Data Storytelling, Broadband Initiatives, Staff Picks (Rom-Com Movie Names), Career and Technical Education Month, and more!

Brain Boost

Welcome to the February 2025 edition of Kaptivate’s LinkedIn monthly newsletter. Our CEO, Ron Vassallo, kicks off our Brain Boost asking: Are workforce dashboards truly providing the insights we need? They track job placements and unemployment but fall short in capturing career mobility, training effectiveness, and long-term workforce trends. We need better data to align talent with demand. Click the image below to follow the conversation in our latest Brain Boost!

New Business

We’re excited to announce that Kaptivate has once again joined forces with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to create the 2023 Federal Broadband Funding Report.

Now in our second year of collaborating with NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG), we’re proud to play a key role in documenting and analyzing the nation's federal broadband investments. This report highlights NTIA’s mission to connect every American with high-speed internet, and also showcases Kaptivate’s unique ability to turn complex data into compelling stories.

By transforming intricate data into clear, actionable insights, we help drive the conversation around broadband infrastructure and its transformative impact on communities nationwide. Kaptivate is proud to elevate these essential stories and support initiatives that truly make a difference.

Check out the full report here: 2023 Federal Broadband Funding Report.

New Blog: Data Storytelling

Six "Whys" Storytelling is Essential In Your Communication Toolkit -Laura Barlow

In a world flooded with data, the ability to convey complex insights in a clear and compelling way is more important than ever. Enter data storytelling—a technique that merges hard facts with narrative, transforming dry numbers into engaging stories that can resonate with any audience. Whether you're pitching a strategy, reporting on outcomes, or advocating for change, data storytelling can be a game-changer. Here are six "whys" that make it an essential tool in your communication toolkit:

Accessible: Not everyone has a background in data analysis, and that’s okay. Data storytelling bridges the gap between analysts and non-experts. By translating data into a story, it becomes accessible to a broader audience, ensuring even those without technical expertise can understand the key points.

Persuasive: Need to sway a decision-maker or motivate a team to take action? Data storytelling can turn raw facts into a compelling argument. Presenting insights in a way that connects emotionally and logically can make your case more persuasive. The narrative draws people in, while the data reinforces the point.

Memorable: Humans remember stories far better than they remember isolated facts or figures. Connecting your data to real-world examples or relatable stories can make the information stick. The next time your audience encounters a similar situation, they’re more likely to recall the key insights you shared.

Engaging: Let’s face it—staring at rows of numbers can be overwhelming. Data storytelling injects life into the information, making it engaging and easier to digest. By weaving a narrative around the data, you can hold your audience’s attention longer, increasing the likelihood they’ll absorb key insights and remember them.

Easy to Understand: Complex data doesn't have to feel complicated. When presented in a narrative format, the insights suddenly become much clearer. Instead of wading through spreadsheets, your audience can easily grasp how the data connects to their lives or work. Storytelling simplifies the technical, breaking it down in a way that anyone can understand.

Collaborative: Data storytelling doesn’t just inform—it unites. When different teams or stakeholders need to align on a strategy or outcome, storytelling provides a common language. Everyone, from executives to front-line staff, can rally around a shared understanding of the data, making collaboration smoother and more effective.

Data storytelling is more than just a buzzword—it's a vital approach to communicating insights in today’s data-driven world. By making data more engaging, understandable, persuasive, memorable, accessible, and collaborative, you’ll help your organization make smarter decisions and foster stronger connections. Whether you're a seasoned data expert or just starting, adding storytelling to your communication toolbox can make all the difference in how your message is received.

Let our team of experts help you take data to become an impact story. Visit Kaptivate and learn more!

Kaptivate Kulture

In the Valentine's Day spirit, one of our Kaptivate Staff Call Icebreakers posed: "What romatic comedy (rom-com) title would describe your life. See some of our favorite responses below:

Niva: 50 first Icks??

Marni: Two’s company, Three’s a Pawblem??+??

Annabelle: Buoy meets Girl?

Quinn: Married to Fun??

Garrett: Clueless??

Laura: Reluctantly Swept Away?????

Blog

Celebrating CTE Month: How Kaptivate is Building the Workforce of the Future

February celebrated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to recognize programs that equip students with real-world skills for in-demand careers.? At Kaptivate, we are proud to support workforce development initiatives that connect students with career opportunities, from direct work with students to supporting our client’s CTE and work-based learning (WBL) initiatives. Learn more in our Celebrating CTE Month blog!

In the News: Industry Insights

Learn from Canada-based entrepreneur and web developer, Paul Ross, as he describes the power of data-storytelling and the direction it’s headed in this Forbes article, "The Art of Converting Insights into Strategic Decisions." Spoiler Alert – AI integration has its fingerprints all over it.

Paul is co-founder of Reptile, a Quebec-based web agency, and SmartBi, a digital data centralization platform.

Work Anniversaries

In February, we celebrated the work anniversary for Jennifer Stein! Jenn is the Vice President, Innovation & Workforce Strategies, and has been an invaluable team leader at Kaptivate for the past 5 years. Read Jenn’s insights on her experience working at Kaptivate:

We asked: After 5 years of working at Kaptivate, what is your favorite thing about working here?

Jenn: “My favorite part of working here is the diversity of the work - no two days are the same, and each provides opportunities to learn.”

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