Welcome to the
Effective Data Storytelling Masterclass
Hear from Brent Dykes how data storytelling can unlock your data communication potential.
Course Overview
The ability to communicate insights clearly and effectively has never been more important than now. After completing this course, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the critical techniques and frameworks for transforming your numbers into compelling narratives.
Whether you’re an analyst, marketing manager, or business executive, this course is designed to empower you with the practical knowledge and skills to drive positive change inside or outside of your organization.
What You Will Learn
1. How to inspire action and drive change by crafting data stories that move decision-makers to act on your insights.
2. Why stories are more powerful than raw statistics by discovering the psychology behind data storytelling and how our brains respond differently to stories and facts.
3. How to distinguish between observations and insights and how to align your insights with audience needs for maximum impact.
4. The fundamental elements of a compelling data story, including organizing findings into narrative arcs and understanding how it differs from other communication approaches.
5. How to humanize your data to make it resonate, using techniques that bring numbers to life and connect with your audience emotionally.
6. How to choose and refine visualizations that clearly communicate your message, focusing on removing noise and highlighting the takeaways.
7. Ways to adapt your delivery for different audiences and contexts, learning techniques to present data stories clearly, confidently, and persuasively.
Meet your instructor
Brent Dykes
Author of Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change with Data, Narrative, and Visuals, Brent's passion for effective data communication comes from his unique background in both marketing and analytics consulting. For the past 10 years, Brent has delivered data storytelling training workshops to leading organizations around the world, including IKEA, Microsoft, Amazon, Pfizer, Fidelity, and many others.
After practicing and refining his content over hundreds of workshops with thousands of participants, Brent is excited to finally share his proven techniques and frameworks with more people who want to learn how to turn their insights into action.
“This course reflects all the data storytelling knowledge and expertise I have gained over my 20-year business and data career. This has been a labor of love and I hope you find tremendous value in it.”
Brent Dykes
Explore the Curriculum
6 main sections, including multiple lessons, activities, and references materials in each.
Section 01: Intro
The Power of Data Storytelling
This section lays the foundation for why data storytelling is a communication game-changer. Explore the psychology behind why stories captivate and persuade. See how insights can become catalysts for change. This introduction sets the stage for your journey to mastery.
- Key benefits of data storytelling
- What a data story is
- Stories as change agents
- Psychology behind data storytelling
Section 02: Data
The Foundation of Data Stories
Data alone isn’t enough; meaningful insights are what really matter. Learn how to better understand your audience, ask the right questions, and unearth insights they care about.
- Ask the right questions to find insights
- Quantify the value of your insights
- Put your insights in context
- Ensure your insights are actionable
Section 03: Narrative
The Structure of Data Stories
The narrative serves as the backbone and heart of each data story. In this section, you’ll master narrative techniques, including the Data Storytelling Arc™ and storyboarding, which will help you organize your findings into compelling narratives.
- Define what narrative is and isn’t
- Narrative models and the Data Storytelling Arc
- Storyboarding
- Humanize the data
- Use anecdotes and analogies
Section 04: Visuals
The Scenes of Data Stories
Data visuals can make or break your story. This section covers essential visual principles, from color theory to choosing the right charts and removing unnecessary clutter. By the end, you’ll know how to make visuals that don’t just support your story—they elevate it.
- Create strong headlines
- Calibrate the visuals to your message
- Remove noise and clutter
- Focus attention on what’s vital
Section 05: Delivery
Share Data Stories with Skill and Confidence
Effective delivery brings your data story to life. By the end of this section, you’ll be equipped to present your data story confidently and leave a lasting impression.
- Direct vs. indirect delivery
- Written memo vs. presentation
- Rehearse your story
-
Speak with purpose
Section 06: Application
Apply Learnings and Plan Forward
This last section ties it all together, with a review of key lessons, data story examples, and guidance on gathering feedback. We’ll also help you plan your path forward, so you can continue to grow as a data storyteller and drive meaningful change with your insights.
- Data story examples
- Gathering feedback
- Data storytelling and AI
- Plan your path forward
Your Learning Toolkit
What's included when you enroll
12 hours of instructional videos with multiple hands-on activities and quizzes to put your knowledge into practice.
Course features
- 60+ instructional video lessons
- Interactive quizzes
- Hands-on activities
- Downloadable resources and templates
- Certificate of completion
Key Benefits
- Unlimited access to all the content
- Continuous updates and expansions
- Join the AnalyticsHero Data Storytelling Community
Testimonials
“Brent Dykes is the king of data storytelling; he’s probably thought about this more than anyone else on the planet.”
Thomas H. Davenport
Distinguished Professor, Babson College; Research Fellow, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will this course take to complete?
I anticipate that most people will be able to complete all the content in under two months, but it will depend on how much time you invest each week.
How long will I have access to this course?
You will have lifetime access to this course. New and updated content will continue to be added over time, further increasing its value.
Are there tests or quizzes I need to submit?
All the quizzes are designed to help strengthen your learning. They are not graded or necessary to complete the course or get the certification.
Are there examples or reference materials?
Yes! You will get access to a variety of learning aids and reference materials to help you craft and deliver your data stories.
Can my employer pay for this course?
In most cases, we can make it work. Please contact us directly to discuss your options.
Will I learn how to create dashboards or data visualizations?
This course will teach many principles on how to communicate data and insights effectively. However, it does not include any specifics on how to use analytics tools to create dashboards, reports, or visualizations. There are many great teachers who I can recommend for that.