Business Analysis Live!

Thinking Is Still Your Job

Your most important work tool isn't AI — it's what you bring to the table.In this episode, I sat down with Yulia Kosarenko, lifelong business analyst, author, trainer, and professor, for a conversation that I think every business analyst needs to hear right now. Yulia has spent years thinking about what it means to have a true business analyst mindset, and at a time when AI can generate a document in five seconds, her message is incredibly timely: thinking is still your job, and that's not changing.We talked about the invisible work that business analysis professionals do and why that work is what AI cannot replicate. Yulia made a point that stuck with me: by the time you've given AI all the context, structure, and direction it needs to produce something useful, you've practically done all the analysis already. The hard work, the real work, the thinking, still belongs to us.We also got into some territory that is just under the surface of our work these days: the growing pressure to produce more faster, the risk of "AI slop" becoming the new normal, what it means to raise a generation of students (and professionals) who never learned to think without a shortcut, and why human conversations are still one of the most powerful elicitation tools in our toolkit.🎙️Episode Highlights• What it means to take responsibility for your own thinking • Why the invisible parts of our job are the parts AI can't touch• How to teach students (and yourself) to critically evaluate AI output• Using organizational language as a competitive advantage• The false confidence problem: when AI sounds right but isn't• Why human conversation is still irreplaceable for knowledge gathering• Process mining, primary data, and the techniques business analysts aren't talking about enough• AI and innovation and the issues that arise when we use AI and the trademarked data to • How to know when AI is helping you think — and when it's making you think less• Managing teams in an age of AI slop🔗 Resources Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Connect with Yulia on LinkedIn Learn more about our business analysis communityBusiness 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 #AIAndTheFutureOfWork #BAMindset

Why Good Decisions Go Wrong

Ever made a decision that looked perfect on paper — and still went wrong?That's the question I opened with, and Dr. David Marco had an answer ready. David has spent decades building data and analytics programs for some of the most complicated environments out there — the FBI, Mayo Clinic, and over 150 companies and federal agencies — and lately his focus has shifted to the C-suite and boardroom, where the decisions that ripple down to the rest of us get made.In this episode, David introduces the concept of decision integrity: the ability to make evidence-based, consequential decisions that can be explained, traced, owned, trusted, and defended under scrutiny. We talk about what happens when that integrity is missing —and the real human consequences of decisions that go badly. David breaks down his four categories of decisions and his three pillars of decision integrity, and makes the case for why business analysis professionals are exactly the people who should be in the room when these decisions get made.This conversation started as a talk about decision integrity and turned into something closer to a career conversation — because for David, they're the same thing. If you've ever felt like you didn't have the authority to speak up on a decision you could see going sideways, this episode gives you permission to raise your hand and do it!Episode Highlights● What "decision integrity" means — and why boards are asking for it now● The AI hospital discharge case that shows what happens without decision guardrails● Why "human in the loop" isn't always enough ● David shares his four categories of decisions● The three pillars of decisions (and data) ● Why BAs are the connective tissue of an organization — and how to claim that role● The power of raising your hand: David's career-defining habit● A $100 million cautionary tale about a "simple" customer question Resources Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. David Marco onLinkedIn Join our IIBA business analysis community 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.

Instincts are Data Too

A gut feeling. A hunch. That feeling that something's off. As business analysts, we're trained to bring data to the table — but what about the things we know before the data catches up?Russell Mears — IIBA board member and 15-year BA veteran — joins Susan Moore on this episode of Business Analysis Live! to make the case that tapping into your instinct isn't abandoning rigor. Actually, it's a form of it. Drawing on philosophy, history, and hard-won experience in some of the most intense environments in finance, Russell reframes what it means to "do your homework" as a business analyst — and why dismissing your gut might be the most expensive mistake you make.This episode also gets into the real barriers to acting on your instincts — psychological safety, the pressure to quantify everything, and why a confident-looking output can silence the very people who know something's wrong.Episode Highlights• Trained instinct vs. raw hunch — what’s the difference? • Michael Polanyi's "we can know more than we can tell"• Gary Klein's research on expert pattern-matching under pressure• Why "garbage in, garbage out" assumes you can spot the garbage• The barriers to speaking up — psychological safety and the pressure to quantify• Instinct as a leading indicator • How instinct shows up in the business analysis practice• IIBA's Being Nimble research: sensing and responding to change 🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn · Connect with Russell on LinkedIn · Find out more about Being Nimble, IIBA’s research on the role of business analysis in organizational agility 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 #Instinct #CriticalThinking Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/

