What is your Data Character?
Find out below.
Welcome to 1-2-1 MindSpeaking: Bridging the Gap between Data and Business.
Here’s what’s inside:
🧠1 Tip: 7 data characters to avoid.
🎙️2 MindSpeaking Podcast episodes 1) Data storytelling for introverts and engaging kids with data; 2) Building trust and partnerships with business stakeholders.
🤔1 Quote Simplifying complex ideas, with a fantastic example of Wired (explaining complex concepts on different levels: to a child, student, or expert.
🧠 1 tip for Data & Analytics
Which type do you recognize?
Here are 7 data characters to avoid…
1. 💾 The Data Dump
Overloads with endless data points
Can’t separate relevance from noise
Leaves audiences overwhelmed
2. ⚙️ The Perfectionist
Aims for “perfect” over “good enough”
Slows down progress
Sacrifices impact for precision
3. 🥊 The Debater
Always wants to “win”
Seeks to prove they’re right, at all costs
Ignores feedback in favor of “logic”
4. 🛠️ The Tech Gossip
Dismisses non-technical colleagues
Gossips about people's lack of data knowledge
Builds walls instead of bridges
5. 🤗 The Yes-Man / Yes-Woman
Jumps into solving
Doesn’t fully understand stakeholder needs
Creates solutions that end up unused
6. 🐺 The Lone Wolf
Works in isolation, avoiding collaboration.
Misses out on valuable feedback and new ideas.
No one knows what they’re working on.
7. 🧠 The Overly Rational
Lacks empathy
Misses the human side
Doesn't understand the audience's goals and frustrations
We’ve all been there—these “characters” come out under pressure.
Which one do you see in your team?
Or… spotted in yourself?
🎙️ 2 MindSpeaking Podcast episodes
Episode 19: Gulrez Khan - Data Storytelling for introverts, Drawing Data with Kids
Gulrez Khan, PayPal’s Data Science Lead and author of Drawing Data with Kids, brings a fresh take on data storytelling. He shares excellent tips on Data storytelling as an introvert. He also talks about making data engaging—for business stakeholders and even kids! I'll try to apply the lessons with our newborn
Episode 20: Anders Liu Lindberg - How to Influence with Data: Building Trust and Driving Decisions
Anders Liu Lindberg is the co-founder of the Business Partnering Institute and has 225k followers on LinkedIn. He shares his formula for turning data insights into business impact. Plus: tips for presenting—speaking for a big audience vs. 1-on-1. Discover how to build stakeholder trust, improve communication, and influence decisions.
🤔 1 Quote to reflect on
"If you can't explain something to a 6-year-old, you don't understand it well enough."
— Prof. Richard Feynman,
Data is complex. But your message doesn’t have to be.
As data professionals, we often focus on the numbers. It’s our comfort zone. But here’s the truth: numbers alone won’t drive action.
Your insights are only valuable if they’re understood. Not just by other data professionals. But by your stakeholders.
These are the people who will make decisions based on your insights. But they’re not waiting for raw data. They’re looking for stories, solutions, and actionable insights.
So, your goal? Translate complexity into clarity.
A beautiful example:
(explained to a child, a teen, a college student, a grad student, and an expert.)
Thank you for reading.
Stay curious,
Gilbert
PS. This Friday, we have a Black Friday promotion for my self-paced Data Storytelling video course coming up. Stay tuned.
[DATA TEAMS] Transform how your Data team communicates insights to stakeholders in 2025. Learn more about our flagship training program here or reply to this email.
[INDIVIDUALS] Level up your Data career in 2025. Your future you (and your manager) will thank you. Sign up here for our Data Storytelling & stakeholder communication training (starting in Q1) before the early-bird closes.
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