I've been passionate about numbers for as long as I can remember...
Michelle Bidwell - Founder
It started with a love for math in school, which led to a career as a secondary school maths teacher. From there, I’ve worked across a range of industries from telecommunications & energy to banking & insurance as well as several government agencies, creating dashboards, providing insights and building models.
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When I’m not crunching numbers, you can find me enjoying a strong, hot flat white and a pastry (or two) down at the beautiful beach of Otaki. I’m also a bit of a sci-fi geek with a soft spot for anything that starts with ‘star’ – Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate. 😊
QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (Hons) -- University of Waikato, NZ
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Diploma of Teaching -- University of Waikato, NZ
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Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics – Massey University, NZ
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Master of Analytics with Distinction (Business) – Massey University, NZ
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Data Ethics (Micro Credential) -- University of Canterbury, NZ
OUR VALUES
Integrity
We will be honest and fair in all that we do. We will always do the right thing by you, no matter how hard that might be. It’s such an important value that it forms part of our name.
Empathy
We have your best interests at heart. We will be empathetic and non-judgemental as you navigate the challenging world of data ethics or as you move into unfamiliar territory to learn new things.
Real
We are down to earth people and will not confuse you with jargon or technical language. We will focus on providing you with practical guidance and learning rather than a rigid list of do's and dont's.
HOW WE WORK WITH YOU
I’m dedicated to empowering you to harness the power of data and AI ethically, fairly, and responsibly with people at the heart of decisions.
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We want our learning to work for you, so our first interaction will be a conversation about what you and/or your team need. Of course you can just go ahead and grab what you want off the shelf as well.
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Together, we’ll identify what content and learning approach will work best for you.
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Whether you use our self-directed eLearning, webinars, in-house workshops or a combination of all three - we want our learning to work in harmony with you.
BLUE INTEGER'S ORIGIN STORY
Blue Integer was created from a desire to have people, ethics, truth and transparency at the heart of data use and informed decision making.
With AI rapidly becoming a part of all aspects of life, taking data & spitting out an answer, people are getting more and more removed from the process. Decisions that impact peoples’ lives are being done without understanding how the result came about, often blindly accepting the machine.
At the same time, stories of how data has been misused, analytics mis-applied and used to manipulate people seem to be growing by the day.
However, I believe, data and AI can be done right, with integrity, transparency, and accountability, benefitting both people and organisations' goals, not against them.
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It can be tricky balancing these sometimes, competing aspects together. However, these elements can be combined, so that the ‘whole’ is greater than the sum of the individual parts - just like the different instruments in an orchestra combine to create harmony or the way coffee beans, milk and heat come together to make the perfect flat white.
This is Data in Harmony with Humanity.
BLUE INTEGER'S NAME
In mathematics, the term ’integer’ is a whole number and represents completeness. For data analytics this means looking at the complete picture and considering the whole process from how data is collected to how it is used and the impacts on people. Looking at the whole system is crucial to creating data harmony.
The word integrity evolved from the word Integer. Integrity underpins a data culture that always seeks to do the right thing by people.
Blue is associated with trust, security, reliability and integrity. These are all essential elements of responsible data practices. It also conjures up images of a clear blue sky evoking a sense of openness and transparency which is a fundamental part of being good with data.
Together these represent a philosophy where data and AI use is open, fair, truthful and considers the whole picture with people at the heart.
