Guest Blogger: Lance Cody-Valdez

In today’s hyper-digital world, the value that digitally focused professionals and investigators bring to an organization is undeniable. From system upgrades to data security, infrastructure management to agile development, forensic imaging, the scope of their responsibilities continues to grow between positions and different departments. However, the ability to do the work isn’t always enough. Often, the real challenge lies in making that work understandable—and valued—by non-technical stakeholders like executives, department heads, other investigators, attorneys. When communication fails, projects falter, budgets get cut, and talent is undervalued. The key lies in learning how to translate complex technical achievements into clear, meaningful stories that resonate with your audience.

Know Who You’re Talking To

Before you can communicate effectively, you need to know who’s listening. Non-technical stakeholders come with varied backgrounds, interests, and levels of digital fluency and have different focus on what you are sharing. A manager might care about how your equipment is being used and the costs and risks, while an attorney would be focused more on the data and understanding it.  To communicate successfully, take time to understand what your audience values most. If you’re presenting to the department head, lead with  impacts of the work for the community. If you’re speaking to an attorney focus on the data sources. Tailoring your message around the listener’s priorities not only increases understanding but also respect.

Cut the Tech Talk

Jargon is the fastest way to lose your audience. While acronyms like IP, API, DNS, or SOC 2 may roll off your tongue with ease, they often cause eyes to glaze over across the conference table. Make a habit of minimizing technical language whenever possible. When using essential terms, offer brief, simple explanations. For example, instead of saying, “We tracked them by their IP address,” try, “We followed their IP information to see where they were going similar to how an address would work.” It’s not about dumbing things down—it’s about making them clear. When stakeholders understand you, they’re more likely to support you.

Everyday Analogies Make a Difference

One of the most effective strategies to explain technical concepts is through storytelling and relatable comparisons. These analogies take abstract processes and ground them in familiar terms. Want to explain a data cloud? Compare it to a digital filing cabinet. Explaining a denial-of-service attack? Compare it to a traffic jam blocking access to a building. The point isn’t perfection—it’s connection. If your audience can picture it, they can understand it, and if they understand it, they can advocate for it.

Show, Don’t Just Tell

Visuals can bridge the comprehension gap faster than words alone. Whether it’s a bar graph showing data distribution in a computer, a flowchart outlining system architecture for a smartphone, or a pie chart highlighting the number of images on a device, images clarify complexity. Tools like Lucidchart, Canva, and Power BI allow you to transform raw data into engaging visuals. Remember, these don’t need to be highly technical, they need to be intuitive. A well-designed infographic can really bring the truth of the data to light. . When in doubt, think like a news reporter: how can you display the story behind the numbers?

Stay Flexible in Your Delivery

Effective communication isn’t static adapts to the moment. The way you explain a case in a formal report shouldn’t be the same way you present it in a conversation. Some stakeholders prefer slide decks; others want summaries. Stay ready to pivot between formats and detail levels. You might need a high-level overview for the chief and a slightly more technical explanation for the attorney. Always read the room, watch for confusion or disengagement, and adjust your language or delivery method. Your job isn’t just to inform—it’s to connect the data.

Being successful in today’s investigative world means being more than just technically capable—it means being able to explain, influence, and connect. If your work can’t be understood, it risks being undervalued. But when you tailor your language, minimize jargon, lean on visuals and analogies, and wrap your work in stories, you bring non-technical stakeholders into your world. That inclusion leads to better alignment, stronger support, and greater visibility. In a world driven by both data and people, building bridges might be the most important part of your case.