track record and consulting and industry positioning. Organizations and c- level teams toine strategies implement multi-sierer solutions drive data-informed decisions launch and enhance products improve user experience. Develop public-p privateate relationships and increase revenue. At Clarion Alex is overseeing triple digit sustained growth across the portfolio and helped position the company for acquisition he has established himself as a trusted advisor to top commonwealth leaders across multiple secretariats. Finally his team has provided significant outcomes. The commonwealth and citizens working side by side with numerous agencies and organizations on the side. He resides in Richmond Virginia with his wife and 2 children where he's also involved with his local community and sits on the board of families for Virginia he also enjoys spending time in higher education guest lecturing classes on leadership business networking and data. Hi Alex welcome to the show any time I'm so happy to see you again. I remember we met. It's been years now is less than 10 more than 5 um years where I remember we both were speaking at a conference on data in Virginia.

01:10.46
Alex D
Thank you Amber! Thanks for having me.

01:22.20
Alex D
That's right.

01:27.97
aidecodes
And I remember like right after we had met maybe within like six months you start talking to me about starting your own company and for me I'm like the queen of side hustle you say I have a podcast also have a day job and I have other things going on but I haven't personally taken the full leap into entrepreneurship. Um. Talk to me about what did that feel like what were some of the pros and cons of becoming an entrepreneur because that's a hard thing to do is to like jump out there and leave it all behind.

01:53.29
Alex D
Yeah, perfect Amber thanks for having me and a kudos to you as well. It's been awesome to watch your journey over the years and ah, just amazing to watch the outcomes you're producing as well. And thanks again for having me on the show. Um it it was ah a definitely a leap of faith right? So I had enjoyed a pretty successful career at Accenture.

02:08.13
aidecodes
I.

02:10.20
Alex D
Um, at the Timem I wasn't married I had no children and I had a manageable mortgage and I thought if I don't take a leap now I'll never take it and I remember people saying you're going to walk away from like an amazing career and and do something on your own and I just remember back to my.

02:15.96
aidecodes
Oh.

02:26.10
Alex D
Father My grandfather always saying if you can make money for someone else. You can make money for yourself and so I took a leap and it was amazing. I will tell you I learned a lot in that time the pros and cons to your question you know on the pro side I think it.

02:30.64
aidecodes
Tesher.

02:37.83
aidecodes
And.

02:43.16
Alex D
As an entrepreneur more than ever you define your destiny right? at the end of the day every minute of your day is yours to define and own and make the best of it. Um I think that I was truly kind of empowered by that and to kind of run my own thing and to do my own thing I think.

02:44.46
aidecodes
Oh.

02:56.20
aidecodes
I will.

03:03.30
Alex D
Your net definitely goes away right? So for those individuals who are used to a net you know I was very fortunate to have had a career that had a net around me and you know I luckily hadn't fallen or failed. But if I did I knew there was a net around me doing the entrepreneur route that net.

03:04.35
aidecodes
Answer.

03:16.26
aidecodes
Um, ah.

03:21.87
Alex D
Very quickly goes away and I think you need to learn quickly how to survive on your own. So ah, it wasn't a con for me and luckily I didn't fail within the entrepreneurship as well. But I think for folks looking at doing that just be aware that there's not going to be the net that you're used to around you I Also think you know you learn.

03:27.73
aidecodes
Um.

03:38.58
aidecodes
Um, um, right.

03:40.96
Alex D
By trial by fire right? So I learned by just jumping in with two feet I didn't do it with one foot in and one foot out I know there are a lot of people that have something on the side and do 1 thing and I said listen I'm not going to be able to give it all I have and thus I go all in and so I made a very calculated decision to to leave 1 thing and jump in. Um.

03:53.13
aidecodes
I know.

03:59.80
Alex D
But hindsight being 2020 I do it all again in a heartbeat I learned more I was introduced to more partners and and more current clients at that point than I ever had been before and tryy defined my destiny at the end of the day each and every day and each and every minute.

04:01.15
aidecodes
Okay.

04:08.81
aidecodes
New in.

04:17.63
Alex D
Is my was my opportunity to do something different and make an outcome and hopefully I took advantage of that.

04:21.39
aidecodes
That is amazing and I want to like point to something you said so the whole idea of like one foot in one foot out why do you think it's so important for folks who are interested in who are ready to take that fully to not straddle that fence.

04:34.21
Alex D
And and it's hard to say because I know people ah like the both of both of best I like the best of both worlds and so and I recognize that people may not have the ability to do two feet in

04:42.36
aidecodes
I know.

04:49.74
Alex D
Um, but I will say that you get much more out of an experience if you're able to put yourself into it I think you get out of things what you put into them and if you go halfway, you're going to get about half of that value back and if that's okay for you. That's totally fine. It wasn't what I was looking for I was looking for a fully immersive allinexperience and so that's why I opted to do.

04:54.50
aidecodes
Um I.

05:03.53
aidecodes
Um, the ah.

05:09.30
Alex D
Both feed in but again, no judgment if people want to do the the one foot in one foot out that may work for them. But I'd also recognize you're not going to get the full benefit nor the full experience you know nor the full risk as well or the reward if you have 1 in one out.

