What Counts?
Welcome to What Counts? by TrailBlazer Consulting. The hosts, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas bring over 30 years of experience consulting with public and private organizations across industries including energy, biotech, manufacturing, and technology. We discuss proven solutions developed working with companies to solve their information and data management challenges. The typical What Counts? episode is around 15 minutes long, and each episode focuses on one aspect of information, data, or records management. We provide insight into practical ways to assess, evaluate, recommend, implement, and monitor records and information management programs – and we illustrate our ideas with anecdotes and case studies drawn from our clients. Look us up on the web at www.TrailBlazer.us.com. Or, send us an email at Info@TrailBlazer.us.com.
Episodes
June 30, 2025 • 15 mins
Why every business needs a trusted lawyer and accountant from days one. Welcome to What Counts, the podcast that explores the power of information governance and the strategies behind smarter business decisions. In this episode, hosts Lee and Maura unpack one of the most critical, yet often overlooked, components of entrepreneurial success: professional support. From choosing the right b...
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June 16, 2025 • 19 mins
Future-proofing your business in today's fast-paced world is a challenge. Businesses that thrive are those that anticipate change before it happens. In this episode of What Counts, hosts Maura and Lee break down the essential framework for smart planning: seeing opportunities, watching for market signals, and building strategic plans that ensure long-term success. Whether it's adapting t...
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June 2, 2025 • 13 mins
Episode 109 - Branding basics at What Counts, the podcast dedicated to navigating the world of information governance with expert insights and actionable strategies. In this episode, hosts Maura and Lee explore the fundamentals of branding and marketing, covering two essential steps: creating a compelling logo and registering your business name. Whether you're launching a startup or refi...
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May 19, 2025 • 16 mins
Building a business foundation requires more than a great idea—it demands proper legal structuring and compliance. In this episode, we explore key foundational steps, including filing Articles of Incorporation to establish your entity, crafting a mission statement to define your business’s purpose, and drafting a General Operating Agreement to clarify roles and responsibilities among sta...
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May 5, 2025 • 20 mins
Establishing a business starts with selecting the right legal structure, which impacts taxes, liability, and operational flexibility. Entrepreneurs can choose from Sole Proprietorships for simplicity, Partnerships for shared ownership, LLCs for liability protection, C Corporations for investor appeal despite double taxation, or S Corporations for tax advantages with ownership limitations...
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April 21, 2025 • 19 mins
In today's fast-moving market, adaptability isn't a luxury-it's a necessity. Success belongs to businesses that are resilient by design, stay motivated, and build a foundation strong enough to withstand uncertainty. In this episode, we explore what it takes to remain robust in an ever-evolving economy, from fostering a continuous learning mindset to navigating unexpected challenges. Whet...
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2025 Episode 105 - Strategic growth: defining, building, and scaling your business while balancing talent and profitability are just a few items you will hear about in our second video episode.
Launching and strategically growing a business requires more than just a vision—it demands strategic decision-making at every stage. In this episode, we explore the foundational steps of definin...
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March 24, 2025 • 15 mins
2025 Episode 104 – We're thrilled to bring you something brand-new with our first-ever video episode! As we explore this exciting format, we kindly ask for your patience as we work through learning new tricks to deliver the best possible video experience for you.
In this inaugural video episode, we’ll dive into the compelling world of starting a business. From the initial spark of an id...
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March 10, 2025 • 10 mins
2025 Episode 103 – The devils in the details when it comes to infrastructure. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover the base component - Infrastructure. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Infrastructure? Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they explain where devils in the detail...
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February 24, 2025 • 15 mins
2025 Episode 102 – The devils in the details when it comes to applications. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called Applications. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Applications? Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they explain where devils in ...
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February 10, 2025 • 15 mins
2025 Episode 101 – The devils in the details when it comes to data | content. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called Data | Content. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to Data | Content? Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they give a slightly ca...
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January 27, 2025 • 13 mins
2025 Episode 100 – We took a break from the current subject matter and pulled together this celebratory What Counts Episode 100. We take a look back at some of the most viewed What Counts episodes. Additionally, we provide insight on who we are doing this podcast for and how you can use the information at your own organization. Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and...
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January 13, 2025 • 12 mins
2024 Episode 99 – The devils in the details when it comes to process. Following along with the components of TrailBlazer’s Information Design framework, we cover one of the supporting pillars called process. Where are the devils in the details when it comes to process? Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they discuss how different companies feel abo...
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January 3, 2025 • 11 mins
2024 Episode 98 – Where do the devils in the details hide when it comes to policy implementation? This episode explains policy-related devils in the details making it clear what to watch out for when creating or modifying company policies. Join Information Governance (IG) Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they provide recommendations and certain pitfalls to watch out for when imp...
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December 16, 2024 • 13 mins
2024 Episode 97 - Details are important in information governance planning and implementation. Based off the TrailBlazer Framework, explained in Episode 96, we dive further into the devils in the details when it comes to Governance. This episode ‘Governance Devils and Details’ gives you insights into the important considerations for setting up your information governance. Join IG Consult...
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December 2, 2024 • 10 mins
2024 Episode 96 - Details are important in information governance planning and implementation. The devils are in the details when it comes to trying to get information governance activities moving forward in your organization. Join Information Governance Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they use the TrailBlazer Framework to help explain where the devils in the details can hide. ...
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November 18, 2024 • 20 mins
2024 Episode 95 - Some of our strange information governance moments over the years. We talk about our strange moments in information governance but would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at info@trailbazer.us.com and tell us about your strangest information governance moments.
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November 4, 2024 • 17 mins
2024 Episode 94 – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can help the Information Governance Professional. We have come a long way from the days of autoclassification in records management. Join Information Governance Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they give their opinion on the good and bad of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Each episode contains important information gained t...
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October 21, 2024 • 18 mins
2024 Episode 93 – Inundated with too much data daily? Learn how Information Governance can help you sort through and handle data inundation by using your organization’s records retention schedule (RRS). Your RRS is more than just a records management policy. Join Information Governance Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they explain how a records retention schedule can become the ...
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October 7, 2024 • 12 mins
2024 Episode 92 – What does it mean to give your employees access to raw data instead of manipulated data in the format they are used to? Which is greater, the potential for better reporting and results or disaster and confusion? Join Information Governance Consultants, Maura Dunn and Lee Karas, as they explain the difference between raw data and manipulated data in the context of large ...
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