UBCNews - Business - AI Skill Sets For Agile Business Analysts: Here's How To Future-Proof Your Job

Episode Date: November 16, 2025

Have you ever wondered if your job as an agile business analyst is safe in the age of AI? Well, here's a statistic that might surprise you - according to a Microsoft and LinkedIn report, 66% of leaders wouldn't hire someone without AI skills, particularly those who lack the ability to use generative AI tools. I'm here with our guest who's gonna break down exactly what this means for business analysts and how you can future-proof your career. Elisto Ltd City: Swindon Address: 24 Stadium View Website: https://elisto.org/

Have you ever wondered if your job as an agile business analyst is safe in the age of AI? Well, here's a statistic that might surprise you. According to a Microsoft and LinkedIn report, 66% of leaders wouldn't hire someone without AI skills, particularly those who lack the ability to use generative AI tools. I'm here with our guest who's going to break down exactly what this means for business analysts and how you can future-proof your career. Thanks for having me.

You know, that statistic really captures the reality we're facing. AI isn't just coming, it's already here, transforming how we work. But here's the thing. AI isn't replacing business analysts. Instead, it's creating opportunities for those who adapt and develop these new competencies. So let's get practical here. What does being AI ready actually look like for a business analyst? I think about it in three key areas.

First, you need to use AI as a productivity tool. This means using AI for information analysis, artifact creation, and collaboration. For example, AI can take meeting notes and generate follow-up reports or quickly analyze large documents to extract relevant data. Second, you're going to be engaging with AI as a stakeholder. And I know that sounds weird, but bear with me. That's interesting. What do you mean by AI as a stakeholder?

Well, we're already seeing AI agents taking on autonomous roles. Think about it. What happens when your project sponsor is an AI system or when you need to communicate requirements to a virtual AI software engineer? You need to learn specialized techniques to collaborate effectively with these virtual stakeholders. It's like learning a new language, except your conversation partner never needs coffee breaks. That's fascinating. And the third area?

The third is adopting AI as a digital. new perspective in your practice. This involves driving the business case for AI adoption, defining business requirements for AI initiatives, and managing trust, risk, and security concerns. A significant majority of organizations are now integrating AI into at least one business function, so this expertise is becoming essential. That point about managing trust and security sets up our next piece. The specific skills you need to develop. But first, a quick word from our Your sponsor. Looking to build the AI skills that will future-proof your business analyst career, Elisto-Lidid specializes in digital training for professionals entering the tech industry.

Our courses focus on business analysis, project delivery, and market research to prepare you for Industry 4.0. Whether you're looking to develop AI competencies or strengthen your existing skills, we offer practical training that aligns with today's evolving business environment. Learn more at elisto.org. Picking up on trust and security, how do you handle the ethical considerations that come with AI and business analysis? Great question. Ethical AI considerations are absolutely vital.

You need to understand potential biases and algorithms and data sets, stay aware of privacy concerns and data protection regulations, and assess the societal impact of AI implementations. I actually had a project last year where we discovered our AI model was inadvertently biasing hiring recommendations.

Catching that early, save the company from serious compliance issues and a lot of embarrassment. Wow, that's a perfect example of why these skills matter. Now, beyond the ethical side, what other specific competencies should analysts focus on? Data literacy is huge. You need to understand data structures, be proficient with analysis tools,

and know how to interpret complex data sets. Then there's human AI collaboration. This is where your critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity really shine. AI can crunch data faster than we ever could, but human judgment, domain expertise, and stakeholder communication remain essential. These human skills are irreplaceable. They're what make us indispensable. Right.

So it's really about complementing AI, rather than competing with it. How do you stay current with all these rapid changes? Exactly. And here's something exciting. Companies that have adopted AI in their data analysis processes commonly report significant reductions in the time required to generate reports and insights. That frees up analysts to focus on strategic problem solving and value-added activities. AI handles the routine stuff like data collection and processing while we focus on decision-making and innovation. I see. Makes sense. Continuous learning is absolutely critical.

The pace of AI development means you need to stay updated on the latest technologies and their business applications. Develop a growth mindset, seek opportunities to work on AI-related projects, and engage in professional development focused on emerging technologies. Remember, we're moving from being data gatherers to being data interpreters and strategy advisors. That's such an important shift to understand. So to everyone listening, are you ready to make this transition? Any final thoughts for analysts who might be feeling overwhelmed by all this change? Here's the thing.

AI is an opportunity, not a threat. The future belongs to analysts who can harness AI's power while providing uniquely human insights. Focus on developing these three core areas we discussed, using AI as a productivity tool, engaging with AI as a stakeholder, and adopting AI as a new perspective. These competencies, these essential skills, these essential skills, skills will make you indispensable in the AI era. So to everyone listening, the message is clear. Adopt AI approaches, develop these competencies,

and you'll not just survive, but thrive in this transformation. Thanks for breaking this down for us today. And remember, you can learn more about developing these essential AI skills at elisto.org.