What does it actually mean to be a business analyst when everything you knew about the role is changing — fast?In this episode, I sat down with Ryan Folster, a product leader based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who's been deep in the trenches thinking, speaking, and honestly losing sleep over exactly this question. Ryan came fresh off delivering a talk at the BBC conference in Toronto (where, for the record, neither of us dressed for the weather 😄), and he brought all of that energy and insight straight to our conversation.Here's what I love about Ryan's perspective — it's not an AI hype (or doom) talk. It's about the human things that enable AI: structured thinking, context-gathering, decomposition, and the very human judgment that no prompt can replace. We got into why experienced BAs sometimes struggle most with this moment of change, why your ability to think is still your greatest professional asset, and what it looks like to lean into adaptability when you genuinely don't know what next week will bring.We also talked about the pressure. The very real pressure organizations are putting on analysts right now — the "you have AI, so why isn't this done yet?" pressure — and what Ryan is actually doing to manage it. Spoiler: it involves automation, focus, and a healthy acceptance of what you can and can't control.This is a conversation for every BA who's excited, a little scared, and trying to figure out where they fit in a profession that's redefining itself in real time.🎙️Episode Highlights• Why this moment in business analysis isn't really about AI — it's about what enables AI• Cognitive load theory and why it maps directly to what business analysis professionals have always done• Decomposition as a core, enduring skill in an AI-accelerated world• AI speeds up execution, not thinking — and why that distinction matters• How BRDs and FRDs are evolving into "thinking documents"• The rising expectations problem and how to manage scope and pressure• Authenticity, AI slop, and protecting the human element in our work• Whether the BA title survives — and why your skill set matters more than your label• Role convergence: BA, PM, tester, developer — and what that means for you• Compliance, judgment, and information security in an AI-first environment• Building automations that work for you even when you're not working• Continuous learning as a muscle you have to actively maintain🔗 Resources · Connect with Susan on LinkedIn• Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn• South Africa Summit infoBusiness Analysis Live is hosted by Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). We talk with business analysis professionals about business analysis topics and answer questions from our live audience. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit that Like button, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep bringing you great content!The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications. Learn more at https://www.iiba.org/ #BusinessAnalysis #AI #FutureOfWork
