What has changed?In his latest message, President Ziad Sakr challenges us to think about “change” — how the circumstances around us shape change and how we, as business analysts, respond to it. From shifting work environments to evolving tools and expectations, he explores what’s changed—and what it means for how we practice business analysis today.
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BA vs SME – Which Would You Choose?At our exclusive volunteer “Lean Coffee” session, the group tackled a lively question: when enabling change, would you hire an experienced SME new to business analysis, or an experienced BA new to the industry? President Ziad Sakr shares which he chose—and some of the thoughtful debate among our volunteers.
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A Catalyst for Change: Thank You, Adina Badescu!We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Adina Badescu, Business Analyst at Desjardins, for her exceptional presentation, "The Agile Business Analyst: A Catalyst of Value in a Changing World." Her talk was greatly appreciated by our community. Her expertise in agile methodologies and her ability to connect them to organizational transformation added significant value. Attendees particularly enjoyed the practical examples and valuable lessons she shared. Her contribution enriched the knowledge of everyone in attendance. |
Welcoming a New Season with Fresh LeadershipNew chapter president Ziad Sakr reflects on a season filled with events and the strong team spirit that drives our community. Looking ahead, he shares his enthusiasm for upcoming activities and gratitude to volunteers who make it all possible. With more opportunities to connect—through meetings, study groups, and special events—he invites members to be part of an exciting year ahead.
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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Distinguished Chapter Meeting SpeakersCelebrating Excellence in Monthly Professional Development (September 2024 - May 2025) Dear Esteemed Speaker, As we reflect on an outstanding year of monthly chapter meetings, we extend our deepest gratitude to the exceptional speakers who have elevated our professional development through their expertise, insights, and dedication to our business analysis community. |
The last page of this sectionHelen Racette wraps up her term as Chapter President with heartfelt thanks to the dedicated volunteers who helped shape the past two years. In this reflective post, she celebrates the strength of the BA community, and invites members to the upcoming AGM to mark this important transition.
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Blockbuster BA BlitzThirty (30) business analysts converged at Lambton College for BA Blitz, a hackathon in support of ABLE Autism. Working in teams led by CBAP® certified Senior Business Analysts, participants tackled a real-world challenges for the non-profit, applying BA techniques to deliver meaningful insights and community impact.
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We’d Love Your Feedback!Help us shape future events by taking a quick survey. As a thank-you, you’ll be entered into a draw to win a CAD $50 Amazon gift card—just complete the survey by Tuesday, May 20th and include your email in the final question. Your feedback directly helps shape the content we offer to our BA community. Thank you for being a part of our chapter! |
Growing your BA NetworkIn her latest message, Chapter President Helen Racette reflects on the momentum building across our chapter—from the upcoming BA Blitz to our next Book Club. She also encourages members to take a few minutes to complete the chapter survey. Your feedback helps shape events and initiatives that support your growth and expand your professional network.
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When Spring doesn’t understand the requirements!Even spring can miss the mark on requirements. In this seasonal update, Chapter President Helen Racette reflects on the recent weather surprises, the postponed BA Blitz, and what’s coming up for the chapter—including our next Book Club meeting and volunteer opportunities. It’s a short read with a thoughtful reminder about staying adaptable and connected.
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BA Blitz 2025: Our signature Hackathon Event! |
What a Ride for our In-Person Workshop! |
BA Book Club: Wrap up of “Think Again” and announcing the pick for March |
What a great time to be a member of the Chapter!Chapter President Helen Racette shares exciting updates on our community’s momentum, from the success of our first in-person workshop with Emily Tom and Nancy Beatson to the engaging BA Book Club discussion on Think Again. She highlights the upcoming BA Blitz Hackathon, an in-person event where BAs of all levels will collaborate to support a local non-profit. |
Things are getting interesting - Busy Times aheadOur chapter is gearing up for an exciting period, with an unprecedented number of events scheduled for February and March. The recent Chapter Leadership Brunch highlighted the team's momentum, setting a positive tone for the upcoming activities. We invite you to explore the newsletter and participate in these enriching opportunities. |
Welcome to 2025!Chapter President Helen Racette reflects on a successful 2024 and looks forward to her final six months as President. This year promises exciting events with new programming, thanks to the hard work of our Leadership Team.
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Welcome to our newest volunteers!A huge thank you to the driving forces behind our chapter's success! Let’s take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible new volunteers who have recently joined our team.
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The power of mentorship!A part of the IIBA Ottawa chapter’s mission is to promote business analysis in our community. Therefore, we established the mentorship program to help chapter members achieve their professional development goals through the mentor-mentee relationship. For more information, please visit our chapter page. |
Introducing the IIBA Ottawa-Outaouais Chapter's BA Book Club We're excited to launch our BA Book Club, where each month we'll explore a new book relevant to business analysis and curated by Chapter President Helen Racette. Our January 2025 selection is "Futureproof" by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry. Join us for a virtual discussion at the end of the month. |
The end and the beginning of the yearAs we wrap up the year, we’re grateful for our members and volunteers who made the beginning of our 2024-25 programming year a success. While there’s no December meeting, we’re excited for 2025, with plans for guest speakers, the BA Blitz (a business analysis hackathon), and more. Stay tuned and check our event listing for updates! |
Snow bad time to be a Business Analyst!Discover how the season can bring fresh opportunities to grow your skills, starting with Global Business Analysis Day. #AnalysisEverywhere
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A new Season begins!As we kick off a new season, exciting plans are in motion, from monthly meetings to hands-on workshops and more. Stay tuned and get involved as we embark on another impactful year with our Chapter!
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Business Analysis is (from) EverywhereOur recent chapter social was a great success. Check out all the photos!
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The adventure ahead...This season promises to be exceptional! The Chapter is responding to members' desires for more in-person connections and learning opportunities. The Leadership team has exciting plans, and now is the perfect time to get involved, whether as a member or a volunteer.
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Volunteer Appreciation 2024We celebrated our 2023-2024 volunteers with a half-day in-person event in July.
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Chapter Planning for 2024-2025 SeasonIn July, we held a planning session where everyone contributed ideas for the upcoming season, including monthly meetings, new events, and a BA Blitz Hackathon.
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GRAAL Postponed to 2025With a heavy feeling, we had to make the difficult decision to postpone the GRAAL competition until 2025.
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Website RedesignWe’re excited to announce the launch of our redesigned website, featuring modern design, improved navigation, enhanced functionality, mobile responsiveness, and localization. Registering for events is now easier with links available directly on your member dashboard. Please log in to your account and update your profile to help us connect you to relevant content, networking opportunities, and events tailored to your interests.
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Plans for a busy summerWe’ve had an amazing year with great speakers and new volunteers, and we’re excited for fantastic upcoming events. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 20th, for our in-person social event to kick off the new season. Don’t miss our Annual General Meeting in June, where we celebrate the season and vote on new executive officers.
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