What’s all the fuss about cybersecurity? And why do business analysts need to understand it? Cybersecurity and business analysis expert Bindu Channaveerappa is the special guest on this week’s BA Brew, where she argues that an understanding of cybersecurity is now integral to the work of the BA. “When we create the value, why leave the security to someone else?” Bindu Channaveerappa is a highly respected author, trainer and international speaker on business analysis and cyber security. Her book,...
Mar 07, 2025•30 min•Season 10Ep. 5
This BA Brew focuses on the newly published ‘Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide.’ Authors Jonathan Hunsley and Debra Paul and contributing author Victoria Banner discuss the ‘why’ of the book; the joy of collaborating and sharing ideas; and some of their favourite content including: - leveraging capability to meet goals and outcomes using the CALM model - comparing the business architecture service framework to the business analysis service framework and other service frameworks for ro...
Feb 21, 2025•24 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Difficult stakeholders or colleagues? Help is at hand! How we (and others) react in response to challenging situations at work – especially where there is resistance to change – is explained by the Transactional Analysis model. This week’s special guest, and an expert on #transactionalanalysis, is Leadership Development Consultant and MD Mandy Green. Watch the Brew to find out more about the ego states of (Critical) Parent, Adult and (Fractious) Child and how insight into those states can help u...
Feb 07, 2025•34 min•Season 10Ep. 3
In AssistKD’s latest Business Analysis podcast the team discuss why every touchpoint of the customer journey matters... and how a deeper understanding of the customer experience can only benefit organisations and the wider economy. Kerry, Mike and Jonathan get some serious mileage out of a restaurant analogy and Mike gets extra brownie points for mentioning POPIT™️within the first two minutes of the podcast. Topics covered include: what is the customer experience; the difference between CX and U...
Jan 24, 2025•22 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Are you a Business Analyst considering your next career move? Our latest BA Brew considers an academic route for BAs and how a Master of Business Administration (MBA) postgraduate degree could revitalise your career. AssistKD’s Debbie Paul and Lisa Hudson are joined by IIBA UK Director and Transformation Consultant at Burendo Christina Tan to talk about their respective MBA journeys. They discuss the rationale for studying towards an MBA, the different business subjects typically covered, learni...
Jan 10, 2025•32 min•Season 10Ep. 1
In AssistKD’s 2024 BA Brew Christmas message the Crew discuss what they are most looking forward to about Christmas and share some very cheesy jokes. Lisa and Kerry are excited about Christmas Day; Mike (or is it Santa?) is going to parkrun, Pete does not need any more socks, and Jo is looking forward to playing Cards Against Humanity with her 90-year-old Grandad! #merrychristmas #BABrew #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #servicedesign #businesschange
Dec 20, 2024•8 min•Season 9Ep. 11
Do we need a rebrand of the business analyst role? Experts in the field Debra Paul, Jamie Toyne and Michelle Shakesheff put their heads together to discuss the current BA market, and the ongoing implications for BAs. Topic discussed include: the current demand for BAs; recruitment challenges; the need for a broad BA skillset; rebranding the BA role; changing the narrative; role clarity; the need for BAs to keep learning; and more! If you enjoyed this BA Brew, you may find the following resources...
Nov 22, 2024•24 min•Season 9Ep. 10
The Double Diamond approach is a popular (and fun) design thinking technique designed to help you generate ideas; problem solve; challenge and even reverse assumptions. Our latest BA Brew with Jonathan Hunsley, Lisa Hudson and special guest Liza Laya introduces the framework – discussing its uses, benefits and some real-world applications. Liza Laya is Head of Technology and Digital Reform at a state government agency in Melbourne, Australia. She has almost 25 years of local and international ex...
Nov 11, 2024•28 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Have you heard of Character Crafting and how it can be used to build resilience and leadership skills? In this enlightening chat our special guest, Helen Holder, discusses the positive character traits and behaviours central to the BA role… and how we can develop and maintain them. Topics discussed include: the Personal Strength inventory; character vs. the cult of personality; identifying your character strengths and weaknesses; developing through practice; and the power of theT Lego persona. H...
Nov 08, 2024•24 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Do you love a success story? BA Apprentice of the Year 2024 Lorna Mylett is this week’s special BA Brew guest. She shares her experience of the Business Analyst Apprenticeship supported by her employers DWP, and AssistKD. Topics discussed include: learning and applying new skills and understanding; the value of learning as part of a group and having a mentor; and what it’s like to be thrown at the deep end at the IRM UK BA Conference Europe. If you enjoyed this BA Brew, you may find the followin...
