The Analytic Mind

In this episode of "The Analytic Mind," join host Sam McKay as he delves into the exciting world of analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) integration with special guest Henry Habib. Together, they explore Microsoft's bold move with Fabric, a strategic shift that is revolutionizing the analytics landscape. 

Discover the transformative impact of AI on the analytics field and gain insights into its implications for individuals and industries. Explore the evolving landscape of analytics and learn about Microsoft's innovative approach to harnessing the power of AI. 

In this episode, you will learn the following: 

• Discover the transformative impact of AI on the analytics field and understand its implications for individuals and industry. 

• Explore the ethical considerations and challenges surrounding the attribution of content in the age of language models (LLMs). 

• Learn about the revolutionary potential of LLM agents in revolutionizing workflows and democratizing open-source technologies. 

Be our guest, register here: ⁠⁠https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/⁠⁠

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Henry Habib 

Join Power BI experts Sam McKay and Wyn Hopkins as they discuss the evolution of Power BI, from its early days to its current AI-powered capabilities, and explore how it has transformed data analytics and reporting.

In this episode, Sam and Win Hopkins, Power BI veterans from Access Analytic, delve into their experiences with Power BI, its growth as a tool, and its impact on organizations' efficiency and productivity. They explore real-life success stories, the power of automation, and the revolutionary potential of AI in data analytics. Don't miss this insightful conversation about the past, present, and future of Power BI.

Wyn Hopkins is the Director at Access Analytic, where he provides amazing Excel and Power BI solutions to leading companies in Perth. With extensive expertise as an Excel MVP, Microsoft Certified Excel Expert, and Power BI Developer, Wyn is a highly sought-after trainer and speaker. He brings years of experience working with Chevron and a deep understanding of business intelligence software to help organizations optimize their analysis, reporting, and process improvement. With a track record of delivering solutions that exceed expectations, Wyn is at the forefront of empowering businesses with modern data analytics tools.

In this episode, you will learn the following: 

• The transformative impact of AI on productivity and learning, and how it is revolutionizing various fields. 

• The significance of Power BI as a distribution mechanism for insights and the role of cloud-based tools in data analysis and collaboration. 

• The transformative impact of AI in simplifying tasks and enabling quick learning of new tools.

Throughout the episode, our guest, Wyn Hopkins, shares insights, experiences, and perspectives on these topics, providing valuable knowledge and perspectives for listeners interested in AI, Power Query, Power BI, Excel, and content creation.

Are you struggling to find meaningful learning support in the data analytics field? Tired of the same ineffective advice and lacking the right connections to make a difference? Join us in this episode and learn how to unlock personalized learning support with data communities and AI technology – finally advancing your skills and career in data science.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Establish close-knit communities for individualized learning support in the realm of data analytics.
• Elevate your worth as a data professional by mastering Python's adaptability and AI potential.
• Attract employer interest with striking data analysis projects featured in your portfolio.
• Integrate AI technologies, such as Chat GPT, to revolutionize your data analytics learning experience.
• Overcome the isolation of freelancing while forging meaningful connections and mentorship within the data industry.

Kedeisha Bryan is a dedicated data professional who has made a significant impact in the field of data analytics in just two years. With a background in senior data engineering at Booz Allen Hamilton, Kedeisha has a wealth of experience in various aspects of data analysis, data science, and data engineering. She began her journey in data analytics by self-studying SQL, Tableau, and Excel, which led to a year-long full-time internship and eventually to her current position. Kedeisha is the founder of Data in Motion, a thriving private community for data enthusiasts that offers personalized learning support and resources.

In this episode of The Analytic Mind, host Sam McKay welcomes data expert Nikola Ilic, also known as the Data Mozart, to discuss the latest developments in the data world. Nikola shares his background working with traditional Microsoft business intelligence products and his current focus on Power BI and Azure Synapse Analytics. The conversation then turns to the strength of Microsoft's data platform and the integration of its various components. Sam and Nikola also explore the potential of AI technology in data analysis and productivity, citing recent advancements in PowerPoint and Power BI.