05:23.73
aidecodes
Right? I'm sorry, very true I know for me I'm still like 1 in 1 else like I said side hustling on the side but eventually I do want to like take that full leap and and do my own consulting thing. So I definitely get. Um. Benefit of doing that because it's totally different when you're trying to manage a day job and then trying to do things on weekends or off hours. It just makes it very hard to fully commit and if that's all I had I could go 100% into it and I feel like there's like you said there's. Risk but also reward and you have no net so you got to work harder and you got to push it so those things truly resonate with me. Let's her.

06:00.58
Alex D
I think I think the other thing is the phase of your life. You're in right? So it's what I do the same thing now that I did before maybe not right? So I think I was ah fortunate to be in a phase of my life as I had mentioned earlier that that deristed a bit from more mid a bit more for me I also wasn't.

06:10.33
aidecodes
Night.

06:16.81
aidecodes
very very true the difference between like single not having the kids and a wife and then versus like now having those things that's a totally different outcome so that definitely make sense and so I know right now you're the Vp of services at clarion.

06:17.13
Alex D
And didn't have people rely on me for everything on the table. Um, no.

06:27.69
Alex D
Absolutely yeah.

06:35.41
aidecodes
And you all help governments transform using data and analytics which is cool I Love that type of work. That's what I do in my day job is working with governments to help them like use these skill sets. How did you get into the data space like I've never asked you that as a fellow data Lover Data nerd. How did you get into this space and really why like what got you here.

06:53.54
Alex D
Yeah, so I think it it goes way back I think I think I've always probably been a data sponge or an information sponge even before the word data I got my first computer probably at age 5 or 6 and just remember spending time learning about.

07:03.98
aidecodes
Um, oh wow.

07:13.27
Alex D
And again data wasn't the word back then but we're learning about inputs and outputs and um the more I got into things in my earlier. My career I recognized doing the consulting world that data was King like data was what's driving industry at this point in time. Um, and again I think private sector of course is a little bit of ah head of public sector and.

07:13.32
aidecodes
Right? plus.

07:26.87
aidecodes
Um, um.

07:32.30
aidecodes
Are.

07:32.84
Alex D
Some of the areas but within private sector data was driving decisions remember giving a presentation to a top beverage Ceo and their vice presidents and just using data to say here's what's working and here's what's not I think I was about 2 years out of school at that point in time and um.

07:41.66
aidecodes
On it.

07:48.10
aidecodes
Thanks.

07:52.20
Alex D
But demonstrating the value of data and demonstrating not just making decisions based on a hunch but based on the data I think is something we did a lot of in the consulting field which is which opened the door to data for me and then most recently having been through multiple administrations in Virginia kind of.

07:59.60
aidecodes
Um, my.

08:09.84
Alex D
Leading and partnering and and observing some of the transformations that are happening here in the state have been amazing to watch some of the kind of foundations that were laid some of those went places some of those didn't additional administrations have added to that and I think.

08:09.92
aidecodes
Um, um.

08:13.17
aidecodes
When.

08:19.96
aidecodes
My hat.

08:26.00
Alex D
Think we're at a pivotal time I think across the country and kind of using data and the ability to use data to really transform lives.

08:33.60
aidecodes
I love a few things you said and I worked with a few folks in Virginia when I was at my last job I was doing interviews of some of the practitioners and secretaries you were working with in the state and I remember just seeing all the cool stuff they were doing around data the laws that they were passing. Like they were doing a lot of amazing things and like you were saying like a lot of stuff stuck but then often stuff doesn't stick and even with the term like the point that you called out earlier where data is like this new word that folks are using but before we said input outputs or. Um, numbers figures trends like we had so many other ways to talk about this but this stuff has been around for so long but that's 1 question I have for you like Sony will hear terms like big data data analytics data driven and a lot of times that just feels like buzzwords and just crap people are saying. And I know a lot people use the words but what does it really mean I often ask people on this show. How would you explain it to my 2 year old niece my seven year old niece if we had to explain to them what the hell is Zahita how would you break that down for them.

09:36.97
Alex D
Well's a great question I Also think it's one of the challenges in the data space because I don't think we I Also think we all use words and we think we mean the same thing and I can give many examples of that I mean every single day I have a client or clients that have been using the same word.

09:40.38
aidecodes
Um, yes, it is.

09:46.33
aidecodes
You.

09:53.38
Alex D
Assuming that everyone means the same thing and they all come into a room and we haven them define that word and all their definitions are different and then they wonder why the reports don't match so ah to your two year old and 7 year old I'd probably tell them. Um I use information to.

09:56.28
aidecodes
Yet.

10:07.18
aidecodes
No.

10:10.61
Alex D
Focus on ways to make them healthier safer and ensure they can grow. So ah, again from a government slant. We really what I try to do is find ways that government can really drive outcomes for individuals and so for your twoyear old and 7 even-year old

10:23.72
aidecodes
And then.

10:27.87
Alex D
If that was helping them in school or helping them identify what's working or what's not working in school what they could be doing differently what their teachers could be focusing on based on their grades or their outcomes making sure we put food on their plates. So what services we can bring to them in order to help them.

10:30.43
aidecodes
And.

10:41.21
aidecodes
Ah.

10:47.22
Alex D
Get from where they are to where they want to be keeping them safe whether it's through public safety or through other areas ensuring that we have the right people in the right place at the right time to keep everyone as safe as possible and also to help them grow to make sure they have what they need not just for today. But for tomorrow and beyond.

