The Inquisitive Analyst

(T.I.A. Ep 49). Ananya (Ann) Pani, who heads Global Sales and Marketing at AdaptiveUS, explains the immense value that AdaptiveUS provides the BA community; recommended steps for BAs to perform an effective gap analysis; and how BAs can take on broader responsibilities, and deepen their functional expertise.

Ananya also discusses how BAs can survive and thrive in the new normal; how to kick-start a lucrative BA career; great ways for BAs to gather requirements in an Agile environment; essential skills for BAs to transition to a Product Owner role; and how BAs can build effective relationships within their team and across various departments.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg4aj8KgJds

Ananya (Ann) Pani:  

Website: AdaptiveUS.com; 

Blog: adaptiveus.com/blog; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann~/ 

Sponsored by 

The Lewis Institute: 

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute: 

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 48). Richard Cunningham, Principal Consultant at Blendery Inc, talks about his blog Purposeful Architect, which provides a journey of insights for BAs and Architects to understand requirements, and how to develop Salesforce solutions; and how Blendery Inc. streamlines multiple event systems into a single management solution.

Richard also points out modelling techniques that lead to more complete and accurate requirements; how best to learn company jargon and define it in a shared glossary; differences between a process map and a concept map; mapping out complexity in Salesforce; the process of designing and deploying event registration solutions.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ8d9vVfCfs

Richard Cunningham:  

Website: http://www.blendery.com/; 

Blog: https://www.purposefularchitect.com/; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbcunningham/

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 47). Cheryl Lee, a BA and PM consultant and instructor for Knowledge Adapters, speaks eloquently about her experience as co-founder and chair of the PMI Toronto Chapter, and co-author to The PMI Guide to Business Analysis, 1st Ed; her involvement with the Business Analysis Community within a PMI Chapter; and the advantages of a virtual self-paced PMI-PBA boot camp. 

Cheryl also provides some recommendations on transitioning from a BA to an Agile BA role; advantages to having a PMI-PBA certification; the application process to take the PMI-PBA exam; and the real meaning behind "PMs are from Mars and BAs are from Venus".

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca3CTyZcPr8

Cheryl Lee:  

Website 1: https://knowledgeadapters.com/; 

Website 2: http://projectadvisor.com/; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryllowlee/; 

Twitter: @BAPMCherylLee

Books co-authored 

1) Effective PM and BA Role Collaboration: Delivering Business Value through Projects and Programs Successfully https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Role-Collaboration-Delivering-Successfully/dp/B01FIX292A; 

2) The PMI Guide to Business Analysis https://www.amazon.com/PMI-Guide-Business-Analysis/dp/1628251980/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+PMI+Guide+to+Business+Analysis%2C+2017&qid=1626079709&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr0

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 46). Greta Blash, a Business Consultant, Trainer, and Speaker, provides recommendations for aspiring PM entrepreneurs entering the PM consultancy and training business; lessons learned from implementing CRM and BI systems; the role of the BA on an Agile project; and the prime benefit of being a project manager.

Greta also elucidates on how to contend with identifying and managing risks on a project; how PMs can work effectively alongside a PMO; experience teaching at the Keller Graduate School of Management; fundamental skills needed to successfully manage projects; and steps needed to establish an effective Change Control Board (CCB).

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtUTcZu4m_M

Greta Blash:  

Website: https://www.facilitatedmethods.com; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretablash/

Books:

1) Basics of Good Project Management https://www.amazon.com/Basics-Good-Project-Management-successfully-ebook/dp/B07L4CKKNC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Basic+of+Good+Project+Management%2C+greta+blash&qid=1626315659&sr=8-1;  

2) Greta's Notes to ACE the PMP https://www.amazon.com/Gretas-Notes-ACE-PMP-Competencies-ebook/dp/B08VS829YG/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=greta+blash&qid=1626315728&sr=8-2; 

3) Greta's Notes to ACE the CAPM https://www.amazon.com/Gtetas-Notes-ACE-CAPM-Competencies-ebook/dp/B08VWJ39V8/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=greta+blash&qid=1626315728&sr=8-4

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A. Ep 45). Howard Podeswa, an author on Business Analysis and Agile, as well as an accomplished artist, provides an absorbing conversation about BPMN; activity and class diagrams; requirements maturity of an organization versus development methods; and the function of the BA within an iterative-incremental process.