Nikola Ilic is a renowned data expert with extensive experience working with traditional Microsoft Business Intelligence stack, Power BI, and Azure Synapse Analytics. He is passionate about the Microsoft Evolution and BI stack and has identified a talent gap in the Power BI community to create high-quality solutions that can cater to different business units. Nikola believes that the combination of AI and Power BI can revolutionize the way people use data to make informed decisions, leading to increased productivity and success.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How AI is revolutionizing data immersion, analytics, and visualization.

2. Best practices for architecting large data initiatives.

3. Automating the retrieval and transformation of data for everyday business users.

For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: ⁠⁠https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast⁠⁠

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Nikola Ilic

Today’s episode features Gilbert Quevauvilliers, an expert in the field of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics. He has been in the industry since 2009 and has been an early adopter of Power BI, which he has been using for many years in his consulting and various engagements. His expertise spans across the data stack, from multidimensional cubes to the tabular model, and he has continuously kept himself up-to-date with the latest technologies.

Starting off in a large company in Durban, South Africa, he has decided to specialize in the Microsoft ecosystem and has built a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area. Join us today to hear Gilbert's expert insights and learn from his expertise.

In this episode, you will learn the following: 1. How to bridge the gap between stored data and the business users' needs

2. Know the key to success with Microsoft Tools

3. The importance of simplifying data models and creating a user-friendly data catalog for Power BI

In this episode, Sam McKay and Brian Julius discuss their latest initiative from Enterprise DNA, called Workouts. The aim of Workouts is to help users improve their skills in a more time-efficient and accessible way. They dive into how Workouts provide users with the opportunity to accelerate their skills in data analysis through daily challenges and access to experts in various fields.

Brian shares his vision for Workouts as a gym-like setting where members and non-members can improve their job prospects by building their skill portfolios. He also believes that the rapid development of Artificial intelligence (AI), Robotic process automation (RPA), and other technologies will provide a huge jump in intelligence and productivity. Brian hopes that Workouts will be a part of this exciting change.

Join Sam and Brian in this episode to learn more about how Workouts can help you take your data analysis skills to the next level.

What you will learn:

1. Enterprise DNA’s new initiative would Accelerate Your Data Analytics Learning and Skill Development.
2. The power of skills portfolio and how it can enhance your career opportunities
3. The Benefits of Participating in Enterprise DNA Workouts

In this episode of the podcast, learn from the expertise of Thomas Martens, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Solution Architect at Munich Re. Join us as he explores the role of a Power BI Sherpa in driving a data culture and overcoming challenges in organizations. With 25 years of experience delivering Business Intelligence, Data Warehousing, and Analytics solutions, Tom shares his insights on using Power BI to tackle analytical challenges and apply analytical methods to small and large amounts of data. In this episode, Tom discusses the importance of Power BI in fostering a data culture, the challenges faced in large-scale analytics implementation, and his thoughts on the future of Power BI. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a seasoned expert on the topic of Power BI and its impact on organizations.

Thomas "Tom" Martens has been awarded as an MSFT Data Platform MVP and works as Solution Architect at Munich Re (www.munichre.com). Tom is a regular speaker at international conferences and user meetings. Tom is the co-author of the book "Pro DAX with Power BI." When he is not working, Tom enjoys cycling and taking pictures. He also loves to blog and is passionate about helping others level up in the Power Bi space. Tom is an expert when it comes to creating complex solutions and architecting applications for large organizations.

In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. Working with Microsoft Technologies for 25 plus years and falling in love with Power BI
2. Understanding complex concepts such as incremental refresh and slowly changing dimensions in Star schema modeling
3. Forming teams of diverse skill sets to create data visualizations and build custom visual demos in Power BI.

