Michael Bass

About Michael Bass

I’ve spent a little over 20 years working with data. Not admiring it from afar. Living in it. Cleaning it up after it breaks. Rebuilding it when it outgrows the architecture it was never meant to fit into.I’m a data strategist and architect by trade, certified across Azure and AWS, with a master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, technology, and reality. The messy, human kind of reality where data has to actually work for people, not just look good in a slide deck.Today, I focus on mission-driven work as Director of Data Solutions at WWF, where the challenge isn’t just technical. It’s organizational, cultural, and deeply practical. Conservation organizations generate enormous amounts of data across science, finance, policy, and operations, but turning that into something coherent, trusted, and actionable takes more than dashboards.My role is to help build the foundations that make that possible.That includes modern data platforms, governance models that actually function in the real world, and the data literacy needed for teams across the organization to confidently use the information available to them.The goal is simple: make data genuinely useful to the people doing the work that matters.When data systems work well, they remove friction. They give scientists, analysts, and decision-makers the clarity and confidence to focus on outcomes instead of wrestling with tools.Much of what I work on revolves around:• Transforming complex, disconnected data ecosystems into scalable platforms people trust• Designing governance frameworks that evolve alongside analytics and AI• Applying machine learning and advanced analytics to support monitoring, forecasting, and strategic decision-making• Helping organizations build a culture where data literacy and stewardship are shared responsibilitiesI’m endlessly curious, occasionally opinionated, and always learning.I believe data, when done right, can be a quiet force for good. Especially when the stakes are as high as the planet we all share.

Experience

1. Director, Data Solutions

   WWF

   Feb 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead WWF’s enterprise data strategy and governance.• Oversee data architecture, integrations, and workflows.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Finance, IT, and Conservation Programs.• Manage and mentor a team of data professionals.• Engage in innovation efforts, evaluating emerging technologies and optimizing system capabilities.

Education

• Colorado State University Global

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Management Information Systems and Business Analytics

  2014 — 2016

• Colorado State University Global

  Master of Science - MS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

  2024

• Montgomery College

  Associate of Arts (A.A.), General Studies

  2014

Skills

• Varigence Mist
• Benefit Cost Analysis
• Programming
• Ibm Blueworks Live
• Microsoft Sql Server
• Business Analysis
• Toad
• Sharepoint
• Senior Program Management
• Tableau
• Predictive Analytics
• Business Objects
• Data Analysis
• Workflow Management
• System Development
• Oracle
• Data Mining
• Requirements Analysis
• Business Process Automation
• Data Integration
• Enterprise Reporting Solutions
• Analytics
• Flexibility
• Dashboarding
• Leadership
• Data Analytics
• Database Design
• Data Modeling
• Windows Server
• Visual C#
• Strategy
• Business Process
• Agile Project Management
• Sap Business Objects
• Biml
• Database Administration
• Business Analytics
• Jira
• Sharepoint Designer
• Technical Training