The Accidental Analyst — Decision-grade analytics in the age of AI
FOUNDING COHORT • 50 SEATS MAX • Q1 LAUNCH
Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI: Beyond the Prompt

Most analysis gets ignored. AI didn't create the problem. It scaled it.

Master the new analytical mindset: You own the business reality. AI is the genius in the matrix. In 6 weeks, stop producing “dashboard theater” and start shipping Decision Packets executives actually act on.

  • The Human/AI Partnership: Stop relying on AI to run the analysis. Learn to use it to assist the technical build while you own the QA and sanity checks.
  • Primary outcome: Ship a complete Decision Packet on a real project your VP can act on.
  • Repeatability: Install a workflow you can reuse on every high-stakes analysis to prevent definition drift and confident errors.
6 weeks 4-6 hrs/week Live clinics + templates No IT installs required Standard / Pro / Team
The Accidental Analyst framework
choose
questions
collect
data
check
data
clean
data
chart
analysis
custom
analysis
communicate
results

AI accelerates the technical execution, but the human workflow determines whether the output is correct, useful, and decision-ready.

The Accidental Analyst book cover
The book that started the framework
The Accidental Analyst book back cover
Built for real business questions
Tableau / Salesforce
The Accidental Analyst appears in Tableau's "12 Great Books About Data Visualization."
View the Tableau article
Pat Hanrahan (Pixar & Tableau Founder)
"Changed how he thought about teaching data analysis at Stanford."
See proof page
Built by practitioners
Taught thousands in Tableau, R, Python, SQL, forecasting, LTV, data engineering and analysis.
Apply for Cohort #1

AI didn't create bad analysis. It scaled our worst habits.

The risk isn't just AI hallucinating. It's human errors—poor definitions, lack of QA, and vague questions—being amplified at lightning speed.

We let AI run the analysis.

AI is a genius in the matrix, but it doesn't know your business reality. Relying on it to run the analysis, rather than assist you in the complex technical build, leads to polished, confident garbage.

We ask poor questions.

Vague questions, undefined outcome ranges, and missing success thresholds guarantee the work gets ignored—no matter how fast an AI builds the dashboard.

We skip the sanity checks.

Analysts blindly query data without understanding table relationships or data completeness. Without human QA and basic sanity checks against past results, analysis becomes politics.

Built to work across stakeholders
This workflow touches multiple roles: analysts, BI leaders, RevOps/FP&A, and executives. We help you map stakeholders early and deliver the format each one needs.
The fix is not better prompting
The fix is a decision-grade workflow: question framing → data reality → QA → exact analysis → executive communication → monitoring.

Most analysis gets ignored. This template fixes it.

When leadership asks “What should we do next?”, most analytics work can’t answer it. The Decision Packet turns analysis into action: decision framing → evidence standard → QA → recommendation.

What you’ll get

  • Decision framing page (question → decision → threshold)
  • Data map + definition sheet
  • QA checklist + assumptions log
  • Analysis spec (method + edge cases)
  • Executive summary + recommendation format
  • Monitoring plan starter

Tip: Use this on your next project. If it improves outcomes, the cohort is the “system install.”

Send it to your inbox

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By downloading, you’ll also receive the 5-email “How to use it” sequence.

How to evaluate an analytics training program

Set your criteria before you comparison-shop tools or certificates.

1
Does it produce a real deliverable on your company’s data?
Not exercises. A Decision Packet you can take to leadership.
2
Does it teach the full workflow (question → data → analysis → decision)?
Tools change. The workflow is the bottleneck.
3
Does it define the boundary between Human and AI?
You need to learn how to write bulletproof specs for AI, not just generic prompt tricks.
4
Is there live expert feedback?
Weekly clinics + bounded Pro reviews transfer judgment.
5
Can the capstone go directly to leadership?
If it can’t be used, it won’t be valued.

What Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI: Beyond the Prompt actually does

You will learn to master the split: You own the reality, AI is the genius in the matrix. We teach Systems of Decision‑Grade Analytics, a Platform for Analytics Execution, and the Scientific Method for Business. They need each other to get to powerful, correct insights.

1) Decision-grade questions

Stop defining vague data pulls. Turn broad ideas into questions with decision implications, defined outcome ranges of consequence, and strict success criteria.

  • Decision framing
  • Question trees
  • Outcome ranges

2) Data reality and QA

Map the real data landscape, understand table relationships, and run baseline sanity checks against past results before trusting the AI to build anything.

  • Data inventory
  • Quality sanity checks
  • Assumptions log

3) Bulletproof execution & output

Learn to write exact specifications so your AI assistant executes perfectly, and communicate the final recommendation with confidence and caveats.

  • Analysis specification
  • Executive narrative
  • Monitoring plan
You will leave with a complete Decision Packet

Why this matters: If you’re a smart person who asks real questions, this program installs the system and standards that make you an invaluable asset—because your analysis will survive scrutiny and actually get used.

Question definition, data map, QA checks, analysis spec, visuals, recommendation, and monitoring plan.

How the Expert Data Analysis cohort works

Outcome-led. Minimal fluff. Built for working professionals.

Weekly format
Core lesson videos60–90 min/week
Live clinic90 min/week
Optional office hour45–60 min/week
Your work time2–4 hrs/week
One cohort. One workflow. Two implementation lanes included (Operator + Enterprise).
Interactive: this is where the transformation happens
Weekly clinics include hot seats on your real project, QA/assumption checks, and executive communication practice so your deliverable is decision-ready.

Course curriculum: Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI

Six weeks. Each week: Core Theory + AI Companion Demo + Template + Live Clinic.

