AI is making teams faster. But are they thinking better? The most dangerous skill to lose in the age of AI is the ability to question, reason and communicate what the data is really saying.
No commitment, just a conversation.
These are the blockers most training ignores. I don't.
Whether you are an organisation looking to upskill your team or a professional looking to get sharper, find out how I can help.
For organisations who want their teams to think more clearly, question more deeply and build real technical capability in data and AI. Built around your challenges, not a generic curriculum. Previously delivered to teams at Bupa, Mitie and Clarion through Corndel.
For professionals who want to go beyond the basics. Whether you are deepening your expertise, changing direction or tackling a specific challenge, sessions are built around your goals, your work and where you want to get to.
Hi, I'm Alex. I have over 10 years of experience in data and AI, working across education, government and with some of the UK's largest organisations through Corndel, a leading training provider. During COVID-19 I delivered critical health data analysis to the UK government, work that demanded precision, clear thinking and the ability to communicate complex data under pressure.
What drives me is a frustration with how data and quantitative thinking are traditionally taught. Dry theory, tool demos, generic slides. Learning that does not stick because it never challenges how people think or brings awareness to the limiting beliefs and mental frameworks holding them back. I have always been more interested in the intersection of critical thinking, data literacy and storytelling. AI is now making it easier than ever to bypass that thinking entirely.
My mission is simple. Help people build the technical skills and develop the human capabilities that no tool can replace.
Includes: live session · practical challenges · built around your tools
Most workshops are forgotten by Friday. People sit through slides, do a demo, go back to their desks and nothing changes. Every workshop I run is built from scratch around a specific topic or challenge your team is facing. No standard agenda, no generic content. We use a question led approach, practical challenges and examples drawn from your data, tools and workflows. The goal is lasting change in how your team thinks, not just what they can do.
Includes: workshops · structured learning · exercises · progress check ins
Programmes built around your team's development goals and the challenges they face. Where are people losing time? What could be done more efficiently? What blockers are holding individuals back? We cover Power BI, Excel and AI, but always within a critical thinking framework that addresses the psychology behind how people learn and use data. The goal is a fundamental shift in how your team thinks and approaches problems.
Includes: regular sessions · personalised curriculum · technical and mindset work
Bring real work problems, projects or ideas you want to think through. 1:1 sessions are built around your challenges, not a generic curriculum. We work through the technical skills you need, but also the mindset and behaviours that are holding you back. Many people struggle with data in silence, held back by imposter syndrome, self doubt or fear of getting it wrong. These sessions are the space to work through all of it. Practical, personal and built entirely around you.
Note: no sensitive data needs to be shared. We work with anonymised or dummy datasets that mirror your real challenges.
Many clients combine all three. A workshop to get started, a structured programme to go deeper, and 1:1 coaching for those who want personalised guidance alongside it.
Pricing is flexible and available on request. Email alex@needhamdataconsulting.com or book a free call.
A short clip from a live workshop on dashboards
At the heart of everything I teach is a single progression. Five ways of thinking that develop how you approach, question and communicate with data.
How it works in practice
Most training focuses on tools and theory. I focus on how people think. Every session is built around your specific challenges, not a generic curriculum. The goal is not just capability but a genuine shift in mindset, the kind that sticks long after the training ends.
You do not have to. Many clients use me alongside existing providers, or bring me in for specific challenges their current training does not address. If your team is completing courses but not changing how they work, that is worth a conversation.
Every engagement starts with a discovery conversation to understand your team, your tools, your goals and where the gaps are. From there I design sessions around your data, your workflows and your specific challenges. Nothing is off the shelf.
Power BI, Tableau, Excel, SQL, Python, Copilot, Power Automate, Power Apps, AI tools, statistical modelling and more. But tools are always taught within a critical thinking framework. The goal is understanding, not just button pressing.
It depends on your goals. A workshop can be half a day or a full day. A structured training programme typically runs over several weeks or months. Everything is scoped around what you actually need.
Through practical application. I do not rely on end of course surveys. Progress shows up in how your team approaches problems, communicates findings and uses tools independently. We track this through check ins and real work outputs throughout the programme.
All sessions are delivered live online via Zoom or Google Meet. This means I can work with teams anywhere in the UK and beyond, with no travel costs or logistical overhead.
I work with teams of all sizes, from small groups of 5 to larger departments. For bigger organisations I can run multiple cohorts or work with L&D leads to scale the programme.
Yes. I work with professionals at all levels, whether you are upskilling in your current role, moving into data, or working through a course or bootcamp. 1:1 sessions are available on a flexible basis.
Book a free call and we will talk through what you need. No commitment, no pitch, just a conversation to see if there is a good fit.