
Laura Lyons is a Project Lead and Senior GIS Analyst
Why did you choose to participate in the Worker Owner transition team?
To be honest, the transition team was just beginning when I started at D3 and I had no clue what my feelings were about a worker-owner organization, so I chose to participate simply to learn more about it. The discussions and decisions that have been made by the transition team have been really engaging, exciting, and thought-provoking. I have greatly enjoyed being a part of it as we all worked to develop these “muscles” together. As we progressed in the development of the worker-owner vision, I gained a greater appreciation for being able to get one’s voice heard. Throughout my professional career I have been in many rooms and teams where the person in the most senior position dictates the progress and direction of the team. Although I believe this to be standard protocol, I think it’s important to recognize that every team member is bringing a unique perspective and experience to the team, and there should be a place where each voice gets to be heard.
Why is it important to you for D3 to operate cooperatively? And what about co-ops are important to you?
I think a co-op is the perfect way to formalize the culture that Erica Raleigh and Noah Urban have worked so hard to foster. One where every voice gets a chance to be heard. Decisions affecting the organization, our work, or our individual jobs, whenever possible are transparent and thoughtful. Over my years at D3 I have come to believe that most people want to feel like they are making some sort of difference, either simply in their own little world or for society as a whole, and what better way to solidify the ability to make a difference than owning your work/organization? I think when people know they have some ownership over their work, they do a better job – which is a win for the organization and a win for the individual.
What key takeaways do you have from your involvement with the D3 Worker Owner transition?
Fostering an environment that is open and supportive of differing opinions and personalities is hard. Trying to voice an opinion that is right for you and/or your family but may contradict what is right for another person’s life/family is hard. But when we acknowledge that it’s hard and are able to speak in an environment where the very foundation is to be open and supportive, we allow room to work through the differing opinions and perspectives respectfully. It has also been another good reminder that sometimes the goal shouldn’t be to complete this beautiful finalized piece of art, rather sometimes it’s just about throwing some stuff down on a paper and running with it until you realize you need to change it.
What are you most looking forward to as a worker owner in 2022?
I’m excited to actually “do the thing.” To find out the nooks and crannies of what it’s like to own something with other people. I’m excited to see how a truly shared responsibility can affect an organization. I think it’s an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth for myself but also the D3 team and the organization as a whole.
More about Laura
Laura Lyons is a Senior GIS Analyst and Project Lead at Data Driven Detroit (D3). She began her professional career as an educator and is experienced in facilitating and instructing new material and concepts to all types of audiences. Prior to joining the D3 team, Laura worked as a Project Coordinator for a social science research organization and had extensive involvement with data collection, organization, manipulation, and presentation. At D3 she works with all types of data but loves working with spatial data the most, because she feels it provides incredible context to a story/perspective. She loves watching as a dataset goes from a table to a visual representation of a particular story throughout an area. As Project Lead, Laura conducts project management, data analysis, and communication with clients to produce data-driven products and services. She has thoroughly enjoyed watching a request from a client go from an idea to a tangible product, and is confident that these products help make a client’s job a little more efficient and/or effective. Laura has a Masters in Geography, with a concentration in Urban Studies, from Georgia State University and a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Michigan State University.