In this episode of Leaderish: Leadership Lessons Straight Up, Doris and Regina sit down with Jennifer Miller—psychological scientist, statistician, and co-founder of Millan Chicago—to explore the power of telling a story with data.

 

Jennifer shares how her background in psychological science and statistics gives her a unique lens for helping organizations turn complex data into actionable insights. Together, we discuss:

• Why defining what you measure matters more than the numbers themselves
• How data can reveal stories about culture, retention, and employee experience
• The difference between organizational-level insights and team-level action
• Why communication, transparency, and trust are essential when sharing survey results
• How curiosity and context help leaders stitch together data points into a bigger, more meaningful story

 

Jennifer also gives us a fascinating peek into her research journey—from bird vocalizations to people analytics—and how the science of human behavior shapes the way leaders can use data to make better decisions.

 

Whether you love numbers or dread them, this episode will change the way you think about data and storytelling in leadership.

 

Sequence:

00:00  Introduction and Warm Welcome

01:00  Meet Jennifer Miller: Background and Expertise

02:01  The Importance of Data in Organizations

03:56  Engagement and Culture Measurement

06:26  Challenges in Data Collection and Utilization

13:24  Confidentiality and Anonymity in Surveys

16:22  Using Data to Drive Organizational Change

22:44  Addressing Employee Feedback on Food Options

23:23  The Importance of Transparency and Trust

26:12  Predicting Employee Engagement

28:34  Combining Data for a Holistic Employee Story

30:16  Jennifer Miller's Academic Journey

31:36  Fascinating Insights into Bird Studies

38:43  Final Thoughts and Aha Moments

39:25  Closing Remarks and Call to Action

 

We'd love to connect! You can find us in all of these places:

• Regina
• Email: regina@collectivegrowthcc.com
• Website:  https://www.collectivegrowthcc.com
• Newsletter subscription: https://collectivegrowthcc.com/resources#blog
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginataute
• Free Coaching Session: https://calendly.com/collective_growth/complimentary-30-min-coaching-session
• Doris
• Email: doris@dunnwise.com 
• Website: https://www.dunnwise.com
• Newsletter subscription: https://www.dunnwise.com/blog
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doris-dunn
• Schedule a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/dunnwise-consulting/30min_discovery_call
• Jennifer:
• Email:  jennifer@millanchicago.com
• Website: https://www.millanchicago.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermiller3/