Markaaz: Demystifying Data for Small Business

Data is the foundation for today’s business decisions. Yet, communicating that data inpresentations can overwhelm your audience. Reena Kansal of Leadership Story Lab explainshow to use the art of storytelling to make your message more engaging – and memorable.Show Notes:Do you need to communicate data and other complex ideas to your audience? Businessstorytelling is all about how you persuade your audience to take action. Join Reena Kansal ofLeadership Story Lab explains how to use the art of storytelling to engage your audience andhelp them remember what is most important.Skip ahead to these highlights:1:33 About Leadership Story Lab3:43 Make your audience remember you7:12 Difference between proving and persuading9:50 Let the Story Do the Work11:20 Create meaning for your audience12:30 The forgetting curve – what do you want your audience to remember?18:00 Executive summary vs executive story18:50 Recommendations for becoming a better storyteller20:00 Become a story collector21:46 Story helps you be known on a deeper level25:20 Example of a well-crafted storyGet more information at LeadershipStoryLab.com

Your data-driven presentation is not just about data. At least 50% of your presentation is abouthow you package and present the data, says Dr. Bill Franks. He leads the Center for Statisticsand Analytical Research at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and is author of Winning theRoom -- Creating and Delivering an Effective Data Driven Presentation. Listen to this episode toget practical tips for making your next presentation more effective.Jump ahead to these topics:1:17 – About Dr. Bill Franks2:36 – It’s not just about the facts and figures4:40 – Match your content to your audience6:50 – It’s not about you, it’s about what your audience needs9:20 – Analogies are effective for nontechnical people11:30 – Use the fewest numbers possible, at the lowest level of precision13:30 – How effective are diagrams?17:30 – Position your results as positively as possible19:18 – Engaging your Zoom audienceLearn more about Dr. Bill Franks at bill-franks.com. And look for his book, Winning the Room,on Amazon.

Are cryptocurrencies going mainstream? And what should you know before you accept cryptocurrency as payment? Rachel Cannon, partner at Steptoe and Johnson LLP, reveals the truths of cryptocurrency and what you need to know now.Skip ahead to these topics::49 – About Rachel Cannon1:20 – How Rachel got interested in cryptocurrency3:00 – What is cryptocurrency and how did it start?5:30 – Who is engaging with cryptocurrency and why?7:00 – What should people consider before accepting cryptocurrency?9:33 – They myths surrounding cryptocurrency12:45 – Example of Russian community that leveraged cryptocurrency to bypass their local banking system15:25 – The merits of blockchain and cryptocurrency18:50 – The volatility of cryptocurrency22:00 – What are NFT’s?26:25 – Why brands are using NFT’s27:00 – Why artists love the blockchain28:10 – What does cryptocurrency regulation look like?33:30 – What is the future of cryptocurrency?35:05 – Sources to learn more about cryptocurrencyConnect with Rachel at [email protected] learn more about Data Dialogues: https://www.equifax.com/business/trends-insights/data-dialogues-podcast/

As we kick off 2022, we’re seeing the convergence of economic headlines and the energy market. How are inflation and other economic trends in the energy market impacting the consumer and commercial sectors? Mark Zoff, manager of market analytics at AEP Energy explains.Jump ahead to these topics::50 - About Mark Zoff and AEP Energy2:00 - Inflation now and what is transitory inflation?4:50 - Economic trends in the energy market and implications for 20229:00 - The 1970’s economy as historical precedent 13:30 - Other historical precedents16:45 - Mark’s thoughts on the PPP protection and its impact on small business19:00 - PPP demonstrates importance of small business sector20:30 - Which data points Mark and the Fed are reserve is focusing on right nowConnect with Mark: [email protected] learn more about Data Dialogues: https://www.equifax.com/business/trends-insights/data-dialogues-podcast/

Dr. Nikhil Paradkar, assistant professor in finance at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, discusses his research on using data and machine learning to better understand how financial changes due to regulation, technological advancements or crises can impact the availability of credit for households. He also tells our host, Jeff Dugger, Principal Data Scientist and University Research Director at Equifax, about some very interesting research on corporate buzzwords, innovation and company earnings calls.Jump ahead to these topics::58 - Paradkar provides an overview of his work at UGA1:35 - Paradkar explains the research he presented to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on bank funding shocks3:35 - If a consumer’s credit limit is reduced, how does it impact their credit score?5:00 - Can consumers who are more exposed to their bank’s liquidity shocks have an impact on a financial recovery?6:40 - The CFPB’s reaction to Paradkar’s research9:10 - What machine learning has revealed about consumer finance and Fintechs12:25 - Paradkar explains his machine learning technique used in his research13:38 - Can lenders use Paradkar’s research to improve their lending?15:02 - Is there a latent unobservable variable that causes FinTech borrowers to be more likely to default?16:41 - How Paradkar uses machine learning to study corporate buzzwords, innovations and quarterly earnings callsLearn more about our guest, Nikhil Paradkar: https://www.terry.uga.edu/directory/finance/nikhil-paradkar.html