Oct 25, 2024•22 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Tricky business problem? Get those (creative) thinking caps on! In this week’s BA Brew the Crew discuss how creative thinking can help business change professionals challenge the status quo, think expansively and come up with effective solutions. Questions addressed include: What is creative thinking? How can you create an environment for creative thinking? What are the potential barriers? What are your top 3 creative thinking techniques? You may find the following articles, course, free learnin...
Oct 11, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 7
If you have ever wanted to know more about psychological safety this brew is a one not to be missed. Jonathan Hunsley and Philippa Thomas are joined by Emma Lee (Chief Psychologist at Matthew Syed Consulting and registered psychologist) to discuss this important topic. Collectively they explore questions such as: ▶️What is psychological safety? ▶️Why is psychological safety important? ▶️How does psychological safety impact individuals and teams? ▶️How might an absence of psychological safety imp...
Sep 27, 2024•36 min•Season 9Ep. 6
In this special BA Conference Europe BA Brew, AssistKD CEO Debra Paul is joined by three BA Conference legends: Shane McGlynn, Rachel Levermore, and James Archer (who started the ball rolling in the first place!) The BA Conference Europe is Europe’s foremost Business Analysis conference, which has evolved over the past 16 years to over 500 attendees and 6 streams of talks. This BA Brew celebrates: the dedication and enthusiasm of the Advisory Board who tune in to the latest thinking and differen...
Sep 06, 2024•31 min•Season 9Ep. 5
Are you an Activist, a Theorist, a Pragmatist or a Reflector? Our latest BA Brew could help you find out and get the most from your learning. The Brew Crew are joined by former Apprentice and now BA at the Environment Agency Cat Warren to talk about some of the different learning models (Kolb, Bloom and Honey and Mumford). They look at how the different learning approaches work with training courses, course manuals and eLearning and explore how understanding other people’s different learning sty...
Aug 30, 2024•28 min•Season 9Ep. 4
This BA Brew is AssistKD’s second BA Question Time. Many of the questions focus on role clarity, a hot topic for BAs. Mike Williams is host, with expert panellists Jo Frances and Jonathan Hunsley providing the answers and insights. This week’s questions are: ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Business Architect? ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Service Designer? ❓How can a growth mindset support change professionals in general? ❓ What are the overlap...
Aug 16, 2024•27 min•Season 9Ep. 3
If you’re concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on your business or your job, this BA Brew is a must-watch. Debra Paul and Pete Thompson discuss the benefits, risks and opportunities with Donald Farmer – one of the foremost thinkers, researchers and presenters in the field. Topics discussed include: automating processes; cost savings; intellectual property; caring about the human element; inherent bias in AI; the need for new requirements; mitigating for unexpected adverse effect...
Jul 19, 2024•29 min•Season 9Ep. 1
This BA Brew is all about bravery, asking what bravery is and how we can develop it. Charlie Payne and Kay Hardy join the Brew Crew to try to answer these questions and more. The discussion includes: how elements of police training can also apply to business analysis; a great skiing analogy; building resilience; psychological safety; power poses; and more. During the BA Brew, Amy Cuddy’s TED talk Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are is referenced, and also her book Presence . #businessanalys...
May 10, 2024•37 min•Season 8Ep. 10
If you are interested in Agile, you won’t want to miss this. This BA Brew is all about the second edition of ‘Agile Business Analysis: Practical guidance for IT professionals’ by Lynda Girvan and Debra Paul. Watch as the authors discuss what readers can expect from the revised and updated edition, including: ⭐ the latest Agile developments ⭐ new techniques ⭐ new thinking ⭐ real-life case-studies where experienced practitioners share challenges and lessons learned. The wide-ranging discussion cov...
Apr 26, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 9
In this special edition of our BA Brew, it’s BA Question Time! Mike Williams presides as AssistKD’s Fiona Bruce with Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley as the panellists. This week’s questions are: ❓Should BAs understand commerce/business? ❓How can a BA team of 20 balance sharing knowledge and experience as a team with time on their own projects? ❓How do I bring together a group of professionals working in and around the business analysis space together to add value to the business? ❓Business Analy...
