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by Dr Selena Fisk
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- 2 weeks ago11 min
#52 Why we need to separate decision quality from outcomes
In this week's episode, Dr Selena Fisk explores data-informed decision making, outcome bias, and hindsight bias, and explains why a disappointing results do not always mean the original decision was wrong. This episode is for professionals and leaders who want to make better decisions, reflect more effectively, and learn how to separate decision quality from decision outcomes when navigating uncertainty, complexity, and change.
- Apr 14, 202616 min
#51 The leadership team sport behind data-informed culture
In this episode, Dr. Selena Fisk explores data-informed culture and the leadership alignment required to make it stick. She breaks down why middle leaders and middle management can't carry data culture change alone, and why executive sponsorship and middle leader follow-through are essential if an organisation wants data to genuinely shape decisions. Listeners will learn what strong leadership alignment looks like between senior and middle leaders, how misalignment quietly stalls change management, and the practical signals that shift data-informed work from a project into "the way we do things here."
- Mar 31, 202610 min
#50 Stop letting Excel choose your charts for you
In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk breaks down why "recommended charts" and default visualisations often hide the real story in your data... and what to do instead. You'll learn how Microsoft Excel's chart choices can unintentionally mislead your audience, distract from your message, or make insights harder to see, especially when you're presenting to leaders, clients, or time-poor teams. If you've ever wondered: why your chart feels "technically correct" but still confusing what makes a chart persuasive, not just pretty how to avoid common Excel chart traps (hello, clutter and unnecessary complexity) …this is for you. Selena shares practical rules of thumb for choosing visuals based on the question you're answering, not the chart type Excel serves up. Expect clear examples, quick decision prompts, and a simple framework you can apply immediately - whether you're building a board report, a dashboard, or a one-slide update for an audience. In this episode, you'll learn: The hidden bias baked into Excel's default chart recommendations A fast "purpose-first" method for choosing better visuals How to make your charts clearer, calmer, and more convincing Perfect for team and business leaders, analysts, and anyone who wants their data to land with impact. Keywords: Excel charts, data visualisation, choosing the right chart, dashboard design, data storytelling, spreadsheet reporting, better charts in Excel, business reporting visuals, data communication
- Mar 17, 202615 min
#49 What if you have an epic data story but you're worried people in the meeting won't get it?
Most data storytelling advice focuses on the analysis: choosing the right data, selecting the best charts, and building compelling visuals. But in real organisations, the hardest part is often what happens after the analysis — when you have to share the data in a meeting. In this episode, Dr. Selena Fisk explores why data conversations can break down in mixed-skill meetings, where some people speak fluently in metrics, others think in outcomes, and some are quietly trying to interpret the chart (or work out whether what they're seeing is "right"). Without designing for this reality, meetings become predictable: the confident voices dominate, less-confident participants withdraw, and decisions get made on partial understanding and momentum. Instead of a step-by-step process, this episode offers 10 practical principles for data storytelling in meetings to help you facilitate inclusive, productive dialogue while maintaining technical integrity. Some of the things you'll learn in this episode Why leading with purpose (the decision) is more effective than leading with charts How to separate observation, interpretation, and decision-making to reduce unproductive debate How to reduce cognitive load so people can think, not just interpret visuals If you present data in meetings, lead teams, or want better decision-making conversations around metrics, this episode will help you design meetings where more people can participate in meaning-making — and where data leads to action and learning. Keywords: data storytelling in meetings, data storytelling principles, presenting data to stakeholders, mixed-skill teams, leading with purpose, making clarity questions normal, decision-making with data, communicating data insights, inclusive meetings, facilitating data discussions, reduce cognitive load, narrating charts, data-informed leadership #datastorytelling #decisionmaking #leadership #data #meetings #communication
- Mar 3, 202610 min
#48 Your data strategy and data plan are two different things - get both!
In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk breaks down the critical difference between a data strategy and a data plan, and why confusing the two is quietly undermining data-informed decision making in many organisations. Too often, leaders believe they have a data strategy when what they actually have is a collection of dashboards, reporting tools, or technology roadmaps. But a true data strategy defines why data matters, and how it creates value. A data plan, on the other hand, clarifies what data is used, by whom, when, and what responsibility sits behind it. If you care about data governance, building a strong data culture, improving business intelligence, or strengthening data-informed leadership, this episode will help you align strategy with execution. You'll learn: The difference between data strategy and a data plan How to provide clarity for data responsibility across teams Practical steps to build a more data-informed organisation Perfect for executives, leaders, and data professionals who want their data investments to actually change behaviour, not just produce reports.
- Feb 17, 202610 min
#47 Your data dashboard IS NOT a data story
Most dashboards look impressive. They're packed with metrics, trends, and filters, and yet they still leave people asking, "So what?" In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk unpacks why a data dashboard is not a data story (and why confusing the two leads to stalled decisions, misaligned teams, and "insight" that never turns into action). You'll learn the critical importance of meaning-making, how to move from reporting to narrative, and the value in leaders translating charts into clarity. If you're a leader, analyst, or anyone responsible for communicating data, this episode will help you stop presenting information and start creating understanding, so your data actually influences decisions. Keywords: data dashboards, data storytelling, business intelligence, KPI reporting, decision making, data literacy, analytics communication, executive reporting, insight to action
- Feb 3, 202611 min
#46 Data literacy has very little to do with maths ability
"I'm not a numbers person" is one of the most common and most limiting beliefs holding people back from engaging with data. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk challenges the widespread assumption that data literacy is about maths ability. She explains why modern data work has very little to do with calculations and everything to do with interpretation, critical thinking, and decision-making. You'll learn what data literacy actually means in today's organisations, why equating it with numeracy excludes capable leaders and professionals, and how this misunderstanding narrows data conversations and weakens insight. Selena reframes data literacy as a human thinking skill - one grounded in asking better questions, applying judgement, and making sense of information in context. If your organisation is investing in data but struggling to build confidence, capability, or meaningful data-informed decisions, this episode will help you rethink the skills that truly matter. Keywords: data literacy, data capability, leadership and data, data-informed decision making, data confidence, learning culture
- Jan 20, 20269 min
#45 You don't have a data problem - you have a confidence or skills problem
Many leaders believe their organisation has a data problem... not enough data, not the right dashboards, not the right systems. In this episode, I unpack why that's rarely the real issue. Instead, most organisations are grappling with a skills or confidence problem. People are surrounded by data but don't feel equipped or safe to ask questions, interpret what they see, or use data once decisions have been made. We explore what leaders often misunderstand about data capability, how well-intentioned investments in tools can backfire, and what actually builds confidence and better decision-making over time. If your organisation feels data-rich but insight-poor, this conversation will help you rethink where the real work needs to happen.
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About Make Data Talk
Are you finding data daunting? Are you in a job where there are heaps of numbers coming in, but you don't know what to do with them, let alone make them mean something? If so, it's time to make your data talk! Each week Data Storyteller Dr Selena Fisk will help you turn your spreadsheets into stories, as she teaches you important data ideas and skills which help you bring your data to life. Each episode is packed with real examples and insights from Selena's experience helping people like you - to build your confidence, to make data more accessible to you, and to do so in a way that is practical and more interesting than your year 9 maths textbook! Make data talk is your weekly dose of data literacy, data viz, and data storytelling ideas that help make data doable.
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