The Quietly Ambitious Analyst

I didn't grow up with a roadmap to the tech industry. I grew up in rural Indiana, in a graduating class of 60 people, where nobody in my circle was going into data or business. This is the story of how I got here anyway. Through an RV, a nonprofit, an MBA, and one class that changed my trajectory. If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the mold of a "typical" data person, I hope this one res...

You spent days on your analysis. The meeting went well. Everyone was engaged. And then nothing happened: No decisions. No follow-up. No movement. If this has ever happened to you, you're not alone. And it's probably not because your stakeholders don't care about data. In this solo episode, I break down the two real reasons your analysis isn't moving forward and what you can do about both, starting...

Level up your communication as an early career analyst with free weekly insights:  https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter  Janet Kim is a senior technology leader, career coach, and TED Talk speaker who spent 16 years at Stanford University. She has spent her career at the intersection of strategy, digital transformation, and people - and she has been on the other side of the table mak...

Level up your communication as an early-career analyst with free weekly insights⁠ Marianna Simonian is a tech futurist, former HR analyst, entrepreneur, and author who has built multiple startups and communities supporting women in tech — all while navigating the same self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and career uncertainty that most analysts feel but rarely talk about. In this conversation, she shar...

Aaron Wilkerson has spent nearly two decades in data and analytics — working his way up from individual contributor to Director of Data Strategy and Product at Carhartt. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on what leadership actually looks like from the other side: how directors prioritize requests, what it really means to bring an idea to your manager, why staying comfortable in your...

Weekly Newsletter for Early Career Analysts:  https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 If you don’t understand the process behind the numbers, you’re probably solving the wrong problem. In this episode, Senior Supply Chain Data Analyst Oun Muhammad shares what the job actually looks like beyond the dashboard - from tracing root causes on the warehouse floor to working cross-functionally with teams to understand wha...

Weekly Newsletter for Early Career Analysts:  https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 Most people think a career in data is built through technical skill alone, but often what shapes your growth most is the community around you, the people you learn from, and the spaces where you feel seen. In this episode, Natalia Kotova, Project Director at Think Linkers, shares how she built a career connecting the global data...

Weekly Newsletter for Early Career Analysts:  https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 Most early career professionals know something feels off at work, but they don't know how to change it without risking the relationship or their reputation. In this episode, executive coach and leadership strategist Tash Durkins shares exactly how she stopped her boss from texting her after hours, how she handled a colleague who...

Weekly Newsletter for Early Career Analysts: ⁠ https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9⁠ Data isn't just dashboards — it's a reflection of decisions, politics, and organizational maturity. In this episode, data veteran and Calon founder Nathan Jones joins us to cut through 25 years of consulting noise and tell you what "data-driven" actually means in practice. For early career analysts, this is a masterclass in und...

Listen to Part 1: How to communicate your insights like a senior analyst (3Cs framework): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4UsWDt3yW3YtjNRyds48l1?si=34d6086d76164844In Part 2 of the 7Cs communication framework, these last 4 Cs break down specific strategies you can use to improve your communication with stakeholders. Intro to Part 2 00:55  The Fourth C 03:15  The Fifth C 05:21  The Sixth C 06:45 T...

Weekly insights to improve your communication skills as an early career analyst → https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter Most data analyst career paths don't follow a straight line. Evelyn Cates certainly didn't. In this episode of the Quietly Ambitious Analyst podcast, Evelyn shares the real, messy, non-linear path to becoming a senior data analyst. Topics: Intro & What Being an A...

Learn the 5 C's framework for humanizing data strategy with Tiankai Feng. Discover why most data projects fail and how to fix the human factors. Topics: Introduction Humanizing Data: The Human Factor Tiankai's Journey: From Marketing to Data Leadership Cultural Background and Inclusivity in Data First C Second C Analyst-Stakeholder Scenarios Data Ikigai Framework Third C:  Fourth C Data Music Perf...

Weekly Newsletter for Early Career Analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 Data isn't just numbers; it's a reflection of human behavior and relationships.  In this episode, marketing psychologist Chelsea Burns joins us to break down the 'through-line' between business goals and human ethics.  For data analysts, this is a masterclass in understanding how the 'subconscious ruts' of your customers impact th...

Weekly insights to improve your communication skills as an early career analyst → https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter These 3 simple communication skills are beginner-friendly and can be easily applied the next time you go to share an insight with stakeholders. I am constantly using these! Topics Intro to Communication in Data Analytics Why Comm Skills Are Needed in the Analytics Fi...

In this episode of The Quietly Ambitious Analyst, I sit down with Thais Cooke, a senior healthcare data analyst who brings a decade of clinical experience into data and AI. Thais shares her unconventional path from dental hygiene to analytics, how she got hooked the moment she wrote SELECT *, and why the analysts who stand out aren’t just “data-driven”—they’re context-driven. You’ll hear a grounde...

If you’re a data analyst (or an ops-minded founder) who keeps getting stuck in “fix the process” mode but suspects the real issue is bigger than a checklist, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Will Stewart, founder of Empower Core Solutions, to break down systems thinking in plain language: a process is linear, but a system is a living network of people, tools, feedback loops, and invisible bo...

Title: Stop Chasing Data Literacy. Build Business Literacy Instead. (Tristan Burns) Weekly Newsletter for Aspiring + Early Career Analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 ​​What if the reason your work isn’t being used… isn’t your analysis? What if it’s the gap between data language and business language, and the uncomfortable truth that data teams are often closer to dashboards than decisions? In this ep...

In this episode, I sit down with Adel Hassen, a data scientist who brings humanity and self-awareness to his work. Adel shares how he applies the 80/20 rule to take analyses across the finish line, focusing on what truly matters to stakeholders. He also breaks down his three guiding principles–Direction, Action, and Consistency– and how they help analysts find their flow in a fast-moving field. If...

In this solo episode, we're unpacking a simple but powerful truth: observations aren't insights. Through a story about a paid search cannibalization discovery, we'll illustrate how easy it is to stop at surface-level data–and what it takes to move beyond that. We'll also cover the three steps to developing real insights and how to bring context, reasoning, and connection into your analysis so your...

In this episode, we're talking with Shrestha Maharaj, an Insights & Analytics Manager who transitioned from medical sales into data analytics–and built a thriving career through mentorship, self-advocacy, and influence. Shrestha shares how to navigate career pivots with intention, find mentors who truly guide your growth, and build trust in spaces where you might not fit the traditional mold....

In this solo episode, we're discussing why the best analysts think more like detectives than technicians. From asking sharper stakeholder questions to uncovering the story behind the numbers, we're breaking down how curiosity and critical thinking can transform your analysis–and your credibility.  You'll also hear a real-world story about a campaign that didn't go as planned, and what it taught me...

Welcome to The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–a podcast about mastering the invisible skills that make data professionals stand out: business context, communication, and confidence. I'm your host, Seth Forbes, a data strategist and educator. Each episode explores the in-between moments and hidden practices that turn analysis into real-world impact–from asking sharper questions to communicating insights...