Susan Walsh - The Classification Guru

The Classification Guru Ltd

I love improving the quality of procurement spend data, giving teams clarity so they can make better business decisions and cost savings.

Why not let me take the pain out of laborious data issues and make your life easier?

Whether it's a small or large data set, the accuracy can be improved by identifying classification errors, conflicts or gaps. I can provide a data verification service to efficiently find and correct these in a fraction of the time it would take you or a team member.

And a crucial part of having accurate data is also working with a comprehensive taxonomy, something that can be easily overlooked. I can provide a taxonomy development service to ensure you have all the vital areas covered for the greatest visibility - job done!

If you struggle with the time, resources or willingness to tackle your data, why not get in touch to see how I can make your life easier.

Founder/MD (Mistress of Data)

I love improving the quality of procurement spend data, giving teams clarity so they can make better business decisions and cost savings.

Why not let me take the pain out of laborious data issues and make your life easier?

Whether it's a small or large data set, the accuracy can be improved by identifying classification errors, conflicts or gaps.  I can provide a data verification service to efficiently find and correct these in a fraction of the time it would take you or a team member.

And a crucial part of having accurate data is also working with a comprehensive taxonomy, something that can be easily overlooked.  I can provide a taxonomy development service to ensure you have all the vital areas covered for the greatest visibility - job done!

If you struggle with the time, resources or willingness to tackle your data, why not get in touch to see how I can make your life easier.

Founder

Data Collaboration Alliance

I am a member of the Advisory Committee at the Data Collaboration Alliance, a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to establishing CONTROL as the basis for meaningful Data Ownership and global Collaborative Intelligence. Our approach of eliminating data silos and copy-based data integration is similar to how societies already protect the value of their currency, identities, and intellectual property - and it works for data, too. My fellow advisors include the Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation and the ex-CIO of Dropbox. I'm also a contributor to the Data Collaboration Community which offers open datasets, free tools, and free training in the data-centric skills of the future. Visit: https://www.datacollaboration.org/community

Advisory Committee / Instructor

Facet Publishing

Dirty data is a problem that costs businesses thousands, if not millions, every year. In organisations large and small across the globe you will hear talk of data quality issues. What you will rarely hear about is the consequences or how to fix it.

Between the Spreadsheets: Classifying and Fixing Dirty Data draws on classification expert Susan Walsh's decade of experience in data classification to present a fool-proof method for cleaning and classifying your data. The book covers everything from the very basics of data classification to normalisation, taxonomies and presents the author's proven COAT methodology, helping ensure an organisation's data is Consistent, Organised, Accurate and Trustworthy. A series of data horror stories outlines what can go wrong in managing data, and if it does, how it can be fixed.

After reading this book, regardless of your level of experience, not only will you be able to work with your data more efficiently, but you will also understand the impact the work you do with it has, and how it affects the rest of the organisation.

Written in an engaging and highly practical manner, Between the Spreadsheets gives readers of all levels a deep understanding of the dangers of dirty data and the confidence and skills to work more efficiently and effectively with it.

Author - Between the Spreadsheets

CONSTELLIA LIMITED

Connecting Professional Services Procurement people to the Consultancy Procurement Council

Membership Manager

Simfoni

+ Lead spend analytics project delivery across Europe & Middle East
+ Project Implementation​
+ Delivery of product demos
+ Development and delivery of training for Analytics team
+ Product development support
+ Spend analytics
+ Taxonomy development​

Senior Analytics Project Lead - Europe & Middle East

Highways England

Project Support Officer

Philips

Data Verification

+	Administration of product database
+	Working with cross functional teams to resolve issues
+	Develop and deliver training for business hubs to improve processes

Data Product Researcher

Coupa Software

+	Project managing multiple projects simultaneously ensuring all were delivered within time and on budget
+	Management of a team of 14 QA staff
+	Developed and implemented training plan and best practice documents
+	Recruit and train new staff
+	Ensuring consistent quality of work  produced by team

