Data Storytelling: Presentation and Data Communication 2400-ZEWW992

In a data-driven economy, the ability to effectively analyze, present, and communicate research results is critical for economists, business analysts, and digital transformation specialists. The "Data Storytelling: Presentation and Data Communication" course targets students who already work with data, have foundational skills in Excel and Tableau, and want to further develop their data storytelling and public speaking competencies.

The course employs a workshop-based (learning-by-doing) method. Students systematically prepare presentations and analyses using real data, culminating in a final research report for a selected country. Students will learn:

How to obtain and verify credible data in the digital economy,

How to analyze digitalization levels of societies, enterprises' digital maturity, and public services development,

How to design clear and engaging data visualizations,

How to build compelling data narratives,

How to effectively present research findings publicly and in analytical reports.

Creating their own reports and presentations will enable students not only to handle data and visualizations but also to perform in-depth analyses of digital transformation—covering societal digital competencies, digital maturity of enterprises, and the quality of digital public services across European Union countries.

The course is practical and workshop-oriented. Each module will cover data handling and public speaking skills, including speech structure, time management, narrative tension-building, and emotional management for both speakers and audiences.

The course is led by an experienced academic and practitioner, Prof. Katarzyna Śledziewska, an economist specializing in digital transformation. She leads the Digital Economy Lab at the University of Warsaw, conducting research and advisory projects for business and public administration. She has extensive experience in domestic and international business and academic conferences, science popularization, and training others for impactful presentations.

Modules and topics:

Module 1: The Art of Data Presentation

Building coherent data-based presentations

Public speaking techniques and stage fright management

Data storytelling exercises on the digital strategy of a selected country

Module 2: From Tables to Stories

Introduction to data visualization: best practices, common mistakes, chart types

Tools: Tableau, Power BI, Excel

Data preparation for presentations using Eurostat datasets

Module 3: Building Data Narratives

Storytelling in economics: conveying phenomena beyond numbers

Analyzing data on corporate digitalization, societal digital competencies, maturity of public services

Drawing conclusions and clearly communicating them

Module 4: 4MAT Framework and Message Structure

Introduction to the 4MAT narrative structure (Why – What – How – What if?)

Simulation of research presentations and audience interaction

Using data from Eurostat, DESI, OECD

Module 6: Final Presentation
Completion of presentations/reports
Public presentation of findings and peer-to-peer evaluation