Apr 12, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 8
In our latest brew Jonathan Hunsley and Nicole Alderton are joined by Michelle Shakesheff and Tim Clark of Close Bros to share their thoughts on getting started in a BA career. They share insights on the different modes of learning available to build the professional toolkit, the importance of mentoring and stepping out of your comfort zone to take on new challenges. Handily, they also delve into the sources and benefits of ongoing self-development. With so many structured routes into business a...
Mar 28, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 7
The pandemic and new technology have changed the way we work, but how are we responding as humans? Special guest Helen Holder considers the human element of our professional lives in this fascinating BA Brew. Topics include: how we respond to our work, interact with stakeholders and deal with change; the personal attributes of BAs, business architects and service designers; investing in personal growth; the strength inventory; resilience and the growth mindset and more. Helen Holder is a Senior ...
Mar 15, 2024•23 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Artificial Intelligence: a powerful ally with mind-blowing potential… or a threat to our jobs? @John Wisner joins the BA Brew crew for a lively discussion on where we are right now, and the possibilities and challenges ahead. Topics include: AI and automation; brainstorming with AI; machine learning and data analytics; asking AI the right questions; why BAs need to be aware of the new AI tools, and more. John Wisner is Managing Principal Consultant at Capco, Business Analysis Capability Lead and...
Mar 01, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Daniel Squire and Jonathan Hunsley are passionate about business analysis… and martial arts (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo respectively). In this fascinating BA Brew, they discuss some of the misconceptions about martial arts and the many parallels between the disciplines. Topics include: situational awareness; control, discipline and practice; inclusivity and respect... and much more. Daniel Squire is Principal Business Analyst at Just Eat. If you enjoyed this ...
Feb 16, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 4
In... or out? This BA Brew looks at the differences and common ground between the in-house and the external BA consultant roles. Our special guest is Liz Calder, highly experienced BA and IIBA UK Chapter President. Topics covered include: different agreements and expectations; skills sets; organisational culture and implicit rules; organisational knowledge; financial considerations; investing in your skills and knowledge... and much more. #BAconsultancy #intern...
Feb 02, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 3
When business analysts work at one organisation for a long time, they can lose sight of their value and transferable skills. They may even find it difficult to move on. This BA Brew In this BA Brew Chris Pyatt talks about how BAs can regain their professional confidence. Topics covered include: the ‘comfort zone’ of subject matter and organisational expertise; the skills you have which you may take for granted; taking the ‘leap of faith’; engaging with the BA community; the value of training, ce...
Jan 19, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 2
Neurodiversity is a word we hear, but how much do we really understand it and recognise neurodivergence in ourselves and others? Only by better understanding can we support and champion people with neurodiversity and appreciate what they can offer the BA community. In this awareness-raising BA Brew, guests Nicola Pinkney and Paul Haywood share some personal insights and helpful tips. You can find AssistKD’s recent article based on Nicola and Paul’s inspiring talk at BA Conference Europe 2023 her...
Jan 05, 2024•32 min•Season 8Ep. 1
In AssistKD’s 2023 BA Brew Christmas message, the Crew compare their favourite Christmas songs and share their highlights of the year.
Dec 15, 2023•11 min
Editor Tom found this BA Brew ‘mind-blowing’ and we think you will too. If you have ever felt ‘put in your box’ as a BA, you need to hear what Enterprise Architect and Strategy Delivery Consultant Vicky Rothwell has to say. Vicky challenges business analysts to push for a strategic role, to be bold with our BA toolkits and to build our understanding of business architecture and service design. Topics covered in this BA Brew include: The overlap between the business architecture and business anal...
Nov 17, 2023•32 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Self-assessment and development tools provide useful insights which can benefit individuals, teams and organisations. This BA Brew features special guest Corrine Thomas (business analysis leader, coach, mentor, writer and author) and looks at some of the tools including MBTI Myers Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Engage, Strengths Profile, the Strengths Deployment Inventory and Mindset Advantage. Useful links: Myers Briggs Experts in business psychology and personality assessment ( themyersbriggs.com ) ...
Nov 03, 2023•23 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Newly crowned IRM UK Business Analyst of the Year winner Pip Hall joins the Brew Crew this week. Pip talks about her BA journey and those key life skills to be found beyond the standard BA toolbox. The inspiring and heartwarming chat covers what we can learn from our hobbies, interests and relationships; the importance of empathy and why Pip thinks we should take our whole selves to work. You may enjoy the following BA Brews: BA Brew Episode 26: Stakeholders (Feat. Pip Hall) BA Brew Episode 47: ...
Oct 20, 2023•31 min•Season 7Ep. 8
