Founded & Funded
Google's James Phillips and Former Tableau CEO Mark Nelson on PLG and Scaling in the Face of Stiff Competition
Jul 26, 2023
Former Tableau CEO Mark Nelson and Google's James Phillips discuss modern app development, data analytics, and scaling amidst competition. They explore the advantages of Power BI as a SaaS service, building products from scratch, addressing data challenges, and share parting advice for building successful companies and solving customer problems.
37:49
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Quick takeaways
- Tableau's success came from expanding the definition of an analyst, while Power BI excelled by offering an easier experience.
- Building products requires a balance between passionate conviction about the problem and the ability to listen and adapt based on feedback.
Deep dives
Tableau's Magic: Expanding the Definition of Analyst and the Role of Dashboards
Tableau's success in the market came from expanding the definition of an analyst, providing dashboards that could be consumed by anyone in the organization. This was the sweet spot where Power BI, Tableau's competitor, excelled. Power BI became a powerful dashboard creation tool, focusing on a SaaS service that offered an easier experience. The advantage of coming second allowed Power BI to avoid concerns about desktop installation and on-premises deployment. However, Power BI's success didn't solely stem from competing against Tableau, but from Microsoft's mammoth presence in the market, creating challenges for both companies.
