I Didn’t Plan a Career in Business Analysis, I Grew into One

I didn’t plan to be a Business Analyst. In fact, for a long time, I didn’t even know business analysis was a career.

I started my undergraduate studies in economics but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. Instead, I found my passion in studying English. In particular, I loved storytelling, the roots of language, and understanding how ideas and motivation shape human behaviour. Hence, I chose teaching as the next natural step.

Moving into Business Analysis

The pivot to business analysis came unexpectedly. In my final undergraduate year, a friend introduced me to computers and the early Internet. This was a time when documentation was not polished. I spent many hours in the university computer lab learning HTML and PHP, and trying to understand how websites and computer systems functioned.

After graduation, I landed a job in a call centre supporting residential Internet connections. It was not a glamorous job, but it taught me how to listen, troubleshoot, and explain technical issues to non-technical end users. Not long after, I veered into a technical role, working directly with customers to help install and support Internet systems. That’s when it clicked. I enjoyed technology, but mostly working with people. I preferred not to build systems, but instead to understand them, and help users navigate them.

That realization motivated me to register for a computer networking program at Seneca Polytechnic. It was a practical and defining choice. After my first year of college, I landed an application support role at IBM, which marked the impetus for my professional career in Information Technology.

How I Got to Where I Am Today

After two and a half years at IBM, I moved into a software systems analyst role at the University of Toronto. While there I learned about databases, data models, SQL, and front-end user support, all on the job training, for four and a half years. At the time, I didn’t see myself as a Business Analyst, but in retrospect, that’s exactly what I was growing into.

My bachelor’s degree in English became a quiet advantage. I was comfortable facilitating meetings, asking questions, explaining complexity, and working in front-facing roles. This interaction was the polar opposite from the developers with whom I worked, who preferred back-end IT support. I lived at the intersection of people, process, and technology long before I had the language to articulate it.

For some years, I assumed that good work was enough to grow. It was sadly mistaken. I watched co-workers advance in their careers, while I stayed in a support role, unsure of what I was missing. It took some uncomfortable realizations and a bit of time to understand that a career doesn’t have an intrinsic automated path to success.  A career grows when you take ownership of it. Hence, I became an intentional business analyst. Eventually I secured an instructor role teaching computer programming courses at Seneca Polytechnic for four years, which was a formidable learning experience.

Over time, I moved into consulting, started writing blogs and speaking at conferences, helping build BA communities, and more recently, completing an MBA in Information Technology. I co-compiled a book, The Evolving Analyst: Mastering Business Analysis in the New World, featuring global practitioner perspectives on modern analysis, with contributing authors from around the world.

Pivotal Points in My BA Career

In retrospect, some moments stand out as pivotable in formulating my career: realizing that communication is a career accelerator; understanding that domain knowledge compounds faster than trendy tools; and networking often matters more than perfect resumes. Planning a career is the first step toward success. A purposeful career path is shorter and more productive than accidental growth.

Where I Intend to Go from Here

Today, I view business analysis not so much as a job role, but as a mindset. It’s about adaptability, problem solving, decision making, communication, and relationship building.

Currently. my focus is on career growth, continual learning, speaking, writing, and mentoring. I feel an obligation to help others reduce their learning curve and avoid the mistakes I made.

Lessons Learned

You don’t need a perfect plan, but you do need to start with a plan and expand on it over time. Career growth needs to be purposeful; communication is a key strategic advantage; learning a domain beats surface expertise in tools; and long-term relationships often override short-term opportunities.

For Aspiring Business Analysts

If you are at the beginning of your career, or a mid career professional, don’t wait for clarity to arrive. Create it. List your current skills and what skills you need to learn to be a high performer to close the gap. Join professional communities like The International Institute for Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) or the Project Management Institute (PMI®) to build up your network. Do some research on your role and your domain, ask informative questions, and track your progress. Share your learning strategies and knowledge base with other professionals.

Overall, working in business analysis wasn’t my initial plan. I grew into the role, and it transformed into how I understand people, process, technology and change. Most importantly, I’m still learning.