Episode 2: Making Insight Land – Data Storytelling with Ross Durston

In Episode 2 of the Capability Curve, Jennifer Cozzi is joined by Ross Durston, Co-Founder and Chief Data & Storytelling Officer at Finding Stories, to explore why data storytelling is a career and business differentiator – not a “soft skill”.

Ross shares what it felt like early in his career: confident doing the analysis, but dreading stakeholder meetings. What changed wasn’t his personality. It was building a repeatable process that helped him communicate clearly, even as an introvert.

Ross puts it simply: data storytelling is transforming data and statistics into understandable, engaging, emotional insights that drive action.

What you’ll learn in this episode

  • Why even strong analysis can fall flat with stakeholders
  • How empathy helps you engage effectively with stakeholders (and speak their language)
  • How structure makes your charts and decks easier to follow, and harder to ignore
  • Why rehearsal beats winging it, and how confidence is built before the meeting
  • How AI is democratising analysis, and raising the bar on communication

 

If this resonates and you’re building (or rebuilding) an insights/data capability, we can help,  from shaping operating models and roles, to finding practitioners who can turn analysis into action.

Get in touch to start the conversation.