Hosts Chandra and Paul delve deeper into the multifaceted role of the JD Edwards Business Analyst (BA). Chandra shares her journey from accounting to becoming a BA and discusses the various paths that can lead to a BA role. The episode underscores the importance of attributes like curiosity, effective communication, and continuous learning, as BAs often come from diverse backgrounds including super users, those with business or programming degrees. Challenges, such as continually changing business requirements, troubleshooting with incomplete information, and the intricacies of project management, underscore the importance of skills like active listening, emotional intelligence, and maintaining a sense of humor. The hosts emphasize the value of a robust network within the JD Edwards community, and the role it plays in the success and growth of a BA. 

00:00 Chandra’s time as a contract accountant with JDE. 

03:43 Chandra’s transition from business analyst to accounting manager. 

09:14 Continuous introduction of new methods and tools. 

11:26 Transitioning from users to business analysts. 

14:48 Curiosity and willingness to learn. 

19:35 Effective communication: ask, listen, and clarify. 

20:26 Trust, verify, and actively listen for completeness. 

25:25 Assessing emotional intelligence. 

29:07 Connecting with the JD Edwards community. The importance of building relationships. 

31:47 Project management skills: organization, detail oriented, risk mitigation, and assessing ROI. 

39:17 Creatively leverage JDE toolbox to solve problems. 

44:20 Midwesternism of the day. 

46:54 Episode 3 teaser.