Molly Poppie

Molly Poppie received the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awardee from the UWM Alumni Association. The award was presented during the Alumni Awards Evening on February 21, 2025, at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

Molly began her career at Nielsen in 2007 as a statistical analyst and spent 17 years advancing through 14 different roles, ultimately becoming senior vice president & global head of data strategy. As the most prolific woman inventor in Nielsen’s history, she holds 51 patents for innovations in media measurement, with many more pending. Her groundbreaking work in audience measurement and consumer behavior research set new industry standards. Molly has lent her expertise to key industry organizations such as the Advertising Research Foundation, the Association of National Advertisers and the American Marketing Association, where her insights have shaped important conversations in media measurement and advertising. A dedicated advocate for women in leadership, she co-founded Chief, a network focused on empowering women executives, and has mentored women in media and data science roles for over 10 years. Molly was also an executive sponsor for Nielsen Cares and Nielsen Green, initiatives that champion community engagement and sustainability. In recognition of her contributions, Molly received the 2023 Top Women in Media and Ad Tech Changemaker Award for her impact on media and advertising technology. In September 2024, she joined Experian as head of analytics for the North America Financial Services and Data division, leading an organization focused on providing analytics across the financial lifecycle.