10:52.73
aidecodes
Um, and.

10:56.97
aidecodes
Right.

11:06.18
Alex D
In order to make sure they get what they want out of life as they move forward in their lives I don't know if I could repeat that So I hopefully it will out there. You go right.

11:09.15
aidecodes
I need to write that down because I know that I'm gonna take the transcript write it out. No but seriously I always make jokes with people in this space. No one knows what I do like no matter how much I talk about it. They're like what do you do. Ah, hu and then I say something they're like ah huh literally eyes gloss over but like and the way you explain it makes it pretty simple like in short you help data you you help help governments use data to improve the lives of people who are interacting with government whether it's public safety education health. All these different areas where the government really leads and like you help them help government figure it out. So I want to dig in a little bit deeper so still trying to like stick a pin on that fact that no one knows what I do I'm hoping you can help explain that today.

11:53.84
Alex D
Sure yeah.

11:57.69
aidecodes
What are some of your favorite real real. Well examples of the work that you're doing and how does it play out in actuality.

12:04.42
Alex D
Man am that's a great question and the exciting thing I think for me is that answer changes every day or every few weeks right? So I what I love about what I do today is um first I think the exciting thing for me is ah we I won't do work that doesn't have an outcome. You know that sounds weird but I think.

12:09.77
aidecodes
Um, there shall more.

12:18.50
aidecodes
I know.

12:22.37
Alex D
I am at a place in our organizations at a place where we don't just do work because someone needs it or because it's ah out there if it doesn't have a demonstrable outcome for the commonwealth. We typically won't do that work. So the exciting thing for me as I see this I get to answer this question almost every day and it's kind of part of our mantra.

12:29.23
aidecodes
Um, ah get point I'm um, um.

12:39.91
aidecodes
What? no.

12:42.14
Alex D
Um, so if I look at like Covid As an example, right? So in Covid hit real world example. Ah federal funds were needed to go across the country and across the state. Um, the Governor's office called and said we need your help This is going to take days months weeks of work to get to understand what we need to do.

12:52.38
aidecodes
Um.

12:58.28
aidecodes
Um, ah.

13:01.80
Alex D
And luckily we had that data we were able to run a few reports and literally within the same day we were able to provide a report to them to help them distribute funds from the federal government that would have taken again weeks or months in their previous world just just months ago but pre covid to get that answer. So.

13:05.30
aidecodes
How.

13:14.86
aidecodes
Um, right? And right.

13:19.93
Alex D
Very world water around covid um, if I look at workforce and I think workforce is near and dear to both of our hearts but really marrying up supply and demand right? So where is the supply of our resources today around Virginia where is the demand of that resources. What do our companies need.

13:35.60
aidecodes
That.

13:36.10
Alex D
And how do we actually marry that together if without the data and without sharing data across Silos We'd never be able to get there and so right now I think we're at a critical point in more workforce kind of transformation of being able to really bring all that information together and to provide both private sector public Sector employees. Ah, people looking for work really the way to find the best way to connect and I think that's very exciting here for the commonwealth. Um, if I look at Opioids and overdoses. So We we have ah a program called fact which is a framework for addiction analysis and community transformation and that is getting real world data sharing.

14:01.27
aidecodes
Pressures on.

14:08.30
aidecodes
Okay.

14:13.73
Alex D
And saving lives every single day. It's getting data in the hands of treatment individuals emergency personnel and really helping them make decisions on positioning supplies etc. They could have never been done before it's a multi-agency solution. We're very proud of it. But it's a way of really driving outcomes in Virginia.

14:17.77
aidecodes
Are.

14:28.88
aidecodes
Um, here grab.

14:33.59
Alex D
Driving outcomes and actually saving lives as well. Um, in you know, kind of tax in the tax space right? creating algorithms to identify fraud and saving Maryland probably $91000000 I think to date in really just running algorithms right.

14:42.51
aidecodes
Um, okay.

14:45.71
aidecodes
Um, Wow Oh yeah.

14:51.42
Alex D
You and I both know this right? The data is there right? It's a matter of utilizing that data to better inform and to better position individuals resources and assets I Also think another key example is yeah, there's a lot of federal funding available for states.

14:57.42
aidecodes
The men.

15:09.65
aidecodes
Um, that's one.

15:10.73
Alex D
And they don't do anything different. It's a matter of connecting their data and demonstrating the value they're bringing I think each and every day federal funds are are kind of left on the side because states aren't kind of taking that ah advantage of matching data to outcomes.

15:19.47
aidecodes
Yeah.

15:26.98
aidecodes
Again.

15:27.96
Alex D
To offerings. So I think that's another key part is making sure that we're putting it together. Not just the what But the why and also putting that all together for a better picture of how we're doing things across a commonwealth. Um.

15:43.56
Alex D
Other things. Yeah ems let me give ems as an example right on emergency medical every day as someone calls nine one 1 those are critical seconds that are ticking by when an ambulance arrives and making sure that they have the right data and a system that works for them.

15:44.48
aidecodes
Okay.

15:52.13
aidecodes
And.

15:59.20
aidecodes
Right.