Chapter Summaries:

00:00 Introduction

11:12 Exploring the Week-to-Week Role of a Solution Architect at Munich Re

22:54 Balancing Scalability and User Requirements in Deploying Data Solutions

27:49 Power BI and the Power Platform as the Engine of Analytics in Organizations

32:52 The Benefits of Staying Within the Microsoft Ecosystem: Power BI as the Data Analytics Hub

40:07 Challenges in Large-Scale Analytics Implementation: Insights from Experts

54:38 Exploring the Future of Power BI: Anticipating Advancements and Exciting Developments

1:06:38 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Tom Martens

With his financial background and data modeling expertise, Chris Barber, a Microsoft MVP, explores the irony of his journey to discover the optimal data model, a task that requires both technical knowledge and a judgement call, to uncover the key to his clients' successful decision-making.

Chris Barber is a Microsoft MVP and chartered accountant with a Masters in analytics. He has presented at Microsoft Reactor and the London Business Analysts Group, and runs the website Starchema.co.uk, which has over 1000 people taking his finance course. He specializes in large scale data modeling and financial reporting.

Chris Barber was always interested in Power BI and data modeling and sought to gain a more in-depth understanding of the tabular engine and business problems. Through his Masters in analytics and working in finance, he developed a deeper understanding of Power BI and data models. He now works with large scale clients as a consultant and is passionate about understanding business problems and creating data models to meet them. He's learned that there is no quick fix to creating data models, but that it requires an understanding of the problem and a lot of practice. He has seen both the successes and failures of data models in Fortune 500 companies and believes that the trend of self-service and departmental data models will continue in the future, offering many opportunities for business owners.

What You Will Learn:

1. Discovering how to use Power BI to build effective financial models.

2. Exploring the challenges and rewards of using self-service data models.

3. Investigating the benefits of the MVP program and its connection with the product team.

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology have been nothing short of groundbreaking. The implications for businesses, jobs, and education are profound, and it can be both awe-inspiring and intimidating to consider what the future may bring. Brian and Sam discuss AI’s impact on coding, and how it has already begun to shift the way we do things. With a $20 billion investment from Microsoft and AI being embedded in parts of Azure, it is clear that the technology is advancing at an alarming rate. How will we use AI to our advantage, and how can it be used to enhance the way we learn and create? Brian and Sam dive into these questions and more, offering insight on the power of AI and how it can be used to make our lives easier.

Meet Brian, the Chief Content Officer of Enterprise DNA, passionate about the potential of Artificial Intelligence. He recently appeared on the Analytic Mind podcast to discuss the impact of AI on the future of businesses and education. Brian believes that AI is already making a huge impact, and that its potential is only beginning to be tapped. He has spent the past few weeks playing around with AI and attempting to understand how it works. He is most impressed by how well it can understand complex questions and produce code that runs well, but he is also aware of its limitations. Brian is excited to see where AI is going and how it will shape our lives in the years to come.

What You Will Learn

1. How will AI change the way we learn analytics languages?

2. How Google is navigating the introduction of AI into their business model without destroying their main revenue streams.

3. Examining a controversial topic in the DAX universe and challenging the status quo on how to learn DAX.

Resources Mentioned

• Chat GPT 
• General Availability of Azure OpenAI Service Expands Access to Large, Advanced AI Models with Added Enterprise Benefits 

Are you struggling to create a data culture in your organization that can support everyone inside the company, not just the executive? Chris Wagner, a director of data solutions at Baker Tilly, is here to help. With over two decades of experience in the data analytics space, Chris has worked with large organizations to create modernized data and analytical strategies. He will provide actionable ideas on how to build a data culture that can help individuals take their next step forward in their data career. This article will cover three focus areas of data engineering, analytics and data science, and how to build a data culture that encourages collaboration and mentorship. Get ready to unlock the power of data and join Chris in this journey to create an effective data culture.

You will learn:
1. How to effectively deploy and develop Power Bi in a modern data and analytics strategy.
2. The power of no-code/low-code tools to empower people to make an impact in their careers
3. Building a data culture to enable an organization to support broadly everyone inside the company.

Chris Wagner, a director of data solutions at Baker Tilly, has been working in the data analytics space for over two decades. Chris has worked at Rockwell Automation and Northwestern Mutual, managing their Power Bi and analytical platforms. He is passionate about helping organizations modernize their data and analytical strategy and empowering people to work with data. Chris will be discussing how to effectively develop and deploy Power Bi and how to create a data culture that drives value for everyone in the organization. So let's jump into the conversation!