Howard also provides a summary of his three books which include the BAs role in an Agile environment from strategic planning to continuous value delivery; Agile Business Analysis; and a glossary of questions, templates, and terms for BAs.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ9oj7kkZdU

Howard Podeswa:  

Website 1: http://www.nobleinc.ca/; 

Website 2: https://www.modernanalyst.com/Community/ModernAnalystBlog/tabid/181/Default.aspx; 

Website 3: https://www.howardpodeswa.com/; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-podeswa-5003111/

Books

1) The Agile Guide to Business Analysis and Planning (Apr 2021) https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Agile-Business-Analysis/dp/0134191129/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Agile+Guide+to+Business+Analysis+and+Planning&qid=1625100699&sr=8-1 

2) The Business Analyst's Handbook (2008) https://www.amazon.com/Business-Analysts-Handbook-Howard-Podeswa/dp/1598635654/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Business+Analyst%27s+Handbook&qid=1625100736&sr=8-1

3) UML for the IT Business Analyst (2009) https://www.amazon.com/UML-Business-Analyst-Howard-Podeswa/dp/1598638688/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=UML+for+the+IT+Business+Analyst&qid=1625100776&sr=8-1

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 44). Bola Adesope, an Agile and Business Transformation Consultant and coach for Stacey & Lloyd Consulting, speaks with zest about alternatives on when to have a Sprint Retrospective; when to discuss possible improvements with your Scrum team; and the best way to track and communicate team velocity and sprint/release progress.

Bola also creatively articulates the best way to develop and maintain the project story map; Product Owner backlog refinement; the services provided by Stacey and Lloyd Consulting; and the value of the mentoring group Helping Other People Succeed (H.O.P.S.), which he co-founded.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS78d0_lsMQ

Bola Adescope:

Website: https://www.staceyandlloyd.com/; 

LinkedIn (Bola): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bolaadesope/; 

LinkedIn (Stacey & Lloyd): https://www.linkedin.com/company/staceyandlloyd/; 

LinkedIn (H.O.P.S.): https://www.linkedin.com/company/hopsglobal/

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 43). Danielle Stein Fairhurst, Principal at Plum Solutions, provides an engrossing conversation about the essence of financial modelling, and the value it holds for BAs; how to enter financial modelling as a career; predictive analytics; and the critical skills of budgeting and forecasting.

Danielle also talks with relish about the importance of Excel in the business world; the types of services that Plum Solutions offers; the distinguishing difference between financial analysis and data analysis; the value of storytelling to better communicate financial results to stakeholders; and using Power BI as a marketable skill.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7prKkqSrb44

Danielle Stein Fairhurst:  

Website: www.plumsolutions.com; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellesteinfairhurst/; 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/plumsolutions; 

Meetups: https://plumsolutions.com.au/meetup/

Books: 

1) https://www.amazon.com/Using-Excel-Business-Financial-Modelling-ebook/dp/B07Q1KFLNM

2) https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Modeling-Dummies-Danielle-Fairhurst-ebook/dp/B06ZXS8QZQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Financial+Modeling+in+Excel+For+Dummies&qid=1624417094&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A Ep 42). Abdulla, founder and CEO of PMaspire, provides an enthralling conversation about his journey into the PMO world and software development; the crux of Enterprise e-Learning & Simulator software; setting up PMOs; and Agile PM training.

Abdulla also expresses the importance of the functionality and capabilities of the eLearning and PMO modules within PMaspire; the process to onboard customers; technical support; Exam Simulator as a Service (e-SaaS); and integrating PMaspire with 3rd party apps.

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6P-lUH-U9c

Abdulla:

Website: https://pmaspire.com; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullapmp/; 

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A. Ep 41). Anatoly Shamkin, a versatile Product Manager, passionately describes his move from humble beginnings at HP in Russia, to transitioning to a Product Owner, (Agile) Project Manager, Scrum Master and Product Manager roles around the world, and some of the hurdles along the way.

Anatoly brings to bear his favorite Scrum estimating tools, whether Prioritization Poker, Planning Poker, or Fibonacci; the detailed differences between a Waterfall and Agile Project Management; overcoming pitfalls with Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective; and how to transition from a Project Manager to a Product Manager.

YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqjml824BQk

Anatoly Shamkin: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamkin/

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)

(T.I.A. Ep 41). Toyin Ogunwale, a business analyst and entrepreneur, provides an intriguing conversation about her experience as a Business Analyst with Citi Bank; the skill to establishing KPIs and metrics; and the importance of cross-functional teams.

Toyin also describes the experience of being Director of Marketing for the IIBA Hamilton Chapter; the steps to founding the Canadian Multicultural Group (CMG), a not-for-profit organization, and the Children's Centre for Development (CCD); and the benefit for a BA in having the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) certification and a background in Data Science.

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akDrf0bRUaM

Toyin Ogunwale: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1KXcKRnMJjhksFtTIfCGmA; 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toyinogunwale/; 

3T Business Solutions: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3t-business-consulting/; 

CMG: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-canadian-multicultural-group-b993021b7/; 

CCD: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-children-s-centre-for-development/about/

Sponsored by

The Lewis Institute:

Website - https://lewisinstituteinc.com/;

Project Leader Courses (60% discount) - https://lewisinstitute.kartra.com/page/Wif255

Business Agility Institute:

Emergence Journal - https://businessagility.institute/emergence;

promo code "analyst" (for 10% discount on annual subscription)