George Firican

The University of British Columbia

Director, Data Governance & Business Intelligence

Led a team of wonderful and highly skilled people in the areas of:
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Gift Processing 
- Operations
- Strategic Projects
- Prospect Research & Analytics 
- Data Governance & Business Intelligence 

To support the goals of the fundraising and alumni engagement portfolio across the university.

Chief Advancement Operations Officer (Interim)

Director of Information Technology (Interim)

• Lead the Data Governance/ Quality program and the strategy development of Development and Alumni Engagement’s (DAE) data acquisition, maintenance and dissemination while fostering innovation and long term strategic vision
• Lead the efforts to develop a business glossary as well as a business intelligence (BI) framework and program that provides user-friendly access to the right information for the right people at the right time
• Directed the development and enhancement of standards, procedures, processes, policies related to the improvement and/or maintenance of quality of data within the Blackbaud Enterprise CRM database
• Created and fostered strategic partnerships and influential relationships with DAE senior management, the broader UBC community, campus stakeholders, vendors, and external universities to secure the success of DAE’s data governance, business intelligence and information quality efforts
• Collaborated with Information Technology to manage the development of automated data validations, data cleanses, data quality issue reports, and deployment of new tools and enhancements to aid in the preservation of data quality
• Advanced the data governance and business intelligence profession by participating in professional organizations, acquiring or maintaining required accreditations, publishing articles, and giving presentations at professional events

Associate Director, Data Governance & Business Intelligence

I proudly took part of UBC's "Start an Evolution" campaign (https://startanevolution.ubc.ca/), campaign which raised $1.5 billion dollars for students, research and community engagement and to double the number of alumni involved annually in the life of the university by 2015.

• Established and led an award winning Data Governance/Quality Program to support the university’s $1.5 billion fundraising campaign and sustainable alumni engagement strategy
• Provided oversight of the Data Governance/Quality Program and kept it on track by managing the development of standards, procedures, processes, policies related to the acquisition, management, and dissemination of enterprise data impacting the Blackbaud Enterprise CRM database while leading the Advisory Council
• Developed an award winning Tracing Program through which the returned mail percentage of Development and Alumni Engagement’s Portfolio has been reduced to less than 1%
• Managed the development of business performance metrics and scorecards to monitor and communicate the status and improvement of service of the Records department
• Achieved a 92% address and phone number accuracy for Canadian records, an improvement from ~64%
• Communicated to and educated internal and external stakeholders on the results and initiatives of data governance, quality, master data management, information delivery and advised stakeholders about best practices; was the first and only department to achieve 100% on the annual client satisfaction survey on communication delivery and content

Data Quality Manager

LightsOnData

- Educational Content Creation: Develop and deliver comprehensive courses, workshops, and webinars on data governance, data management, data quality, AI, and more.
- Brand Amplification: Collaborate with data companies to enhance their brand visibility and thought leadership in the data community.
- Engagement and Outreach: Host the Lights On Data Show podcast, featuring industry leaders and experts to share their insights and experiences.

Founder

Pearson

Course Instructor

O'Reilly

iData Quality Academy

Developed course content for iData Quality Academy
- Data Profiling
- Data Quality Costs

Instructor

Self employed

• Provided project management and business analysis expertise to various projects across the different industries (BaniPePost.com, JT Business Group, SMAWS, 8p8, Ashenzi, NetPress Consulting, LTS, AHACommunity, etc).
• Designed and developed unique, highly professional web and print designs, branding and e-learning solutions as well as developing and configuring custom websites (e-stores, online communities, content management systems, blogs, brochure websites, etc.).
• Accumulated experience as a web master by installing, upgrading, performing backups, managing migrations and maintaining a series of complex websites.

Freelance Consultant

Sauder School of Business, UBC

• Served as internal Project Manager for the evaluation, build and deployment phases of a custom-built, scalable web payment gateway (WPG) that complied with the PCI standard requirements and reduced Sauder Finance’s operational time for the allocation and reporting of revenue received via card payments by 75%
• Managed the deployment of a FIPPA compliant e-newsletter tool (Industry Mailout) selected to achieve a standard for design and operational support while reducing expenses by $15k/year
• Planned and managed the development and release of a new service for personal/academic blogging through the use of the WordPress MU environment for faculty members and current Sauder students
• Managed the development of an improved content publishing process to account for 15 digital signs, each with audience specific content & emergency broadcasting capabilities
• Served as the internal project manager for the development and deployment of the Canaccord Learning Commons web presence comprised of a WordPress based website and a BuddyPress student interaction environment
• Developed solutions for integrating the business environment with web 2.0 technologies such as WordPress 3 based sites, online communities (Ning, Moodle), and collaboration tools (MediaWiki, Project Spaces, CoMapping) while providing expertise and system support for these platforms
• Identified customer requirements, analyzed and reviewed product features, integration, security, scalability and performance requirements for projects such as PPM Tool, a collaboration tool to be used between the Center of Health Care Management and BC health care authorities, Desktop Blogging Client Solution, ECM Society Online Presence, Faculty Master Calendar, Form Building Tool, Event Registration, PCI Payment Forms Conversions, and several online presences for different business areas and conferences

