From TikTok skits to tech leadership, Kelly Vega shows why project managers are more than task trackers.

As program director at VML and the creator of Not the Worst PM, Kelly has built a following by turning the chaos of project management into relatable, entertaining content. In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, she joins Jess Carter to share what she’s learned leading complex digital projects and building PM teams across industries.

Kelly reflects on her path into the profession, how humor on social media has helped her spotlight the realities of the job, and what separates transactional PMs from effective PMs. She also explains how great project managers influence culture, communication, and outcomes in ways that go far beyond checking boxes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to recognize the traits of a high-value project manager

• What separates PMs from task managers

• What PMs can do to build trust and credibility with stakeholders

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Kelly Vega

(02:07) Social media stories that capture project manager realities

(04:46) Launching long-form PM content

(07:52) What makes a project manager high value

(10:52) Process-driven PMs versus adaptable leaders

(16:17) Lessons from BBC’s failed Digital Media Initiative project

(20:10) Avoiding over-engineering and building progress that’s measurable

(22:51) How PMs signal urgency and escalate risks effectively

(28:45) Leading diverse teams while navigating politics and expectations

(32:45) Recognizing PM leadership as culture, engagement, and delivery

Kelly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-suter/

Kelly’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nottheworstpm/

Kelly’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nottheworstpm

A single error in a medical record can change a child’s life.

Theresa Meadows has spent her career making sure that doesn’t happen.

In this episode, Jess Carter talks with Theresa, who recently transitioned from CIO at Cook Children’s Health Care System to a new role at symplr. Theresa recalls her unlikely path from transplant nurse to technology leader and shares how those dual perspectives influenced the way she thinks about data, trust, and patient care.

Their conversation touches on the complexity of pediatric records, the challenges of moving entire hospitals onto electronic systems, and the opportunities she sees for AI to ease the burden on clinicians. Woven through it all are the leadership lessons Theresa carried from the bedside to the boardroom, and now into her work guiding the next generation of healthcare innovation.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why pediatric hospitals face different data challenges than adult care facilities

• How electronic health record conversions can affect patient safety

• What healthcare leaders should prioritize in their first 90 days in a new role

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Theresa Meadows

(02:15) Training physicians on early physician order entry systems

(08:16) Career lessons from mentors and moving into Cook Children’s

(09:53) Unique data challenges faced in pediatric healthcare

(13:17) Transitioning hospitals to electronic health records successfully

(19:38) Advice for leaders in their first 90 days

(23:41) Where AI and technology are taking healthcare next

(30:50) Why mentorship starts with speaking up about your goals

Most data projects don’t collapse because of the tech. They collapse when stakeholders aren’t involved in the right ways.

In this episode of Data-Driven Leadership, Jess Carter sits down with Veronika Durgin, VP of data, to explore why stakeholder engagement makes or breaks a data strategy.

Veronika also shares lessons from two decades in data, from troubleshooting transactional databases to leading enterprise-wide initiatives. She reflects on the moment she recognized data as a true business asset, explains why curiosity and a growth mindset are foundational habits for data leaders, and outlines how to design solutions that deliver value more than once.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to keep stakeholders aligned and invested in your strategy

• Why data leaders should always think about the exit plan

• What to do to make unused data valuable to the business

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introduction to the episode with Veronika Durgin

(02:25) Learning through doing and building a foundation for strategy

(05:35) Plan B thinking and lessons from a sledgehammer story

(09:04) Early career memories from Y2K to database administration

(12:55) Discovering Infonomics and seeing data as a business asset

(15:43) Why treating data with a product mindset changes outcomes

(19:16) The hidden costs of data hoarding and storage waste

(23:33) How to keep stakeholders engaged and aligned on priorities

(30:38) Using Six Sigma to frame problems and business impact

“Infonomics” by Doug Laney: https://www.amazon.com/Infonomics-Monetize-Information-Competitive-Advantage/dp/1138090387

Veronika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdurgin/

Veronika’s Medium: https://medium.com/@durginv

Veronika’s Substack: https://thinksolverepeat.substack.com/