Monica Kay Royal

Helping professionals break into data without breaking anything | Instructor at edX | Host of Data Podcast for Nerds! 🤓

Hello!  I'm Monica 👋🏻 I help professionals find ways to leverage data analytics to make their lives easier.  

Data has the power to transform careers and businesses, if you know how to use it. My particular set of skills gives me a unique perspective and notable advantage to helping individuals and organizations harness the power of data.



The skills I've built throughout my career come from my background as an auditor, advisor, educator, instructor, coach, and consultant. 


- I've built data-driven audit teams and specialize in providing strategic guidance to internal audit departments on leveraging data analytics and AI technologies to significantly improve the efficiency and quality of audits.

- I'm a LinkedIn Learning Instructor where I get to share my passion for teaching and equip professionals with the skills needed to navigate the current data and technology ecosystem. 

- I'm a Career Coach who empowers professionals to become data analysts by leveraging their current skill sets and providing them with personalized career roadmaps.

- I also host the Data Podcast for Nerds! where I interview amazing professionals and share all the tips, tricks, and nerdy fun bits to make you the best data analyst you can be!



My background in buzzwords: Auditing, Continuous Learning, Information Security, Data Security, Cybersecurity, Social Engineering, ITGC, ITAC, GRC, Data Privacy, Data Management, Data Governance, Data Literacy, Data Quality, Data Visualizations, Enterprise Analytics, Behavioral Analytics, R, SQL, Python, Alteryx, Tableau, PowerBI, AI, GenAI, FAIR, CPA, CISA, CISM, Marvel Cinematic Universe. 



I'm open for opportunities to help others where I can, meet new professionals, and exchange ideas.

Let's connect!

Founder & Chief Data Enthusiast

As a seasoned data scientist with a proven track record of success, I possess extensive expertise in enhancing, automating, and analyzing data processes to drive business growth. My journey began in the US Marine Corps, where I honed my data management skills and developed a deep understanding of data integrity and protection. Since then, I have consistently delivered exceptional results for businesses of all sizes.

Key Accomplishments
DataOps.live: Served as the primary problem-solver, providing insightful analysis and ensuring optimal platform functionality using Snowflake. Successfully trained customers on how to reduce process run time by 92%.
KORE Wireless: Implemented configuration changes that stabilized the server from day one, eliminating outages and performance issues that had previously averaged 2 hours per week across 600 databases.
Cengage Learning: Developed a Markov chain model to identify high-performing students and engineered an Ensemble Predictive Model to predict at-risk student behaviors with over 80% accuracy.
Thought Leadership: Presented at renowned national data conferences and developed presentations on cutting-edge topics such as data structure graphs, high-level graph theory, and network analysis.
Published Author: Authored and published "The Enrichment Game: A Story About Making Data Powerful," which focuses on leveraging data-driven insights to achieve business success.
Let's Connect

I am always eager to expand my professional network and explore new opportunities. If you are interested in harnessing the power of data to drive purposeful action, please contact me at dougthedataguy@gmail.com or connect with me here on LinkedIn.

Doug Needham

I just published an article about database design that starts with Pixar and ends with a Walt Whitman poem.
 
That might seem like an odd mix, but I had a point to make: whether you're building databases or writing screenplays, the key to making your mark is to tell a strong story.
 
Poor database performance usually boils down to a design problem. To design a database well, you need to understand what story the data needs to tell, and build accordingly.
 
Read the piece on HackerNoon: https://lnkd.in/e_Fqnut7

#Data #Datamodeling #DataOps #Writing

Open article: Back to Basics: Database Design as Storytelling | HackerNoon by hackernoon.com

Back to Basics: Database Design as Storytelling | HackerNoon

I am speaking on the  #TrueDataops Podcast. Join me on January 21.  I am sure we will have fun!

#TrueDataops Podcast - S4.Ep5 with guest Doug Needham, 'The Data Guy'

Join Keith Belanger, Field CTO at DataOps.live & Snowflake Data Superhero as he discusses 'Getting back to Basics' with his next guest Doug Needham, 'The Data Guy' on January 21st for S4:Ep5.

