Huck Sachse-Hofheimer (Saxi-Hoff-himer), a Metadata Analyst at FSFP, works with our FSFP teammates to help our clients extract valuable insights from data, empowering them to make better, more informed decisions about their business.
Read Huck’s profile article to discover one of his favorite data governance analogies, the advice he’d give people interested in breaking into the field of data management, a DoorDash delivery he’d enjoy during his remote workdays — and more!
If you had to describe your FSFP role to a third-grader, how would you explain it?
I heard an excellent analogy for data governance the other day. The analogy compared governance to a library. When I was a kid, we had to walk into the library, talk to the librarian and learn a little about the Dewey Decimal System. In the library, there was a big box of cards. We would tell the librarian, “I’m looking for a sci-fi book.” The librarian would show us the category, reference number and letter so we could locate the sci-fi section. We could search for specific data sets, such as genres or authors. The data was alphabetized, so it was easy to find. In a massive building full of thousands of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, a librarian could provide the specific information needed because of the available data.
My role at FSFP is to be one of the many “librarians.” I help build the “library” for our clients. Our clients need robust data management systems so they can find precisely what they need among massive amounts of data. And we can help them find data quickly because they have a dependable, usable reference system.
Data governance can get complicated, so thinking of data as a library is helpful.
What do you enjoy most about working in the data management and government industry?
I enjoy collaborating with the people at FSFP. Everyone is very cool. We have many common interests across generations, which is fantastic. From an industry perspective, it is like puzzling and problem-solving, which I find particularly engaging. We have a lot of opportunities to gain experience and learn experientially. In our work, we get to work with clients who are not just going through that learning process but are also very excited about it. Those things keep this work interesting. There are always new puzzles or questions and new ways to answer those questions. To top it off, I get to do that work in tandem with people who are awesome to work with.
What advice would you offer people interested in breaking into this field?
Data governance is growing in many organizations. Those interested don’t necessarily have to be part of an organization like FSFP to get into the space. Data governance has so much potential in any organization, whether a credit union or a life sciences company, so there will be opportunities most anywhere. If someone works in an organization with a lot of data, there will be opportunities to implement data governance. In many organizations, this is a conversation that grows organically. The discussion is worth starting in any organization if it isn’t happening.
For someone interested in breaking into data governance, that’s always an excellent place to start. We’ve worked with many clients who advocate for data governance within their organizations and work areas. In my opinion, that’s what has really pushed them forward.
FSFP lives by its FIRST (focus, integrity, resourcefulness, skillfulness, teamwork) values. Thinking back over the last few weeks, which values have you or others demonstrated?
I recently collaborated with one of my teammates on a project that involved intensive process diagramming. Although this was an area I wasn’t well-versed in before the project, my FSFP teammate was skilled at creating diagrams ranging from high-level to detailed processes. Focus, resourcefulness, skillfulness and teamwork values have been authentic throughout the project. It was a learning process for me, while for my teammate, it was an opportunity to educate and share their expertise. Having the opportunity to work with someone skilled in the area helped me develop my skills.
FSFP excels at bringing people with different levels of skills and expertise together to work effectively and build their skills collaboratively.
Working from home, as we all do at FSFP, has its perks. What would you order if you could get a free lunch from DoorDash today?
I recently got an order from this Cuban place, and they have a dish called Ropa Vieja. It’s braised beef with rice, peppers and olives in a tomato sauce. It’s a funky dish but soul-warming, rich and filling. It was cold outside when I got it. I ate it for dinner by the window as the sun went down. It was awesome. I was like, “Oh, I could eat this every day.”
What’s your favorite activity after hours when you’re not working with FSFP clients?
I like to sew after work. Interestingly, you’ll probably find the same answer to mine from a strangely large number of people at FSFP. We have many textile artists at FSFP. I am by far the most novice among them. Some of the people I work with have produced incredible works of art.
We hope you enjoyed the latest installment in our Meet the Team series. Check out our other team member interviews to learn more about the people who make FSFP tick.