Project Manager / BA

Everest iTech

• Promoted to Project Manager for the Showtime Models website and web application and the All Ears accounting software development project due to excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills in the relationships with the client and internal development team
• Led the development of several e-commerce sites (ex: SkyHook Solar, Expressive Designs Florist, JT-Autotech) and dynamic websites (ex: Mailinglist System, Informant Zone) and also helped architect their databases
• Increased the employees' knowledgebase by developing e-learning modules and user manuals for the use of the company’s payroll and accounting software
• Enhanced the online awareness of the company’s brand by 40% by creating a new content strategy and redeveloping its website in a WordPress, SEO friendly environment
• Minimized the cost of online advertising by developing free distributed widgets that increased incoming traffic by 5k visitors/ month

Project Manager / Lead Web Developer

Event Technologies

• Developed customer support standards and procedures for the company’s e-store business and helped transition a staff of 12 to this new environment through training sessions and a knowledgebase wiki.
• Minimized the installation time of new systems by 80% by creating and managing standard desktop images based on the employees’ job roles.
• Reduced search time of hardware and software information by 50% by developing a standard for filing all the technical documentation on hardware equipment and software.

IT Consultant

WGOA

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills by acting as the team leader of a software developer group in order to successfully implement and deliver an interactive Go learning application two weeks ahead of deadline and within budget.
• Coded the backend interaction of a merchandise inventory application with a barcode scanner and also contributed to developing the MySQL database and reporting. 
• Facilitated the team members to work remotely by implementing a VPN solution and integrated the use of Subversion to enable software versioning and revision control.

Software developer

💬 Founder of LightsOnData.com and LightsOnData YouTube Channel
Focused on providing informative content such as ONLINE COURSES, templates, guides, best practices, articles, white papers, and other useful resources to help you with your data governance and data management questions and challenges

💬 Creator of online courses that are engaging, new, and thorough. 
Courses: Building an Award-Winning Business Glossary, Data Governance Maturity Models, Data Governance Fundamentals, etc. - check them out here: https://www.lightsondata.com/courses/

💬 Providing LinkedIn content strategy for data-focused companies and products, as well as those with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence (BI, data science, data management, and data governance areas.
Connect with me today and ask how I can help you reach the data audience.

💬 Host of Lights on Data Show - a podcast and LinkedIn Live weekly show that provides insights into the data world and showcases people that help to shape it.

💬 Get some fun data merchandise here: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/lightsondata/all

💬 International key note speaker, conference speaker, and panelist (spoken at over 60 different conferences).

💬 I love being on camera, hiking, surfing, filming, and video editing
YouTube: @LightsOnData


🏛 My experience and specialties: 
• Expertise in data governance, information quality, business intelligence & data management
• Extensive background in web and application development with experience of the full life-cycle of a project
• Strong leadership capabilities, organizational and communication skills

Specialties: 
• Enterprise information management: Information quality, data governance and stewardship, master data management, business intelligence, business process improvement
• Development: Web and application development, relational database design and development
• Planning: Budget and resource planning, agile and waterfall project management, team development and leadership
• Tools and Applications: Collibra, Tableau, MS Visio, MS Project, Premiere, Photoshop

George Firican 💡

Here is my recommendation for this week.
If Agentic AI is on your roadmap, checkout this ebook  👇

It breaks down what many overlook: AI success depends on the maturity of your data architecture.
Here's what else you can find in it:
• Clear explanation of what a modern, AI-ready architecture looks like
• Practical guidance on data quality, cataloging, lineage and governance
• A real example of how a bank scaled agentic AI by modernizing its foundation

So if you are leading data initiatives or planning for AI adoption, this is a good resource to read.

