Kathryn Mattie serves as the Chief Information Officer at Brightpoint, a nonprofit serving over 34,000 children and families annually across Illinois. With a background in public policy and over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology and social impact, Kathryn brings a rare combination of mission-driven leadership and tech-savvy innovation to the nonprofit sector. Her career includes transformative roles with the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago, and philanthropic organizations, all centered on leveraging data and innovation for public good. As Brightpoint’s first-ever CIO, Kathryn is focused on building scalable, tech-enabled solutions to strengthen service delivery, streamline operations, and improve outcomes for vulnerable communities.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- How Brightpoint supports 34,000 families through integrated services
- Why a blended funding model helps nonprofits scale impact
- Kathryn’s unique path from policy intern to CIO
- The role of AI and voice tech in modernizing social services
- How Brightpoint is building an AI-powered chatbot for parents
- Advice for introverts and technologists on building strong networks
- The nonprofit sector’s hidden edge in innovation and experimentation
- Strategies for sustainable, multi-tenant technology development
In this episode…
Kathryn shares how Brightpoint operates at scale with a team of nearly 950 staff supporting families in areas like mental health, early education, and child welfare. While funding comes largely from state and federal partnerships, Kathryn emphasizes the importance of both public and private collaborators—including AWS, a key supporter of Brightpoint’s emerging AI solutions. As CIO, she’s leading efforts to break down data silos, automate administrative workflows, and prototype tools that improve service access for underserved families.
One of Brightpoint’s most ambitious projects is a multilingual AI chatbot designed to help parents navigate services like food, housing, and mental health in real time. Funded through an AWS Children’s Health Innovation award, the tool leverages organizational knowledge and GenAI to deliver timely support—24/7. Kathryn explains how the team is building it securely, exploring licensing possibilities for sustainability, and prototyping with Brightpoint’s doula program to ensure real-world value.
Kathryn also speaks candidly about her journey from intern to executive, crediting her career progression not to technical prowess, but to people skills, process awareness, and maintaining long-term relationships. She offers tactical advice for staying in touch professionally, embracing discomfort to grow, and leading with a give-first mindset—especially valuable for younger tech professionals navigating their early careers.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Matthew Connor on LinkedIn
CyberLynx
Kathryn Mattie on LinkedIn
Brightpoint Website
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