60 Seconds with WITS Southeast Speaker — Bonny McClain

Bonny McClain is the Chief Data Officer at data & donuts. Her talk at WITS Southeast is Data Talks, Meople Pumble.

• Why is speaking at WITS important to you?

Data is everywhere. We can’t opt out because we lack the confidence or don’t consider ourselves to be “mathy”. Data literacy is about meeting people where they are. Guiding through basic principles and creating a framework for our new digital technology heavy ecosystem.

• What inspires you?

Truth and tenacity. It is easy to bring data to the argument that supports your beliefs or research hypothesis. The trick is bringing the data to the conversation that might have you challenge your belief. Bring all the data.

• Most useful article you’ve read in the last month

I read this one most months. There is a lot to unpack, Statistical Paradises and Paradoxes in Big Data by XL Ming.

• When you were a kid what was your dream job?

I don’t remember but I do recall my dad (on more than one occasion) suggesting I become a lawyer. His exact words were, “You have a big mouth, you might as well get paid for it.”

• Tell us something about your session

I have to share an actual quote that isn’t mine — but pretty much sums up my work…

“Statistics are like swimwear — what they reveal is suggestive but what they conceal is vital.”
-Ashish Mahajan, Lancet 2007

• Anything else you would like to share?

I just completed BadWater Cape Fear 50K so I am now an ultra-runner!