QA Manager

Spend360

+	QA, classification and review of data
+	Excellent attention to detail
+	Managing workload to tight deadlines

Data Services -QA

Fixer of dirty data ★ Spend data classification, supplier normalisation, and taxonomies ★ DataIQ100 x 2 ★DataIQ Data Champion 2022★ Author "Between the Spreadsheets" ★ Creator of COAT ★ TEDx - say NO to NO ★ DataVenger

Are you struggling to get reliable insights from your data?  Do you have duplicates, multiple versions of the same supplier or customer, and multiple date and address formats?  And is it saved in multiple different systems?

The Classification Guru can help.

If you’re in procurement, do you find it hard to see how much you are really spending with one supplier, and on what?  Have you got free text descriptions which mean you have multiple versions of the same item, often misspelt and not against the correct GL or categorisation? How can you make the best negotiations with your suppliers, the biggest cost savings, or manage your supplier list if you don’t have the correct information?

Or if you work in sales or marketing, is your CRM full of junk data, poorly formatted and even missing information, and maybe saved in multiple different systems?  Your team could be wasting time contacting redundant leads, or worse you could be sending out expensive print out to the same address twice, or addresses that don’t even exist.

We bring clarity and accuracy to data and help teams work more effectively and efficiently, finding cost savings through spend and time management, supporting better, more informed business decisions, delivering a strong ROI and delivering back to your organisation faster and more cost-effectively than using large consultancies or spend analytics providers.

While most people dread having to classify or cleanse data, my team and I love it! We are hugely passionate about providing clients with accurate and meaningful data, and because I have been doing this for a decade, I can do this much faster and more accurately than people who might look at their data infrequently.

We can help prevent costly mistakes from happening.

There are many solutions available to automate data classification, but these are never 100% accurate. I've developed a method that my team use to efficiently and accurately classify, cleanse and verify data to minimise the errors in the same amount of time.

When working with large volumes of data it's hard to spot these errors even if you know what you're looking for and especially in Excel, let alone if you don't. With my team and I’s knowledge, experience and tools we can do this for you, freeing up your internal resources.

Fix your dirty data now - www.theclassificationguru.com

MindSpeaking

We've trained 15,000+ people on Data Storytelling. 
Let's talk about training for your team — or your entire organization:

Founder & Trainer

Author of the bestselling book: People Skills for Analytical Thinkers

The Essential Workshops

Member Of The Board Of Advisors

Capgemini

•	Combining Behavioral Science & Data Analytics to improve customer experiences

Managing Consultant - Data & Digital Analytics

•	Lead of Digital Marketing & Analytics capability in the Netherlands 
•	Coach for 8 consultants who reported to me

Senior Consultant

Capgemini Academy

Trained 300+ people on topics like: 
• Storytelling
• Presentation skills

Trainer

Personal development

Traveling, Spanish classes, and writing a book.

Sabbatical for 6 months

Cognizant

Trainer - Interpersonal Skills

Consultant - Digital, Data & Analytics

Junior Consultant - Digital, Data & Analytics

Maastricht University

Taught the course Behavioral Economics to second-year Economics students.

Student Assistant, Behavioral Economics

Gazprom Marketing & Trading

Marketing Intelligence Internship

Research Project Maastricht

•	Conducted contractual market research for multinationals in Brazil for 4 months;
•	Trained by consultancy firms (BCG, KPMG, McKinsey).

Market Researcher - Brazil

Student bar De Uni

President

Data Storytelling & stakeholder communication training | MindSpeaking | The Human Side of Data

Many Data professionals are brilliant.

Their analysis? Razor-sharp.
Their models? Sophisticated.
Their attention to detail? Exceptional.

But translating insights into a story that non-technical stakeholders understand…
 
That’s a different ball game.

In 2015, I presented insights to a group of Marketeers. 

