Podcast
Business Analysis Live!
Hosted by International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) · EN
Business analysis is one of the top trending skills today. From problem solvers to change agents to advocates, business analysis professionals perform many roles in organizations and governments all over the world. Join us every other Tuesday as host Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), has candid practitioner chats with industry colleagues about business analysis topics. If you like to listen to lively discussions, interviews, and some great career advice, this podcast is for you!
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Applied AI for Business Analysis Professionals
2w ago00:37:18Tap to summarizeThe 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🔗 ResourcesConnect with Susan Moore on LinkedInConnect with Susan Yu on LinkedIn International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA): https://www.iiba.orgBusiness 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
Transcribe →Certification in the Age of AI
4w ago00:54:44Tap to summarizeCertifications 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
Transcribe →What Global Business Analysts Are Seeing Right Now
Jun 900:51:53Tap to summarizeWhat'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 websiteBusiness 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
Transcribe →
What's Redefining Business Analysis Right Now?
May 2600:49:19Tap to summarizeWhat 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
Transcribe →
The Most Underestimated Role in Your AI Transformation
May 1200:47:14Tap to summarizeBusiness 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 AIBusiness 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
Transcribe →
The Power of Finding Your People
Apr 2800:33:56Tap to summarizeWhat 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
Transcribe →
The Process Improvement Mistakes That Analysts Make
Apr 1400:46:52Tap to summarizeProcess 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 conferenceBusiness 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
Transcribe →
Making Data Impossible to Ignore
Mar 3100:48:28Tap to summarizeIn 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 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/#DataStorytelling #BusinessAnalysis #DecisionMaking
Transcribe →
Turning Strategy Into Results
Mar 1700:50:25Tap to summarizeWhat 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 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 #StrategyExecution #OKRs
Transcribe →
AI Governance
Mar 300:51:51Tap to summarizeThink 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 #AIGovernanceLearn more at https://www.iiba.org/
Transcribe →