Analyst Catalyst
A blog to empower and inspire the business analysis community.
The 2026 Blog Contest is open. Tell us about the moment business analysis knowledge changed the conversation.
Latest Blogs and Articles
When Business Analysts Compare Notes Across 5 Countries
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Why CBAP Certification Is More Valuable Than Ever
Discover why CBAP certification is becoming more valuable in 2026. Learn how it impacts salary, career growth, employer demand, and professional credibility in an AI-driven business environment.
AI and Analytics Fusion: A Practical Guide for Business Analysts
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Tell Us About the Moment Knowledge Changed an Outcome
The 2026 Analyst Catalyst Blog Contest is open. Share a real moment when business analysis knowledge changed an outcome. 1,000–1,500 words. Two awards. Submissions close Tuesday, July 14.
The Symbiosis of AI and Business Analysis: Making Decisions Count
AI can tell us what's likely to happen. So why do so many teams still fumble what comes next? Bernard Asanbe on the gap between insight and action, and the business analyst's role in closing it.
Enter the 2026 Analyst Catalyst Blog Contest: The Knowledge That Changed the Conversation
The business analysis community is full of practitioners who have quietly shaped better decisions, caught problems early, and helped organizations navigate real complexity. Most of those stories never get told. As part of Enabling Confidence, we want to make those moments visible—and we want yours.
The 2026 Analyst Catalyst Blog Contest invites you to share a real moment when applying business analysis knowledge—a technique, a framework, a standard, a skill—shifted the direction of a project, a decision, or a stakeholder relationship. Write 1,000–1,500 words in your own voice. Stories from sectors where business analysis often goes unrecognized (like healthcare, education, financial services, and government) are especially welcome.
How to Enter
- Write your blog, following the Analyst Catalyst Blog Template grounded in a real moment when business analysis knowledge changed an outcome
- Email your draft to brand@iiba.org with the subject line “Analyst Catalyst Blog Contest 2026” by Tuesday, July 14
- Include your LinkedIn handle (or X / other socials) so we can tag and amplify your work if your blog is published
What’s at Stake?
- Selected blogs are featured on Analyst Catalyst and amplified across IIBA's social channels
- The post with the most community votes wins the Community Choice Award—one free year of IIBA membership
- New this year: the Lessons Learned Award, a judge-selected prize for the most honest and instructive submission, including stories about what didn't go to plan. Same prize value as Community Choice. Every shortlisted entry is automatically eligible for both
- The entry with the most votes in our LinkedIn poll in September will win a FREE year of IIBA membership!
Why Participate
This is your chance to make practitioner experience visible, to show peers what confidence through knowledge actually looks like in real conditions. Your story could shape how someone else approaches their next stakeholder conversation, technique selection, or hard call. Selected contributors may also be invited (not required) to record a short 60–90 second video reflection on what business analysis has taught them. A phone recording is fine; we're after honesty, not production value.
Contribute to Member Articles and Earn 10 CDUs
Analyst Catalyst exists to share the real experiences of the business analysis community. Whether you're a contest entrant or a contributor to our member-exclusive articles, your voice belongs here. Did you know that contributing to Member Articles can earn you 10 CDUs? Learn how you can take your writing to the next level.
Terms and conditions
Entries must be original, unpublished works written in English by the submitting author. Entries written substantially or wholly with generative AI tools will be disqualified. Each participant may submit only one entry. Entries must be between 1,000 and 1,500 words. Content must align with the contest theme and is subject to review and approval by IIBA's Editorial Committee before being selected for publication. Plagiarized or offensive content will result in disqualification.
All entries must be submitted by Tuesday, July 14. Entries received after the deadline will not be considered. A maximum of five (5) blog post submissions will be selected for publication as part of the contest. Each shortlisted entry is automatically eligible for both awards—entrants do not select between them.
The Community Choice Award is determined by community vote via a LinkedIn poll, with results published on IIBA's LinkedIn channel. In the event of a tie, IIBA's Editorial Committee will vote to determine the winner. The Community Choice winner will receive one free year of IIBA membership. If the winner is already an active IIBA member, they will receive a free one-year membership renewal.
The Lessons Learned Award is selected independently by IIBA's Editorial Committee from the same shortlist of five published entries. The award recognizes the most honest and instructive submission, including reflections on what didn’t go to plan. The Lessons Learned winner will receive one free year of IIBA membership of equivalent value to the Community Choice Award. The same article may, in rare cases, win both awards.
Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. Winners will be notified via email within ten business days after the contest ends and must respond within ten business days to claim the prize.
By participating, entrants grant IIBA the right to use their names and entries for promotional purposes, including invitations to record an optional short video reflection. IIBA reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the contest in case of unforeseen circumstances. IIBA is not responsible for any technical issues that may prevent entry submission or winner notification.
By submitting an entry, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions.