Our Perspective

The Darkhorse team has been analyzing and visualizing data since before analytics was a thing. Along the way, we’ve developed some strong opinions.

Good analytics is visual. Analytics isn’t just stats and numbers. Seeing the data, the process, and the results is essential.

Good visualization is analytical. Smart transformation of the data reveals meaning and clarifies decisions.

The right answer is only half the answer. The work doesn’t stop at the end of the analysis; it stops when it leads to a decision.

Interactivity breeds adoption. People hate to be told what to do. Interaction convinces users that it was their idea to begin with.

Analysis advances judgement. Intuition and analytics are not enemies. When they work together, they lead to better decisions than either alone.

Clarity is engaging. You don’t need to choose between beauty and accuracy. Pursue both.

Our Culture

We strive to create an environment that rewards our staff and our clients. Our guiding principles underpin our culture and allow us to punch far above our weight.

Impact, not invoices. Our work is meaningful because we move the dial, not because we make money.

Output, not face time. Need a week off? Take it. Prefer to work in the evenings? Do it. Our clients pay for results and so do we.

Autonomy, not control. We trust our team to make the right decisions. Talent and initiative leads to far better results than forms and approvals.

Capabilities, not credentials. We seek out upstream skills like initiative and capacity to learn more than degrees or titles.

Mastery, not management. Our career path is not a progression from trainee to VP. It starts with breadth of skill and ends in world-renowned expertise.

Our Values

Behind every great organization is a set of common beliefs and a consistent view of what’s important. Our values reflect who we are now, not how we hope to be perceived.

Trust first. We choose to extend trust before it’s earned. We value transparency and openness and we give our employees great autonomy

Own it. We own our commitments and we own the success of our company. We are proud of our accomplishments and accountable for our mistakes.

Do the right thing, every time. We maintain our integrity in the face of difficult or uncomfortable decisions. We trust our team to know what the right thing is.

Clarity. We make the complex clear and succinct.

Is there a better way? Sometimes a best practice is only a good practice. We’re continually looking for ways to improve our work and our workplace.

Take the long view. We look at every decision through a long-term lens. Our relationships with employees and clients are sustainable through time.

Our Team

Darkhorse was spun out of a research lab at the University of Alberta in 2008. Our team still carries the DNA of that environment: analytical rigour, intellectual curiosity, and dogged determination. We’ve since added a strong design aesthetic and a deep understanding of decision-making and adoption.

We aim to turn each of our associates into accomplished data scientists. Individually, they have deep skills in programming, math, visual design, and data analysis. But collectively, they comprise an incredibly talented, diverse group of problem solvers. Many have advanced degrees or certifications, but all share a passion to do meaningful work.

To see full bios, click here, or on one of our pictures.