The 3 A's of Business Analysis

This week on Business Analysis Live!, Susan Moore sits down with the team behind the Festival of Business Analysis (FOBA) — IIBA Australia's Abi Sachithanantham and Luigi Bini — to unpack this year's crowdsourced theme: Adapt, Align, and Accelerate. It's a two-week celebration (online first, then in person across five Australian cities plus Auckland and Wellington), and this year's program leans hard into more than just AI hype. Susan also catches up with closing keynote speaker Shane Hastie (CBAP #140 and a core contributor to BABOK 3.0) on why career shape-shifting — not job titles — is the real story of this AI moment. Vaughan Luckman of Luckman Beyond BA makes the case that BAs are the "kings and queens of context" and they can't afford to sit back and wait for a seat at the table. And Sharon Robson and Will McNellis of Core State Consulting preview their workshop on political quotient — because office politics isn't something to avoid but something we need understand. Whether you're headed to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, or Wellington — or joining online — this episode is a taste of what you’ll hear at FOBA this year.- Episode Highlights● How FOBA's 2026 theme for this year was crowdsourced from the community● Shane Hastie talks about his closing keynote - "the shape you didn't plan" and the broken-comb shaped skill set● Vaughan Luckman says ditch the 300-page document and claim a seat at the table● Sharon Robson & Will McNelis want you to embrace your “political quotient” and hack (rather than avoid) office politics● Learn where and how you can join FOBA this year! - Resources Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Follow the IIBA Australia Chapter on LinkedIn Find the agendas and get your tickets: festivalofbusinessanalysis.org Connect with Vaughan Luckman on LinkedIn Connect with Sharon Robson on LinkedIn Connect with Will McNellis on LinkedIn Connect with Shane Hastie on LinkedIn Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, CommunityEngagement 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 Likebutton, 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 anon-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 andcertifications. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iiba.org/ #FOBA2026 #BusinessAnalysis #AdaptAlignAccelerate

Surviving Layoffs Without Losing Confidence

This week Susan is joined again by Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta— change management strategist, founder of the Change Leadership Community, and author of the newly released Anatomy of a Change Leader — for a conversation we don't discuss enough of in this profession: layoffs.We talk about it from every angle we've each lived. Being let go. Staying behind while your team disappears around you. And the part that's uniquely uncomfortable for business analysts — sometimes our own analysis is the data that leads to the decision. Yvonne and I both got laid off early in our careers, and we get honest about how it shaped us, what organizations still get wrong about "survivor" support, and why mindset determines what you do with the time you're given.If you've been laid off, are watching it happen around you right now, or just know it's possible in this AI-disrupted moment — this one's for you.🎙️Episode Highlights● Yvonne's first layoff — and the mindset shift that came from it● Why organizations plan for the people they let go, but not the people who stay● Survivor's guilt and the anxiety loop of "am I next?"● The ethics of being the BA whose analysis feeds a layoff decision● Cognitive empathy vs. reassurance in change communication● Building "indispensable" skills before the layoff happens● Why breadth — not just technical BA skill — is what organizations want now● The Kübler-Ross change curve and getting to acceptance🔗 Resources• Connect with Susan on LinkedIn• Connect with Yvonne on LinkedInHave you been laid off? IIBA has resources and a community to help! Business Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, CommunityEngagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysistopics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Likebutton, 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 anon-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBAactively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications. #BusinessAnalysis#ChangeLeadership #CareerResilience

