• Listens carefully to the information provided and asks clarifying questions for a better understanding of the issues
• Goes beyond the initial findings of the data presented and takes the next steps to interpret the data by asking more questions
• Ability to visualize and articulate the interrelationships of various types of data, from a variety of sources
• Seeks benchmarking data for comparison purposes, as appropriate
• Analyzes data, draws conclusions, and proposes potential solutions and best practices for stakeholder and leadership consideration

• Demonstrates a strong analytical and story-telling ability when working with data, seeks to discover what the data means
• Carefully considers what numbers or metrics to use in reports and fully understands the impact the information will have on decision-making
• Takes complex data and creates visuals to communicate in terms anyone can understand and to tell a compelling story
• Has the ability to influence others with the use of data and the presentation of their analysis

• Not judgmental or critical of others, concentrates on the focus of the work
• Ability to collaborate successfully with others to identify and develop sound business solutions
• Accepts or volunteers for assignments to maintain the project timeline

• Creative and inquisitive with regard to interpreting data, doesn’t follow a set method or process for working with it, willing to experiment in finding new ways to work with data
• Takes complex data and builds a system that interacts with another organization's system
• Proactively seeks new opportunities and projects to experiment and use the data in different ways

• Researches issues and trends, begins to ask the right questions to solve problems, doesn’t make assumptions about what the customer or leadership wants
• Seeks to work with and consult the right individuals (customers, peers, leadership) while working with data and creating reports to successfully satisfy information needs and inform decision-making
• Works with leadership to assess best approaches to measure performance and link to organizational performance or business operations
• Demonstrates confidence in the interpretation of data and is comfortable with taking risks while presenting solutions

• Takes initiative to learn about the industry they are working within (health care, human resources, higher education, fundraising, etc.)
• Flexible and able to easily adapt to new work or a new industry
• Possesses the ability to work across multiple functions (finance, IT, HR, student, etc.) and demonstrates the ability to quickly develop appropriate knowledge from each to support robust solutions
• Demonstrates awareness that there is always more to learn about the organization and the problems to be resolved or issues to be addressed
• Demonstrates resourcefulness by looking to leverage any organizational resources to address problems or issues

• Takes initiative and is highly motivated
• Has a strong orientation to detail in all aspects of work
• Has high expectations for their own ability to deliver a high quality product
• Demonstrates tenacity when working with data to create a high quality work output or deliverable
• Demonstrates strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects successfully

Overall, individuals with talent and experience in business intelligence come from various educational backgrounds and share common skills and abilities.

• Most candidates hold a BA or BS degree in a quantitative field such as finance, marketing, accounting, information systems; or an MBA or MS in a quantitative field
• Some individuals hold non-traditional degrees where they have been taught to research and form good questions, such as industrial engineering, economics, biostatistics, business, or liberal arts

A successful candidate will possess the technical skills in enterprise-wide data modeling, database design and query-writing software, and other analytical tools and techniques related to business and market analysis and decision-making science

A successful candidate demonstrates the ability to apply problem and root cause analysis and methodology development, development of analyses to support strategic and management initiatives, and provide recommendations for improvement/ resolution to leadership