The Best of Business Analysis Live: Top 5 Conversations That Shaped 2025
Key Takeaways
- Business analysis success is driven by impact, not just process—especially in agile environments
- Frameworks help business analysts move from reactive execution to strategic partnership
- AI is reshaping business analysis roles, making adaptability and continuous learning essential
- The updated Business Analysis Standard provides a practical, accessible resource for multiple audiences
- Asking better questions remains one of the most powerful skills for uncovering insight and driving meaningful outcomes
Think you know what the business analysis community was talking about this year?
After wrapping up Season Four of Business Analysis Live, I took some time to reflect on the episodes that resonated most with our listeners in 2025. Throughout the year, we explored the topics that matter most to our community—agile, frameworks, AI, standards, and the art of asking great questions (among many others).
Our end-of-year episode marked a big milestone for our humble podcast: 100 episodes of Business Analysis Live! With so many great conversations, narrowing the list wasn’t easy, but we did our utmost to select the best ones.
If you missed any of these standouts, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at the top five conversations from 2025 and why they made the cut.
#5: What Business Analysis Professionals Should Know About Agile
Agile is a reality for so many organizations. But here’s the challenge for business analysis professionals: too often, our work gets defined by someone else’s interpretation of agile. In this episode, Kent McDonald joined me for a no-nonsense discussion about how business analysis professionals can show up in effective ways in their organizations.
Kent reminded us that our focus should be on impact, not just process. It’s about connecting what we do to how the organization makes or spends money. That shift—from “Are we doing things the right way?” to “Are we doing things that drive impact?”—is powerful.
If you’ve ever struggled to articulate your value in an agile setting, this conversation is a must-listen.
#4: How a Framework Transforms Your Business Analysis
If you think business analysis is just about writing requirements, think again. Laura Brandenburg joined me to talk about why using a framework to guide your work changes everything. It brings confidence, credibility, and influence to your role as a strategic partner.
When you lead with an approach, you move from being reactive to proactive. You become a strategic partner who can guide the work, negotiate timelines, and ensure value-focused outcomes.
This episode is well worth your time. Laura’s insights will prompt you to rethink how you present yourself to your stakeholders.
#3: AI and the Future of Business Analysis Roles
AI is everywhere. And yes, it’s changing our profession (and a whole lot more than that). But here’s the truth: it’s not AI that puts our roles at risk. Rather, it’s our own limitations. Deirdre Caren shared this perspective in one of the most detailed conversations I’ve ever had on AI (and that’s saying something).
Her advice? Stay curious. Learn how to adapt. Business analysis professionals are adept learners, and that applies to our own development, too. Embracing new technologies and understanding their impact is what will keep us ahead of the curve.
If you’ve been wondering how AI fits into your work, this episode has some of the answers you crave.
#2: The New Business Analysis Standard
This year, we saw a major update to The Business Analysis Standard, which has become so much more than just a summary of the BABOK Guide. IIBA Product Manager Tyler Kenny joined me to explain how the Standard has evolved into a practical, strategic resource designed for many audiences.
For organizational leaders and managers, it’s a way to learn the language of business analysis. For new business analysis professionals, it’s a way to understand and discuss business analysis without going into 500 pages of detail. Tyler’s explanation shows how this resource is shaping outcomes for organizations everywhere.
That brings us to the conversation that resonated most with listeners this year…
#1: How to Ask Good Questions
According to our viewers, the number one episode of 2025 was all about good questions (emphasis on "good")—the foundation of how business analysis professionals uncover information. Jamie Champagne reminded us that we often focus our questions on getting the perfect answer. Instead, she challenged us to rethink the role of questions altogether.
Good questions bring clarity, invite conversation, and move discussions forward. When we focus on getting people to talk and think out loud, the right questions naturally follow. This conversation was fun, insightful, and a great reminder that curiosity is one of our most powerful tools.
Season Four was filled with conversations that challenged assumptions, sparked new thinking, and inspired our community—and I’m incredibly grateful for your engagement throughout the year. With Season Five kicking off soon, we’ll continue exploring the topics that matter most to you and featuring voices that push the conversation forward.
Explore fresh and candid conversations on a wide array of business analysis topics with the Business Analysis Live podcast.
About the Author
Susan hosts Business Analysis Live to discuss business analysis topics and answer questions from the live audience. There's a backlog of upcoming topics, and she's happy to take suggestions. Add a comment to one of our videos to suggest a topic you would like Susan to cover in an upcoming episode or connect with her via email at live@iiba.org.