I expected: 
Applause.
Approval.
Action.

But I was wrong. 
Nothing got implemented. 

That’s when I learned the hard truth: technical skills don't drive impact—communication does.

🔹 Stakeholders don’t care about dashboards. They care about decisions.
🔹 Insights mean nothing — until people see why they matter.
🔹 Numbers get forgotten. Stories get remembered.

That’s why I founded MindSpeaking in 2020.
Since then, we’ve helped 15,000+ Data professionals transform from data providers to trusted business partners.

🚀 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠
Want your team to move from presenting numbers to influencing decisions?
Let's talk: 
MindSpeaking.com/companytraining



Free Resources: 

📙  𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
People Skills for Analytical Thinkers 
#1 bestseller — read a free preview:
▪️ MindSpeaking.com/book

🧠  𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘
Want to turn Data into compelling stories? 
Join 4,100 Data pros and take my free email course (only 2 min/day): 
▪️ www.mindspeaking.com/datastorytelling 

📊  𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧
How skilled are you at Data Storytelling?
Take the free self-assessment (5 min) and grow to the next level:
▪️ MindSpeaking.com/maturity-model

Gilbert Eijkelenboom

Stop dumping data. Start telling a story. 
Here are 4 tips:

Most data professionals think their job is to present numbers.

But numbers alone don’t create impact. 

If stakeholders don’t get the message instantly, they’ll tune out.

Before: Data Dump
❌ Lots of colors → No clear focus. 
❌ Just raw numbers → No clear message.
❌ No direct labeling → Hard to read values.
❌ Stakeholders confused → “What’s the takeaway?”

After: Simple Storytelling
✅ Fewer colors → Only for emphasis.
✅ A clear title → Explains the insight.
✅ Simple annotation → Highlights the key change.
✅ Direct labeling → No guessing, numbers are clear.

If people have to decode your charts, you've lost them.

Be the guide. 
Tell people where to look. 

Agree? Share your #data visualization tips below.

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Data Storytelling tips.

Data Storytelling training | Bestselling author: People Skills for Analytical Thinkers | Founder of MindSpeaking | Building the Human Side of Data

🤬 Data pros…
 Heard any of these before?

“Can you export to Excel?”
“Make the data support my decision.”
“I need it today.”

Happens.
A lot.

Here’s how to push back without friction:

1. Ask the “hidden question”
 ↳ Stakeholders often ask for a solution instead of the problem.
 ↳ Say: “What decision will this help you make?”
 ↳ This shifts the conversation instantly.

2. Reframe urgency
 ↳ “I need it today” usually means “I’m under pressure.”
 ↳ Respond with: “I can give you X today, Y tomorrow. Which helps you most?”

3. Use the “menu method”
 ↳ People love options.
 ↳ Offer 2–3 clear paths with trade-offs.
 ↳ It reduces endless back-and-forth and builds trust fast.

4. Translate gut feelings
 ↳ When someone says “the data doesn’t fit my gut”…
 ↳ Ask: “What outcome were you expecting?”
 ↳ Now you can compare reality vs. expectation.

Do you hear these lines often?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Data Storytelling tips.

Most trainings feel great in the room.
Two weeks later? Nothing sticks.

That’s not you. That’s your brain… roasted.

One-off training dumps everything at once.
Feels useful in the moment.
But then you get back to work.
Back-to-back meetings.
200 emails waiting.

And all those “new skills”?
Gone.
That’s why lasting change needs a different recipe.

Here’s how we build communication skills that stick for data professionals:

1. Time in between workshops
↳ Spaced repetition beats cramming.
↳ Spread learning over days, not one long session.

2. Learn > Apply > Learn > Apply
↳ Theory alone fades. Practice makes it stick.
↳ Learn a little. Then apply it in your work.

3. Specific for the audience
↳ We practice with your real stakeholder challenges.
↳ That’s how skills transfer to your day-to-day.

