46 Minutes That Will Change How You Present Data

MindSpeaking Podcast Episode 29 - Michelle Dunivan

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Timestamps:

01:42 – One habit Michelle uses daily

02:31 – Why there’s no single data truth 03:53 – Analysts love data, not people?

06:50 – What breaks analysts’ hearts at work

08:16 – Why plain language builds trust

11:19 – The mistake that kills engagement

14:43 – How she reshapes messy presentations

17:25 – What to say when unsure

19:02 – How she gets exec buy-in early

23:59 – Resolving leadership conflict (without drama)

27:47 – The make-or-break for analytics projects

30:30 – Why changing minds beats compliance

34:00 – What made her invest in training

43:52 – The difference with MindSpeaking’s training

46:23 – Final message: everything communicates

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode of the MindSpeaking Podcast, 🎙️Gilbert Eijkelenboom talks with 🗣 Michelle Dunivan, Senior Director of Insights & Analytics at Best Friends Animal Society. Michelle brings a unique combination of deep analytical knowledge and a PhD in communication, making her an exceptional leader in the data space.

Topics covered include:

• Why insights get ignored without strong communication

• How to gain stakeholder buy-in through conversation, not slides

• Why data storytelling techniques must be audience-centric

• How to balance credibility with simplicity in presenting data

• Tips for managing conflict, curiosity, and executive alignment

🔹 Data Storytelling Techniques Start With the Audience

🎙️Gilbert Eijkelenboom

Michelle, thanks for joining. What’s one communication principle you use almost daily?

🗣️Michelle Dunivan

I always come back to being audience-centric. Instead of focusing on what I want to say, I think about what the other person needs to hear. What's their knowledge base, their experience, their fears? That mindset helps you connect your insights to what really matters to them. You're not just telling the truth. You're telling a truth—the version that matters to that audience.

🎙️Gilbert

And in data, we often act like there’s only one truth, right? "Here’s the answer!"

🗣️Michelle

Exactly. But data is just a piece of the puzzle. Even the cleanest model is filtered through human interpretation. Your insight is influenced by assumptions, constraints, and context. If you don’t frame that for the person receiving it, you risk being misunderstood—or ignored.

🔹 Building Trust by Understanding Stakeholder Needs

🎙️Gilbert

Many analysts are curious about data but less so about people. Why is that?

🗣️Michelle

It’s wild to me because curiosity is a superpower for analysts! But we often stop being curious when it comes to stakeholders. Maybe we think it’s intrusive or irrelevant—but it’s not. Building trust with stakeholders starts with knowing what they value, what they fear, and what success looks like for them.

🎙️Gilbert

So, curiosity should apply to people as much as to datasets.

🗣️Michelle

Absolutely. If we ask a million questions about a dataset but none about the people we serve, how can we expect our work to land?

🔹 Presenting Data to Stakeholders Without Losing Them

🎙️Gilbert

On LinkedIn you describe yourself as a "plain language stats translator." Tell me about that.

🗣️Michelle

So many people in analytics get deep into methodology—random forests, confidence intervals—but that doesn’t help a stakeholder make a decision. People don’t want to feel dumb. Your job is to help them trust your analysis without needing a statistics degree.

🎙️Gilbert

Right. It’s not about proving how smart you are—it’s about helping them take action.

🗣️Michelle

Exactly. Even words like "correlated" can confuse people. That’s why presenting data to stakeholders means stripping away unnecessary detail. Show your work in the appendix, not on slide one. Lead with insight. Lead with impact.

🔹 From Curiosity to Clarity: Translating Insight into Action

🎙️Gilbert

How do you help your team communicate more effectively?

🗣️Michelle

It starts in the requirements-gathering phase. Don’t assume you know what they want. Ask questions. Clarify. Get curious. One of my team members took your training and came back asking smarter questions—more aligned with the stakeholder’s real goals.

🎙️Gilbert

That’s the power of the AVP framework: Ask, Visualize, Persuade.

🗣️Michelle

Yes! And after the initial analysis, I review it with them. We filter down from 10 possible takeaways to maybe 2 or 3 that really matter. We ask: What surprised us? What deserves attention? Then we simplify that story—visually, verbally, and structurally.

🔹 Gaining Stakeholder Buy-In Through Early Conversations

🎙️Gilbert

You said you never present to execs without prepping them first. Tell us more.

🗣️Michelle

Absolutely. Gaining stakeholder buy-in starts long before the presentation. I meet with key leaders individually. I share early findings and listen to their reactions. That way, by the time we’re in the room, there are no surprises. People have had time to process.

🎙️Gilbert

That’s a great example of managing stakeholder expectations in advance.

🗣️Michelle

Exactly. And in the actual meeting, don’t rush through slides. Leave white space—visually and verbally. People need time to absorb and respond. Your goal is to leave that room with a decision or next step, not just admiration for your analysis.

🔹 Handling Conflict and Competing Priorities

🎙️Gilbert

Conflict seems inevitable in cross-functional work. What’s your approach?

🗣️Michelle

Conflict isn’t a sign of failure. It means people care. The key is curiosity. Ask: Why does this matter to them? What’s behind their concern? Often, it’s not personal—it’s a clash of goals. You can find common ground when you’re willing to dig deeper.

🎙️Gilbert

I’ve had similar realizations in personal life—when I stay curious, conflict becomes collaboration.

🗣️Michelle

Exactly. In one recent project, two teams wanted the same data for very different reasons. By surfacing those differences, we built a plan that served both. But we had to create a safe space for disagreement first.

🔹 Culture Change Over Compliance

🎙️Gilbert

You talk about creating partnerships instead of just compliance. What does that look like in practice?

🗣️Michelle

Compliance is easy: Do this, now. But if you want a data-driven culture, you need trust, not obedience. I want people to feel good about working with data. That means building credibility, showing vulnerability, and being consistent. You don’t want one-time behavior—you want long-term attitude change.

🎙️Gilbert

And when results are unexpected or disappointing?

🗣️Michelle

I remind them I’m on their team. If the data tells a story they didn’t want to hear, I help them understand it’s not an attack—it’s a starting point. Together, we figure out what’s missing, what to explore next, and how to move forward.

🔹 Results from Communication Training

🎙️Gilbert

You brought us in to train your team. What prompted that decision?

🗣️Michelle

I had read your book years ago, and it deeply aligned with what I’d been trying to teach my team. But having an external expert makes a big difference. Your program gave structure and credibility to ideas I’d been saying for years.

🎙️Gilbert

What kind of changes did you see afterward?

🗣️Michelle

Right away, people asked better questions. They challenged vague requests. They felt empowered to clarify and collaborate. And the training brought our team closer—we better understood each other’s communication styles. For a diverse analytics team, that matters.

🔹 Final Message: Communication Is Everything

🎙️Gilbert

If you had to leave listeners with one message, what would it be?

🗣️Michelle

Everything is communication. Even silence sends a message. So be intentional. It’s not manipulative to consider what your audience needs—it’s competent. The more thoughtful you are about how others hear you, the more impact your insights will have.

🎙️Gilbert

Brilliantly said. Michelle, thank you for your clarity, honesty, and energy. This was a true masterclass in communication and data.

🗣️Michelle

Thank you, Gilbert. It was a joy.