What'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 website

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.

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