That’s how habits form.
That’s how skills stick.

That’s how Data professionals stop being seen as order takers.
And start being seen as trusted partners.

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom to learn Data Storytelling skills that stick.

JSESSIONID

Feed | LinkedIn

li_at

linkedin.com

🪦 RIP Dashboards: 5 Psychology Hacks to Stop Your Work from Dying

You spent weeks building it.
Stakeholders said, “Looks great!”

And then… silence.

❌ No one opens it.
❌ No decisions.
❌ No impact.

Your work deserves to be used.

Here’s how to make sure your insights don't die 👇

1. The Think-Aloud Protocol
🔹 Stop asking, “Is this useful?” people don’t know. Instead:
🔹 Hand them the dashboard. Let them talk out loud as they explore. 
🔹 Watch where they click, pause, and get stuck, this reveals problems.

💡 Usability expert Jakob Nielsen: 
“Users will never tell you what’s wrong. But they’ll show you.”

2. The IKEA Effect
🔹 Ask early: “What do you think?”
🔹 Show them drafts, not just the final version.
🔹 Let them tweak a few things, it makes them feel ownership.

💡 The more they’re involved, the more they’ll use it.

3. Design Thinking: Build for How They Work (Not What They Ask For)
🔹 Watch how they work today, where’s the friction?
🔹 Prototype early. Refine fast. 
🔹 Don’t spend weeks working on the wrong thing.

💡 If they struggle to use it, it’s not them, it’s the design.

4. Hick’s Law: Simplify or Die
🔹 Cut 20% of elements right now.
🔹 Highlight one key insight they should act on.
🔹 Pre-set defaults instead of making them tweak everything.

💡 Less friction = faster decisions.

5. The “Last Mile” Problem: Put Insights Where They’ll Be Seen
🔹 Push critical insights where people already work (Slack, email, CRM).
🔹 Example: Sales gets an alert when revenue drops below target.
🔹 Meet them where they already work, so data doesn’t get ignored.

💡 Make insights part of their workflow, not an extra step.

In short:
- Make it simple.
- Make them part of the process.
- Make sure it drives action.

Ever built something that no one used? 

♻️ Liked this image? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more data tips.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 
“Urgent data request! Stakeholder needs it TODAY!”

The newsroom goes wild.
Data teams scramble.
Dashboards, reports, insights, rushed out at record speed.

Mission accomplished.

Three weeks later…

Silence.

Nobody touched the report.
Not even once.

Why?

Because urgency ≠ importance.
Because half the time, stakeholders don’t even know what they’ll do with the data.
Because “ASAP” often means “I just want it off my plate.”

And yet, we drop everything.
Again and again.

Here’s the thing, data isn’t breaking news.
It’s decision fuel.

So next time?
Push back.
Ask what decision this will drive.
Ask when they actually need it.
Ask if it’s worth dropping everything else.

If they don’t have a clear answer?
It’s not urgent.


Have you received many urgent requests? 

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for Data Storytelling tips.

90% of Data Analysts miss this.
It’s how they talk to stakeholders.

Not the tools.
Not the tech.

The conversations.

Here’s the cheat sheet I wish every Analyst had:

📝 When a request is vague
 – What decision does this help you make?
 – If you had the answer tomorrow, what would change?
 – If we could only answer one thing, what matters most?

🚫 When you need to push back
 – How does this request influence a decision?
 – What happens if we don’t do this?
 – To move forward, I need [data/input/approval]. Can you provide that?

🎯 When aligning on goals
 – What does success look like to you?
 – Who will use this insight?
 – What outcome makes this worth it?

📊 When presenting insights
 – Here’s the key takeaway…
 – If you remember one thing, let it be this…
 – Here’s what this means for the business…

⚡ When stakeholders disagree
 – I hear you. What’s behind that concern?
 – Which part doesn’t match your experience?
 – Let’s explore where we see it differently.