Until next time, let's keep putting the Lights on Data!
-George 
#data #AI #partnerpost

💡 Award Winning Data Governance Leader | Content Creator & Influencer | Founder of LightsOnData | Podcast Host: Lights On Data Show | LinkedIn Top Voice

Modernize Data Architectures for  Agentic AI Success

What are the biggest misconceptions business leaders still have about AI?

I sat down with Stijn (Stan) Christiaens, Co-founder of Collibra, at Data Citizens to unpack what AI readiness really means for organizations. 

Here are 5 takeaways from our chat:

1. Many leaders still see AI as “a chat in the cloud.”
2. Organizations need the right foundations around AI
3. AI ready data requires more than quality
4. Unstructured data is no longer optional
5. Unified governance is becoming essential

If you want a clear picture of what it truly takes to prepare your organization for AI, this interview delivers.
Full conversation in the video below.

Until next time, let’s keep putting the Lights On Data.
-George Firican

#data #datagovernance #AI

Every December I look ahead… and this year, one prediction feels very safe:

I'll be attending Subsurface Live on December 10, coffee in hand, curious about how Agentic AI and open lakehouse patterns will shape 2026.

The agenda lines up well with questions many of us are exploring right now:
➡️ How will agent-based execution reshape data workflows?
➡️ What signals are emerging around performance, formats and multi-cloud patterns?
➡️ Where is the Apache Iceberg ecosystem pushing innovation next?

For anyone designing data systems or planning next-year priorities, this feels like a valuable moment to absorb ideas and future direction.

Registration is free: https://lnkd.in/gmDPiaES
Where: Virtual
Date: Dec 10, 2025 
Time: 8AM - 2PM PT / 4PM - 10PM GMT / 5PM - 11PM CET

See you there!

#data #AI

Peter Kapur

CarMax

Responsible for partnering with business to mature Enterprise Data Governance & Data Quality to drive Data as a strategic enabler across all domains including Retail, Pricing & Supply and Auto finance,  Work across the Enterprise to devise a business-driven framework that integrates Data Offense with Data Defense in incorporating the consumer-based role of Data Science & Analytics.

- Drive a Data Governance capabilities solution framework to improve tangible Data Quality across CarMax identifying “Data Producers” and “Data Consumers” working across Business, Product, Technology.
- Enable Data Governance Offense capabilities consistent with Data Defense, to drive cost efficiency  and revenue optimization working with Data Science, Product and Analytics.
- Provide strategic collaborative leadership to cross-functional teams and partner with various stakeholders to facilitate Data Literacy and change management.

Data & Analytics  - Data Strategy, Data Governance & Data Quality

Waste Management

Lead Data Transformation & Operationalization of Data Strategy & Data Governance, Data Analytics, Data Quality and Master Data supporting Waste Management Digitization Transformation
- Lead a Next Day logistics optimization Data Quality initiative for Route, Drivers, Locations 
- Implemented a new vision of Data Governance 2.0 focused on business value and collaborative partnership
- Sustainability Data Strategy
- Successfully implemented a new vision of Business Critical Reference Data focused on operationalization of Master Data replacing an Industry legacy approach
- Lead a Data Quality 2.0 transformation
- Lead Business Intelligence Report Certification

Enterprise Data & Analytics - Data Strategy & Governance, Product Mgmt, Data Quality and MDM 

True North Data - Data Governance, Metadata & Stewardship 2.0 Innovation as your vision Partners

Provide Product Management, Data Strategy, Advisory and operational Services to Clients based on Business-Driven Data Governance 2.0 to focus on operationalization of Data Strategy, Data Governance and Privacy focused on Data Analytics and Data Science
> Waste Management Data Analytics & Governance - Lead operationalization of DG, DQ, MDM
> CIGNA:  Set-up Data Governance 2.0 Framework, Data Governance Product Management for HI2 (Health Care Interoperability) 
> Led Product Management for JP Morgan Chief Information Architect to build a AI/ML driven Data Catalog and search engine to automate Data governance at scale
> For Capital Group, Successfully set-up a cross-organization Data Governance program for Global Asset Manager including DG Tools and Data Catalog

Managing Partner - Data Strategy, Analytics & Governance

As head of Data Governance and Data Governance Product Management, responsible for Operationalizing Data Management and bringing Data Transformation across AIG business units working with Business and Technology partners.  Focus is to use Information Management as an enabler for Business initiatives for operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and revenue optimization integrating Data Quality, Data Architecture and Operational Data Management.