Resources Mentioned

Are you looking to advance your analytics career? Then you won't want to miss this episode of Analytic Mind. In it, Greg Hamper, a financial analyst, and former Marine Corps crew chief share his journey from the military to the analytics space. He'll provide valuable tips on identifying, developing, and establishing an analytics career for maximum success. Greg will provide insight into how he used Power BI and Microsoft tools to achieve Scalable Integration Success when he was part of a team that was merging two businesses. We will outline Greg's system in detail and provide a look into how he architected his workspace environment and coordinated across multiple business units. Don't miss this episode of Analytic Mind to learn from Greg's experience and unlock your analytics career!

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How Greg Hamper found his way into the analytics space from his previous career in the US Marine Corps

2. The challenge of integrating data from different systems during a merger or acquisition

3. How to develop an effective workspace environment in a large organization such as Parker Hannifin Corporation.

Resources Mentioned

On the Analytic Mind Podcast, Sam McKay invited Brian Julius, the Chief Content Officer of Enterprise DNA, to discuss ChatGPT, a promising new tool that could revolutionize data analytics. They shared their initial thoughts on ChatGPT and its potential to enhance careers in the field, rather than pose a threat. 

ChatGPT, short for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3," is an OpenAI language generation model that uses machine learning to generate human-like text. While it is not specifically related to Power BI, it could potentially improve certain aspects of Power BI workflows or development. 

What You Will Learn

1. Why Chat GPT is not a threat to your Data Analysis career, but an enabling tool.
2. Open AI's potential to upend Google's dominance.
3. Insights on the recent Power BI Updates and Features
4. A sneak peek at what Enterprise DNA has in store

Resources Mentioned

In this episode of the Analytic Mind Podcast, Chris Webb, a member of the Power BI Customer Advisory Team at Microsoft, shares his insights on the history and development of Power BI and how the team listens to customer feedback to create an enterprise BI tool for professionals and casual users alike. Chris reveals how the team has to balance making the tool easy to use and accessible with promoting best practices, and how they are working to make the transition from casual to professional user easier. Discover how to create quality Power BI reports and unlock the power of DAX with Chris Webb in this episode of the Analytic Mind Podcast.

Chris Webb, is a celebrated figure in the Power Bi world. Currently, he serves as the Principal Program Manager for the Power BI Customer Advisory Team. This team assists large customers to achieve success with Power Bi. They listen to the customers and convey their feedback to the rest of the product development team. Having worked with Microsoft Bi since 1998, Chris has seen the Power Bi product evolve from its early days to the highly successful product it is today. In addition to listening to user feedback, Chris is passionate about building the product based on what users want.

What You Will Learn:
1. How has Microsoft's Power BI team been able to revolutionize its product and make it successful?
2. What strategies can be used to make the transition to Power BI easier for users?
3. What techniques can be used to optimize the DAX experience and simplify the use of Power BI?

In this episode, Jarrett Moore talks about how he learned to use Power Automate and Power Automate Desktop to automate his work and save time. He explains how he uses these tools to connect to different software and websites, extract data, and schedule reports. He also shares how he has used Power Automate to replace manual work for clients, freeing up their time to do more profitable work for their company.

In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. How Power Automate and Power Automate Desktop can be used to automate data collection and save time
2. How Power Automate can be used to schedule desktop flows
3. How to use Power Automate and Power Automate Desktop to replace manual work in Excel or create reports in PowerPoint

With the power of analytics, marketing campaigns can be fine-tuned for maximum impact and ROI.

"Math and Analytics can make you a better person."

Mark Stouse is the CEO of Proof Analytics and a former large company CCO and CMO. He has extensive experience in analytics and decision making, and is passionate about operationalizing analytics to empower business leaders.

This is Mark Stouse's story...

I am Mark Stouse, CEO of Proof Analytics. I have a long and varied background in analytics and decision making. I started out in a large company, HP, and my colleagues and I were constantly being cut, our budgets were being cut. I went on a quest to find a way to make better decisions with the data we had. I discovered mathematical models and got hooked. I've seen how challenging it is to operationalize analytics. The whole issue of latency

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. What is the OODA loop?
2. What is the difference between a cult of precision and a cult of pragmatism?
3. How can a data-driven approach help you win in business?

What was mentioned:

In this podcast episode, Sam McKay is joined by Aron Clymer.  

Aron Clymer has been in the data world for 25 years and has grown his consulting business for the past seven years. Aron's mission is to empower clients to get the most out of their data through self-service analytics and actionable analytics. Aron shares a story about his time at Salesforce and how he was able to use data to increase the value of the product, optimize customer health, and marketing campaigns.

Aron is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about data analytics and how to use data to drive business decisions.

What you'll learn: 

1. How data can be used to optimize every aspect of a business, from new product development to customer attrition 

2. The importance of data governance and ensuring a single source of truth for data 

3. The impact that data can have on a company's bottom line

In this episode of The Analytic Mind Podcast, Sam McKay is joined by Esteban Fabiani and discusses the opportunities and potential one can pursue whether as an enterprising individual or company and align it with one’s skill set as a strategy.

Esteban has been educated and worked in Argentina, Chile, and the USA giving him unique international exposure in diverse fields.

He is a Certified Project and Consultant Manager at EMF Consulting Inc. and an expert in a range of different aspects of Power BI development and implementation.

EMF Consulting provides consulting services tailored to each type of business, offering complete and accurate information that allows each area to make decisions quickly and effectively, anticipating and enhancing the profitability of the business using tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Zebra BI, ValQ visuals, and PBI Documenter.

What You'll Learn

 1. Esteban Fabiani's focus on developing specific skill sets within the Power BI community in order to become a consultant and/or coach for customers.

2. The difficulties that exist within Argentina for implementing Power BI.

3. Fabiani's strategy of finding customers by connecting with companies that teach Power BI, in order to offer coaching and consulting services.

Do you know what design psychology is? Thomas Watkins describes it as taking what we know about psychology and applying it to technology. Incorporating our knowledge of sensory perception and cognition into the product in order to ensure that it resonates with users. 

In this episode of the podcast, Sam McKay speaks with Thomas Watkins about design psychology and how it can be incorporated into techniques and frameworks in Power BI. 

Thomas Watkins is a thought leader, speaker, and industry practitioner located in Houston TX. He is a life-long learner who has a passion for bringing greater clarity to the world.

Thomas has made it his career goal to combine technology with design psychology in order to achieve business success. His expertise lies in assisting his partners in bringing their brilliant ideas to life by simplifying the complexity of their ideas. His work has included interface design for mobile, SaaS system architecture, usability research, and data visualization.

Ever wonder what it’s like to work in Microsoft Modern Workplace Intelligence? In this episode of the Analytic Mind, Sam McKay spoke with Kristian Bubalo previously a Technical Specialist Intelligence and now a Cloud Solution Architect in Microsoft Switzerland.

Dive in and discover his role within Microsoft. An insider update about the latest and greatest trends in Power BI. And most especially his role in the recently concluded Power BI Championship - Switzerland.

Kristian Bubalo is working for Microsoft Switzerland as a Technical Specialist Modern Workplace Intelligence, in Wallisellen, Switzerland. Their goal is to empower every organization and every person to achieve more. With Power BI each individual is capable of analyzing their data - "Any data, any way, anywhere. And all in one view."

A business intelligence (BI) service facilitates the use of structured data in order to enable data-driven decision-making across the organization. It is an end-to-end service that handles the extraction, organization, and maintenance of data.

So if you're a small business with limited IT resources or someone who's interested in exploring this service model using Power BI, this episode's for you. There's more to Power BI than building a consulting business.

Erik Svensen, a Microsoft Business Intelligence specialist, and Microsoft MVP data platform. He is also the founder of CatMan Solution, a Power BI consulting company based in Northern Europe, and a Microsoft Gold Partner for Data Analytics. The company offers business analytics consulting, design, and implementation of tailor-made data analytics solutions to mid-to-large CPG organizations throughout Northern Europe and the world. The organization's mission is to enable companies to adopt a data-driven culture through the use of Power BI, thereby helping them perform better.

