#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