Tableau Training & Enablement Accelerates Careers in Analytics, Visualisation, & Consulting

By Fiona Gordon & Sarah Burnett | Co-Founders, Dub Dub Data

In a rapidly evolving data landscape, how do you ensure your career stays relevant, resilient and rewarding? We sat down with two data industry legends to find out.

The data world is shifting faster than ever. AI tools are reshaping how we work, companies are rethinking their investment in people, and the skills that got you here might not be the ones that take you forward. So how do you future-proof a data career in 2025 and beyond?

In our latest unDUBBED podcast episode, we explored this question with two absolute legends in the field: Eva Murray, a career coach working with data and tech professionals globally, and Andy Kriebel, founder of Next Level Tableau and trainer of thousands of data professionals worldwide.

Their insights reveal that future-proofing your data career isn't just about learning the latest tools - it's about building a foundation of skills, relationships, and self-awareness that can weather any storm.
 

👀 Prefer to watch instead?
We’ve dedicated an episode of our unDUBBED podcast to Andy & Eva's advice on Future Proofing Your Data Career. Skip the scroll and view here.

The New Reality: You're in Charge of Your Professional Development

One of the most striking revelations from our conversation was just how much the professional development landscape has changed. Andy shared a sobering statistic:

"About 75% of the members of Next Level Tableau have to pay their own way. A lot of them, their bosses know that they're paying their own way. They're having a huge impact on the organisation and yet they still don't pay for it for them."

Eva echoed this trend in her coaching practice, noting that more than 93% of her clients self-fund their career development. This shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity. While it's disappointing that companies aren't investing in their people the way they used to, it also means professionals are taking control of their own growth.

As Andy put it:

"I think these people feel a bit of freedom now as well, like, I've taken control of my career development and it's very different than in the past. It was always your company that was in control of your development."

The takeaway? Don't wait for your employer to invest in you. The most successful data professionals are proactively investing in themselves through tableau training programs and training and enablement pathways designed to accelerate their growth.

Building Your Network: The Ultimate Future-Proofing Strategy

Both Eva and Andy emphasised that networking isn't just about career advancement - it's about career resilience. Eva's journey from technology evangelist to career coach was made possible by the relationships she'd built over years in the industry.

"I always have to highlight building my network, always building my network," Eva stressed.

This isn't about collecting LinkedIn connections; it's about building genuine relationships with people who understand your work and can provide guidance, opportunities, and support throughout your career.

Andy's approach to future-proofing aligns with this philosophy:

"Continue to build your portfolio. Let people see the work that you've doing, how you're continuing to improve, even this many years later. Show how I'm helping people improve their careers, all those kind of things to, like Eva mentioned, also building your network."

The key is consistency and visibility. Publish your work, engage with the community, and help others along the way.

The key insight? Build your network by staying connected with the Tableau community and peers across the organisation to unlock future opportunities.”

AI: Tool, Not Replacement of Analytics Services

With AI dominating industry conversations, many data professionals are grappling with anxiety about their job security. But our guests offered a refreshingly practical perspective on AI's role in data careers.

Andy was particularly direct about the AI hype:

"When we see pitches at conferences or demos, there are always these really shiny things like the executive is going to be typing on their phone, 'tell me the answer to this.' And that's a bunch of bullshit. No executive is ever going to type on their phone. Tell me why have my sales dropped here. They're going to tell somebody else to do that work."

The reality is that AI supports data-driven decision-making, but true value lies in the human ability to qualify the actionable insights. "People need to understand that AI isn't the answer. It's a direction for you. You still need to verify everything as what an analyst should do anyway," Andy explained.

Eva approaches AI as a research assistant and efficiency tool:

"I've got a bullet point process. I want to have a flow chart. AI can do that for me. There's not a lot of value added by me doing that manually, but having AI write your cover letter doesn't sound great because it doesn't sound like you. It loses its soul."

The takeaway: Embrace AI for what it does well - routine tasks, initial research, and efficiency gains - but double down on the uniquely human skills of critical thinking, verifying accuracy, storytelling, and relationship building.

The Soft Skills Revolution to Unlock Better Insights that Drive Action

It may not be surprising to you, but one theme in our conversation was the growing importance of soft skills in data careers. Eva, who works primarily on soft skills with her technically proficient clients, explained why these capabilities are becoming non-negotiable:

"While I know a lot of people who are very hands-on, very technical, also love doing that and don't necessarily want to step into the spotlight or into management, I just want to encourage them to not discount the options because I think a lot opens up when you start embracing some of those opportunities."

The data field is expanding beyond pure technical roles. Eva highlighted product marketing as

"a great area that most people don't explore if they are technical... which gives you a balance of technical, but also communication, marketing, events."

Andy's experience teaching thousands of Tableau users reinforced this point. The most successful professionals aren't just technically skilled - they're passionate, driven, and able to communicate effectively.

"I've definitely learned lots of different ways to communicate with people and to get a message across... I need to know how to explain the same concept five, 10 different ways, because every person is going to understand it differently." - Andy Kriebel

The key takeout? Work on your data adjacent skills like communication, and lean in to your passions. Let that be the thing at shines when you talk to people.

Reigniting Your Professional Passion for Tableau

Career plateaus happen to everyone, but Eva shared practical strategies for rediscovering energy when data work starts to feel routine. Her approach centres on self-reflection and intentional career design:

"The first thing I would do is go back to the beginning and ask questions around, why did I take this job? What lights you up? What do you enjoy on a Friday night? Like I'm quite happy to work on a Friday night... But what are those tasks that I'm sure you have them as well where you're like, ‘oh my God, I'm in the zone. I'm just gonna keep going.’" 