Applied AI for Business Analysis Professionals

The future doesn’t belong to the BA who writes the best requirements. It belongs to the one who can design an environment where AI amplifies human judgment. Ready to think differently about your career?A note: this conversation was recorded in May 2025 — more than a year before this episode aired. A lot of what Susan Yu talked about has since caught up with the rest of the world. That’s what futurists do!In this episode, host Susan Moore sits down with IIBA president and CEO Delvin and Susan Yu, chair of the IIBA Sydney chapter, futurist, and author of the upcoming book on AI-augmented business analysis. The result is one of the most grounded, practitioner-level conversations on agentic AI you’ll hear—no hype, just real talk from people who are living through this shift.Susan Yu brings a perspective most of us haven’t heard before: she fell into generative AI through a book club full of movie directors, startup founders, and university professors—not enterprise folks. That outside-in lens shapes everything she shares in this episode. She’s direct about where organizations are versus where the tech industry thinks they are, and why this is important for business analysis professionals as they are trying to figure out where they fit.The conversation zeroes in on agentic AI—AI that can execute entire decision chains. The stakes are different here. When an agent can write, send, and optimize a process end-to-end, someone has to be thinking about the ethical architecture underneath it. That someone, as Delvin and both Susans make clear, should be us.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why agentic AI is both “yes” and “no” for 2026• The enterprise reality gap: where organizations really are• Decision architecture and why it’s the business analysis professional’s new frontier• Human-in-the-loop: art form or non-negotiable?• The UAE’s Regulatory Intelligence Office as a governance model• Skills business analysts need to stay relevant in the agentic era• Why documentation obsession will cost business analysts their jobs• Courage and speaking up as a core business analysis competency• An AI reframe: BA for AI, not AI for BA🔗 Resources Connect with Susan Moore on LinkedIn Connect with Susan Yu on LinkedIn International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA): https://www.iiba.org 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 #AgenticAI #IIBA

Certification in the Age of AI

Certifications aren’t obsolete but the reasons for getting them are changing. In this episode of Business Analysis Live!, Susan Moore sits down with Tyler Kenny, Product Manager for Certifications at IIBA, to dig into what professional credentials mean in a world where knowledge and skill are being rapidly reshaped by AI. This won’t be a conversation about exam prep. It's about why the principles behind certification are still sound, and how to think about your own professional development when the tools and expectations in business analysis work keep changing.Tyler brings a refreshingly grounded take: IIBA has always been vendor-agnostic, and that same thinking applies to AI. Rather than chasing every new tool, the goal is to build the kind of foundational knowledge that travels — the skills and knowledge you can carry into any context, any platform, any future. He also gets candid about AI hype, technical debt, and what skills he believes will be future-proof (spoiler: documentation and process modeling are not going away).This is a must-listen for any business analysis professional wondering how to invest in themselves right now — certification and beyond.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why IIBA stays at the skill level — not the tool level• How AI fits into certification design (and what it doesn't replace)• The "primitives" of business analysis that transfer to any context• What "human in the loop" means in practice• Skills Tyler predicts will matter most• Why 100x productivity claims don't account for what x really means• The case for continuous learning — including in your personal life • Certifications as a foundation you build on, not a finish line🔗 Resources • Connect with Susan on LinkedIn • Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn • Learn more about IIBA certifications • International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) 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 #Certifications #AI

What Global Business Analysts Are Seeing Right Now

What's really happening in business analysis around the world — and what does it mean for you?I sat down with Fabricio Laguna — the Brazilian BA and Senior Advisor to the IIBA President — fresh off a global listening tour where he interviewed ten senior business analysis professionals from every continent. (Spoiler: none of them had the title "Business Analyst.") What he heard will make you rethink what it means to be a senior BA, where AI is actually showing up in BA work, and why the profession might be its own best-kept secret.We covered a lot of ground in this one. Fabricio broke down how business analysis looks wildly different depending on the industry — from manufacturing to banking to ERP implementation — and why that's not a bug, it's the whole point. We talked about the soft skills vs. hard skills debate (and why it's a false choice), what makes someone a senior BA versus just an experienced one, and how the dance analogy actually explains career development better than most frameworks. And of course, AI came up. Not in the "will it take your job" way — nobody Fabricio interviewed believes that — but in the more important question: are BAs just using AI, or are they leading their organizations into it? There's a big difference, and this episode gets into it. 🎙️Episode Highlights• What 10 senior BAs from around the world are seeing in their organizations right now• How business analysis varies by industry — not by region• Why job titles are becoming more fluid (and what that means for the profession)• Soft skills vs. hard skills — and why senior BAs need both• The "conductor" and "dancer" frameworks for career development• AI as a productivity tool vs. AI as a strategic leadership opportunity• How BAs should be leading AI adoption, not just reacting to it 🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn· Connect with Fabricio on LinkedIn· The Brazilian BA website 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 #AILeadership #IIBA

What's Redefining Business Analysis Right Now?

