David Barton

About David Barton

As a dynamic leader with a passion for building high-performing teams and driving innovation, I excel at translating complex challenges into actionable strategies that deliver measurable impact. With extensive experience in analytics, finance, and operations, I have a proven track record of empowering teams, fostering collaboration, and achieving organizational goals.Over my career, I’ve led large-scale projects, overseen multibillion-dollar operations, and guided cross-functional teams to deliver strategic outcomes. My leadership philosophy is rooted in people-first principles, ensuring that each team member is empowered to contribute their best while collectively driving success. Whether managing rapid growth, streamlining operations, or crafting data-driven strategies, my approach is grounded in empathy, communication, and leading from the front.Key competencies include:People Leadership & Team Building: Cultivating diverse, high-performing teams through mentorship, collaboration, and talent development.Operational Excellence: Streamlining workflows and optimizing systems to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve performance.Strategic Innovation: Designing forward-thinking strategies that anticipate market needs and deliver sustainable growth.Data-Driven Decision Making: Harnessing analytics to uncover insights, guide strategies, and foster organizational alignment.In addition to my professional endeavors, I serve as an Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University, where I inspire the next generation of business leaders. I also host The Stronghold Podcast, through exploring capability & truth, I discuss themes of leadership, resilience, and personal growth.I thrive at the intersection of analytics, strategy, and operations, with a commitment to empowering people and driving transformation. Let’s connect to discuss how I can bring strategic insight and operational excellence to your organization.

Experience

1. Senior Leader in Data-driven Strategy and Operations

   Optum

   May 2019 — Present · Eden Prairie, MN, US

   As a Senior Leader in Data-Driven Strategy and Operations, I specialize in transforming complex challenges into strategic opportunities by leveraging data insights, fostering high-performing teams, and driving operational excellence. My leadership approach combines a people-first philosophy with a focus on delivering measurable results that align with organizational goals.Key Responsibilities- People Leadership: Built and mentored cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives while fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture- Strategic Vision: Developed and executed comprehensive strategies to drive growth, improve processes, and create value through data-driven insights- Operational Excellence: Streamlined workflows, enhanced operational efficiency, and implemented best practices to optimize performance and scalability- Stakeholder Collaboration: Partnered with executives and key stakeholders to align strategies across departments, ensuring cohesive and impactful outcomes- Analytics-Driven Decision Making: Utilized advanced analytics to uncover insights, guide business strategies, and monitor progress through performance metrics and KPIs.Key Achievements:Achievements fueled the growth from 80k members | 5 markets |$1B Revenue to 1M+ members | 25 markets |$12B+ Revenue- Team Development: Successfully grew and developed a high-performing team, achieving key milestones and fostering professional growth across multiple roles- Strategic Initiatives: Designed and implemented innovative strategies that improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, and supported sustainable growth- Data Integration: Spearheaded initiatives to integrate analytics into decision-making processes, enhancing organizational agility and responsiveness- Cross-Functional Impact: Led initiatives that bridged gaps between operations, analytics, and strategy, resulting in improved communication and stronger organizational alignment.

Education

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Certificate, Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

  2018 — 2018

• Grand Canyon University

  Master of Science in Business Analytics, Healthcare

  2020 — 2021

• Minnesota State University, Mankato

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics

  1998 — 2001

• Optum Data Science University

  Optum-Scale Data Science Learning Path

  2017 — 2017

Skills

• Sql
• Strategy
• Data Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Business Analysis
• Health Insurance
• Financial Analysis
• Process Improvement
• Forecasting
• Sas
• Tableau
• Business Process Improvement
• Insurance
• Financial Modeling
• Leadership