🤝 When building trust
 – What are your priorities this quarter?
 – What’s your team’s biggest challenge?
 – What would make this a win for you?

Because great communication doesn’t start with answers.
 It starts with better questions.

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Data Storytelling tips.

It’s 2015, and I step into a meeting room in Seoul 🇰🇷. The commercial director is Korean. He shakes hands with my Dutch colleagues, all in their 40s. I extend mine too, but with my babyface, I look like a 20-year-old who just came to take notes. He leaves me hanging.

In that moment, I feel invisible.

But after a minute I realize, it’s not about me. It’s more about cultural differences, assumptions, and expectations.

The next time a colleague snaps at you,
Don’t take it personally.

Chances are, it has more to do with them than with you.

Maybe they missed a promotion.
Maybe they had a bad night’s sleep.
Maybe they’re juggling too many deadlines.

Yes, we can set boundaries.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

The more we realize the world doesn’t revolve around us,
the easier work and life become.

Do you agree?

♻️ Repost to help fellow data professionals.
Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for tips on Data Storytelling.

Your dashboards need a diet.
Here’s how to trim the fat:

Many dashboards are stuffed.
Every metric. 
Every filter. 
Every chart.

Just in case.

But here’s the problem
Too much info = No focus.
No focus = No action.

A great dashboard is like a Michelin-star dish.
Balanced.
Curated.
Easy to digest.

The best data professionals know this.
They don’t dump data.
They craft a story.

Next time you build a dashboard…

Ask yourself:
What’s the main question end-users need answered?

Then serve that.

Have you seen this happen?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Michelin-Star tips.

#data #analytics #bi

#Data storytelling done right.
Here’s the step-by-step process to turn data points into a clear, action-driven story.

From table to takeaway:

Step 1: Define the goal
↳ Write the one decision you want to influence.

Step 2: Understand the audience
↳ What is the decision they want to make with this data?

Step 3: Extract the key message
↳ Scan the table. What’s the one thing relevant for my audience?

Step 4: Write the headline
↳ Turn the key message into a sentence on top.

Step 5: Choose the right visual
↳ Replace the table with a simple chart that fits the message
(comparison → bar, trend → line).

Step 6: Put everything in grey
↳ Set all bars, lines, axes, and labels to light grey.

Step 7: Highlight the key point in color
↳ Color only the critical bar or line segment
(e.g., Online in Asia = red, -8%).

Step 8: Label the insight on-chart
↳ Add a short callout: “Online -8% drives Asia decline.”

Step 9: Add the recommendation
↳ One sentence that tells them what to do next.

Step 10: Trim the noise
↳ Remove gridlines, extra decimals, duplicate legends.

Step 11: Sanity check the story
↳ Read the slide top-left to bottom-right. Does the path make sense?

Step 12: Test with a colleague
↳ 10-second test: “What’s the message?”

That’s it.
From table to takeaway.
From noise to narrative.

Question:
Which step do you like most?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for Data Storytelling tips.

Stop speaking data.
Start speaking business.

Because here’s the thing:

When you say “accuracy improved to 85%”…
…your stakeholder doesn’t know what that means.

Will it save time?
Grow the business?
Make customers happy?

If they don’t see it, they won’t act.

The solution?
Translate data into business language.

Here’s how:

Example 1 — Model accuracy → Business
❌ “Our fraud detection model improved from 78% to 85%.”
✅ “700 more fraud cases caught, saving $2M annually.”

Example 2 — Operational data → Business
❌ “The average response time of our customer service chatbot decreased from 17 to 11 seconds.”
✅ “Customers now get answers 35% faster. That keeps them from dropping off and boosts retention.”

Example 3 — Marketing metrics → Business
❌ “Conversion for campaign B was 2.1%, compared to 1.4% on campaign A.”
✅ “Campaign B brought 3,000 extra people to visit our product page. That’s $450k in potential new revenue.”