16:01.48
Alex D
That systeming and can then communicate to the hospital. So when they get to the hospital. They've already communicated. Everyone's aware of what's coming in and then Hospitals being able to communicate back and forth which you would think oh of course all hospitals do that very few do and so I think making inroads in that space has been.

16:09.85
aidecodes
Oh.

16:19.71
Alex D
Part of the most exciting things that we've been working on some of the things we're most proud of and globally across Virginia I think some of the data sharing work with the office of data governance and the chief data officer really trying to create the ecosystem for data sharing.

16:28.95
aidecodes
I know.

16:37.50
Alex D
I was fortunate to be speaking at an nga event in Arizona back last year ups right? National governance association was a workforce summit for the national governance association very fortunate to kind of partner with our client and and be out there and I just asked the room. You know how many people.

16:41.80
aidecodes
And then what's nga for our audience. Me.

16:57.24
Alex D
Have data trusts data sharing and you I was expecting 70% of the room to say yeah we got something like that and I think it was close to 30% like I don't think even 30% and so after the session people are like know what should we be doing I was like you know.

16:57.91
aidecodes
A. Um, other um.

17:13.58
Alex D
Throw away your strategic plan like don't have a strategic plan focus on data sharing because that's going to get you an roi and your strategic plan that you'll never be able to get without those items so very eye-opening but excited to see continued evolution in space Excited to see the investment in this space across.

17:19.70
aidecodes
Yeah, and.

17:29.83
aidecodes
Right.

17:32.77
Alex D
But government space as well. A lot more work to do but excited about the work that's been happening as well.

17:37.43
aidecodes
So so I agree on a lot of things you said like doing the work right now I used to work on the state side like doing research in that and now I'm in the city site where we're actually applying a lot of the things that you're saying around data sharing trying to make sure systems are talking to each other. And one of the things you said that once you'd like to dig into a little bit deeper is the fact that I think a lot of people who are not in government don't really understand how it doesn't connect and how silo government is and I know a lot of places are silo. A lot of companies are silo but government. Takes the cake and if you think about the layers of government from the feds all the way down to the local level and then even within agencies where people aren't sharing data in the next office and there's just so many like some in some imposed limitations are just things that people decide to impose on themselves. Other things. There's laws that have them that say they shouldn't share. But for the most part there's a lot of sharing that you can do to really improve outcomes. Can you talk a bit about like what does that look like and how when you do integrate those systems I love the 9 1 1 example you were given about if you call 9 1 1 and me as an individual it should then connect me to. The person who could help me with that work and then connect me to another not work. But my issue helped me connect to this other person who's going to either prepare for me at the hospital if I'm having to issue ems should come ambulance should come. They should be prepared for me at the hospital know what happens or what happened with me and be able to transfer that call all the way through but that doesn't happen.

18:54.10
Alex D
Um, any.

19:07.30
aidecodes
Where it does happen is private sector Private sector knows everything a single thing about my life and is able to share across multiple systems. So I would love free to hit on a few things I just mentioned the systems and what is the impact how private sector and government are a little bit competing and I really think we are.

19:16.47
Alex D
Um, sure.

19:24.30
aidecodes
Because we no longer have a monopoly in government on public sector activities like private sectors get involved in courts get involved in Health get involved in all these different areas and at some point people can choose private sector for some of their services. How does all this stuff work together and why do you think it's important for us to make sure. Data sharing and these systems do indeed talk to each other.

19:44.20
Alex D
Sure it's great question numberber I think at gcom we call it frictionless government right? We wanted to create a frictionless government experience. You know one of the agencies here in Virginia calls it no wrong door. So no matter where you go you get the information you need I worked on that actually when I left on my lep.

19:50.32
aidecodes
Um, pain.

19:57.37
aidecodes
Um, okay, that's a good point.

20:01.11
aidecodes
Um, but you.

20:04.60
Alex D
Leap took the leap of faith sort short side story here but I took the leap of faith and you know you get procurement requests all the time hundreds and hundreds and I filled that up kind of okay I'll I'll put my name in for this ah Rfp and it was actually with a new wrong door agency.

20:09.78
aidecodes
Um, oh yeah.

20:23.31
Alex D
Um, and again just transformational change about understanding the client understanding the stakeholders and what needs to get done to your other question though about you know, what's what's working. What's not I think also the perception in reality I have this conversation a lot in my ah day job. But you know I think people's.

20:23.65
aidecodes
Um, okay, and.

20:35.68
aidecodes
Um, so.

20:42.96
Alex D
Perception is different than reality in terms of data sharing right? I perceive that I can't do that to do does that mean you can't do that. You've never done that you've never asked to do that or is it legally you're not able to and when you boil that down quickly. You'll find out that most of the.

20:45.33
aidecodes
Yes, it is.

20:57.46
aidecodes
Um, yeah question.

21:01.51
Alex D
Impediments are actually perceived impediments versus actual impediments or realistic impediments. So I think that's a lot of the work we do as well as we try to understand really where the barriers are in reality versus perception. Um I Also think to your point around private versus public sector and a lot of.

21:06.24
aidecodes
Um, ah.

21:10.12
aidecodes
Right.

21:19.69
Alex D
I'm fortunate to have a lot of amazing clients that really tout the public privateate partnerships and everyone coming on the table because I also don't you like to use the word industry. Best practices because I think in some spaces government actually has some best practices and in some spaces private sector Best practices So really bringing the.