Led an innovative Privacy, Business, IT and Vendor partnership (AIG-Collibra) to implement and operationalize GDPR Data Management stream resulting in a sustainable Business and Data Flow lineage Personal Data Inventory
 Lead High-Risk Data/Critical Data Assets initiative working with Privacy, Compliance, Information Security, Technology Risk Management to tie Business Risk with protection of Technology Assets based on ISF Framework.    
Drive Data Quality innovation based on use cases that impact the business 
Responsible for end-to-end product management of Data Governance tools including Collibra DGC
Evolve EDM Policy, Standards and Data Management Maturity Assessments to be business-value driven aligned to Business needs.
Business Solutions based Metadata Strategy including Business Glossary, Business and Technical Lineage
Create Enterprise Strategy, EDM Policy and Guidelines that resonate with the entire organization and drive innovation.
Automate documentation of Data Management process and controls functions for Solvency II Insurance regulation for Insurance which regulates how companies manage their risks impacting capital, governance, processes and systems.

Head of Data Strategy, Stewardship & Governance 2.0

DTCC

Lead Data Strategy, Analytics & Governance program focused on Innovation, Change Management, Business-IT Alignment with partnership across a cross-section of areas including Business, Operations, Product, IT Dev, Infrastructure, Privacy, Risk Management, Regulatory Relations and Compliance. 
> Create and lead inclusive Data Governance Structures that were value-added to Business & IT
> Develop and implement information and data management strategy for key Initiatives.
Global Derivatives Repository Metadata Management Strategy and Data Delivery  
Lead review DTCC Risk tolerance for Cloud Strategies in conjunction with Privacy, Technology Risk Management, Product Risk and Operations.
Implementation and approval of first Cloud based Analytics and associated Business Analytics Framework using 1010Data Managed Big Data Services.
Develop Data Quality Framework to improve the Quality and availability of data with SLA, Critical Data Process, and Critical Data Elements.
Create Meta-Data Strategy with integration of heterogeneous vendor Platforms using Collibra DGC as Governance & Glossary.

Senior Director - Data Strategy, Governance, Data Quality & Business Analytics

Credit Suisse

Delivery of key strategic Programs as End-End Product and Program Manager focusing on Data Strategy, Data Platform, Data Governance  & initiatives implementation.
>  Private Bank Data Strategy & Data Governance - Integration of Vendor and Bank Data with appropriate Legal/Regulatory/Compliance/Data Quality framework.
>Prime Services Structured Finance Delivery: Led a cross-function team of IT, Operations, Front Office and Client Services to implement a Solution Delivery Model to improve delivery of IT projects resulting in delivery of critical initiatives.
>Global Program Manager for the Global Data Confidentiality program to ensure compliance with Cross-Border Data laws across IT Platforms including Infrastructure locations, Applications locations and access to Client Data.
> Led the delivery of solutions to enhance Sales support, Advisor productivity, Client Experience and Operational efficiency in a global matrix environment.   
> Led Consolidated Client Reporting: a complex operations and IT project, to provide clients with an integrated view of their holdings which included Pershing, Private Equity, Hedge Funds, Loans.    Achieved by creating a Vendor Neutral Architecture .  
> Client Relationship Opening – Execution of a program to improve Client On-boarding by implementing a Relationship Management opening which introduced the concept of Client Identifier and Account grouping.

Product & Program Management - Data Strategy & Platforms

Goldman Sachs

Global Head of Core Data
Fixed Income Analytics/Risk, Derivatives Processing/Valuations.  Responsible for NY, London and Bangalore resources.
- Manage new Swaps definations and processing - TRS, Basket Swaps, CDS.
- Manage Valuation models for new Derivatives 
- Responsible for Fixed Income Analytics such as Durations, Risk Reporting.

Head of Asset Management Core Data

Peter Kapur is a Data Management Strategy, Data Governance, Big Data, Metadata, Data Stewardship Industry Change Agent & Visionary.   His focus is on Data Strategy, Analytics &  AI/ML driven Data Catalogs to unlock Strategic Data value via Business critical initiatives such as Data Analytics & Digitization.   Peter has been a data leader in the Data industry driving the industry towards continuous innovation and evolution of Data Strategy & Data Governance 2.0 as enablers of business initiatives for operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and revenue optimization.     Peter has successfully used data and metadata to transform and further organizations’ data culture, tools, Digital, analytics, data quality, Data Monetization, and regulatory compliance.
Certified 4-Star Collibra Ranger, Alation Certified and strategic Industry adviser to Data Vendors

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George Firican 💡

Peter Kapur

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The Battle

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Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}George Firican 💡's LinkedIn Performance

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