The Analytical Mind

Program Overview

Data is everywhere—but for those of us who aren’t professional data analysts, the deluge can make it hard to separate signals from noise when we’re trying to make important decisions in our work. How do we ensure we’re not just picking data points which justify our existing assumptions, or distract from our bigger picture goals? How do we avoid data silos and empower broader organizational change using a shared source of truth? We need a holistic approach to working with data that’s agnostic of specific platforms, inputs, and metrics.

This Program is about melding two skills: harnessing the power and potential of data through modernized data literacy skills, and being good stewards of that information once we have it. We will explore how to gather and interpret data, learn how to articulate our findings, and leverage the synthesis between good analysis and good judgment to drive organizational change.

Field Manuals

The Analytical Program is made up of 5 Field Manuals (our version of an online module). Each one contains a variety of types of content and social exercises culminating in a mini-project, reflection, or debate. Each Field Manual will take you between 30-45 minutes to complete but you can jump on and off at your own pace, as often as you’d like. The deeper learning happens in the discussions with your fellow learners so be sure to check in on the conversations regularly.

• Collecting + Curating:

  Data analytics can be a catalyst for great insights and major innovations. But in order to get there, we first need good, solid data. This Field Manual is about finding the data you need and filtering out the data you don't.

• Testing + Experimenting

  Data is full of untapped potential. Experimentation activates it. This Field Manual explores why experimentation is so important and the role it plays in helping us make sense of the problems in front of us.

• Discovering + Analyzing

  As we ask questions and run experiments, we begin to see patterns. This Field Manual is all about zeroing in on those patterns and trends to verify them, pressure-test them, and understand how different elements interact to produce them.

• Storytelling + Communicating

  Data analytics and insights are only as impactful as the stories we tell about them. In this Field Manual, we'll explore the value of storytelling for driving understanding and transformation, and we'll build some skills for doing it well.

• Deciding + Acting

  When it's time to make a decision, how do we use data to guide our next move? In this Field Manual, we'll explore why data alone isn't always enough to drive action, and what we can do to make insights and new ideas heard.