21:21.80
aidecodes
Okay.

21:30.57
aidecodes
Um, yeah, oh yeah, for sure.

21:36.39
Alex D
Best of both worlds together is I think what's going to really drive us forward and making sure there's base at the table for the private public partnership. Um I Also think a mistake that's made by a lot of my other organizations around me as they come in with a one size fits all I know your problem. I have the solution and I'm going to fit this square hole into this. You know, peg and that just doesn't work. So I think the one size fits all mentality um a doesn't work doesn't resonate and I think we need to really meet our clients and our government where they are and understand their you know, kind of value points.

21:56.26
aidecodes
Um.

21:58.42
aidecodes
Will her.

22:12.14
aidecodes
Sarahson.

22:15.10
Alex D
There are pivot points. There're they're kind of boundaries if you will to create a solution that works for them. So I think Publicp private partnerships are key and really coming to the table not with a solution but with a listening ear to understand and then create a solution that best fits each client.

22:16.66
aidecodes
Under.

22:23.66
aidecodes
Um, anyone right.

22:32.82
aidecodes
I feel like you were in a conversation I was just having last week where someone asked me do do I feel like I think the question is around like do I feel like government. Um.

22:32.98
Alex D
Um.

22:44.20
aidecodes
Do the academia and government which one is better like do we go to the academics to get all the knowledge or do we come to government practitioners who have been doing the work and I was like together. They're better and then even on top of that including other sectors and stakeholders like. Academia has been studying government and has the research and can tell government hey this is what works and what doesn't work based on what we've understood the work that you all have done government can say I've done it this way I've actually pioneered it this way and this is the actual real way to do it based on the certain circumstances and then also what private sector private sector brings interview. So having. Not only academic and not only government but also private sector at the table I think you can pull in the right stakeholders to really have a really good conversation. So I'm glad you call that out because I think public private partnerships are great and can help both sides learn and you should never walk into an engagement I tell folks all the time. We don't know everything as consultants coming in like the folks who are on the ground are the experts in and out they know it breathe it live it read about it know it back on front and we're coming in to like parachute in a bit to help them so we can bring this stuff that we've had time to research and learn and bring some of those promising practices into their work. But then end of the day they know the work we're just trying to help them be able to look up for a second to be able to do this work in an even more meaningful way. So I just want to um, like acknowledge I totally agree with you I'm Goingnna pivot our conversation a bit. Um because I read some interesting stuff in your bio looking through the notes before coming to um this.

24:05.56
Alex D
Short.

24:14.44
aidecodes
You you had a random in my mind is random because I don't know how you got here but random side note talks me how about how you got to carry the olympic torch and the 9096 Olympics I know for folks listening yes I'm going on a random side. This is cool stuff. My aunt lived in. Um, right on the outskirts of Atlanta during that time and I remember just being excited about it coming to the us how the heck did that happened tell me about your journey like let's talk about that for a bit.

24:41.20
Alex D
Yeah, so Amber All all jokes aside I tell people that you know when we do like the what's something true about you as an icebreaker and I always like I lead the like I ran in the olympics and for those who know me or know my stature or Myivity know that that's a a far stretch but no I was.

24:49.12
aidecodes
Ah.

24:53.58
aidecodes
Um, like what.

25:00.34
Alex D
Truly humbled. Um I volunteered a great deal. Um, at the Ymca and many nonprofits growing up and have invested a lot in the community here and was humbled to be nominated as a community hero.

25:11.49
aidecodes
Um, and and.

25:14.96
aidecodes
Wow.

25:17.31
Alex D
And to be able to run with the olympic torch as it made its way through Richmond was humbling one of the most exciting days in my life and something I'll never forget. We joked because I mean literally I'm probably too humble because I haven't figured out where to.

25:25.99
aidecodes
Here.

25:34.47
Alex D
Put the Olympic Torch So it's it's not hanging on a wall. It's literally in a closet right in my office. Um because I don't want to be that person. It's like oh look and that Ah, but yeah, it's mounted in a case but at the same time and like.

25:39.71
aidecodes
Um.

25:43.19
aidecodes
Um, no pull it out and put in a case. Okay, but it's ended.

25:49.51
Alex D
Everyone's like well what do you do? as like you don't take that into the office like oh look at meat. No so ah, quite humbling an amazing exciting. Yeah there you go? no but we we joke about that because it's it's all mounted in the case but it's sitting right? right? there in the office closet there. But.

25:54.20
aidecodes
And on like a back shelf where people can see.

26:06.49
Alex D
No, it was truly humbling I've always loved the Olympics always been somewhat patriotic and ah, any way that I could have been involved or engaged was exciting to me and to have that experience I say to have that celebrity for a few minutes in my life I mean there there are many pictures that I'm curious about that.

26:08.50
aidecodes
Little.

26:18.77
aidecodes
Right.

26:24.22
Alex D
You know people like hey when you hold my baby and like literally there are random pictures of people like walking up to me um, holding a child with the Olympic Torch and I hope they are doing Well they're they're probably graduated from college now who knows at this point. Um, but it was amazing experience truly humbling to be part of that. Um.

26:28.16
aidecodes
This is so cool.

26:39.47
aidecodes
And.

