Learn business skills to transform your data into stories.

Every Tuesday, get one actionable tip teaching you how to craft impactful data stories, master visual communication, and drive outcomes for your business.

The Myth of the "Perfect Dashboard"

Read time: 3 minutes I’ll come right out and say it: most dashboards fail to tell a cohesive story. We’ve all seen it—dashboards crammed with charts, numbers, and filters, trying to be everything for everyone. They’re supposed to be the holy grail of data storytelling, yet they often leave audien...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Jan 14, 2025 connecting data dashboard design data storytelling stakeholder alignment storytelling strategies visual clarity

Why More Colors Are Confusing

Read time: 4 minutes When presenting data, don’t overwhelm your audience with a ton of colors in your charts if you want to tell a clear and compelling story. Why? When your charts look like a rainbow of colors, your audience is left confused, distracted, and unsure of what to focus on. Multiple ...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Jan 07, 2025 chart design color in charts dashboard design data storytelling stakeholder alignment visual clarity

Stop Wasting Time: Start Sketching Your Data Ideas

Read time: 6 minutes Early in my career, I skipped sketching my ideas and dove straight into creating polished data presentations. I remember one project vividly. I was tasked with delivering a dashboard for a high-profile client. In my rush to deliver something impressive, I bypassed sketching a...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Jan 01, 2025 dashboard design data presentation data storytelling data visualization sketching toolkit stakeholder alignment

A Simple Framework to Elevate Your Next Presentation

Read time: 4 minutes This week’s tip: Use the “Tell Them” method to guide your audience, eliminate confusion, and make your presentations unforgettable. Use These 3 Steps to Engage and Guide Your Audience I’ve been presenting for over 20 years, and during that time, I’ve spoken at conferences, l...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Dec 24, 2024 effective presentations leadership presentation clarity presentation structure public speaking tips storytelling framework

My Story: Discovering the Power of an Opening

Read time: 5 minutes This week’s tip: A great opener sets the stage for everything that follows. I’ll never forget a defining moment in my college experience. I was a freshman at the University of Washington, taking Speech Communication 220—an introductory public speaking class. For our final ass...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Dec 17, 2024 businesstips data storytelling leadership presentations publicspeaking storytelling

Simplify Your Charts: 3 things every business professional should know.

Read time: 5 minutes This week’s tip: Simplify your charts to amplify stories and outcomes. I’ve been refining data visualization techniques for almost 20 years, and no matter the complexity of the data, these three techniques ensure clear and effective charts every time. Let me show you how, st...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Dec 10, 2024 business insights data storytelling data visualization intuitive charts simplifying data

How to Turn Data Chaos into Business Clarity

Read time: 4 minutes This week's tip: Learn how to discover, categorize, and prioritize the most important data stories for maximum business impact. Why You Need to Prioritize Data Requests We’ve all been there: a flood of data requests from stakeholders, each accompanied by a sense of urgency. T...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Dec 03, 2024 business analytics data storytelling data-driven decisions prioritizing data strategic storytelling

Hooking Your Audience in Data Storytelling

Read time: 3 minutes This week’s tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a great title and summary line. One of the most common mistakes I see business professionals making in data storytelling is underestimating the power of a great title and summary line. The idea that your data and insights will...

by Zack Mazzoncini — Nov 26, 2024 audience engagement business presentations crafting titles data insights data storytelling

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