If you are working in the BI & Analytics field, you may have heard of self-service business intelligence (BI). In fact, you might also have a strong interest in implementing Self-service BI into your organization.

Self-service BI systems like Power BI allow you to put your data models into the hands of many users and let them analyze their own data without the involvement of developers. While every organization is different, there are some general guidelines that can ensure a successful implementation.

Lars Schreiber is an independent consultant for Self-Service BI with Microsoft Power BI. He has more than 11  years of experience as a Controller in different industries. In 2017, he became a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). He also founded the first German Power BI User Group in Hamburg. The following year, he decided to do his own thing and became a freelancer, helping companies with data analytics on a more advanced basis.

In this episode, Lars talks about how he evolved his skillset around Power Pivot, Power Query, and Power BI. He’s experienced working with different kinds of customers. and what he thinks is necessary for a successful self-service PowerBI implementation.

Technology-based on no code enables effective "citizen development," where business users can rapidly develop apps and virtual agents without extensive IT assistance. In order to meet this business need, Microsoft's Power Platform combines the strengths of Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents.

Sam McKay interviews Enterprise DNA expert Henry Habib in this episode of The Analytic Mind Podcast. He talks about his real-world experiences as a Power Platform Consultant and his passion for teaching people how to succeed with no-code platforms.

Henry is currently an engagement manager at a leading management consulting firm, where he advises F500 companies on a variety of topics, including (i) using data and analytics to drive better decisions, and (ii) implementing tools to improve processes and workflows.

In the course of working on his various projects, he discovered that there are a number of automation, productivity, and development tools that do not require any software background but still offer enterprise-grade solutions. Using these no-code platforms, anyone can automate workflows, create dashboards, and develop custom applications. There is, however, a gap in knowledge and awareness between these platforms and the average employee - and this is what Henry wants to address.

A company’s success directly correlates with its people which is why employers and HR/talent acquisition personnel are constantly improving how they find, hire, and retain the best candidates. Data analytics plays a major role in this process.

In this episode of The Analytic Mind Podcast, Sam McKay is joined by Tim Freestone, founder of Alooba, to talk about hiring in analytics and data literacy.

From the big issues with CVs, and interviews, where companies typically go wrong to future trends in hiring and improving data literacy.

Tim Freestone has spent his career in analytics, starting initially as a financial analyst. Throughout his career, Tim has gotten great first-hand experience in being both a candidate and a hiring manager in analytics. It’s this direct exposure to the myriad of issues in analytics hiring that led Tim to found Alooba, a skills assessment platform for data literacy, analytics & data science.

Alooba’s vision is to create a world where everyone can get the job they deserve. This is a world – we can all agree – far from the one we live in right now.

Businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of data analytics in making informed decisions across all aspects of their operations. However, simply having access to data is not enough. They need to be able to extract value from it as well. They also need to have the skills and tools to analyze it effectively. How can businesses become more literate about their data in order to identify and respond to opportunities and threats strategically?

Analyzing, interpreting, and monitoring data is crucial for a business or an organization, and things have never been easier than using Power BI.

Microsoft Power BI creates an analytical environment for monitoring data and sharing reports. It delivers interactive data visualization BI capabilities allowing users to see and share data and insights throughout their organization.

In this episode of The Analytic Mind Podcast, Sam McKay interviews Greg Deckler, Vice President (Microsoft) at Fusion Alliance and is also part of the team at Enterprise DNA, helping them move the needle on some great initiatives.

Find out many exciting things that are going on with Power BI, tapping on automation and other possible features.

Greg Deckler has been a professional technology consultant for over 28 years. He is also a Six-time Microsoft MVP for Data Platform and author of the books Mastering Power BI,  Power BI Cookbook, DAX Cookbook, and Learn Power BI.

Fusion Alliance creates digital, data, and technology solutions that keep you moving forward, with a team of big-picture thinkers, technology-minded creatives, data scientists, and technical experts coming alongside your team to deliver scalable, future-focused solutions for your most complex goals.

