Who Decides What Counts? Rethinking Power in Metrics
🧠 Salon with Carmen Perez: Who Decides What Counts? Rethinking Power in Metrics
“Measurement isn’t neutral—it’s political.”
With that provocative statement, strategist and Better Next founder Carmen Perez invites us into a conversation that goes beyond data dashboards and dives into power, voice, and value.
In this session, Carmen challenges a dominant myth in CSR and ESG practice: that standardized metrics offer objectivity, fairness, and clarity. Drawing from her work Drawing from her work bridging how social impact works is done in the corporate and nonprofit sectors—Carmen shows how our metrics reflect what (and who) we prioritize, and how they often exclude the very voices they claim to uplift.
This is not just a critique—it’s a generative invitation. What would it look like to design measurement with, not for communities? What might we learn if we measured for planning, not just compliance? And how do we name the values baked into our frameworks, instead of pretending they aren’t there?
Expect bold insights, honest debate, and an exploration of the political nature of measurement itself.
💬 Core Question We’ll Explore
If metrics aren’t neutral—how do we design them to be liberating instead of limiting?
🔥 What We’ll Dig Into
Who decides what counts—and what’s counted?
How standardized frameworks can flatten lived experience and reinforce status quo power
What it means to “measure for the mission”
The case for narrative, and non-numeric data
Why we can’t separate measurement from values
🤺 Expect Dynamic Dialogue
Carmen will present a provocative POV, then we’ll host an whole-group dialogue structured around real-world tensions:
Compliance vs. Application
Comparability vs. Context
Efficiency vs. Equity
🛠️ Who This Is For
Anyone working on:
CSR/ESG reporting
DEI strategy
Philanthropic evaluation
Social impact measurement
Movement-building or participatory design
✨ Top Links to Learn More About Carmen Perez & Her Work
Carmen’s LinkedIn – Full professional background
Better Next – Carmen’s strategy studio for social change networks
GivingTuesday Data Commons – A global network Carmen helped shape.
Selected Writings – Her thinking on measurement, equity, and systems change