| |NOVEMBER 20258INSIDERIN MY OPINION By Dave Moretti, Senior Director of Digital Marketing & Technology, Columbia Business SchoolBUILDING DIGITAL EXCELLENCE THROUGH TEAM EMPOWERMENTMy Career Path in TechnologyI began my technology career in 1990 at Queensborough Community College. My journey included roles in academic computing, infrastructure management, and eventually digital marketing. A major turning point came in 2016 when my team faced an accessibility compliance deadline from the Department of Education.That deadline forced me to find new tools, learn accessibility rules and become an advocate for it to my staff and the school.In 2022, I joined Columbia Business School (CBS), where I implement my leadership philosophy of team growth and accessibility-first approaches to digital marketing.How I Select Technology ToolsI use clear criteria when selecting technology tools. My team employs DubBot for accessibility testing, BrightEdge for SEO connected to analytics, Looker Studio for analytics dashboards, and a few other tools. Each platform serves a specific purpose, yet they work together to enhance website performance.I don't aim for minimum standards. We use these tools together to improve our site and user experience.My tool selection process considers cost and fiscal responsibility, features and usability, team input and ownership, as well as university IT and security requirements. This balanced approach ensures technologies not only meet technical needs but also align with institutional constraints.Creating Quick Wins and Long-Term SuccessMy team uses an agile approach that delivers results. We gather insights through daily reports, weekly team meetings and biweekly meetings with university developers. This structured communication creates a framework for data-driven decision-making.We celebrate quick wins based on feedback and data after implementing features. This builds team morale and helps us deliver major improvements.This method enabled my team to complete the remaining 75% of a website migration project in just eight months--a project that had only been completed 25% four years before my arrival. The focus on immediate achievements creates momentum for tackling larger initiatives.Our Approach to AccessibilityContent creators present the biggest challenge to maintaining accessibility compliance. My team addresses this through direct outreach to content editors, education about WCAG standards, making corrections first and then explaining why and demonstrating the impact on users with assistive technology.Dave MorettiDave Moretti is the Senior Director of Digital Marketing & Technology at Columbia Business School, where he champions accessibility-first strategies and agile team leadership. With over three decades of experience in higher education technology, he specializes in aligning digital tools with user-centered outcomes and institutional goals.
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