Amberle Carter
Chief Data & Analytics Officer
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Amberle Carter is a leader of professional data storytellers, enabling state government agencies to demonstrate the work they accomplish or improve upon through visualizations, as well as data architects and data engineers, maturing the enterprise data architecture and use of clean, reliable data. She is a strategic problem solver with demonstrated proficiency in data management and governance, reporting, strategic planning, and complex project and program management. In her role, she hopes to help people put data at the center of their mission and apply analytics to enhance strategic and tactical decisions.
Amberle holds a seat on the National CDO Council. Recent achievements include successfully establishing an Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence, launching a “single source of truth” data architecture, and building a new data team.
Learn more about the Dallas CDAO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
My professional career began simply by developing systems to provide accessible and reliable data to accomplish work in the most efficient manner. I believe that each job I held since then has put the pieces of the puzzle together for me as to what my true passion is: leveraging good data to drive decisions. For me, I get the greatest value in seeing that data used for good, helping to change lives for the better.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
Foster collaboration. By encouraging this, you keep the big picture in mind and achieve more together, produce more innovation, and dramatically shape the organization's culture.
With disruption being a key theme of recent years, where do you see the CDAO role going in the next 1-2 years?
The importance of the CDAO within the business I think will be more fully recognized. Data is the foundation for everything and that is being uncovered more as people want access to more information or engage technologies that leverage artificial intelligence, for instance.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a CDAO?
Partnership. Meet the organization's leadership and learn about their areas. Data should be in their everyday decisions and should be encouraging new strategies. Walk alongside them in support.
Tell us 3 fun facts about yourself.
- I find joy in making others happy, and that usually comes in the form of gift-giving.
- For family dinners I like to make board meals (think charcuterie but a build-your-own-fill in the blank...tacos, for example).
- I would die happy eating Blue Bell ice cream, preferably coffee flavor.
What is the value of joining an Evanta community?
Community is the key word. It is incredibly comforting that peers in all verticals are facing similar challenges. This community is here to support one another through encouragement and guidance and to work through challenges together.
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