Communicating Effectively With Data
Successfully present data to decision-makers
View session datesCommunicating Effectively With Data
About the program
Data is becoming more important in business and government decision-making at all levels to inform strategies, improve operations and evaluate results. However, data is often presented poorly leading to delayed or suboptimal decisions. This program goes beyond communication or presentation training to address the use of data to tell a compelling story that supports any business case (e.g. financial, operational, marketing, human capital, etc.) for any given audience (e.g. leaders, managers, operators, reports, customers, etc.). Participants leave with concrete skills they can immediately apply to the data they use in their own role.
In this program you will learn to:
- Understand when, why, and how to communicate data effectively
- Recognize the diverse data needs of different audiences
- Master the principles of designing and delivering successful data stories
- Learn the key principles of data visualization
Available via live, in-person delivery
Attend the program in an immersive, in-person environment at SmithToronto, located in the heart of Toronto's downtown financial district at 200 Front Street West.
Who should attend
This program is designed for analysts, supervisors, managers, and leaders across various departments including finance, accounting, operations, marketing, sales, and human resources. It is also suitable for professionals in sectors such as banking, finance, accounting, consumer packaged goods (CPG), management consulting, manufacturing, industrials, the public sector, and energy and mining.
Discounts Available
Registered Charities
Queen’s Executive Education is pleased to offer a limited number of discounted seats in every program to employees of Canadian registered charities. Check your eligibility to receive a registered charity discount
Volume Discounts
Queen’s Executive Education is pleased to offer a 15% discount for organizations that pre-pay for five or more seats on any of our programs within a 12-month period. Check your eligibility to receive a volume discount
A Recognized Symbol of Excellence
Participants who complete the program earn the Communicating Effectively With Data digital badge credential.
Personal Benefits
- Faster preparation of presentations
- Better skills in preparing presentations and reports that include data
Organizational Benefits
- Build organizational strength and skills in presentation design and delivery
- Clearer communication to executives so decisions can be made faster and with more confidence
- Less time spent preparing regular reports and presentations
Program content:
Through a combination of classroom sessions, exercises to apply learning, video analysis, casework, feedback on work done, and online resources for future reference you will learn:
- Why data is important in communication and how it is often confusing when presented poorly
- Why the discernment of goals, audience and context is key to effective data communication
- How to structure your communication to communicate data clearly and persuasively
- The process to identify compelling data stories
- Why different stakeholders have different data needs and perspectives
- How to create visuals in Excel that communicate data stories
- How to focus the audience when presenting data story visuals
- Tips for structuring worksheets to reduce time when updating data
In-Person Learning
Learn alongside fellow participants from across the country, discovering best practices that span industries and sectors.
Our in-person programs include classroom learning sessions led by award-winning Smith School of Business professors and industry experts. Practice new skills in breakout sessions, projects and simulations, and apply your learning toward real-world case studies.
Queen’s Health and Safety protocols for in-person programs are evolving and may change by the program date. View the Respiratory Illness Information (COVID-19) (opens in a new tab).
SmithToronto
SmithToronto is located on the 30th floor, 200 Front Street West in the heart of Canada's financial centre and is easily accessible by GO, subway and the PATH system.
Smith School of Business delivers many programs and classes at SmithToronto and it is home to the Master of Finance, Master of Management Analytics, and Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence programs. The site includes classrooms, meeting rooms, staff offices, special events spaces, and a variety of multi-media presentation systems.
As well, it includes three Boardroom Learning Centres with fully interactive videoconference capabilities. These rooms are used to deliver classes for Smith’s Executive and Accelerated MBA programs.
Session Leaders
Session leaders include senior professors from Smith School of Business and knowledgeable experts from industry. These outstanding teachers are constantly in touch with today's business world through real-world business experience, Board memberships and their own consulting practices.
Matt Reesor is a communications expert who has helped hundreds of leaders at top organizations to sharpen their messaging. Since 2013, he has held a professor appointment at Smith School of Business, Queen’s University and designed numerous Masters and MBA level business communication courses. In addition, Matt was approached to design the highly successful Communicating With Impact program within Queen’s Executive Education (QEE) which he continues to deliver multiple times throughout the year. Matt has created custom communications programs for a growing list of clients including, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Canada Life, Canada Post, The Canadian Olympic Committee, CIBC Asset Management, Homestead Land Holdings, EY (Consulting), Kellogg’s Canada, the NHL Alumni Association and various government departments and ministries. Prior to teaching at Smith, he spent his early career in Japan as a junior faculty member at Nagoya University of Business and Commerce where he conducted academic research and published the bestselling textbook, Tell Me More: Effective Communication Strategies for the Japanese Student with MacMillan Publishers. In addition to his teaching and consulting duties, Matt served as the Director of the Full-time MBA program at Smith School of Business from 2016-2023.
Dave Paradi has been recognized by the media and his clients as a presentation expert. He has authored ten books on effective PowerPoint presentations and his ideas have appeared in publications around the world. Dave has been recognized by Microsoft with the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for his contributions to the PowerPoint and Excel communities. His articles and videos on virtual presenting have been viewed over 4.8 million times and liked over 17,000 times on YouTube. He is a highly rated conference speaker and has delivered more than 500 customized training sessions around the world in the last 25 years.
Upcoming Sessions
200 Front Street West
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