There’s no question that it is important for companies to understand their data. The challenge most businesses face, however, is that they lack the time and manpower to gather, analyze, and report all of their relevant data. Moreover, big data has made it even more difficult for business owners to make decisions based on information spread out across multiple systems. How can businesses find solutions that will allow them to slice and dice data in many ways so that they can understand how different areas of the business perform?

Data analytics skills are in high demand. Increasingly, companies are hiring data analytics skills not just to conduct research and generate reports, but also to act as thought leaders who will help companies gain a competitive edge by leveraging their skills strategically. No matter how experienced you are in data analytics, there are many marketing strategies you can implement as a data architect. You can demonstrate your value to employers by staying up-to-date on the latest technological innovations.

Sam McKay interviews Reid Havens, the founder of Havens Consulting Inc. and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). You can learn about his thoughts on Data Architecture, offer your skills as an Analytics Architect, and gain insight from the MVP community as well as Microsoft.

Data are not all created equal. There are structured (machine-generated) and unstructured (human-generated) data, and each requires a different approach. As a result of the increased use of digital applications and services, unstructured information is growing rapidly. It is estimated that 80-90% of company data is unstructured, and the amount of unstructured data continues to grow at an alarming rate per year.

In this episode of The Analytic Mind Podcast, Sam McKay speaks with Kirk Marple, the founder, and CEO of Unstruk Data. Hear about the hidden value in unstructured data and how it impacts the future of data and analytics.

Kirk Marple is a Customer-focused Technology leader with extensive expertise with cloud-based microservices, scalable multimedia data ingestion, knowledge graphs (entity extraction/enrichment), machine learning and computer vision integration, and CPU/GPU-based file and data processing workflows. He is highly skilled at architecting and managing teams developing APIs and scalable services, leveraging on-premise and cloud infrastructure, generating significant cost savings, and supporting revenue growth for startups through Fortune 25 companies.

Unstruk Data, is a company that is building the industry’s leading Unstructured Data Warehouse for automating data preparation via metadata enrichment, integrated compute, and graph-based search. Unstructured data can include anything from audio to visual data, and Kirk explains that analytics can be done on geospatial and temporal unstructured data. Then by using machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is possible to generate knowledge graphs based on this data.

Data is among the most valuable resources in an organization, and data analysts extract insights from said data to make smart business decisions. Analysts, however, can only work so fast. To extend the capabilities of Shashank's team of data analysts, they developed a proof-of-concept based on machine learning to automate the analytics process and significantly accelerate the generation of actionable insights.

Shashank Kalanithi is a Senior Data Analyst at Nordstorm in Seattle, Washington, United States. In this episode, you'll hear about his journey to becoming a Data Analyst despite having a Chemistry degree, his role on the Nordstorm Strategic Analytics Team, and their exciting project on building an automated machine learning platform that augments the abilities of individual data analysts.

In this episode, Brian talks to Haroon Ali, founder of Stellify BI, on how he made the jump from corporate to consulting. In just six short years, Haroon went from being a graduate student in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering with no data analytics experience to becoming an Enterprise DNA intern, and from being a skilled corporate BI Analyst to founding a successful consulting firm.

Brian and Haroon talk about a wide range of issues, including how to break into the BI field with no experience, the challenges of transitioning from a technical developer role to a management and leadership position, and advice for those considering making a similar leap to consulting.

In this episode, Brian talks to a range of BI experts who have managed to start and grow a successful consulting business out of their foundational skills.

Listen as Rick de Groot, Paul Lucassen, and George Mount talk about what it takes to start and grow a consultancy business. They also share some tips and tricks on how to get a consulting business off the ground.

With so many options to choose from in the tech space, why should you consider data analytics?

In this episode of The Analytic Mind, our Chief Content Manager, Brian Julius talks about why pursuing a career in data analytics is worth it.

He also talks about the things you’ll need to have in your toolbox in order to achieve a highly successful career in this in-demand field.

In this brand-new episode, we’re trying something new for a change. Brian Julius rounds up a panel of Enterprise DNA experts and asks them the most common questions that are being asked in a job interview for a data analyst position.