The auto industry has been front and center as supply chain issues make headlines. But the other story is rapid change. Evolving consumer preferences, shifting demographics and digital retailing have all upended the market since COVID. Have these factors changed the industry for good? Equifax’s Rissa Reddan gets a market assessment from Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at JD Power.Jump ahead to these highlights::50 - Tyson’s role at JD Power1:45 - What data is revealing about the auto industry right now2:53 - Challenges facing the industry and Covid’s role in current environment4:24 - Covid’s impact on individual transit: types of leases, purchases and specific behavioral change5:45 - Electric vehicle market is heating up7:00 - Are we at the tipping point for EV’s?8:10 - Convergence of solar power and EV’s9:00 - How is data driving the digital retail revolution?10:42 - What are we learning about consumers through digital retailing? What does the data reveal?12:15 - New generational trends that are emerging14:12 - How can the auto industry use data to drive recovery? What benefits are we seeing?16:15 - What are cars telling us -- and are they watching their drivers?18:12 - Car data can be a risk assessment19:11 - How this is a time of transition for the auto market and what the future looks like

David Ferber, SVP of Analytical Capabilities & Solutions at Equifax, and Sri Ambati, Founder and CEO of H2O.ai, discuss the democratization of AI and how companies need to bring together multi-faceted teams to get the most out of their data. Skip ahead to these topics:1:40 - About H2O4:30 - Data is at the heart of all machine learning7:25 - Trying to make decision-making cheaper, faster, easier9:22 - H2O customer stories12:11 - How H2O has recruited brilliant minds from around the world16:45 - Examples of AI for good20:40 - H2O wins award for its good works in India during COVID-19 pandemic22:30 - Looking to our younger generation for inspiration25:00 - The horizon for innovation has shifted since COVID-19

This episode focuses on how companies can collaborate with universities to solve business problems and strengthen their own data science programs. Jeff Dugger, Principal Data Scientist at Equifax & University Research Director, interviews Jennifer Priestley, Professor of Statistics and Data Science at Kennesaw State University, about how university’s structure their data science programs -- and how they rely on the private sector to stay relevant.Skip ahead to these highlights:1:00 - About Kennesaw State University’s School of Data Science and Analytics3:25 - The challenges Jennifer faced when launching one of the first university data science programs6:00 - How to bring different backgrounds together for an effective data science program11:00 - How data science programs differ from so-called “spoke” programs17:05 - It’s all about adding value to the organization18:20 - Understanding model results21:03 - The real-time feedback loop with the private sector26:33 - The need for communications skills - how do you tell the story of your data?28:30 - Top 3 takeaways for companies to build and strengthen their data science programs

We interview Mark Miller, director of insights at Comperemedia, about what’s driving the popularity of challenger banks. Also known as neobanks, challenger banks are upstart banks that usually operate solely online, offer innovative features and tend to target specific groups of tech-savvy customers. Join us as we discuss what’s behind this innovative banking trend, how it’s impacting traditional banks and what the future holds for challenger banks.Jump ahead to these highlights:1:15 - About Comperemedia1:35 - Background on challenger banks and what’s driving their success2:23 - How challenger banks are differentiating themselves and the impact on traditional banks3:35 - Who is attracted to challenger banks4:37 - Customer expectations of challenger banks6:48 - Challenger banks find riches in niches6:33 - Challenger banks’ use of alternative data7:44 - Regulatory landscape for challenger banks8:26 - How challenger banks market to customers9:07 - Consumer concerns about challenger banksRESOURCES:For more insights, check out the Comperemedia blog and Mintel blog. For more information about our podcast, visit https://www.equifax.com/business/data-dialogues-podcast/

In this episode of Data Dialogues, we interview Hany Fam, founder and CEO of Markaaz, about the top three things small businesses should do right now -- and which digital solutions can help them be successful.Jump ahead to these highlights:0:54 - About Hany Fam, founder of Markaaz2:17 - What is the Markaaz marketplace?3:55 - What are point-to-point solutions?4:45 - How data savvy are small businesses?8:33 - The small business data experience9:01 - How small businesses leverage data to power their business11:07 - How to take a data-driven approach13:30 - Growth of e-commerce15:33 - Benefits of digitization for small businesses18:10 - Educating on small business20:27 - Cash flow22:47 - 3 things business owners should do in 202123:47  - Buy now, pay later