Linda Wilson: Helping Cities Get Smart About Data

When Linda Wilson picks up the phone, she’s not selling a product—she’s building a movement. As the public face of the Open Cities Index (OCI) and Geospatial Maturity Index (GMI) surveys since 2016, Linda has become a lifeline for over a hundred GIS and open data programs across North America.

These aren’t just surveys. They’re frameworks that help governments understand how well they’re using data—tools that Linda has helped shape, promote, and bring to life, often one conversation at a time.

“It’s not about filling out a survey,” Linda says. “It’s about realizing you’re not alone.” In a field where many public servants are “just themselves” managing GIS or open data programs, Linda’s approach offers validation, benchmarking, and above all, connection.

She began this work in 2015, soon after joining PSD Citywide, where an open data intern sparked her curiosity. By 2018, she was helping launch the GMI—modeled after the OCI but tailored to GIS maturity. Together, these tools have become essential benchmarks for municipalities eager to measure progress and advocate for better resourcing.

“People would tell me, ‘I didn’t think I could even participate. But now I have a report that helps me start conversations with my manager.’”

Linda explains how every participant receives a custom report, complete with charts and narratives—sometimes even trophies for top performers. The value is more than competitive—it’s transformational. “You pretty much have a presentation for council right there.”

But the secret to Linda’s success? She listens.

“I’m not reading from a script,” she says. “I research what’s going on in that municipality, and I meet them where they are.” That sincerity fuels the more than 100 calls she makes weekly, connecting with GIS coordinators, lone data managers, and whole departments.

For Linda, this work is deeply personal. “Even in the grocery store, people tell me their life stories,” she laughs. A natural connector, she’s helped solo GIS workers discover local support networks and created space—virtual or otherwise—for practitioners to meet, vent, and celebrate.

Despite challenges—technical hurdles, pandemic disruptions, or international time zones—Linda keeps going. She’s proud that what started as a small Canadian initiative is now used in the U.S., Australia, and beyond. The program's growth means she’s no longer alone either: “We’ve now got seven people making calls.”

And yes, there have been humbling moments.

“We were all learning together,” she says. We’ve always tried to make sure participants feel like the survey is theirs. That’s what keeps it going.”

Linda’s drive is powered by her belief in people: their stories, their struggles, their efforts to do better. As more municipalities step into the data age, Linda’s voice—on the phone or through a survey—is the kind of leadership that quietly, persistently makes the world a little smarter, and a lot more connected.