26:42.80
Alex D
But also a bit nostalgic every time the olympics come on the kids always joke like hey Danny yeah, and anytime you the olympic torches running or on the Tv a neat knee part of my history. So now. Thanks you for ah doing the research on that and asking that question that was great.

26:48.99
aidecodes
I Love it.

26:56.78
aidecodes
Yeah I Love I Love it. I Also love the olympics I am a I love watching track and field. So even outside the olympics like I'm just the person that's always gonna watch those different sports or events um during track and field cause I Just love it and anybody who can like.

27:13.17
aidecodes
Discipline themselves to do that and then even with you like the work you've done in the community I know you still are engaged in your community um to be chosen like hats off to you and they just as it does a testament for as to who you are and I think it's also shown up a lot in your career because one of the things about that I remember about you in our first meeting like it felt like.

27:19.77
Alex D
Like it.

27:31.30
aidecodes
We had already met like you really approached folks as like a person that we're we're not strangers like you you work with people you get to know people like you're you're just very much so that person so um, thank you for that and I know for me, it was like great to meet you and just even to watch your career over the years and

27:32.81
Alex D
Um, it did.

27:50.80
aidecodes
Um, one of the the things that I think that benefits in your career is like how do you use that to get to know people how to engage with stakeholders how to engage with the groups. You talked about earlier when we were talking about the like the public-p private partnerships and you're working with all these different governments. You've just like you bring that. Energy and that personality to this work and I know for me I've also worked with a mix of like public sector private um nonprofit stakeholders as well. But when you're thinking about who you are as a person some of the things that there are just you're naturally good at what are some of the strategies you deploy when working with these groups to get to outcomes. Yes, we know Alex like you're great personal. You've been in community but what are some of the things that you can tell others who are trying to do something somewhere to what you're doing to actually help them to do some of this work.

28:37.90
Alex D
Sure that's a great question and I think ambered to your point as well. I think you elicit that exact response in other people as well when I met you the first time. Ah the energy you bring the command of the room you're open to everyone. You know the the table was always round and every interaction we had so ah.

28:41.69
aidecodes
Um, yes.

28:53.24
aidecodes
Well thank you.

28:55.68
Alex D
Who don't see you as all I think a few things I think doing the due diligence right? I mean I joke about this a lot. But I mean I don't think people take the time to understand the people they're going to go talk with take 5 minutes I mean it's very easy now to do a Google search your basic research and it's amazing that people that don't do that.

29:02.70
aidecodes
Um, and breath.

29:10.50
aidecodes
Ah, where um and.

29:15.61
Alex D
Um, so I will never go into a meeting without having done some research about background connections shared interests and that goes a long way I mean not that you have to be creepy about it right? not that oh I know you have 2 kids and they're ah you know the school. Um.

29:23.96
aidecodes
Um, money and.

29:31.44
Alex D
But really understanding the people that you're going to be meeting with understanding what makes them tick both inside and outside of the work they do and where their passion points are um I Also think and I talk about this a lot. The Golden rule is very important to me to treat others the way you want to be treated but I also think that's not the way we should be doing things.

29:36.25
aidecodes
I hear.

29:46.45
aidecodes
Um, and now. Ah.

29:49.39
Alex D
In our work life. So I actually tweet others the way they want to be tweeted. So I think it's presumptive to know that I'm a treat you by the way I want to treat you because I's say how I want to be I Actually think we need to change our kind of optics around. What do we think that person wants and I think that's true in presentations. It's true in conversations.

29:51.30
aidecodes
Temperature. Well.

30:01.54
aidecodes
And home with her for.

30:07.75
Alex D
I think ah, many organizations have ah a pitch deck right? that pitch deck is what they use at the end of the day I would chuck a pitch deck out the window and say my conversation is going to be about the person I'm sitting with it may be different for a Ceo it will be very different for a data analyst. It will be very different for a director of XYZ um

30:18.61
aidecodes
Nice.

30:23.99
aidecodes
I will help.

30:26.86
Alex D
But I think really to really meet and understand those individuals you're meeting with to to kind of change your perspective and to change your approach based on that I think goes a long way to your point on action I think it's really you know making sure people understand.

30:33.78
aidecodes
Um.

30:44.13
Alex D
Why you're there and what you're there to do and how you can help them I think the value proposition of you being there and to make it a say a penalty free or a Risk-free environment for them is critical I Think again many people walk in with this bravado of I'm here to change everything I'm here to make it better.

30:47.85
aidecodes
Um.

31:01.18
aidecodes
Um, no.

31:02.66
Alex D
Um I think people probably tune that out a bit more than someone who comes in wanting to listen understand and hear them before jumping into a solution. So I think ah, a lot of the work we do is making sure we understand our clients making sure that I understand what I'm walking into any history that we should be aware of and then.

31:08.73
aidecodes
Go home and.

31:18.35
aidecodes
Um, ah.

31:22.62
Alex D
Their goals as well. I think the other thing we really miss in this world is I have my goals but I don't know what your goals are but I'm gonna tell you my goals for you and whether or not they are resonated or not. That's what I'm here for I really work with my clients to understand what their goals are and how they want to get from where they are to where they want to be and then how I can help them get there.

31:33.95
aidecodes
Are um.

31:41.52
Alex D
Think it's a bit presumptuous for me to say Okay well here's where you need to be and that's where I'm going to take you at the end of day you may be wasting your time and effort because they actually want to get beyond that or in another direction. So a couple key things on how to engage? um.