Doug, Principal Solutions Architect for DataOps.live is a seasoned data scientist with a proven track record of success, possessing extensive expertise in enhancing, automating, and analyzing data processes to drive business growth. His journey began in the US Marine Corps, where he honed his data management skills and developed a deep understanding of data integrity and protection. Since then, Doug has consistently delivered exceptional results for businesses of all sizes & is instrumental in driving customer adoption at DataOps.live & whose most recent book, "Data Structure Synthesis: Boosting Productivity through Data Structure reuse, focuses on leveraging Data Structure fundamentals to speed up productivity.

Click to add to calendar!

Keith Belanger, Kim Kelley and 13 other attendees

#TrueDataops Podcast with guest Doug Needham, 'The Data Guy'

My Podcast with Keith Belanger on the DataOps.live #TrueDataOps podcast is now viewable on Youtube. 

https://lnkd.in/e3n4tmzb

Open video: #TrueDataOps Podcast - Doug Needham - Ep.58 (S4:ep5) on youtube.com

#TrueDataOps Podcast - Doug Needham - Ep.58 (S4:ep5)

"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation." - Marcus Tullius Cicero

The art of the pause can be difficult to master.

Too often, we are enthusiastic about whatever we may have on our mind.

Occasionally letting the other person speak without interruption can lead to new insights.

There are plenty of times where I rant or ramble, but I do desire to work harder at listening.

Tearing a subject apart to analyze its inner workings is a great joy for a writer. 

As I pull threads on my current writing journey, I run across ideas that have been around for some time. 

It has been some time since I heard of Edward De Bono's six thinking hats. To be honest, I do not recall who I worked with who was familiar with the thinking hats toolbox. 

It would be a great help to me and my current writing effort to speak to someone who is familiar with this tool and has "used it in anger" in the real world. 

I am tagging my friend Steve Spiro here. When he invited me as a guest to his networking group, they asked if there was anything they could assist me with. I mentioned I periodically make a post about speaking with someone who may be familiar with a topic I am studying for my book. When I did so, if they were familiar with the topic, please let me know. Otherwise, interact with the post to find people who may be willing to chat. 

This is one of those networking opportunities. If you cannot answer the question directly, and know someone who might, please tag them or forward this. 

#writing #thinking #networking

Occasionally, I remind myself of the great writings of Marcus Aurelius. 

This is a great reminder to start the week.

Struggling to book meetings? Getting ghosted? Want to sell without pushing, convincing, or begging? Read this profile.

Marcus Aurelius said there are only three things in your control:

How you judge things.
How you act.
What you accept.

That’s it.

Not outcomes.
Not buyers.
Not timing.
Not budgets.
Not whether someone ghosts you.
Not your territory.
Not quota.

Sales gets hard when we argue with the wrong things.

A prospect doesn’t reply.
You judge it as rejection.
You act anxious.
You refuse to accept uncertainty.
Stress follows.

But the event itself was neutral.
Silence is just silence.

The suffering came from the judgment.
And the resistance to accepting what is.

Marcus wasn’t saying “do nothing.”
He was saying “aim correctly.”

Do your best.
Forget the rest.

When you do, selling gets lighter.

You stop fighting reality.
You stop forcing outcomes.
You show up more resilient.
Harder to shake.

That’s not philosophy.

That’s peace.

Technology Leadership: CEO & Founder Tomorrow University | Follow me to learn what it takes to become an impactful Technology Leader

If you want to think sharper, read this:
12 Models that Upgrade Your Thinking.

You don’t need to learn everything the hard way.

Mental models simplify complex decisions.

They help you think sharper and act faster.

Use them to:
✅ Break problems down.
✅ Anticipate outcomes.
✅ Lead with clarity.

Here are 12 that top performers use 👇

- First Principles. Start from zero. Rebuild from scratch.
- Second-Order Thinking → Ask: “What happens next?”
- Compounding → Tiny actions. Massive results over time.
- Circle of Competence → Stay in your zone. Delegate the rest.
- Pareto Principle (80/20) → Focus on what moves the needle.
- Inversion Thinking → Find failure points. Avoid them early.
- Map ≠ Territory → Plans change. Adapt fast.
- Diminishing Returns → More isn’t always better.
- Occam’s Razor → Simplicity wins.
- Regression to the Mean → Stay steady through highs and lows.
- Social Proof → Watch what works. Learn from others.
- Tipping Point → Keep going. Momentum builds quietly.

Mental models don’t remove effort.
They reduce wasted effort.

Are you ready to use them daily?
These will help you to decide faster and lead smarter.

👉 Repost to help more founders think with clarity.
Follow Christian Rebernik for insights on leadership and performance.

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