Week 0
Environment setup (released immediately) + capstone selection
Choose a real decision/project and define stakeholder, success criteria, and constraints.
Week 1
Choosing questions that matter
Stop defining vague data pulls. Learn to define exact business questions, isolate outcome ranges of consequence, and set strict evidence standards before touching tools.
Week 2
Collect / check / clean data
Master data reality. Understand table relationships, execute data profiling, and build the baseline sanity checks you will use to grade AI outputs later.
Week 3
Exact analysis design
The art of the Spec. Learn how to write bulletproof instructions for AI, using it to assist with complex technical execution without surrendering control of the actual analysis.
Week 4
Charting and communication
Context-driven visuals, executive narrative, recommendation, and caveats.
Week 5
Executive presentation clinic
Present the packet and tighten message and visuals for decision-makers.
Week 6
Monitoring + beyond analysis
Human QA and follow-through. Sanity check final outputs, define follow-through metrics, and escalate to advanced Data Science methods when AI isn't enough.

Live clinics

  • Hot seats: your org's question and data
  • AI lab: safe acceleration patterns and boundaries
  • Executive presentation practice
  • Office hours Q&A

Templates you will get

  • Decision framing worksheet
  • Data inventory and ownership map
  • QA checklist and assumptions log
  • Analysis spec and validation rubric
  • Visualization decision tree
  • Decision Packet deck template

Enroll in Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI

Join the founding cohort of Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI: Beyond the Prompt. Choose the outcome you want—Pro adds scoped expert reviews.

Standard
$1,500
Outcome: Ship a Decision Packet leadership can act on
Limited to 50 founding seats
  • You ship: Decision Packet (question → data map → QA → recommendation → monitoring)
  • You get: weekly clinics + templates + implementation lanes
  • Payment plans: 2-pay $800×2 • 3-pay $550×3
Apply
Team Pack
$6,375
5 seats • $1,275/seat • save 15% • net-30 invoicing
  • Outcome: Standardize decision-grade analytics + AI guardrails
  • Includes: 5 seats + shared templates + fixed calendar
  • Procurement-friendly: one invoice, one PO
Request Team Pack

Standard vs Pro (what’s different)

Item Standard Pro
Primary outcome Decision Packet shipped Decision Packet shipped
Live clinics Weekly Weekly
Templates + checklists Included Included
Deep reviews 2 async reviews (scoped)
Seats Up to 50 (founding) Cap 8
Team Pilot (private) — $18k–$25k
Custom scoping on a real initiative, executive readouts, and a reusable Decision Packet Library your team keeps permanently. Next step: request a 15-minute scoping call from the Apply page.
Guarantee & policies
7-day refund window from cohort start (no questions). If you can’t attend, you may transfer once to the next cohort. If you miss a clinic, you’ll get the replay and can submit a question for the next session.

Need an invoice / receipt for L&D reimbursement? See “Convince your boss.”

OPTIONAL ADD-ON

The desk-side reference: Decision‑Grade Data Storytelling poster

A 24×36 visual guide to choosing charts (and using color/shape correctly)—designed as a daily decision aid, not decoration.

Master Data Storytelling poster preview
Proof angle: A Tableau co‑founder told me he loved keeping this outside his office because it’s the fastest way to choose the right visual and avoid common mistakes.

Get it two ways

  • Digital PDF (print-ready 24×36)
  • Printed poster (24×36 shipped via Printify)
  • Bundle: Pro includes it; Standard can add it
Digital PDF
$39
Instant download
Buy PDF
Printed 24×36
$109
Shipped via Printify
Buy Print

Tip: the poster is most effective when it’s visible during analysis—think “reference card,” not “art print.”

Convince your boss

Position it as risk mitigation and team ROI, not a perk.

Subject: ROI Proposal: AI Risk Mitigation + Decision-Grade Analytics Training

Hi [Boss Name],

Right now, the biggest risk with our team using AI (ChatGPT/Gemini/Claude) is hallucinations, KPI confusion, and “dashboard theater” that looks polished but leads to bad decisions.

I’m requesting approval to join a 6-week cohort called “Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI: Beyond the Prompt.” It teaches a new mindset: the human owns the business reality and QA, while AI owns the technical execution. 

ROI for our team:
1) I will use a real company project as my capstone and deliver a decision-ready Decision Packet during the program.
2) I will bring back the workflow templates (question framing, data checks, QA rubric, analysis specifications, AI boundaries) and share them with our team.

Cost: $1,500
Time: ~4–6 hours/week for 6 weeks

Are you open to sponsoring this via the L&D budget? I can send the syllabus and learning outcomes.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

FAQ

What will I have at the end of 6 weeks?

A complete Decision Packet on a real project: decision framing, data map, QA + assumptions, analysis spec, visuals, recommendation, and monitoring plan—ready for leadership.

Is this a prompt engineering course?

No. Prompting is a tool. This is a masterclass in the human/AI partnership: you own the business reality and the QA, the AI owns the complex technical execution.

What if I miss a live clinic?

You’ll get the replay. You can also submit your question for the next clinic. Pro members can use one of their scoped reviews if needed.

What tools do I need?

None are mandatory. You can follow the Operator lane (DuckDB + VS Code + Python) or the Enterprise lane (Snowflake + Tableau). If corporate IT blocks installs, use Colab or Hex.tech as a browser fallback.

How is this different from a bootcamp, certificate, or generic AI course?

Bootcamps teach tools. Certificates reward completion. Expert Data Analysis in the Age of AI installs a decision-grade system and produces a deliverable leadership can act on—using your real constraints and data reality.

Can my company pay for this?

Yes. Use the “Convince your boss” template. Team Packs (5 seats) are invoiced net-30.

Refund / transfer policy?

7-day refund window from cohort start. If you can’t attend, you may transfer once to the next cohort.

Is my data confidential?

Yes. You can use anonymized/sanitized data. We focus on workflow and decision structure—not exposing proprietary details.