Why our BI Data Storytelling Accelerator Virtual Workshop is not like any other Data Storytelling Workshop You've ever Attended!
The BI Data Storytelling Accelerator virtual workshop is where forward-thinking, progressive analytics leaders bring their teams of analysts, designers, and developers to hone in on their data storytelling skills! Not to be confused with other ‘how to choose a chart, pitch the perfect narrative’ workshops (not knocking those), the BI Data Storytelling Accelerator workshop has been rated a game-changer by 9/10 who have attended, for its focus on the ‘what and why’ instead of the traditional techie ‘how’. No wonder our most common feedback is, ‘I wish I knew this when I started’ or ‘we’re using this on our next project’. Keep reading to find out why you need to attend this workshop and how it will completely transform your data game!
Day 1 - Intro to the Game-Changing Data Storyteller Script
Mico kicks off day one in high gear by giving you two short visual tests to rate your visual IQ and also help you to understand how you think about data and visualization. This will help you come to a much-needed, often eye-opening, self-realization about your own strength and weaknesses when it comes to data visualization. She will then take you on an all too familiar journey, describing her own “aha moment” as a young BI analyst/developer, and how learning what to and not to ASK, changed how she gathered requirements forever and will do the same for you! Once the ‘kumbaya’ moment is over, you jump right to the ‘Essential Data Storytelling Script’, learning the psychology behind asking visual questions that invoke emotion.
To test your skills in the real world, you’ll jump right into an ‘intense’, live, role-playing session, where you are tasked with asking the right questions to extract the data story. If you ask the wrong question, Mico will explain where you went wrong and explain where you could have done better. While this may seem a bit abrasive at times, we want you to understand how users really feel when they are stuck and how to help them. Prized as one of the most valuable parts of the workshop, the live role-playing on day one is critical to laying the foundation for the rest of the BI Data Storytelling (BIDS) Framework. Once you’ve nailed What to ASK, then it’s storyboarding time!
My advice: Come well rested and fed before the class. You will experience several ‘aha moments’ and paradigm shifts and at the same you will have to participate in group activities that require a lot of cognitive work, both as a sole contributor and as part of a team. You will leave day one with a feeling of content and ready for day two!
Day 2 - Tackling the Visual Storyboard
Day 2 will kick off again in high gear with a quick recap of the golden nuggets from Day 1 and a Q&A session. Mico then gets into the meat of the BIDS framework, taking you through the visual storyboard and showing you how the script is perfectly designed to complete each part of the it. While building on day one, and now completing the storyboard, you learn in-depth, how each data story part (the goal, KPIs, trends, and actions) connect to form an actionable data story.
With a big shout of joy, you completed your first ever actionable storyboard! Day two is where you really learn how to listen to a user and extract the different story parts (goal, KPIs, trends, and actions). One of the main reasons there are so many useless reports and dashboards is this missing skill set! You’ll never see data, visualization, or storytelling the same again. With your new data storyteller lenses (as we like to call them), you are now ready to transform your amazing storyboard into a visual wireframe that can later be built in ANY BI/Analytics tool you choose! You are now ready for Day 3!
My next advice: Come prepared with an existing or past visualization that you created or used. Mico will pull out the data storyteller wand and wipe your data lenses clean. After one or two of these sessions, YOU WILL BE READY for your next REAL WORLD MEETING. You’ll feel like a prepped leader ready for a takeover: calm, decisive, and secretly grinning at the people in the meeting. The goal of this day is to make sure you know how to extract the right data story from even the most difficult user, spreadsheet, or from nothing at all!
Day 3 - Transforming the Storyboard into a Story-Driven Data Visualization
After two amazing days of growth, you are almost at the finish line and ready for step 3: What to DRAW, using a simple story-driven wireframe! The objective is to design your wireframe (aka dashboard black and white mock-up) based on your storyboard. Now, you may ask yourself, “Do I really need to wireframe?” The answer is, yes! Anything that involves creating or building requires prep. This is no different. Once Mico teaches you the ‘Anatomy of a Data Story Tile’, I will then show you how to design a clean and efficient data visualization that your users will love!
Before heading into our BYOD (bring your own drink) after the workshop celebration, you’ll do an in-depth action planning session with Mico to identify and create solutions for any challenges you may face as you bring your new skillsets into your org. This is to ensure you are ready to get started using what you’ve learned immediately and also to ensure you leave knowing that you have a community behind you.
My Advice: You will need to switch your mind from Data mode to Design mode. You will turn your completed Storyboard into a Feng Shui. You will be responsible for leading how you want the data to be perceived by your users. Placement, sizing, and color usage of each piece on the dashboard will determine this. However, you will be provided with a PROVEN template from our BIDS toolkit to get you started in the right direction.
Top 5 Things to Take Away from the Workshop
- Craft and communicate compelling data stories that your users will love and use to make faster decisions using a clear and proven methodology
- Engage your users with confidence using our 'secret' data storyteller script to extract the correct story parts
- Easily guide your users through the data jungle using our four-part visual storyboard (remote or in-person), nailing the perfect narrative every time and getting quick buy-in
- Design amazing story-driven dashboards and reports in record time using our flexible and professionally designed wireframes
- Deliver quick wins to your users over and over again as part of your larger ‘digital transformation’ or ‘data literacy’ initiative
- Click to Register for the Workshop!
Testimonials
- Mico was great. High energy and a wealth of knowledge. I would love to pick her brain even more. The course had really good structure that drew from real-world experiences and projects. Definitely learned some great tips and tricks in the course. Highly recommend it! - Ben L., Snr. Data and Applied Scientist, Microsoft Corporation
- The process that Mico has is a game-changer. I also had the opportunity to be in the hot seat to get first-hand experience with changing how my data tells its story. The information that is needed is right up front, no more having to dig around to find what I need to do next. - Carrie H., Supply Chain Analyst, Intel Corporation
- I have worked with lots and lots of data over my career as an Analyst, and Excel has been the application of choice with my employers. I was introduced to a 3-day Power BI class earlier this year and was tasked with a special project which seemed like an eternity to come together, especially doing it alongside my regular daily workload. I would spend so much time looking at the data and getting caught up in what I thought I wanted to see and what others might want to see. After taking this class, I realized I could've saved a ton of time putting the dashboard together had I had a process such as this to follow. I think what I've learned will be very helpful with my current and future projects. - Tamara C., Snr. Pricing Professional, Abbott
- The BI Brainz BI Data Storytelling Accelerator Workshop was some of most valuable training I've taken in years! Thanks to the team's ten or so years of experience in working with clients, they've been able to hone their methods for gathering BI requirements with stakeholders and designing action-inciting dashboards. They generously shared what they learned in a fast-paced, energetic style that kept everyone engaged and interacting. I'd highly recommend the workshop! - Julie C., Security Business Analyst, National Grid
- This workshop was awesome. I encourage any BI/BA team to sign up right away. The experience is hands-on and so very practical. We translated users' stories into goal-oriented dashboards that are visual, memorable, and therefore actionable. Game-changing. - Mary Ann P., Dir. of Business Analytics & Contracts Pricing, AliMed
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