For many students in Indianapolis, the path from high school to a fulfilling career was unclear. Advisors, tasked with guiding students, often lacked access to real-time data that could help them identify which pathways were most viable, which industries were hiring, and which students needed extra support. Without a comprehensive, strategic data system, the process remained fragmented, leaving historically underrepresented youth with fewer opportunities to make informed career decisions.
EmployIndy, the workforce development board for Indianapolis, recognized this gap and set out to build a stronger foundation for data-driven career advising. The organization committed to developing a system that would connect students, advisors, and workforce leaders with timely, accurate data to create equitable access to career pathways.
At the heart of this transformation was Kristen Barry, EmployIndy’s VP of Research and Strategy, who spearheaded efforts to improve the organization’s data governance. Attending a multiday data management workshop, she quickly realized that before leveraging data to drive career outcomes, EmployIndy first needed to get its own house in order—understanding policy, security, and strategy considerations that would allow them to manage and share sensitive information responsibly.
“Identifying the different processes of data management has helped us understand the strategy and get our house in order to be able to jump when an opportunity presents itself. Two years ago, we would not have been ready to handle some of the sensitive data that would really benefit our programs and our partners.” – Kristen Barry, EmployIndy
Amidst a major internal reorganization, EmployIndy built a custom data platform to connect Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) with work-based learning services. Through a data-sharing agreement, this platform was integrated directly into IPS’s student information system, allowing career advisors to track academic progress, career interests, and work-based learning experiences all in one place. The result? Stronger, more personalized career advising that empowered students to make informed decisions about their futures.
Barry’s biggest takeaway? Success in data-driven decision-making starts with a solid foundation. Before jumping into ambitious data-sharing goals, organizations must first ensure they understand how data will be used, how to measure impact, and how to keep information secure. Today, EmployIndy is not just managing data—they are using it as a tool to build more equitable education and career pathways for Black, Latinx, and historically underrepresented youth across Indianapolis.
Learn more about EmployIndy here.