In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Salma Sultana—data storytelling coach, founder of Hummingbirds, and a passionate advocate for bringing cognitive psychology into the world of analytics. With nearly two decades of experience across consulting, financial services, biotech, and tech, Salma has helped countless professionals transform complex insights into narratives that actually stick.

Together, Nisar and Salma dive deep into the psychology behind effective data storytelling—how humans process information, why narrative beats numbers alone, and what separates a report that gets ignored from one that sparks action. They explore the subtle but powerful ingredients of persuasion, clarity, emotion, and structure, and why understanding how the mind works is becoming a superpower for data professionals in the age of AI.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• Why data stories succeed or fail—and what the brain has to do with it
• How cognitive psychology can elevate your dashboards, presentations, and insights
• The common traps data teams fall into when communicating with executives
• Practical ways to make your data more memorable, relatable, and actionable

Salma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-salma-sultana-/

Website: https://www.huemmingbirds.com/

🌐 Full episodes of The Data Nerd Podcast and exclusive merch (including the official Data Nerd hat) — visit: www.thedatanerdpodcast.com