BA Spotlight: Success Story

As we celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on an inspiring success story of Priyanka Agrawal. 🌟

Priyanka is a management consulting leader with 20+ years of experience in business optimization, strategic planning, and relationship building across industries like Business Intelligence, Utilities, Healthcare, and more. A Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®), Six Sigma Green Belt, and Agile expert, Priyanka is also a published author, international speaker, and coach. She has coached thousands of students and authored Agile and Business Analysis courses for universities. As one of the long-standing, former Board of Directors at IIBA and the founder of a multicultural group at TransLink, she fosters inclusion and drives impactful change.

Q1: Were there any pivotal moments in your career that significantly shaped your path?

"Several experiences and moments have shaped my career, particularly in the business analysis and management consulting space. One significant milestone was leading the development of a digital strategy for a city in British Columbia, Canada. Having said that, I believe that my career is a journey. So, in my view, the pivotal moments are on the way. "

Q2: As a woman in business analysis, what unique challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

"Although there have been advancements and increased awareness around equity, women still face 'Go Slow' or 'Yield to Oncoming Traffic' zones in career advancement due to, but not limited to, biological and social factors. I am no exception and also faced many unspoken unique challenges.

While some things cannot be overcome, I have circumvented some of these challenges by finding alternate ways to apply business analysis and leadership skills that add value to the organization and or to the community. I discovered paths to build positive connections, gain fulfillment, and shift focus from individual achievements to collective successes. For example, leading a group of over 100 people that drove change via programs, policies, and people-led events. Another example is coaching and helping shape the careers of thousands of students/participants at organizations, multiple Canadian universities, and international conferences. Challenges teach valuable lessons in resilience, empathy, and also heighten the courage to make difficult decisions. This positions you to become a better leader. Remember, it’s not what you go through that defines you, it’s how you respond to it that defines you."