Lisa Di Leo, Lead Business Analyst at Shoprite Checkers, shares her training experience having recently completed the Business Analysis Practice course.
Here’s what Lisa had to say about her training experience:
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background, both personally and professionally.
I was born and raised in the country town of Robertson, and feel I am destined to live, work and retire along the Garden Route or in Italy.
Originally I started in IT aged 26 as a mainframe developer, but business analysis remains my key driver still today and I enjoy the hands-on contact that the business analyst role entails. During my career I have worked in several industries, including: Insurance, Mobile Telecommunications, Petroleum & Mining, and Retail.
How and why did you become a Business Analyst?
After being introduced by friends to the IT world, I took the leap and completed a COBOL programming course and started out as a developer. By nature, I am analytical and efficiency-driven — it’s the way I think — and business analysis was the natural progression for me.
I see clearly the benefits brought about by the various facets of business analysis, as they are integral to delivering successful business solutions for business growth.
Hands-down, being a good business analyst is a multi-functional skill that adds value to many other roles, leaving your contribution unlimited and not tied to any hierarchical or organisational title!
What aspects of being a Business Analyst are you most passionate about and why?
Being a business analyst requires the ability to be flexible and capable to stand in many shoes and add value when doing so: strong rooted, flexible, fruitful and there are many aspects of business analysis that I enjoy:
- “Pulling a rabbit out a hat” when the project is under pressure through facilitation and problem solving to ignite a solution that benefits the entire business community.
- Creating a stable, solid and trusted environment and enabling team growth, with a high level of “team torque” and self-sustainability.
- Playing a consultative role to the business analyst community by offering guidance, ideas, direction and thought processes.
What were your objectives for attending the course and were they met?
I needed to gain good insight into the make-up and what is expected of a good strategic business Analyst.
My expectations were indeed met, and I was able to measure the industry standard view-point against my personal capability, growth and the work methods I use.
What was the most valuable learning on the course – did you have an AHA moment?
It was eye-opening when we combined several complimentary techniques into a particular combination, to create a well thought-through picture, from an informed perspective.
How has this course helped you in your career? How are you using these skills?
The business analysis practice course has re-ignited my desire to employ the fundamental principles, concepts and techniques covered, and invoke them into my day-to-day project situations.
Have your colleagues noticed an improvement in your work approach?
As a Lead Business Analyst, others look to me for input and guidance regarding “How to do this?” and “How to that?”.
The immediate benefit I am realising is that I can achieve great results, with less effort, through proven methods, …
while my peers have the opportunity to assimilate this and by pro-actively “living” my learnings they are have already strated to inherently learn too.
What would you tell somebody who is considering doing the course?
It’s a “must do” course — go for it!
And you don’t need to be a “seasoned” business analyst to gain maximum value from the business analysis practice course.
What did you enjoy most about the BCMG training experience?
There was a clear purpose to each approach, method, tool and technique — framed by real-life scenarios — to maximise their collective benefits for the holistic situation and entire audience!
Are you planning on taking any more courses with BCMG in the future? If so, which ones and why?
Our training is based on a competency-based development plan: but given the choice I would certainly like to do Benefits Management and Commercial Awareness courses – as both these areas are key to making a well-rounded business analyst.
If you want to follow in Lisa’s footsteps and earn yourself an IIBA endorsed certificate from the premier business analysis training programme in South Africa, download the BCS Certificate in Business Analysis Practice information pack now.
