Describe a time you presented data that people did not want to hear.

This is a test of independence, so choose a story where you held your position.

• The finding and why it was unwelcome. A campaign that did not work, a product feature nobody used, a process assumed efficient that was not, or growth that came entirely from one source rather than the strategy everyone credited.
• How you verified it before presenting. This matters most. Being challenged and having already checked the tracking, the definitions, and alternative explanations is what makes the finding survive.
• How you presented it. Without drama, focused on what to do next rather than on who was wrong. Framing a negative finding as an opportunity — "we can stop spending here and redirect it" — makes it far easier to accept.
• The outcome, including if it was ignored. That is a legitimate ending, and how you handled it is the interesting part.

Note: Separating what the data shows from what you think it means, and being clear which is which, is what makes an unwelcome finding defensible. Overstating a conclusion gives people a reason to dismiss the whole thing.