If you are interviewing for a data analyst position, make sure to check out this episode and brush up on the topics that Brian and the experts discuss on this epic episode.

Join Brian Julius, Gaelim Holland, and George Mount as they talk about the advantages of learning a second programming language when using Power BI.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Python and R can improve the work you’re doing in Power BI. They also talk about the advantages and limitations of both languages, and which one to choose to integrate with Power BI.

In a brand-new episode of The Analytical Mind, the Enterprise DNA experts sat down to discuss their different approaches when making entries for the Power BI Challenges.

The experts also touched upon how to build dashboards and reports for an unfamiliar industry, and offered tips for newbies who want to join future challenges.

In this episode, Andrew Swan talks about how implementing analytics and incorporating data can greatly transform the way law firms work. Andrew also talks about how data governance can deliver great value for organizations in the long run.

Listen to Wendy Zhang as she talks about how you can learn analytics if you want to pursue a career in data. She also talks about how a data analytics education can come in many forms, and not just from having a formal degree.

Wendy also emphasizes the importance of accomplishing low-hanging fruits early on when establishing your data framework, and how these can help change the mindsets of people working for your organization.

In this episode, Bharath Natarajan talks about how we can successfully utilize small analytical teams in a big organization.

He also talks about how to deal with challenges like complex data models, legacy systems, and ensuring that everybody is on the same page.

In this episode, join Anirudh Kuthiala of Groupon as he talks about the importance of stream analytics when it comes to detecting relevant patterns and developing insights real-time to enable data-driven decisions.

In this brand-new episode, Douglas Rahden talks about the importance of fraud analytics so that organizations can detect fraudulent practices and take precautionary measures to curb them.

Douglas also talks about how thinking outside of the box and instilling creativity can help data analysts with their work. He also believes in having an agnostic approach when it comes to tools; he says that you don’t have to use complex tools to achieve success with your data.

Join Alexs Thompson as he talks about what it takes to build a successful data strategy.

In the episode, he tells us that the best way to get executive sponsorship is by starting small and showing quick wins that will decrease or eliminate an organization’s inefficiencies.

Gert Haegdorens talks about being an engineer in the analytics space. He says that the recipe to success is choosing a good data lake strategy, having a data catalog, and using the right ETL tools.

Gert also talks about how Power BI can improve an organization's data culture because it’s easy to make the switch from Excel to Microsoft’s own analytics tool.

Join Rashmi Menon of FedEx as she talks about how customer experience analytics can be used by businesses so that they can better understand their customers and make their experience more enjoyable.

In this episode, Rashmi also talks about what makes customer experience analytics unique in the analytics space, and how to deal with large and complex datasets.

Join Christine Greenleaf as she discusses how analytics helps the insurance industry. In this podcast episode, she also talks about how the lines between data science and data analytics are blurring, and how these two fields can help industries that have exponential data growth.

In this episode, Adam Heppe talks about how analytics tools can help showcase the value of analytics, but having the right mindset is important more than anything else.

He also talks about overcoming the challenges of legacy systems with data lakes and provides techniques on how you can monetize your data assets.

In this episode, Bruno Reis discusses the impact of business intelligence in the aerospace industry. He talks about the challenges he encountered and how building a strong governance model helped his organization scale up.

As long-time fans of Power BI, Bruno and Sam talk about what’s still possible with Microsoft’s analytics tool and what users can look forward to from the Microsoft ecosystem.

Join Aleksandar Lazarevic as he talks about how companies can create a culture of analytics by changing the mindset of its people.

In this episode, Aleksandar also talks about the importance of descriptive and predictive analytics. He also provides tips on how organizations can drive their data culture initiatives faster.

To close out the episode, Aleksandar and Sam also discuss emerging trends in the AI and machine learning space.

Listen to Matthew Brown as he talks about how data analytics is changing the real estate space. Find out how analytics is being used by eco-friendly builders to create sustainable buildings.

In this episode, Matthew also talks about using semi-agile methodology to effectively lead and manage data analytics teams.