That’s the shift.
From numbers.
To impact.

Do you think speaking business language is important?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for Data Storytelling tips.

Data storytelling doesn’t start with slides.
It starts with a goal.

If you want people to value and use your insights…

Do THIS, before your meeting 👇

1. Write your goal in one sentence
↳ What decision or action do you want?
↳ Phrase it as: “After this meeting, I want them to…”

2. You’ll walk in with clarity. And so will they.
List 3 questions you’ll ask
↳ To uncover what they really need.
↳ Use open-ended ones: “What would success look like for you?”
Helps you steer the talk instead of reacting.

3. Prepare objections
↳ Where might they push back?
↳ Draft 1–2 plain-language answers.
Saves you from getting defensive or lost in technical detail.

4. Reach your goal
↳ If they remember one thing, what should it be?
Write that takeaway on a sticky note.
Keep it in sight.

That’s how to make your data story land.
Do you set your goal before your presentations?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Data Storytelling tips.

Most data presentations fail.
Too much detail.
Too much jargon.
No clear message.

Stakeholders tune out.

The problem?

You spend weeks on analysis.
But the slides kill the insight.

That’s why I made this:

Top 7 Data Presentation Mistakes
❌ Data dumping
❌ Buried insights
❌ Color overload
❌ No business link
❌ Weak chart titles
❌ Lost in translation
❌ No recommendation

✅ With fixes you can apply today.
Save it.
Share it.
Use it.

Because your insight is only as strong as your presentation.
👉 Which mistake do you see most often?

Stop giving stakeholders homework.

❌ What most Data professionals say:
“This slide shows all the metrics for Q1, split by channel and segment.”

What business people hear:
Homework.

The message?
Blurry.

The insight?
Lost.

Here’s the clear version:

🌎 Context
Overall, sales grew in Q1.

⚡ Problem
But when we look deeper, sales dropped 13% in Europe.
Especially online sales is underperforming.

➡️ Recommendation
I recommend reviewing the campaign strategy.

Clarity beats complexity.
Every time.

Do you think data storytelling is a must-have skill today?

Stakeholders keep asking for dashboards... but do they actually use them?
Don’t just serve more dashboards. Take these 3 steps instead.

For all new requests, use the 3 C’s:

1️⃣ Connection
Build trust first. Show you care about their needs.
↳ Acknowledge their request: "I see these insights are important to you."
↳ Set the tone: "Let’s dive deeper to discover how I can best help you."

2️⃣ Curiosity
Ask the right questions to uncover the real need.
↳ "What business problem are we solving?"
↳ "What does success look like?"
↳ "What decision are you trying to make?"

3️⃣ Clarity
Set clear expectations and push back when needed.
↳ Reframe their request to avoid endless rework:
↳ "Instead of tracking every KPI, let’s create a simple dashboard showing which channels drive the most revenue, so you can optimize your budget."

💡 Next time a stakeholder asks for a new dashboard...
Don’t just serve it right away. 
Start with the 3 C’s and deliver insights they’ll actually consume.

Can you relate? 
Have you ever seen dashboards go unused?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for Data Storytelling tips.

Stakeholders aren’t analysts.
Don’t make them act like one.

❌ How not to present data:
“We analyzed revenue by channel in Q1.
First, we cleaned the data.
(…)
You’ll find all breakdowns for stores, e-commerce, and wholesale.”

✅ Data Storytelling:
“Revenue dropped 12% in Q1.

What we saw:
Offline sales down 20%.
Online sales up 8%.

Here’s the surprise:
Our customers tell us they are willing to spend more online.
But we see 30% drop at checkout.
That’s lost money.

We need to fix checkout.
Then two things happen:
→ Online grows faster.
→ We recover lost revenue.”

That’s the shift.
From analysis.
To action.

♻️ Repost to help fellow data professionals.
Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for tips on Data Storytelling.