31:48.62
aidecodes
Very true.

31:58.29
aidecodes
And those are real things that people can apply like I think um, even to like the point of googling. Um I remember being in an engagement and I googled right before the engagement and something bad had happened I think there was a shooting in the area so I was able to like go into the Call. Like bring that up and say hey I hope y'all are okay because I think had I Not this tone deaf right? like to your point I should know at least bare Minimum. What's happening in their area and their organization and you've been dug even deeper by saying hey I should know some of the stuff around their history that culture like doing a baseline.

32:14.92
Alex D
Yeah, yep.

32:31.41
aidecodes
Understanding or scan of what's happening and then also I love that you said like building it for them and like putting yourself or doing for them what they would want versus the whole idea of I treat you like I want to be treated because all of us are different. Everyone has different motives I think those are really critical components and I'm glad you call those out. And for me, it's just like thinking about like going back to like simple human nature human interaction. Oftentimes we feel like we have to have all these fancy things like pish des and all that but it's like at the core of it. What you're saying to me is treat them like a human and like less. Ah. But all the other stuff aside and make sure we understand who we're dealing with and apply things to that individual like I Really appreciate that. So think a lot of times we get a little caught up in what we read and all other this stuff and holy strategies and like this seems like it's just like be a good human seriously.

33:24.24
Alex D
You know and I think people use ah a pitch deck as a safety net right? So at the end of the day I can I can rely on this and if I go Astray Um I'm probably a bit more impromptu in my approach to make sure that I can pivot in whatever direction we need to pivot in based on the client's need.

33:25.75
aidecodes
Um, yeah, that's true.

33:36.24
aidecodes
Me too I love it. So I want to talk a bit about um folks who are sitting at listen to this podcast episode who want to get into data who are like oh my god I didn't know that's what you all did I didn't know that's what your job was Alex. Like that sounds like something I may be interested in but I'm not a math person I don't have an analytical background How do you recommend? they get involved in this data in particular this data slash government space. That's really meant to help people and help improve the lives of people. Um that are residents in this country.

34:11.37
Alex D
Yeah, so I think you know if I look at the people we hire and the people that are successful in data. They don't all come from the same ah lineage if you will right? So I think there's lots of opportunity for people in the data space that are not traditional.

34:20.43
aidecodes
Um, ah me.

34:26.11
aidecodes
A.

34:28.64
Alex D
Mathematicians et Cetera So I think the third thing I'd say is start with a use case that's near and dear to your heart right? So in order to get in the data figure out something you're passionate about what makes you tick what? what are things that you enjoy and how then can data impact that or improve that. Um.

34:46.12
aidecodes
Um, if oh.

34:46.64
Alex D
Think the other thing is I'd say is collaboration right? So you don't have to have all the answers none of us have all the answers I um used to tell us that you know you're the average of your 5 Best friend right? You're the average of the 5 people that are around you and so if we can collaborate together and you can find a collaborative core. That's actually going to help you in the data space more than you.

34:57.50
aidecodes
That's so true.

35:06.19
aidecodes
Are.

35:06.58
Alex D
More than anything else and you'll all Rise together. You'll all be able to leverage each other's strengths and whether or not, you're a data scientist or not. You'll be able to incorporate data into a solution and get to a better outcome.

35:20.18
aidecodes
I Love it. What are some books or resources that you recommend. Um, for folks who are still a little scared. They're like okay I'll I hear you I don't have to have a math background I work in homelessness I can start there. What are some of the books or resources that you would push me towards if I really want to make this a career.

35:35.60
Alex D
You know? Yeah, it's a great question. So um, let me change that question a bit and say I would look at what resources I would look at is what are your agencies want to do if you really want to make this a career find an agency or a passion or the alignment with an agency.

35:39.76
aidecodes
Go for it.

35:55.28
Alex D
Go download their strategic plan whether it be at the federal state or local level and figure out ways that you can impact or potentially impact that plan What can you contribute what sparks your interest. What are the yes ands that you may say oh gosh that's great and I should do this.

35:57.92
aidecodes
Um, a.

36:03.61
aidecodes
On.

36:13.39
aidecodes
Um, ah.

36:13.97
Alex D
Have a conversation I mean I ah would encourage people that want to get into this space to have a conversation with individuals that are in leadership positions. Whether in public sector or private sector in order to understand kind of the puts and takes in that industry. I Don't think there are many walls up to this to this space I think data is going to become much more common I Think if you look at higher Education. There's some amazing universities that are trying to incorporate data across the curriculum right? So everyone no matter what you're studying if you're studying.

36:34.90
aidecodes
Oh yeah.

36:45.27
aidecodes
Um, ah.

36:48.38
Alex D
Music or English but you're going to have to incorporate some components of data into that curriculum I think that's going to be more commonplace and so that everyone will have a role within this data space. Um, the other thing I'd say is you know, take advantage of user groups take advantage of.

36:54.36
aidecodes
Um.

37:04.62
aidecodes
Um, mean right.

37:05.90
Alex D
Organizations that are they're free right? I'm not saying go spend money on things or memberships. But there are plenty of user groups out there that meet every single day that are out there solving problems go to a hackathon right? Go to a datathon the commonwealth we've been very engaged in the dataons here in Virginia.