What does it actually mean to be a business analyst when everything you knew about the role is changing — fast?In this episode, I sat down with Ryan Folster, a product leader based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who's been deep in the trenches thinking, speaking, and honestly losing sleep over exactly this question. Ryan came fresh off delivering a talk at the BBC conference in Toronto (where, for the record, neither of us dressed for the weather 😄), and he brought all of that energy and insight straight to our conversation.Here's what I love about Ryan's perspective — it's not an AI hype (or doom) talk. It's about the human things that enable AI: structured thinking, context-gathering, decomposition, and the very human judgment that no prompt can replace. We got into why experienced BAs sometimes struggle most with this moment of change, why your ability to think is still your greatest professional asset, and what it looks like to lean into adaptability when you genuinely don't know what next week will bring.We also talked about the pressure. The very real pressure organizations are putting on analysts right now — the "you have AI, so why isn't this done yet?" pressure — and what Ryan is actually doing to manage it. Spoiler: it involves automation, focus, and a healthy acceptance of what you can and can't control.This is a conversation for every BA who's excited, a little scared, and trying to figure out where they fit in a profession that's redefining itself in real time.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why this moment in business analysis isn't really about AI — it's about what enables AI• Cognitive load theory and why it maps directly to what business analysis professionals have always done• Decomposition as a core, enduring skill in an AI-accelerated world• AI speeds up execution, not thinking — and why that distinction matters• How BRDs and FRDs are evolving into "thinking documents"• The rising expectations problem and how to manage scope and pressure• Authenticity, AI slop, and protecting the human element in our work• Whether the BA title survives — and why your skill set matters more than your label• Role convergence: BA, PM, tester, developer — and what that means for you• Compliance, judgment, and information security in an AI-first environment• Building automations that work for you even when you're not working• Continuous learning as a muscle you have to actively maintain🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn• Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn• South Africa Summit infoBusiness 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 #AI #FutureOfWork

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The Most Underestimated Role in Your AI Transformation

Business analysis is having a moment—and if AI feels overwhelming, this conversation might just change how you see your role. In this episode, I’m joined by speaker, author, and LinkedIn Learning instructor, Angela Wick, to unpack what may be the most underestimated role in AI-driven transformation: business analysis. Building on her recent article about the evolving role of business analysis in agentic AI, we explore how our work is shifting—from requirements and handoffs to decision-making, orchestration, and true partnership across business and technology. We talk candidly about what’s actually changing (and what isn’t), why AI demands our involvement earlier than ever, and how long-standing analysis skills suddenly matter more—not less—in a probabilistic, agent-driven world. If you’ve ever felt boxed into “requirements gatherer” territory or unsure where you fit as AI accelerates, this conversation is meant to spark confidence, clarity, and maybe even a little excitement about what’s next.🎙️Episode Highlights• The role of business analysis in agentic AI• Moving beyond requirements into decision velocity and process orchestration• Deterministic vs. probabilistic behavior in AI-enabled processes• Continuous analysis and the end of phased thinking• Human-in-the-loop governance and AI drift• Business analysis as a leadership and design discipline• Developing junior BAs in an AI-first world🔗 Resources· Connect with Susan on LinkedIn· Connect with Angela on LinkedIn· Listen to the Kenny Loggins’ song “This Is It” that inspired Angela· IIBA members can download Angela’s article TheEvolving Role of Business Analysis in the Age of Enterprise Agentic AI 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 #AgenticAI #AITransformation

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The Power of Finding Your People

What happens when business analysis professionals stop going it alone and start finding their people?This episode of Business Analysis Live comes to you “live” from Toronto at the Building Business Capability (BBC) Conference—and it’s all about connection. I share scenes from the conference, introduce two incredible guests, and explore what it really means for business analysis professionals to find community, visibility, and confidence in a world that’s increasingly virtual.We talk about why conferences matter beyond the sessions, how visibility shows up differently in remote work, and why volunteering, networking, and authenticity play such a critical role in career growth. Through thoughtful conversations with Pam Paterson and my IIBA colleague Lia Spoltore, we dig into the human side of business analysis—values, trust, relationships, and learning together across generations.If you’ve ever wondered how to build confidence, grow your network without feeling transactional, or reconnect with the people part of this profession, this episode is for you.🎧 Episode Highlights• Finding your people in the business analysis community• Visibility vs. being “busy” at work• Networking beyond job searching• Volunteering as a confidence and skill builder• Human skills in a tech- and AI-shaped world• Values, authenticity, and trust in professional relationships• Conferences as connection, not just content 🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn · Connect with Pam on LinkedIn · Connect with Lia on LinkedIn 🔗 Resources• Connect with Susan on LinkedIn• Connect with Pam on LinkedIn• Connect with Lia on LinkedInBusiness 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 #FindingYourPeople #BBCConference

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The Process Improvement Mistakes That Analysts Make

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

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Making Data Impossible to Ignore

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

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Turning Strategy Into Results

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

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AI Governance

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/

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What is Change Leadership?