😈 Data brain says: “Add more detail.”
👼 Business brain says: “Get to the point.”

Ever feel this?

Welcome to the inner war:
Data brain vs Business brain.

If you’ve got both, congrats.
But if you lead with the wrong one
You’ll lose your audience.

Here’s how to balance both 👇

1. Start with the impact
↳ Your audience’s brain is noisy
↳ Hook them in 1 line: “Sales dropped 28%, here’s why.”

2. Then give data as proof
↳ Now that they care, show the logic
↳ “Conversion rate fell after we removed the free trial.”

3. Keep details optional
↳ Add depth… but let them pull, don’t push
↳ “We’ve got a breakdown by channel if needed.”

You don’t have to choose sides.
Just pick the right one to speak first.
That’s the trick.

Who wins in your mind?
Data or Business brain?

♻️ Liked it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for Data Storytelling tips.

Most analysts don’t know how to persuade.
They share the numbers.
They show the charts.
Still… stakeholders don’t listen.

The problem?
Persuasion isn’t about giving more data.
It’s about making people feel heard.

That’s where the AVP Framework comes in:
👂 Ask
✅ Validate
🚀 Persuade

I put together a one-pager with a real example.
Save it.
Use it.

Because the analysts who build influence…
Are the ones who make the biggest impact.

Do you agree?

♻️ Repost to help fellow data professionals.
Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for tips on Data Storytelling.

I love this image.
Same outfit for 40 years.

In data teams…
People keep evolving their tech stack. New models.

New tools.
New frameworks.

But when it’s time to explain their insights…
they fall back on the same old patterns.

Too much detail.
Too much jargon.
Same beige sweater.

This makes our audience fall asleep.
And that’s why brilliant work still gets ignored.

We need to present our data so that stakeholders say:
Tell me more!

The best way to do that?
Storytelling.

👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for more Data Storytelling tips.

Here's an example: 
> Do you ride a bicycle regularly? Tamara did too. But one day in 2018, that changed.

She biked to work, thinking about her next meeting.

Then, all of a sudden, a car appeared. 

The car hit Tamara from the side, her head smashing on the street. 

She got into a coma.

I sat beside her hospital bed, holding her hand.

Days passed by. 

Weeks passed by. 

Months passed by.

I thought she'd never wake up. 

After 6 months, she opened her eyes. Luckily, Tamara survived.

But until today, she's unable to read.

Tamara isn't an exception. 

Accidents with bicycles are on the rise. 

People with a helmet have 88% less risk of brain injury.

So when you go out on your bike today 

Wear a helmet.


Why is this more persuasive? 
✅ Helps the audience visualize
✅ Includes tension and emotion
✅ Brings the data to life by zooming in on one character
 
More tips: 

1. Bonus points for personal stories

2. Business story? Use customer personas.

3. Use cognitive biases to your advantage. Example: loss aversion. Instead of telling people what they will keep (safety), tell them what they risk losing (ability to read). 

4. Know your audience. Don't even try convincing Dutch people to wear a helmet 😉

Most data professionals stop at Earth View:

“Here’s everything. Good luck!”

But stakeholders don’t want the whole planet.
They want the street they’re standing on.

That’s the shift:

From showing all the data
→
to highlighting what matters now.

Data storytelling isn’t about more data.
It isn’t about more charts.
It’s about zooming in.

Get on the street.
Show them the red light.
Show them what’s urgent.

Because presenting data isn’t about informing.
It’s about influencing decisions.

♻️ Like it? Repost to your network.
👉 Follow Gilbert Eijkelenboom for grounded storytelling advice.

taplio

The Battle

Susan Walsh - The Classification Guru

Gilbert Eijkelenboom

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreGilbert Eijkelenboom's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Susan Walsh - The Classification Guru

Gilbert Eijkelenboom

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Gilbert Eijkelenboom's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreGilbert Eijkelenboom's LinkedIn Performance