Rethinking Data Storytelling in the AI Era

This International Institute for Analytics webinar features Travis Grunwald, VP of Analytics and AI at Solvenna. Travis discusses reframing data storytelling as a leadership discipline that improves decisions, not just slide design. He defines data storytelling as combining logic (evidence), “emotion” (why the audience should care), and action (what to do next), warns against pitfalls where unclear sequencing derailed outcomes. He introduces a core framework and a four-step process (planning, producing, packaging, presenting), emphasizing objective and audience understanding, the “so what” ladder, and prioritizing insights by magnitude, actionability, confidence, urgency, and relevance. He explains how AI can accelerate brainstorming, insight generation, slide headlines, and pressure-testing, while humans must own context, organizational realities, prioritization, and accountability.