Thought Trails AdvisoryClarity Creates Momentum

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Candace Roberts.
Business. Technology. People.

Founder of Thought Trails Advisory · Data, AI & Business Transformation Executive

Fresh eyes, executive experience, and a practical streak. The interesting work is often in the gaps between teams, systems, and the plan.

EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE. PRACTICAL FOLLOW-THROUGH.

Make the connections.
Move the work forward.

Candace Roberts is the founder of Thought Trails Advisory and a former VP of Data Strategy at a payments-focused FinTech company. Her executive experience spans enterprise data strategy, analytics, governance, operational change, and post-acquisition integration.

She works across the business and technology sides of a challenge, bringing the people responsible for the work into the conversation. The focus is practical: understand what needs to change, clarify ownership, and agree what happens next.

That perspective shapes Thought Trails Advisory’s work across managed workflows, data and AI advisory, and M&A integration and transformation.

Connect with Candace on LinkedIn ↗

KIND WORDS

From people who know the work.

From people who have worked with Candace, founder of Thought Trails Advisory, across earlier roles and projects.

Having sat side-by-side with Candace as analysts to leading our respective teams at Vanco, I can confidently say she is one of the sharpest BI leaders I’ve worked with. Over the past 8 years, she has been an invaluable partner to FP&A. From integrating M&A acquisitions to modernizing our systems and automating complex workflows, Candace consistently drives clarity out of complexity. She is organized, intentional, and deeply focused on delivering outputs that move the business forward.

Nick NolanDirector of FP&A

Candace, you are truly amazing and you are going to be a major asset to your next business partners. Having been CEO with you twice, I am happy to talk to whomever is considering you next.

Shawn BoomCEO

You have a rare ability to take really complex problems, bring people together, and actually get it done.

John PasalanoAVP

Candace is a hard-working and innovative data leader. She had an enormous impact at Vanco during our shared time there including a massive legacy to cloud migration project, sophisticated financial reconciliation automation, expanding a BI platform into a true community analytics platform, all while being a kind and empathetic teammate and manager.

Peter LaytonHead of AI & Innovation

Candace has a real talent for aligning stakeholders, simplifying complexity, and driving work forward with clarity and confidence.

Steve CumbiaFormer colleague

Candace does not just think outside of the box, she creates a new one if necessary.

J. PateProject collaborator

She removes blockers quickly and effectively while giving her team the space, trust, and autonomy they need to thrive.

Gabriel RoweLead Data Strategy Analyst

One thing that's glaringly obvious about you that I've experienced first hand (i.e. classes taught, panel discussions participated in, data & AI leadership positions held, books written) is that you're a true data & AI thought leader.

Michael CohenAccount Executive

She is very client-focused and detail-oriented and our clients were always very pleased with her work and ability to deliver projects on time and budget. In addition, her ability to develop highly professional and clear documentation and training guides were second to none.

Matthew HammData Scientist

Let’s get into it

Bring the big idea.
Awkward questions welcome.

Tell us what you want to change. We’ll start there.

Let’s talk