Alyson Wennlund

My role as a BI Analyst began with revamping management reporting by designing and implementing a new suite of interactive dashboards in Tableau, leveraging disparate data sources (internal SQL databases, Google Analytics, Excel) to provide a seamless and dynamic view of the business with robust dimensionality. This included educating and training 20+ business users on what is available in Tableau reporting, how to use the self-service environment, and how it can help them do their jobs more effectively. 

I now work primarily with marketing management to provide insights, develop new iterations of dynamic dashboards, and assist in planning endeavors and strategic objectives. This includes optimizing to key performance indicators across a diverse landscape of online and offline media channels (i.e. Social, SEO, SEM, Display, TV, Radio, VOD, etc.), uncovering opportunities to acquire market share using sentiment and competitor sales data, and providing analysis in support of web A/B split testing.

I’m known around the office as both optimistic and results-driven, leading to my appointment as the BI team Scrum Master. In this additional role, I facilitate daily team scrum meetings and bi-weekly sprint ceremonies to cultivate agile development and team productivity.

Below are some examples of dashboards I have created. Data has been altered and blurred out to protect company privacy.

Survey visualization, combining attributes with customer sentiment

Interactive daily pulse dashboard

NPS (Net Promoter Score) visualized and shown by user-modified dimensions

I was recruited to join this spunky healthcare startup during my time as a Communications Intern for ICAD Group. My primary role consisted of defining metrics as a part of the creation of a healthcare analytics product. How cool is that?

I developed a strong level of comfort with ambiguity while working in a startup company environment. As such a fast-paced environment, RP taught me to work independently with confidence, to speak up and ask questions when I was stuck, and to present my findings often.

When I worked at ICAD Group and people asked me what I did, I usually responded with “Everything, anything.” And that’s pretty much what I did. Social media, event planning (for small groups in the CoLab or large investor meetings), data analysis, survey writing, general communication… I jumped in at any project I could.

My role at ICAD Group made me develop an extremely high standard for company culture. The role it plays in company retention, recruitment, overall success – is pivotal. In my internship, I served as a liaison between ICAD Group and the startup companies and various professionals working out of the co-working space, where I planned speakers, workshops, and holiday parties, created ways to call out new companies for successes, big moves, and new investors, and served as a resource for general questions/concerns.

My experience working at ICAD Group made me fall in love with the culture, tenacity, and fervor of the startup and small business community. I was empowered to be creative, think differently, and challenge those around me in my day-to-day work.

Unveiling the Peking Opera Herky, sponsored by the Iowa City Area Welcoming Cities Consortium

Our "non-traditional" investor annual meeting was complete with a pep band!

I didn't gain direct experience in data analysis or market research during my time as a resident assistant, but the skills I gained has proved invaluable for both my personal and professional development. 

As an RA during my sophomore and junior of college, I lived where I worked, meaning I had to be "on" pretty much constantly. Even if I wasn't on duty, if something happened, I stepped in. My role taught me to be a quick responder, fearless advocate, and strong communicator. My training and experience enabled me to become exceptionally levelheaded and maintain a calm demeanor in any difficult, stressful, or troubling situations - it takes a lot to surprise me now.