Rethinking Data

By Lindsay Anderson

The Executive Development Center (EDC) of the Foster College of Business hosted a workshop titled “Engage: 2015” that featured Brad Kolar, leadership development coach and founder of Avail Advisors. His presentation “Rethinking Data,” shed light on how data is communicated, traditional ways of making data-driven decisions and better ways to organize and share information.

Kolar covered a wide variety of data discussion topics, with a focus on a disconnect between perception and use of data. He noted that people’s minds may not be properly designed to handle numbers, yet people often use figures to make decisions. 

“If your brain thinks there should be something there, you will probably see something there. Your brain makes the world see what you want to see,” Kolar said.

He posted the word orange on the screen, but the color of the word was brown. He then asked attendees what color was the word. Attendees wanted to answer orange because they saw the word before the color.

Kolar told business leaders to see numbers within the framework of a story. Those who see the larger narrative can use data to create a more complete understanding of a business and its environment. These leaders will also become more effective data consumers.

The workshop also provided a special opportunity for Executive MBA alumni to engage in a “back to campus” experience with other business professionals in the community.

“The content was relevant,” Jennifer Ullrich, Director of Financial Planning and Management Reporting at OSF Healthcare in Peoria, EMBA ’14 said. “It was a data seminar not focused solely on data but rather extracting the meaning of it – the softer side of data.”

“The workshop really focused on work-process improvement and how to use data appropriately,” Leslie Johnson, Senior Process Improvement Engineer at Silver Cross in New Lenox, Illinois, EMBA ’14 said. “Bradley provides great opportunities, like this workshop, for people to grow both personally and professionally.”

Brad Kolar is the founder of Avail Advisors in the greater Chicago area. Over the last 20 years, his vision has remained the same – to bring clarity, simplicity and resolution to complex issues. His experience spans various industries including healthcare, financial services, government, consumer products and professional services.