Corporate Speaking and Podcast Inquiries

Led by co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jon Thompson, our team provides corporate data training and presentations for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

In addition to educating teams about current data trends and technology advances, Blue Margin presentations provide tactical steps any company can take to establish data intelligence and monetize data assets.

As with our data services, presentations are customized to the needs of an audience. They are research-based, non-solicitous, and well-received (see below for feedback from hosts and topics covered).

Jon Thompson, author of The Dashboard Effect, is co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Blue Margin, Inc. He and his brother, Brick Thompson, have founded several companies, including Vercuity, a data analytics firm that grew to over 500 employees and was backed by One Equity Partners.

Blue Margin, founded in 2011, has helped over 300 midmarket firms efficiently convert data into automated dashboards, the short path to driving growth and profitability. Having worked with private equity for over a decade, Jon has discovered that “the root of most constraints in business come down to poor visibility“, whether poor integration, weak accountability, or subpar optics for exit valuation.

Data-driven companies sell faster and achieve higher valuations. Learn more about our approach and philosophy through our book and weekly podcast.

Topics Include:

Breakthroughs in Data Technology: How groundbreaking technologies like the “Data Lakehouse" enable next-gen AI analytics and make it possible to shift to data-driven operations at a fraction of the time and cost required even 12 months ago.
Data Table-Stakes: Why complex systems need good instrumentation to function optimally, and how data transformation is increasingly a non-negotiable for the buy-and-build model.
Generating Value through Integration: For optimal valuation, integration is the name of the game, not just for bolt-on acquisitions, but across teams and data sources (i.e., ERPs, CRMs, etc.). Advancements in data tech that minimize the need for systems integration, reducing overhead, delays, and reactive management.
The Importance of Speed: How recent advancements have outpaced the long-held belief that data transformation requires a mid-six-figure investment and 12-24 months, leaving most executives unaware of the ability to implement a data platform and produce real-time dashboards within a month.
Employee Engagement: How leading firms are using data automation to create a culture of accountability, ownership-mentality, and distributed decision-making.
Positioning for Optimal Exit: The power of visual analytics for illustrating a company’s value-creation narrative to-date, and forecasting value-creation for potential buyers.
Midmarket Status Quo: The dysfunction and downsides of poor data visibility, why 80%+ companies are stuck in the Excel jungle, visual management vs. navigating by spreadsheet and PowerPoint.
What Good Looks Like: Real-world examples where portfolio companies applied data-intelligence to produce measurable, near-term ROI.
Getting Started: The most current methodology for executing value-creation initiatives with intention, oversight, and control, with marginal disruption.
Establishing a Data Playbook: How to implement a repeatable framework for leveraging data to ignite growth and expand margins in the portfolio.

Jon has a talent for explaining the link between data visibility and improving profitability and growth. From his presentation, I came away with a strong appreciation for the power of data and dashboards, and ideas about putting data to work to help our clients run their businesses better.

Carter Freeman, VP, VCFO

Using real-world examples, Jon brought to life the amazing potential of BI for financial executives. He was a highlight of our conference.

Jon Daich, Director, Utah Society of CPAs

Most webinars are long and unexciting. Jon's webinar on business intelligence was to the point, energetic, and well received by our clients. Finley & Cook is proud to partner with Blue Margin.

Lynne Matallana, Biz Dev Supervisor, Finley and Cook

Jon’s content was well received, meaningful, the delivery thoughtful and impactful, and the presentation time was perfect.

Ron Auletta, Operating Partner/Board Director/CEO, IGP Partners

Your presentation really hit the mark. The message was right on and well presented. Thank you for taking the time to do it right.

Jeffrey Nagel, Operating Partner, AEA Investors

Jon's presentation was compelling and entertaining. A must for business leaders who want to capitalize on the explosive growth of business intelligence.

Stan Mork, President, Information Technology Alliance

Excellent content – addressed our topic head-on. Jon was able to break down broad (and potentially overwhelming) ideas into more manageable concepts for our executives.

Bill Bronander, Managing Director, RFE Investment Partners

Jon’s presentation was refreshing in that he humanized the content – he was engaged with the virtual audience which is always difficult.

Kristy Kelly, Manufacturer's Alliance

I was impressed by Jon's presentation. He obviously has a solid understanding of the subject and the ability to present that knowledge in an easily digestible and understandable way. His points were on target and the examples helpful in conveying the strength of using dashboards as a visualization tool for complex data and patterns.

Robb Clawson, AMCA International

Feature Jon at your next corporate event or executive off-site

Fees vary depending on audience demographic and location.

Previous engagements include:

Frontenac – Lunch & Learn
Industrial Opportunity Partners
RFE Investors – Operating Executives Board Meeting
Audax Group – Operator's Council
AEA Investors – CIO Symposium
Industrial Growth Partners – CEO Symposium
Virtual CFO (VCFO) – Data and the Office of the CFO
Constant Contact – Data Strategy Workshop
Information Technology Alliance – Annual Conference
Manufacturer's Alliance – Data Visualization Webinar
Air Movement & Control Association – Regional Meeting
Microsoft Identity Team – Data Strategy Workshop
Colorado State University Business School – Graduate Program Guest Lecturer

Watch Jon's presentation at Manufacturer's Alliance Data Visualization Webinar