Carrie Cobb, Chief Data Officer, Blackbaud

Describe your career to date

I am an accomplished innovator and change-agent capable of translating multifaceted data and analytics products into successful business initiatives and consumer experiences. I have over 20 years of experience in developing data-driven analytic solutions, with the goal of leveraging advanced analytic methodologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to create easy to execute strategies for the social impact community. 

As the Chief Data Officer at Blackbaud, I currently lead the Data Intelligence Center of Excellence, and I am responsible for Blackbaud’s (AI) and data strategy, vertical-focused product innovation, data science and informatics disciplines, and data governance and ethics.  

I also serve as chair of the Advisory Council on Methodology for the Giving USA Foundation and on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Nonprofit Alliance. 

What role do you play in building and delivering conventional AI solutions, including machine learning models? Are you involved in your organization’s adoptions of generative AI?   

As the Chief Data Officer, I lead our Data Intelligence Center of Excellence, and am responsible for Blackbaud’s AI and data strategy, product innovation, data science, and engineering disciplines, and data governance and ethics.  

In 2023, we unveiled the next generation of our vision to accelerate AI-fueled impact for purpose-driven organizations. Our Intelligence for Good strategy focuses on the creation of complete, ready-made AI solutions to address the fundraising, stewardship, corporate impact, and education needs of the social impact sector. We fuel impact with powerful, accessible, and trustworthy AI.  

Within Blackbaud, we put curiosity into action through our generative AI empowerment programs to unlock new ways of working, and drive unprecedented efficiency, creativity, and collaboration. We aspire to seamlessly integrate AI technologies to augment human capabilities, fostering a work environment where automation streamlines routine tasks, enabling our employees to focus on the most strategic, high-impact initiatives.  

At Blackbaud, we believe the social impact sector can go further, faster, as we harness the rapidly-expanding potential of artificial intelligence – together, responsibly – and I am so honored to be part of leading this charge. 

What role do you play in building and delivering conventional artificial intelligence solutions, including machine learning models? Are you also involved in your organization’s adoption of generative AI?  

My team conceptualizes, builds, deploys, and embeds traditional AI solutions and applications, including machine learning models and predictive and prescriptive analytics, across a variety of use cases across Colgate-Palmolive globally, notably revenue growth management analytics, marketing and media effectiveness analytics, and innovation analytics.  

I sit on the executive Steering Committee for generative AI (genAI), and my team has led education and upskilling across the organization, as well as the assessment and prioritization of priority genAI use cases, some of which my team and I are leading and are in pilot stage. 

Carrie Cobb
has been included in:
  • 100 Brands 2024 (USA)

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