Barbara Forth

Chief Data Officer @ William & Mary

About

I bring harmony to complex data, systems, and people so organizations can make trusted decisions, operate reliably today, and evolve rapidly. In practice, this means aligning leaders around outcomes and building durable data foundations from governance and stewardship through advanced analytics and responsible AI, at a pace that supports real decision-making without disruption. As the inaugural Chief Data Officer at William & Mary, I strengthen university-wide decision-making by aligning data governance, analytics, and execution around shared priorities. Leadership spans Institutional Research, Data & Analytics, and Data Governance, unifying these functions under a single strategy that translates institutional priorities into clear KPIs, transparent decision pathways, and coordinated action across the university. Close partnership with senior leaders across academic, administrative, and technology domains ensures data is trusted, decisions are aligned, and momentum is maintained. Beyond my core role, I selectively serve as a strategic advisor and fractional Chief Data Officer to executives and consulting partners inside and outside higher education. This work focuses on building trusted, scalable decision capability, from governance uplift through AI readiness, meeting organizations where they are and supporting responsible maturity without slowing progress. My perspective is shaped by senior data leadership roles across higher education, manufacturing, financial services, and consulting, including Fidelity Investments, Capital Group, Experian Consumer Services, and General Electric. Areas of Focus - My work commonly spans enterprise-scale capabilities, including: • Decision Enablement, business capabilities, analytic strategy, KPI frameworks, decision intelligence, executive communications • Data Foundations & Trust, data governance and stewardship, data quality, privacy, responsible AI, master and reference data • Scale & Alignment, AI readiness, modern data foundations, platform and architecture alignment, cross-organizational execution, and data-driven transformation

Country

United States

City

Williamsburg

Industry

Higher Education

Skill

Data Science, Digital Strategy, Data Protection Manager, Domain Architecture, Business Data Management, Software Architecture, Data Classification, Consultation, Communication, Information Architecture, Appreciative Inquiry, Global Delivery, Information Technology, Agile & Waterfall Methodologies, Master Data Management, Business Analytics, Data Visualization, Architecture, IT Cost Optimization, Business Process Design

Experience

Chief Data Officer

William & Mary

2021-8 - Present · 5 yrs 2 mos

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

I serve as William & Mary’s inaugural Chief Data Officer, leading the university’s data strategy and the teams behind Institutional Research, Data & Analytics, and Data Governance. My role focuses on making data easier to trust, use, and act on—helping leaders across campus make better, faster decisions aligned with our top priorities. My work focuses on building durable structures that align people, processes, and technology, improve data quality and fluency, and establish the governance and stewardship foundations required for responsible analytics and AI. I partner closely with senior leaders across academic, administrative, and technology domains to translate priorities into clear KPIs, transparent decision pathways, and coordinated action, delivering value quickly while creating capability that compounds over time. In parallel, I serve as a strategic advisor and fractional Chief Data Officer, supporting organizations inside and outside higher education as they mature governance, strengthen data foundations, and prepare for analytics and AI adoption. My approach is practical and outcome-oriented, informed by prior senior data leadership roles across financial services, manufacturing, and consulting. Areas of Focus • Decision Enablement, analytics strategy, KPI frameworks, decision intelligence, executive communications • Data Foundations & Trust, governance and stewardship, data quality, privacy, responsible AI, master and reference data • Scale & Alignment, AI readiness, modern data foundations, platform and architecture alignment, cross-organizational execution

Speaker | Data Strategy Consulting

B4th Consulting

2017-6 - Present · 9 yrs 4 mos

Williamsburg, VA

Recent Engagements: - Dataversity Conversation with Barbara Forth, WM CDO 4/26 - Data Governance - The Key to Culture, Language and an Appreciative Approach, Virginia Procurement Institute | The annual Procurement Forum 11/2024 - The Fuss about Data Debt - Podcast with John Ladley 10/2024 - Women Data Leaders' Global Summit 11/2023 - Panel Discussion - "Artificial Intelligence - Ethical AI" - IBM CDO Forum in Boston 12/2022 - Panel Discussion - "Data Fabric, Data Mesh" - W&M Raymond A Mason School of Management - Tech-Day - "Role of Data, Analytics & Artificial Intelligence in Resilience Panel" (11/2022) - DC. CDO Executive Summit - Women in Data - Widening the Table, (6/2022) - Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Information Process and Systems MBA class, Guest Lecturer: “Data Transformation and Capabilities – Insights for Business Leaders” (1/2021) - Information Resource Management Association of Canada IRMAC “Get Your Data Management Unstuck – Key Insights on Digital Transformations” (11/2020) - SCSIM - Data Analytics Track - Becoming a Data-driven Company - hosted Paul Barth, Managing Director, Enterprise Data Management, Qlik 2/2020 - Data Governance & Information Quality (DGIQ), “Data Governance at the speed of light – Key Learnings from Appreciative Inquiry and Agile” 6/2018 - Women in Technology (WITI), Orange County, “Clash of the Data Titans" 10/2017 - Data Governance & Information Quality (DGIQ), Data Governance in the New Era of Big Data and Data Lakes” 6/2017 Awards: Global Data Power Women 2024, 2025, 2006 - CDO Magazine Consulting Focus Areas: Digital Transformations [Strategy, Business Alignment, Program Leadership], Digital Technology Research, Selection, Implementation, Program & Project Management, Master Data Management | Reference Data Management, Marketing Technology | Customer 360 | Customer Data Platform CDP Data Analytics | Data Fabric, Data Governance, Privacy, Ethics, Literacy

Data Strategist, Digital Data Transformation

King's Hawaiian

2020-2 - 2020-6 · 5 mos

Torrance, California, United States

Data strategy advisor for the King Hawaiian Digital Transformation program with a focus on Data Strategy, Data Governance and Analytics Optimization. ( B4th Consulting )

Data Strategist, Customer 360/Customer Data Platform (CDP)

Experian Consumer Services

2019-2 - 2020-3 · 1 yr 2 mos

Orange County, California Area

Business lead building out a new set of Digital Marketing - Customer 360/Customer Data Platform (CDP) and Data Capabilities to increase customer engagement, drive sales and improve operational effectiveness. Completed business strategy and alignment, C360/CDP industry evaluation, RFP development and Vendor partner selection process. ( B4th Consulting )

Information Technology Executive, Enterprise Data Governance Champion, Information Architecture

Capital Group

2013-12 - 2017-4 · 3 yrs 5 mos

Irvine, CA

Principal Information Architect

Capital Group

2011-10 - 2013-11 · 2 yrs 2 mos

Irvine, CA

Vice President of Architecture - Corporate Finance Analytics and Data Management

Fidelity Investments

2005-4 - 2008-4 · 3 yrs 1 mo

Vice President, Account Executive

Fidelity Investments

2001-1 - 2005-4 · 4 yrs 4 mos

Vice President, Data Engineering

Fidelity Investments

1997-1 - 2001-1 · 4 yrs 1 mo

Vice President, Business Database Development Services

Fidelity Investments

1995-1 - 1997-1 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Director, Database Architecture Services

Fidelity Investments

1993-1 - 1995-1 · 2 yrs 1 mo

Database Engineer / Manager, Data Engineering

Fidelity Investments

1987-2 - 1993-1 · 6 yrs

Information Systems Management Program

1984-6 - 1987-1 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Successfully completed a two year intensive systems training program with assignments at Aircraft Engine in Lynn, MA and Silicon Products in Waterford, NY [6/1984 - 6/1986]