In this episode of unDUBBED, hosts Sarah and Fiona sit down with Dr Selena Fisk, author of I Am Not a Numbers Person, to unpack the widespread issue of data anxiety and the growing need for data literacy and data fluency in today’s data-saturated world. Together, they explore how societal beliefs around numbers and maths anxiety can undermine data-informed decision-making, and why building confidence with data is essential for individuals at every level.

The conversation dives into key concepts like curiosity in data, the dangers of confirmation bias, and the power of triangulating multiple data sources to uncover reliable insights. Selena also highlights the importance of developing a data culture and fostering data conversations that bridge the gap between data analysts and business stakeholders.

Through the lens of data democratisation, the trio discuss practical strategies for making data accessible, understandable, and actionable across organisations. They emphasise the role of data storytelling, critical thinking, and the shift from being data-driven to being truly data-informed.

The episode wraps up with a forward-looking discussion on the evolution of data literacy programs, and how teams can build habits around using pre-decision and post-decision data to evaluate impact and drive continuous improvement.

Takeaways

• Data anxiety is a widespread issue that can impact how decisions are made.
• Challenging the mindset of being “not a numbers person” is key to building confidence with data.
• Actively engaging with data leads to stronger, more informed decisions.
• Triangulating data helps cut through noise and reduces the impact of bias.
• Confirmation bias can distort how data is interpreted, often reinforcing pre-held beliefs.
• A sense of curiosity is critical for building data capability and staying open to insights.
• Democratising data is essential for empowering people and driving success across organisations.
• Being data-informed – not just data-driven – supports more thoughtful, balanced decision-making.
• Data storytelling is a crucial skill for analysts to translate complexity into clarity.
• Post-decision analysis is gaining traction as a key component of data literacy and growth.

Links

Website - https://www.selenafisk.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/

Podcast - https://podfollow.com/makedatatalk/view

Data Cards - https://shop.selenafisk.com/product-details/product/talkingdata

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Data Anxiety and Literacy

01:57 Challenging the 'Not a Numbers Person' Mindset

04:32 Understanding Data in Everyday Life

05:18 The Importance of Active Data Engagement

07:21 Triangulating Data for Better Decision Making

15:23 Overcoming Confirmation Bias in Data Analysis

19:22 The Role of Givers in Data Education

21:18 Fostering Data Democracy in Organisations

24:35 Aligning Organisational Goals with Data Metrics

26:26 The Importance of Being Data Informed

31:51 Navigating Data Literacy Challenges

32:06 Examples of Successful Data Transformation

42:34 The Role of Post-Decision Data

44:20 Quick Fire Insights on Data Practices

Keywords

data literacy, data anxiety, decision making, triangulating data, confirmation bias, data democratisation, data informed, data driven, data storytelling, financial literacy