BA Brew - A Business Analysis Podcast

Active listening is one of the most valuable skills a Business Analyst can develop — and one of the easiest to get wrong.
In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley from AssistKD is joined by Craig Rollason and Corrine Thomas to discuss how active listening helps business analysts build trust, improve stakeholder conversations and gather better requirements.
The discussion covers:
What active listening really means for business analysts
Why listening is central to effective stakeholder engagement
Common unhelpful listening behaviours and how to avoid them
How to prepare yourself to listen properly
The value of summarising, silence and open questions
How teams can practise and improve their listening skills together
Whether you are a business analyst, service designer, change professional or team leader, this episode offers practical advice for improving conversations and outcomes.
EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING: AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development.
Relevant courses for this episode:
BCS Stakeholder Engagement
BCS Requirements Engineering
BCS Advanced Requirements Engineering
BCS Business Analysis Practice
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Find BA Brew on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms.

What’s it really like starting out as a Business Analyst - and how do you avoid feeling isolated, overwhelmed or “behind” in your early career? In this episode of The BA Brew, Mike is joined by Joe and Jo from the Young Business Analysts (YBA) - a fast‑growing, volunteer‑led community designed to support Business Analysts aged 35 and under.
They discuss:
Why YBA was created and the gap it set out to fill
How safe spaces help early‑career BAs ask the questions they’re afraid to ask at work
The impact of volunteering on confidence, networking and public speaking
How YBA has grown into a 2,500+ strong community across online and in‑person events
Why experienced practitioners still have an important role to play
From first‑job nerves to conference speaking, this is an honest conversation about growth, connection, and building a career in Business Analysis - without doing it alone.
FURTHER RESOURCES
YBA
YBA Website
YBA LinkedIn
BA Brews
BA Brew 9: Young BA Special
BA Brew 77: How to start your BA Career
BA Brew 88: BA Apprentice of the Year
Articles
The Young Business Analysts: How It All Began
Where are They Now? Business Analyst Apprentices

What does it really mean to be a “professional” Business Analyst? In this episode of BA Brew, Kerry is joined by Laurens and Lisa to explore professionalism in business analysis – from preparation and mindset to qualifications, growth, and career progression.
They discuss:
What professionalism means in a BA context
Their journeys through the BCS International & Advanced Diplomas
Achieving CITP status
The path to becoming an Expert BA
Practical advice for BAs looking to advance their careers
If you're considering the BCS Advanced Diploma, CITP, or the Expert BA route, this conversation is packed with insights from real practitioners who’ve been there.
FURTHER RESOURCES
BA Brews
How to Become a Business Analysis Professional
Transferable Skills
Communities of Practice
Self-Assessment and Development Tools
I’m a Business Analyst — How Did That Happen?
Articles
No Limits to Learning
Elevating the BA Voice
Skill Development of the Business Analysis Practice
From Junior BA to BA Manager: A Business Analysis Journey
Qualifications
BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis
BCS Advanced International Diploma in Business Analysis
Chartered IT Professional (CITP)
The Expert BA Award

Being part of a Community of Practice allows BAs to share knowledge and best practice, mentor or be mentored, and have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. But some of the benefits are less tangible.
In this lively chat, Anthony Thompson and Mark Thompson of Close Brothers discuss the value of Communities of Practice with the Brew Crew.
Anthony Thompson and Mark Thompson are both Lead BAs at Close Brothers.
FURTHER RESOURCES 
BA BREWS
BA Brew 29: The Invisible BA
BA Brew 35: The BA Service Framework
ARTICLES
Ten Reasons to Establish a Centralised Community of Practice
Ten Top Tips on Building a Community of Practice
Running a Centralised Business Analysis Community of Practice: The Top 10 Financial Benefits
Keeping a Community of Practice Alive and Kicking
COURSES
BCS Certificate in Team Leadership

In this informative BA Brew Adam Pearson talks to the Crew about why BAs need to develop an accessibility mindset and how he, as a registered blind person, has used his BA skills to help to make it easier to both generate and consume accessible content.
Topics discussed: why accessibility must be considered from the start of every project; useful tools for generating accessible content and for consuming content; the difference between usability and accessibility; how AI tools can support accessibility; why making mistakes and learning means you are doing it right; and more.
As Adam says: “The more we all do as a collective, the fewer barriers there are into this fantastic field of work.”
Adam Pearson is now a Business Analyst at The RNIB.
FURTHER RESOURCES 
BA BREWS
BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas)
BA Brew 27: The BA Apprenticeship
ARTICLES
Resilience Resources
Strengths Spotting - Achieve your goals by leveraging your strengths
AssistKD’s Business Analyst (Level 4) Apprenticeship Scheme
AssistKD BA Career Planner Tool
10 Top Tips for Entering the Business Analysis Profession