The Art and Science of Telling Your Story—and When to Speak Up

At every job I’ve held, I’ve led with authenticity, often sharing about my creative life outside of work.

It’s amazing how many “closet artists” I’ve met in corporate spaces. People who analyze numbers by day but come alive painting, writing, or creating after hours.

Here’s the truth I’ve learned: Good work—whether it’s art or analytics—is always both art and science.

In my corporate years, I built data tools that used colors—red, yellow, green—to help leaders quickly spot performance risks. It worked beautifully…until it didn’t.

One day, the business changed dramatically. Staffing levels shifted. But the thresholds in my old tools weren’t updated after I’d moved on. So those pretty colors started sending false signals.

Green looked safe when it wasn’t. Red looked urgent when it wasn’t. Decisions were made based purely on color instead of asking deeper questions.

Here’s the lesson:
→ Tools don’t replace thinking.
→ Data alone can’t lead—it needs context, interpretation, and sometimes the courage to challenge the story it seems to tell.

The team presenting the data assumed Operations leaders would “read beyond the colors.” But they didn’t. And no one spoke up.

That’s why art and science belong together.

The science is in gathering facts and designing tools.
The art is knowing when to speak up—even if it’s uncomfortable—to protect the business, the team, and the truth.

Whether you’re an artist, an analyst, or a leader, don’t hide your voice. Speak the real story—even if it means challenging what’s on the page.

Because your voice might be the difference between right decisions and regrets.