Keynote Speaker

Data is Powerful: Data Storytelling Makes it Impactful

The success of any learning and development program hinges on your ability to use data to prove its impact. Data does not speak for itself – you need a strong narrative supported by easy-to-interpret visualizations to make your points instantly understood. Data storytelling concepts will immediately increase your impact and ensure your ideas resonate with leadership. Too often, reporting focuses on building impressive visualizations, dashboards, or models, leaving our stakeholders confused about what we need them to learn or act on from our data. The most impressive data analysis is useless without the ability to communicate essential takeaways clearly and offer persuasive recommendations. In this session, we’ll dive into:

• Effective planning options for ensuring you are sharing the data and insights that matter to your audience
• Simple techniques for building a sticky message
• Design concepts to ensure data visualizations support your message and provide insights at a glance
• A framework to effectively and efficiently use data storytelling concepts to drive action Most importantly, you’ll leave the session with practical skills you can implement immediately.

Diedre Downing

Diedre is a leader in designing instructor-led training programs to upskill professionals in communicating with data, data analysis, delivering insights, and other critical skills needed in a data-driven organization. Diedre’s career has spanned public education (as a high school math teacher and professional development leader), higher education, and private industry. With over eighteen years of teaching and facilitating experience, Diedre brings enthusiasm and a unique ability to make complex concepts accessible and relatable to all. Diedre’s expertise allows her to call upon a deep knowledge of communicating data and data-driven insights to senior leaders and key stakeholders across industries and verticals.

A message from Diedre: 

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for making my first experience at PDD so much fun.  I had a wonderful time meeting everyone, and I hope you can put on your data storyteller hat soon. 

I answered the submitted questions with the most up votes and included a sheet of helpful data storytelling resources.  If I didn't answer your question, please feel free to reach out individually. I would love to stay connected on LinkedIn. 

Cheers,

Diedre

To view the slides from the 2025 Keynote, click here.