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

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The Value Proposition of Business Analysis

Ever wonder what real value looks like in business analysis—and how to show it with confidence?In this episode, host Susan Moore talks with trainer, author and owner of Bridging the Gap, Laura Brandenburg, to talk about what it means to deliver value as a business analysis professional. We explore why value goes far beyond documents and deliverables, how confidence shapes our impact, and where AI actually helps (and where it absolutely does not). We also discuss Laura’s new eight step framework from her new book The Value Driven Business Analyst. 🎙️Episode Highlights• What “value” really means in business analysis• Outcomes vs. value (and why it’s not either/or – it’s and)• How confidence affects our ability to lead• The business analysis value proposition: reducing rework and improving decision velocity• The role of AI in business analysis work today• Showing your value inside organizations that “don’t get it”• Let AI take care of the routine tasks so you can focus your time on deeper collaboration and relationship building• Laura’s value driven business analysis framework• Laura’s upcoming 3-part webinar series with IIBA which starts on Feb 18🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn · Connect with Laura 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 #ValueDrivenBA #CareerConfidence

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Why Plan Your Business Analysis

Are you leaving your business analysis work to chance? Let’s talk about why planning your business analysis work matters more than you think.In this episode, I sit down with Kathy Berkidge, speaker, trainer and business analysis practitioner, to explore one of my favorite topics from the BABOK® Guide—Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring. We discuss why business analysis planning gets overlooked, what a solid business analysis plan looks like, and how it impacts stakeholder engagement and overall project success. Whether you’re working on a massive transformation or a quick enhancement, business analysis planning is a leadership skill that can elevate the importance of your work and how it directly relates to the outcomes of your initiative.🎙️Episode Highlights • Why planning your business analysis work is critical• Common reasons planning gets skipped• The difference between a business analysis plan and a project plan• How planning strengthens stakeholder engagement• Nine key elements of a business analysis planning canvas• Adapting planning for Agile vs. Waterfall projects• Tips for scaling your plan based on project size 🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn · Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn · Learn about the 2026 Building Business Capability (BBC) 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/#BusinessAnalysis #BusinessAnalysisPlanning #BABOK #IIBA

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2025 Best of Business Analysis Live!

From agile insights to AI’s impact on business analysis, discover the top Business Analysis Live! conversations that shaped our profession in 2025. In this special end-of-year episode of Business Analysis Live, we’re hitting pause to celebrate the best of 2025. We look back at the top five episodes that got you thinking and inspired new ways to approach your business analysis. Whether you’re curious about agile, the latest standards, or the art of asking great questions, this recap is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Join me as we reflect on what made these conversations so impactful! 🔗 Resources Connect with Susan on LinkedIn ▶️ Watch the Top 5 Episodes #5 What Business Analysis Professionals Should Know About Agile #4 How a Framework Transforms Your Business Analysis Approach #3 AI and the Future of Business Analysis Roles #2 The New Standard in Business Analysis #1 How to Ask Good Questions 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 #AgileMindset #FutureOfWork

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How to Give and Receive Feedback

Giving and receiving feedback doesn’t have to feel awkward—discover how to turn it into a powerful relationship-building skill!In this episode of Business Analysis Live, I sit down with Paweł Sidorowicz to unpack the art (and science!) of feedback. We explore why feedback matters, how to give it thoughtfully, and what it takes to receive it with grace—even when it stings. From practical frameworks to real-life stories, this conversation is packed with insights you can use right away to strengthen relationships at work and beyond. If feedback has ever felt uncomfortable, this episode will help you rethink it as a gift, not a lump of coal. 🎙️Episode Highlights Why feedback is essential for building trust and relationships Common challenges in giving and receiving feedback A practical 4-step framework for delivering feedback effectively Managing emotions before and during feedback conversations Active listening and self-awareness as feedback superpowers Cultural and personal factors that shape feedback How to handle sensitive topics and timing Turning feedback into growth opportunities 🔗 Resources Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Connect with Paweł 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/

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