37:11.70
aidecodes
So true.

37:20.38
aidecodes
Just thinking about that. Yep, um, they're really good in Virginia seriously if you're in Virginia go to a data bond. Seriously.

37:25.12
Alex D
And some amazing solution. Um, ah and the solutions that come out of them. We're actually committed to making them part of reality right? So The winners actually see that solution come to Fruition. It's not just to come in and see it. But we're actually committing to making sure that those solutions. Get into production. Um, but even attend a datathon attend the you know even if you don't enter a Dataon go watch the pitches at the end of the dataon to say here's some ideas that we talked about data and I think it will help connect some dots for individuals and it be a a safe way to get involved in that in that kind of sphere.

37:44.46
aidecodes
And.

37:51.39
aidecodes
Um, on this.

38:02.82
Alex D
And to see if that's what you want to do.

38:04.96
aidecodes
Love it. I remember my first. Um when was the first day of thought I can't remember again I think it was like less than 10 years ago, but more than 5 like seeing when Virginia did that and I was like this is so cool and I remember a few of the tools they actually used in government. And they were actually helpful and for folks who are listening in if you live in the commonwealth. There's a lot of amazing things happening with data particularly like in the data and transportation sector in Virginia um I now live in Maryland and Baltimore. But I do miss like the roads and the systems in Virginia because they use Waze data. They use all this cool stuff to make sure your transit is better. So a lot of cool stuff happens in Virginia Ron data that you may not even know is happening and the cool thing is Alex has been working on a lot of it in the background. So.

38:48.67
Alex D
No my pleasure. Thank you.

38:49.50
aidecodes
I really appreciate this Alex and then so my last question so I know and I'm going to ask you a little bit about where folks can find you but my last like official interview question I know we touched a lot about on data how it can impact lives how you ran with olympic tours that is now in your closet that you need to get out and put on your desk. Um, just joking. But why do you think it's important for our listeners to understand how they can participate in the data space and why is data so important to the future of ah the next generations.

39:16.23
Alex D
Now that's a great question and I think my quick answer that is I think that we're going to find that data is impactful from you know k 12 through you know higher education slash. Trades and into your career. Um, and once you get in your career whether it's an intern to the c-suite data is going to become more and more important every single day. So data is a critical plays a critical role whether you're at the c-suite or a brand new intern or a brand new start and so I think.

39:45.52
aidecodes
Um, yeah.

39:53.91
Alex D
You're missing the opportunity if you don't get involved in data today to really drive some of those solutions and be at the forefront of of what we are about to get to I think the exciting part for me is I think we're you know we have not even seen you know. 5 1015 years from now that what we're going to be using data for data is going to be core to almost every decision. The amount of data that's going to be collected at the amount of data that's going to be used for health for human services for public services is going to be critical and so not.

40:19.63
aidecodes
Um I will.

40:28.30
Alex D
Being at the table I think you're going to be missing out on that opportunity. Um I Also think you know don't get stuck behind the data as well I think another piece I would say is I think it's very easy to say Well, that's the data I think we need to humanize that as well. So I think there's a human factor to data that. Um.

40:36.27
aidecodes
Well.

40:42.87
aidecodes
I move.

40:47.96
Alex D
And I don't want to create ripples in the data space. But data is great. Bring bring the bring the human factor back to that data because if you're just having a data conversation at the end of the day you're not going to create the solution that the human needs and I think that's another part of a challenge I think you know.

40:50.30
aidecodes
Bring it and.

41:01.52
aidecodes
Um, for him.

41:05.40
Alex D
As we automate more as we go into Ai there's still going to be a human element to that that is going to be essential to making sure that solution that we are creating is the best solution resonates with individuals and really drives the value we believe and so it's going to be a constant iterive cycle of kind of you know dev test.

41:05.29
aidecodes
So time.

41:16.30
aidecodes
Um, and worth.

41:24.21
aidecodes
Are.

41:24.97
Alex D
Repeat to ensure that we're creating the solutions we want and creating the outcomes we want that are really going to move the needle for the population.

41:34.97
aidecodes
I love that answer and if folks don't get in data after that I don't know what to tell them. But Alex this has been amazing. Where can our um listeners or viewers if you're on Youtube find find you or access you.

41:48.42
Alex D
Sure wow that's a great question. Um, so on Linkedin I think it's Alex K D E E so alex k d e e is my ah Linkedin page I won't spell the full last name or or it's Alex yeah, no problem. But.

41:59.90
aidecodes
And I'll put it in the show notes for folks as well. So you can go into link.

42:04.56
Alex D
Alex Dehovinnessian it's Alex d in the last fifteen letters are silent for those that can't spell the full 16 letters. But yeah feel free to reach out happy to connect on anything data or non-data related if there's anything I can do to answer questions for any of your viewers formally informally to be a sounding board an ideation space.

42:12.50
aidecodes
Um.

42:24.17
Alex D
Happy to do it and look forward to anything I can do to help individuals get from where they are to where they want to be.

42:28.22
aidecodes
I truly appreciate you Alex thanks for spending time with us today. This has been great. Looking forward to seeing where you going in the future. Thank you. Alex.

42:38.24
Alex D
Amber thanks a lot good luck to you as well congratulate all all your successes as well.

42:40.72
aidecodes
Thank you.