The Analytic Mind

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 For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Thomas "Tom" Martens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommartens68/ Website: https://minceddata.info "Pro DAX with Power BI." Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pro-DAX-Power-Intelligence-PowerPivot/dp/1484248961 Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id154106699

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. For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Chris Barber LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophermichaelbarber/ Website: https://www.starschema.co.uk/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id154106699

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  For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Brian Julius LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjuliusdc/ Blog: https://blog.enterprisedna.co/author/brian-julius/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id154106699

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 Baker Tilly - https://www.bakertilly.com/ StrengthsFinder - https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx  ChatGPT - https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ DBT - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_build_tool For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Chris Wagner Website: https://www.kratosbi.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisWagnerDataGod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wagnerchris/ Email:  Chris.Wagner@BakerTilly.com Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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 MidJourney AI - https://midjourney.com/home/?callbackUrl=%2Fapp%2F ChatGPT - https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ Enterprise DNA Forum - https://forum.enterprisedna.co/  Enterprise DNA YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy2rBgj4M1tzK-urTZ28zcA For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Greg Hamper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-hamper-8b3193117/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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 Why Chat GPT is not a threat to your Data Analysis career, but an enabling tool. Open AI's potential to upend Google's dominance. Insights on the recent Power BI Updates and Features A sneak peek at what Enterprise DNA has in store Resources Mentioned Chat GPT - https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ DALL·E 2 - OpenAI - https://openai.com/dall-e-2/ The use of advanced language generation models like GPT-3 in data analytics could increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Power BI processes, as well as enhance the skills and career prospects of data analysts. However, it is important to note that GPT-3 and similar models are still in the early stages of development and may not always be reliable or accurate. It is therefore essential to exercise caution and judgment when using these tools, and to thoroughly validate and verify any results or insights they generate. For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Brian Julius LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjuliusdc/  Blog: https://blog.enterprisedna.co/author/brian-julius/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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? For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Chris Webb Blog: https://blog.crossjoin.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswebb6/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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 For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ Connect with me: Jarrett Moore LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrett-moore-44409b95/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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: Multi Variable Regression - https://academic.oup.com/ejcts/article/55/2/179/5265263 Honeywell Aerospace - https://aerospace.honeywell.com/ OODA Loop - https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/OODA-loop#:~:text=The%20OODA%20loop%20(Observe%2C%20Orient,as%20more%20data%20becomes%20available.  Procter and Gamble - https://www.linkedin.com/company/procter-and-gamble/ Johnson Controls - https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ Connect with me: Mark Stouse Website: https://www.proofanalytics.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstouse/ Sam McKay Website: https://www.enterprisedna.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammckayenterprisedna/ Loved this episode?Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-analytic-mind/id1541066997

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 For full show notes, and the links mentioned visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/podcast/aronclymer/ Be our guest, register here: https://www.enterprisedna.co/be-our-podcast-guest/ To know more about Enterprise DNA's upcoming events visit: https://www.enterprisedna.co/events/summits/