Business Analysis Live!

Process improvement sounds straightforward—until resistance, culture, and people dynamics derail your best intentions.
In this episode, I’m joined by Tawana Gardner and Julia Benford, two seasoned Lean Six Sigma practitioners who have been there, done that when it comes to process improvement. We talk about the most common process improvement mistakes business analysts make—and why they happen. We dig into real-world stories from inside organizations, where change isn’t resisted because people “hate change,” but because of fear, past trauma, unclear ownership, and missed conversations.
Together, we talk about what it really takes to improve processes without alienating people: empathy over expertise, influence over authority, and meeting teams where they are—not just following the leader’s orders. If you’ve ever wondered why a process clearly “needs fixing” but no one seems ready to fix it, this conversation is for you.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why resistance to change isn’t what it seems• Common process improvement mistakes analysts make• The hidden impact of organizational culture and past change trauma• Finding (and empowering) real subject matter experts• Lean Six Sigma tools: when to use them—and when not to• Ownership vs. facilitation in continuous improvement• The role of leadership visibility in successful change🔗 Resources
· Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
· Connect with Tawana on LinkedIn
· Connect with Julia on LinkedIn
· Join us at the Building Business Capability conference
Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/#ProcessImprovement#BusinessAnalysis#ChangeManagement

In this episode, I’m joined by Ankit Agrawal, CRM Lead and data storyteller, for a practical, experience-driven conversation about data storytelling—what it really is, why it matters, and how business analysis professionals can use it to drive decisions instead of just presenting findings. We dig into why data alone rarely changes minds, and what it actually takes to move stakeholders from “interesting” to “let’s act.”Ankit shares real-world examples from his work leading CRM and analytics projects, along with a clear framework for turning analysis into a narrative that resonates with executives, technical teams, and everyone in between. From executive summaries and ROI to visualization pitfalls, stakeholder alignment, and the growing role of AI, this is a conversation about making your hard analytical work visible, credible, and impactful.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why data without context gets ignored• What “storytelling with data” actually means in practice• A framework for turning analysis into decisions• Driving urgency, ROI, and action with insights• Executive summaries and the elevator pitch effect• Common storytelling and visualization pitfalls• Building credibility and trust as a data professional• Adapting stories for technical vs. non-technical audiences• Where AI fits—and why the human storyteller still matters🔗 Resources
·    Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
·  Connect with Ankit on LinkedIn
Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/
#DataStorytelling #BusinessAnalysis #DecisionMaking

What if turning strategy into real results is less about acting fast and more about learning fast? This conversation will change how you think about strategy.
In this episode, I sit down with Elena Zhukova, Co-Founder of OKR Poland and business analysis practitioner, to explore what strategy actually is—and why so many organizations get it wrong. We cover the misconceptions that derail strategic efforts and talk about how iteration, OKRs, resilience, and deep human skills are essential to strategy work. Elena shares honest lessons learned and some refreshing truths about the messy work of making strategy real.
If you’ve ever wondered how your business analysis skills really show up in strategy work—or why resilience matters more than having the right answer—this episode is full of insights you can start using right away.🎙️Episode Highlights• What strategy really means • Why strategy fails • The power of iteration and learning • OKRs as a tool for strategic experimentation • Lead vs. lag metrics • Human skills at the heart of strategy work • Defining “winning” in meaningful ways • The role of resilience in modern business • Using BA skills to guide executive-level conversations • Culture, behavior, and how organizations sabotage their own strategy🔗 Resources• Connect with Susan on LinkedIn• Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/#BusinessAnalysis #StrategyExecution #OKRs

Think AI governance is just policies and guardrails? Think again. In this episode, we break open the psychology, ethics, and risks behind AI decision making—and why business analysis and quality assurance professionals are more critical than ever.
In this episode, I sit down with author and AI thinker Chris Ambler for a conversation that reframes how we should be approaching AI, ethics, and decision making. Instead of talking about AI as a shiny tool or a magical brain, Chris takes us back to basics—treating AI as software, unpacking the psychology behind human decision-making, and revealing why those insights are crucial for business analysis and QA professionals.
In this conversation we talk about AI from a very different perspective. We explore bias and drift, moral frameworks, the “elephant and rider” model, and why guardrails—not hype—will determine the future of AI. This one goes deep, challenges your assumptions, and might leave you a little unsettled (but optimistic).
Whether you're a business analysis or quality assurance professional, product leader, educator, or simply someone trying to wrap your head around how AI should work, this conversation will spark new thinking about the role we all play in responsible AI.
🎙️Episode Highlights• What AI governance really means• Why AI must be treated as software—not a sentient being• Bias, drift, and why repeatability matters• Ethical frameworks and the dilemma of “whose morals” to encode• The psychology behind human decision-making• Anthropomorphism and the danger of “trusting” AI• Why business analysis and quality assurance professionals are essential to responsible AI development• The urgency of creating AI guardrails and global collaboration• Chris’s new book The Psychology of AI Decision Making• Chris’ AI Governance Union initiative
🔗 Resources
· Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
· Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
· Learn more about Chris’ book The Psychology of AI Decision-Making
·IIBA members have exclusive access to this book through their membership!
Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience.
If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!
The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis #ArtificialIntelligence #AIGovernance

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/

Change is accelerating faster than ever — but are you managing it, or leading it? Do you know the difference?
In this episode, I sit down with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta, with The Change Leadership, an organization that advocates for change leadership as a capability and skillset. We talk about what change leadership looks like today and how it is more than a role or a methodology. It’s a capability every professional needs, especially business analysis professionals who work at the intersection of people, process, and technology.
From empathy to emotional intelligence, from handling resistance to shaping meaningful collaboration, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can use right away. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I a change leader?” — the answer is yes. And Yvonne helps you see exactly why.🎙️Episode Highlights• What change leadership really means• How change leadership differs from change management• The role of empathy and emotional intelligence• Why resistance is a gift• How BA skills naturally align with change leadership• Collaboration and trust-building• Stakeholder engagement that works• Influence vs. manipulation• Empowering others to act• Mindsets for today’s change leaders🔗 Resources
·   Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
·   Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn
·   Learn more about The Change Leadership

Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/
#ChangeLeadership #BusinessAnalysis #LeadershipSkills