What we talked about
Danielle Costa-Nakano shares how, as Chief Product Officer at Grassroots Analytics, she’s leading a shift from data-as-a-service to software-as-a-service to help nonprofit and political organizations escape spreadsheet sprawl and tool fragmentation. Danielle explains why many teams still spend half their day importing/exporting CSVs across 7–10 systems and how a central data platform:with strong APIs, embedded analytics, and AI-assisted workflows:can surface “the right ask, to the right person, at the right time,” replacing manual busywork with actionable insight.
Show notes
Today we’re joined by Danielle Costa Nakano, Chief Product Officer at Grassroots Analytics. Danielle is a high-energy leader with a strong track record in building data products and scaling SaaS solutions for nonprofits and enterprise organizations. With over a decade at NGP VAN and leadership roles at Bonterra and National Geographic Society, she has shaped how technology supports fundraising, compliance, and social good. We’ll explore her journey, lessons in leadership, and her vision for modernizing data and product strategy.