Founding The Data Lodge in 2019, Valerie is as committed to data literacy as it gets. With train-the-trainer bootcamps, and a peer community, she’s certifying the world’s first Data Literacy Program Leads.

In 2023, The Data Lodge was acquired as the basis of a newly formed venture, Data Society Group (DSG), aimed at fostering data and AI literacy and cultural change at scale. Valerie is excited to also serve as the Chief Strategy Officer of DSG.

Previously, Valerie was a Gartner Research VP in the CDO team where she pioneered the Data Literacy research and was awarded Gartner’s Top Thought Leadership Award (2018). Valerie has more than 30 years of experience in consulting leadership and telecommunications.

Valerie holds a B.S. in Math (SUNY College, Buffalo) and an M.S. in Applied Math (New Mexico State). She lives between the Adirondacks in Upstate NY, and Sarasota, FL with her husband Brian, and their yellow lab, Cooper, the Lodge mascot.

Maris is a global HR and Talent Development leader known for her ability to innovate and drive meaningful change in organizations. With extensive experience across various industries, Maris has successfully developed human-centered, data-driven programs that align talent strategies with business goals to support growth and transformation. Her work at companies like Hearst Corporation, Auth0 by Okta, and DreamBox by Discovery Education underscores her commitment to creating inclusive and engaging workplace cultures where employees can thrive.

Maris holds an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics and a Master’s degree in Psychology and Education from Tallinn University. This academic foundation provides her with the insights and skills necessary to drive impactful organizational development, leadership development, and employee engagement programs that deliver tangible results, benefiting both employees and organizations.

Living in the Greater Seattle area, Maris enjoys exploring the world through travel and outdoor adventures. Her curiosity and love for exploration enrich her understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives, which she integrates into her work to foster more inclusive and dynamic work environments and build teams that feel connected and inspired.