Hi, everyone, and welcome to “Data Are Sexy,” the podcast that boldly proclaims the allure of data. I’m Tara Kenyon, your host, and I’ve got some exciting news to share with you today.

For those of you who follow my work, you know I've been bringing you insights through my blogs, the new “Smart Boss” newsletter, and, of course, this very podcast. But after a lot of thought, I've decided to streamline things and offer all my content in one fantastic place: Substack!

Now, why Substack?

Substack lets me create a more interactive and engaging experience for you. You can expect in-depth articles in the Smart Boss newsletter, exclusive podcast episodes like this one, and even announcements for online Kentara Analytics offerings – all under one roof!

Of course, as always, you’ll be able to get this podcast wherever you typically get your podcasts—Substack will let you know when a new episode comes out.

I should state that I’m not getting paid by Substack to make this switch; I’m not affiliated with Substack in any way except for placing my content on it. This is not a paid promotion. And I haven’t monetized any of my content, so subscribing to my Substack is free and super easy.

I'm really excited about this move and the chance to connect with you in a more focused way—reducing the effects of this “Monkey Mind” of mine. On Substack, I can dive deeper into topics, offer bonus content, and even foster a community where we can discuss data, analytics, business science, and being a Smart Boss together.

Subscribe today!

Don't forget to leave a comment and let me know what kind of content you'd love to see. 

Thanks for joining me today on the “Data are Sexy” podcast.

See you on the next episode and thank you for sharing your time with me today. I really appreciate it.

As a non-technical leader navigating the data landscape, your prowess in presenting data is a beacon that guides your team towards informed decision-making. As is usual for this podcast, we won’t dive into complex code or intricate algorithms. Instead, we’ll explore techniques for clear and persuasive data communication, tailored to resonate with diverse audiences. This is not just about data; it’s about enhancing your leadership through the art of compelling communication. Join me as we unravel the secrets of presenting data with clarity and influence.

In this episode, we’ll explore the essentials of data navigation, offering insights beyond coding complexities. While the claim to unveil all data access secrets might be ambitious, our focus is on practical strategies and the importance of data quality. It’s not anything miraculous. Rather, it’s a step toward mastering the art of turning data into actionable insights. Join me to discover practical applications, moving beyond theory into tangible leadership skills.

Imagine data as the ink and paper of a story waiting to be written. In this episode, we'll explore the art of transforming data into narratives that engage, inform, and inspire. You'll discover how to weave data into a compelling story that resonates with your audience and drives meaningful action.

If you’d like to learn more, check out my online course called “Data Visualization Mastery,” presented by Kentara® Analytics.  You can find it directly on Kentara’s Teach:able website - kentara.teachable.com OR, if you’d like a deep discount, go to kentara-analytics.com/courses where you can see this and other courses on business science, data visualization, and data-rich leadership.

Attributes:

Theme music is “Bossa Jazz” by Media Sushi and is used in accordance with the Melody Loops End User License Agreement #67244499368.

Crescendo sound by Setuniman at freesound.org.

Mentioned in this episode is Gapminder's Dollar Street (https://www.gapminder.org/dollar-street), a free and interactive website that visually represents the daily lives of people from around the world based on their income.

Why should you, the non-technical business leader, engage with this episode of the Data are Sexy podcast? Imagine being an art connoisseur entering a gallery filled with abstract masterpieces. To fully appreciate the art's beauty, you don't need to be a painter, but you do need to understand the nuances, the stories behind each stroke, and the emotions the artist intended to convey. Similarly, this episode is your guided tour through the world of data visualization, where data becomes a canvas for revealing insights. It's not about code or complex algorithms, but about understanding how data visuals tell compelling stories. This knowledge is the brush that paints a clearer path to better decision-making, business growth, and a deeper connection with the intricate world of data. It's the most important habit you can develop for navigating this artistic realm.

Link to Charles Minard's visualization of Napoleon's Russian campaign of 1812:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Joseph_Minard#/media/File:Minard.png

If you’d like to learn more, check out my online course called “Data Visualization Mastery,” presented by Kentara® Analytics.  You can find it directly on Kentara’s Teach:able website - kentara.teachable.com OR, if you’d like a deep discount, go to kentara-analytics.com/courses where you can see this and other courses on business science, data visualization, and data-rich leadership.

Imagine being able to express complex ideas and findings effortlessly, capturing your audience's attention and leaving a lasting impression. The language of data visualization is your gateway to achieving this. It's not just about creating charts; it's about crafting narratives that resonate with your viewers, helping them understand and connect with the data on a deeper level. Starting with this episode, we are going to show you the skills necessary to become a master communicator through visuals, making your data-driven insights more accessible and engaging.

Resources/Sources cited in this episode:

Leonardo da Vinci – RCIN 912660, Studies of Water c. 1510-12. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.

Solar system planets size comparison. Author: Lsmpascal, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Imagine having a unique skill, a lens through which you can see beyond the numbers and spreadsheets, where data become not just a series of digits, but a map to understanding your business, your industry, and your customers. This episode should revolutionize your perspective on data. You'll see how data can be your most potent tool for informed decision-making.

Key Point: Recognize the role of data as valuable assets for informed decision-making

If you want more information on Dr. John Snow, visit this Wikipedia link.

All businesses want to find some way to differentiate themselves from their competition.

You are overwhelmed, and your customers are overwhelmed, too. The data you have on hand today speaks volumes about becoming and staying relevant to your customers. It is the analytics behind that data that will cut through all the noise competing with you and your value proposition.

In this episode, I provide a tip for helping you compete with analytics, differentiate with analytics, and best of all, dominate with analytics.

Sources cited:

Crawford, F. A., & Mathews, R. (2001). The Myth of Excellence: Why Great Companies Never Try to Be the Best at Everything (1st ed.). New York: Crown Business.

Kleiner, A. (2003). Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success (1st ed.). New York: Currency/Doubleday.

Here’s a data point for you: How about something that promises that 74% of the value of an initiative is realized in the first year of roll-out?

To achieve this, it’s important to understand that traditional strategic planning is failing us—and always has. The process never seems to deliver all that it promises at the beginning. Chances are that you have already undertaken the creation of a strategic plan in the traditional sense, but you are stuck.

Today’s episode gives you a way to manage your strategic initiatives, create quick wins and minimize losses – turning data into money.

Sources cited:

“The Numbers Behind Successful Transformations” by Kevin Laczkowshi, Tao Tan, and Matthias Winter. McKinsey Quarterly (17 October 2019). https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/transformation/our-insights/the-numbers-behind-successful-transformations

Trout, J., & Rivkin, S. (1999). The Power of Simplicity: a Management Guide to Cutting Through the Nonsense and Doing Things Right. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Keller, G., & Papasan, J. (2013). The ONE Thing: the Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results. Austin, Texas: Bard Press.

Think about this: The canaries placed in coal mines aren’t there to mine coal.

On the business side of your organization, your rising stars and key talent typically aren’t the ones mining data and performing data analyses. Rather, they are learning your market and your product and service offerings. With a few extra skills and coaching, they can become a sentinel species for detecting risks to your business and provide advance warning of dangers and better, provide predictive indicators for your business potential.

In this episode, I illustrate how business executives can learn to attract and retain their rising stars without threatening established managers and executives in their succession plans.