August 18th 2022
In the ever-evolving field of data visualization, The Tableau Workshop has emerged as a comprehensive guide for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Co-authored by Sumit Gupta, Sylvester Pinto, Shweta Sankhe-Savale, JC Gillet, and Kenneth Michael Cherven, this book offers a structured approach to mastering Tableau, a leading business intelligence tool. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Sumit Gupta to delve into the inspiration behind the book, his writing process, and his perspectives on the future of data visualization.
Sumit Gupta is a seasoned expert in marketing analytics and data visualization. His passion for Tableau led him to achieve certification and share his knowledge through various articles, including contributions to Towards Data Science on obtaining Tableau certification. His dedication to the Tableau ecosystem and commitment to education have culminated in the co-authorship of The Tableau Workshop.
Interview Excerpts
Q1: What inspired you to write The Tableau Workshop, and how did the idea for the book first come to you?
I’ve always been a strong believer in Tableau and its ecosystem. My passion led me to write articles on getting Tableau certified and to pursue certification myself. When Sneha from Packt Publishing reached out with the opportunity to write a book, I couldn’t say no. This was my bread and butter, and the chance to publish with an industry-leading publisher was beyond my dreams.
Q2: Could you tell us more about your writing process for The Tableau Workshop?
As part of the process, I had to submit and get the book proposal approved, which meant breaking the book down into a five-step analytics process. I wanted to write a book that I would read myself and recommend to friends or anyone wanting to learn Tableau. Therefore, I aimed for it to be as detailed as possible. Once the proposal was approved, I received pointers from the editorial team at Packt on what makes a great book and chapter. Using their guidance, I was able to write the first chapter.
Q3: What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered during the writing process, particularly when dealing with complex technical details and ensuring that the content remained accessible to beginners?
That’s one of the reasons the book takes the reader from level 1 all the way to level 10 by the time they finish. There are industry-relevant projects throughout the book that upskill readers one step at a time.
Q4: Could you elaborate on the types of projects included in the book and the criteria used to select them?
Yes, there are projects like a brick-and-mortar coffee chain analysis, which mimics any brick-and-mortar business and how they operate. There’s a project on European flight data, where readers answer interesting questions about departure delays and on-time arrivals. Then there’s a final project on world indicators, using a dataset from the World Bank, where readers explore questions like which countries have access to clean water or have the highest child employment rates. As mentioned previously, the level of difficulty increases with each project, and additional Tableau features are introduced in each chapter.
Q5: How was your experience collaborating with the Packt editorial team?
The editorial team at Packt are rockstars. I’ve been impressed with them from the moment they pitched the title to me to finally getting the book published on all major platforms, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Flipkart, and more! I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a professional publisher.
Q6: How has writing The Tableau Workshop influenced your own approach to data visualization?
Beyond the book, I hope learners and readers get excited about the possibilities with Tableau and business intelligence in general. It’s a field where the learning curve isn’t as steep as, say, data science or data engineering. Plus, building reports and dashboards generally offers instant gratification. So, it’s fun working on BI projects. I hope I was able to achieve that goal with the book.
Q7: Since the release of The Tableau Workshop, what kind of feedback or success stories have you received from readers and professionals in the industry?
Since the launch and even before that, folks have reached out to me with job offer letters and thanked me for changing their lives. A couple of individuals got jobs at Salesforce, Hertz, and more! That’s the currency I intend to earn, not just the dollars! It’s one of the best moments of my year when someone messages me that they got a job because of my help! Not a lot of other things can beat that feeling.
Q8: What advice would you give to individuals who are just starting out in Tableau and business intelligence?
The book was broadly written to address the common challenges beginners face when learning Tableau. Far too often, the reader watches a Tableau video but never implements it, or the advice shared with them isn’t very valuable. The book is structured to be a DIY-style bootcamp where, if you follow the chapters, you’ll be hooked!
Q9: Looking ahead, do you have plans for future projects or publications in the field of data visualization and business intelligence?
Yes, I do plan to publish more BI and data-related books, especially around the modern data stack. I am excited to observe how the BI industry shapes up with ChatGPT taking the world by storm.
Conclusion
Sumit Gupta’s journey with The Tableau Workshop exemplifies his dedication to making data visualization accessible and engaging. His structured approach, combined with real-world projects, provides readers with a valuable resource to navigate the world of Tableau and business intelligence. As the field continues to evolve, Sumit’s insights and future publications will undoubtedly serve as essential guides for aspiring data professionals.
Author Bio:
Dr. Stylianos (Stelios) Kampakis, CEO of The Data Scientist and The Tesseract Academy. He is a data scientist, AI expert, and tokenomics specialist with 10+ years of experience. He has worked with startups and major organizations like the US Navy and Vodafone. With 3 published books and 2 patents pending, he specializes in AI, blockchain, and predictive analytics.