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 that land.

This season, you'll hear honest conversations with data professionals, creators, and business leaders who are redefining what it means to be analytical in a human-driven world.

Because being quietly ambitious isn't about staying small–it's about creating meaningful change in your own way.

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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 about the power of framing questions before diving into data. If you've ever felt pressure to "just run the numbers", this episode will help you slow down and see what really drives insight.

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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.

If you've ever questioned your path or felt boxed in by expectations, this conversation will remind you that your unique background can become your greatest advantage.

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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 findings actually drive action. If you've ever wondered why your reports don't spark decisions, this episode will help you bridge that gap.

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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 you've ever struggled to balance quality with progress or doubted your pace, this conversation is a gentle reminder that clarity and consistency often matter more than perfection.

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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 Performance
Fifth C
Tiankai's Takeaway

Follow Tiankai Feng:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiankaifeng/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kaifengHumanizing
AI Strategy: https://www.amazon.com/Humanizing-AI-Strategy-Leading-Sense-ebook/dp/B0FLVW3ZWH/

Quietly Ambitious AnalystWeekly emails for new analysts:

https://bit.ly/4pjUoz98-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2dFree Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl


The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

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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 episode, Tristan Burns, data leadership coach and former global head of data for Pizza Hut’s digital business, explains why “data strategy” is often pointless without business strategy, and how leaders can shift their teams from reactive reporting to driving commercial outcomes. We unpack the leadership skills nobody trains you for, the hidden job market and networking “insurance,” and why the most underrated career advantage in analytics isn’t technical…it’s judgment. This one is a must-listen if you’re quietly ambitious and ready to become the person people trust.

Topics:

• What you’re getting wrong about “data literacy”
• What you need instead: business literacy
• What to do when no one can explain the business strategy
• How to stop building “data strategy” in a vacuum
• How to move from service desk to strategic partner
• What to do when opinions clash with data at scale
• How to grow faster by borrowing from other industries
• What you need to stop micromanaging (and start leading)
• How to treat networking like career insurance
• What to do if you want to go freelance: sell before you build
• What to read if you want to level up (Badass Bookshelf)

Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quietlyambitiousanalyst

Follow Tristan Burns: Website - https://bit.ly/3YoCTD4LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4sh1QOi
Quietly Ambitious Analyst Weekly emails for aspiring analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz98-Week Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2dFree Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter

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 bottlenecks.

We talk through how to spot the leverage point that actually changes outcomes (instead of polishing the wrong thing), and why “the data is clear” still isn’t enough if the human side isn’t accounted for.

Will also shares practical ways to diagnose operational chaos, improve decision-making, and communicate change so stakeholders don’t resist it, plus how to build systems that scale without you becoming the bottleneck.

Topics:

• The Power of Systems Thinking
• Understanding Business Systems
• Human Elements in Systems
• Responsibility in System Maintenance
• Feedback Loops and Organizational Culture
• Understanding Feedback Loops in Business
• Challenges in System Organization
• The Human Element in System Changes
• The Role of Data Analysts in Persuasion
• Accepting Limitations in Change
• Mental Models and Resistance to Change
• Holistic Approach to Systems Thinking

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quietlyambitiousanalyst
Follow Will Stewart: Website - www.empower-core.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willhstewart2/

Quietly Ambitious Analyst
Weekly emails for new analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 
8-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2d
Free Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter

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 grounded conversation on:

• Why multitasking feels productive (and why it backfires)
  
  
• How to leverage your industry background when you’re breaking into analytics
  
  
• What “trust” really looks like with stakeholders (and how fast it can collapse)
  
  
• The underrated power of documentation and “building knowledge that lasts.”
  
  
• Why communication makes or breaks data teams—especially when pipelines break
  
  

If you’re an aspiring/early-career analyst or career switcher who wants to communicate with clarity, build credibility, and do work that actually sticks, this one’s for you.Topics:

• Transitioning from Dental Hygiene to Data Analytics
• Leveraging Industry Experience in Data Analytics
• Intuition and Context in Data Analysis
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• Growth and Development in the Analytics Field
• The Importance of Communication in Data Analytics
• The Power of Observation in Communication
• Building Knowledge That Lasts
• Documenting Accomplishments for Career Growth
• The Intersection of Engineering and Analytics
• Embracing Change and Career Shifts
• The Importance of Trust and Honesty
• Effective Communication in Teams

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quietlyambitiousanalyst

Follow Thais Cooke
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaiscooke/
Substack: https://substack.com/@thaiscooke

Quietly Ambitious Analyst
Weekly emails for new analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 
8-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2d
Free Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl

The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter

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 Field
The First C: Clarity
The Second C: Conciseness
The Third C: Being Concrete

→ Improve your communication skills and become the strategic voice in the room. Weekly insights: https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter


The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter

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 the charts you build every day. Learn why 'manufactured scarcity' is a short-term win but a long-term data disaster, and how to help your stakeholders build brands based on agency rather than manipulation.

Topics:

Chelsea’s Journey: From Corporate Marketing to Psychology
The Line Between Influence and Manipulation
The Science: Why 95% of Decisions are Subconscious
Understanding Brand Equity (The Kleenex Effect)
Value Aspiration: Finding the "North Star" Metric
Internal Alignment: Why Disgruntled Employees Break Data
The Ethical Audit: Audience, Messaging, and Alignment
How to Measure Long-Term Trust (The ROI of Ethics)
Rapid Fire: Ethical vs. Unethical Scenarios
Final Thoughts

Follow Chelsea Burns:
Chelsea Burns, M.S. | LinkedIn

Quietly Ambitious Analyst
Weekly emails for new analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9 
8-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2d
Free Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl



The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter

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 Analyst Actually Looks Like
From Theme Parks to Consumer Insights
The Waste Management Project That Changed Everything
What Consumer Insights Is
Presenting to 1,100+ People Globally
AI vs Excel: When Simple Wins
How to Practice Presentations (Recording Yourself)
Finding a Manager You Actually Want at Your Presentation
"I Don't See You in Analytics" - Proving Them Wrong
Putting Yourself Out There When It's Scary

Follow Evelyn Cates:

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/evelyntcates

Quietly Ambitious Analyst:
Weekly emails for new analysts: https://bit.ly/4pjUoz9
8-Week Data Communication Course: https://bit.ly/4qJ3o2d
Free Resource - Top 10 Analyst Questions Before Touching Data: https://bit.ly/4sxbixl


The Quietly Ambitious Analyst–where business context meets data communication. 

Listen anywhere | Follow @quietlyambitiousanalyst | Join the newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.io/subscribe-enewsletter