Antifragile Confidence: A New Super-Skill for Business Analysts: Interview with Donovan Grant, Business Analyst, UAL
As part of our speaker spotlight series for the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2025, we caught up with Donovan Grant to explore the thinking behind his session on “Antifragile Confidence – A New Super-Skill for Business Analysts.”
Let’s start with the title — what exactly is “antifragile confidence”?
How is it different from traditional ideas of resilience or self-assurance in the BA role?
Traditionally, confidence often looks like having all the answers or being the loudest in the room. Antifragile confidence is not about looking confident; it’s about being grounded even when things get messy. I believe it grows when things go wrong and is rooted in who you are, and not just how well you perform on a good day.
Why do you believe confidence is a skill that BAs need to consciously develop in today’s work environment?
Are there particular pressures or trends making it more essential now than before?
The work environment is moving faster, expectations are higher, and BAs are expected to influence and not just analyse. Plus we have hybrid work, changing technology, and tighter deadlines so BAs are being asked to lead more without always being given the title. That takes confidence — the kind that helps you speak up in a room full of senior stakeholders, challenge unclear requirements, or calmly say “I don’t know, yet.”
That’s not just a personality trait. It’s a skill that can be developed.
From Self-Doubt to Strength
In your session, you mention turning self-doubt into clarity. Can you share an example from your own career when you had to do just that?
I once led the analysis on a digital platform project that had already been delayed when I came on board. The sponsor was frustrated, and the under-pressure delivery manager started taking it out on the team. I felt like I was constantly defending myself and second-guessing every decision.
What helped was stepping back and getting clear: What’s within my control? What am I actually responsible for?
Once I stopped trying to please everyone and focused on leading the process with integrity, the fog lifted. That experience taught me that clarity often comes after and not before, the doubt.
One powerful idea is identity before strategy.
Before you get into frameworks and templates, ask yourself: “Who am I being in this moment?” Are you reacting from fear? From pressure to prove yourself? Or are you responding as the grounded, trusted advisor you want to be?
That simple pause and checking your mindset before your method can change how you show up in meetings, how you handle feedback, and how you lead conversations.
If you’re a mid-level BA who’s technically strong but sometimes holds back in meetings, this session is for you. Same if you’re a newer BA trying to find your voice, or a more experienced one looking to lead with more ease.
I want people to leave thinking: “I don’t need to become someone else to be confident, I just need tools to back the version of me that’s already enough.”
The Framework
Without giving too much away, what’s one element of your antifragile confidence framework that attendees can immediately apply in their day-to-day work?
In both sectors, I’ve seen how influence has less to do with hierarchy and more to do with presence. I’ve worked with BAs who didn’t have fancy titles, but they asked the right questions, held their ground, and earned trust. They showed up with quiet confidence, and people listened.
Ultimately, the best BAs are helping teams make better decisions — and that requires confidence, not just competence.
Audience Fit
Who will benefit most from your session — and what do you hope they walk away with?
Coaching has taught me that most people aren’t lacking ability; they’re lacking belief.
When I work with BA teams, I’m not just giving tools, I’m helping them shift the way they see themselves. I ask questions that help them spot what’s working, what’s in their way, and how they can move forward in a way that feels authentic.
From personal experience, I know that confidence isn’t built through training courses. It’s built through reflection, practice, and encouragement.
BA Soft Skills Are Business Skills
You’ve worked across finance and higher education. Where have you seen the link between confidence and influence really come to life?
It would include a diverse range of BAs who speak up early, challenge respectfully, and know their value even when things feel uncertain.
A small but powerful step is for us all to start naming our wins out loud. Not just in performance reviews, but in team retros, 1:1s, and even to ourselves. Because the more you practice recognising your impact, the less you rely on others to validate it.
It becomes a BA profession and a community that leads from within.
See Donovan Live at the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2025
Join Donovan at the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2025
🗓 Monday, 15 September 2025 | 🕒 15:15 – 16:00 BST
📍 London, UK
🎤 Antifragile Confidence: A New Super-Skill for Business Analysts
Learn how to build real confidence, sharpen your presence, and turn uncertainty into growth.
👉 Secure your place now: BA2025 Conference Registration