One particularly powerful exercise she recommends is writing your own dream job description:

"Take your existing job description and just see like, is that still what I'm doing? What do I want to add? And what do I want to take out? And kind of how can I have that conversation with my manager?"

This exercise helps professionals identify what energises them and opens conversations about reshaping their current role before looking elsewhere.

Your next step to get past your plateau: Understand what got you here, and what is still lighting you up. Then take a fresh page (or open your existing JD) and rewrite it with what you love. Use this for a conversation with your leader – to lean in to the things where you shine.

From Good to Great: The Passion Factor in Data Visualisation

What separates good data professionals from great ones? Andy's answer was surprisingly simple: passion and personal drive.

"I think there's a few things that I see in people that are the most successful. One is they're really, really passionate about it. They're like the super addicts to it because they know that, oh God, the more I practice, the better I'm going to get at this. They have this real ambition and drive in themselves to get better."

But passion alone isn't enough. Eva emphasised the importance of learning how to learn:

"I think what's also a big success factor is if people know how to learn, like if they have some skills on how do I actually learn new things?"

Great data professionals recognise when they've hit a plateau and actively seek help to push through it. As Andy noted,

"Those are the people that invest in themselves or the best companies invest in their people and they're the ones that then can take what they learn and get that huge acceleration after that."

Getting Unstuck: Actionable Next Steps for Business Intelligence Professionals

For professionals feeling stuck in their careers, both guests offered concrete advice. Andy's approach is to find people who are already where you want to be:

"I try to find somebody that's already been or that's already at where I want to go... Reach out to them, ask them if they can be a mentor. Can they coach you?"

Eva emphasised the importance of being specific when seeking help:

"Rather than saying, can we jump on a call for 30 minutes? Can I pick your brain? No, I don't know. Don't pick my brain. Like, what is the actual question? Because maybe I can just write the answer or maybe I'm not even the right person and we would both waste our time."

Her recommendation:

"Coming up with a specific one or two questions... that would really help you figure out the next step and then approaching people can be a great way to start those conversations."

Where to start? Jump on LinkedIn or ask your network if they know someone who’s already achieved where you want to go. Ask them for help! Seek out mentors, but be aware of people’s time.

The Future is Self-Directed Enablement

The conversation revealed a fundamental shift in how data careers develop. The most successful professionals are those who take ownership of their growth, build meaningful relationships, and continuously adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

As Eva observed,

"The uncertainty in the market that we've seen at the very latest since the COVID pandemic, I think has really spurred people on to think, maybe I need more than a single income source."

This has led to more professionals exploring side businesses, consulting, and entrepreneurial ventures alongside their traditional careers. At Dub Dub Data, we wholeheartedly agree. Consider how you can build income on the side, you never know when you’ll need it or simply want to switch to full time on your personal projects.

The future belongs to those who pair data analytics expertise with communication skills enabling better decision-making at every level. Those who invest in themselves, stay curious, and help others along the way will find themselves not just surviving but thriving in whatever changes come next.

Be Your Own Data Analytics Coach

If you want to reach your full potential and get beyond basic dashboards, future-proofing your data career starts with small, consistent actions:

• Invest in yourself: Don't wait for your employer to fund your development
• Build your network: Focus on genuine relationships, not just connections
• Stay visible: Share your work and insights with the community
• Develop soft skills: Communication and relationship-building are increasingly valuable
• Embrace AI strategically: Use it as a tool, but maintain your critical thinking edge
• Be specific in your asks: When seeking mentorship or advice, come with clear questions
• Write your dream job description: Get clear on what you actually want from your career

The data landscape will continue to evolve, but professionals who focus on continuous learning, relationship building, and self-awareness will always find opportunities to grow and contribute.

Need Your Own Next Level Tableau Training or Coaching? 

Want to dive deeper into career development strategies? Check out Eva's coaching services at evamurray.co.uk or explore Andy's training programs at Next Level Tableau. And if you're looking for development strategies tailored to your organisation’s needs? Explore our Tableau consulting services to empower your workforce.

Future Proof Your Data Career

AI, Soft Skills & Growth Tips with Andy Kriebel & Eva Murray

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🎙️ Unscripted. Uncensored. Undeniably data.

In this episode of unDUBBED, hosts Sarah and Fiona engage with data experts Eva Murray and Andy Kriebel to explore how to future-proof a data career. They discuss the importance of continuous learning, the impact of AI on data roles, and the necessity of investing in people within organizations. The conversation also touches on the significance of soft skills, the journey from good to great in Tableau, and the role of mentoring and empathy in professional development. Listeners are encouraged to take actionable steps to enhance their careers and embrace the evolving landscape of data.

Takeaways

• Future-proofing a career involves continuous learning and networking.
• AI is a tool that requires critical thinking and verification.
• Investing in employees can lead to better retention and performance.
• Soft skills are increasingly important in data roles.
• Passion and personal drive are key to becoming a great Tableau user.
• Asking questions can reignite passion in your work.
• Mentoring others enhances communication skills and empathy.
• Evangelism in data roles can create visibility and opportunities.
• Being specific in requests for help can lead to better outcomes.
• Creating a dream job description can help clarify career goals.

Links

Andy’s Linkedin

Eva’s LinkedIn 

Next Level Tableau

Eva Murray Coaching

Andy's 84 Charts in 80 Minutes - $10 Special

A blueprint with suggested learning times for learning Tableau

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Future-Proofing Data Careers

02:59 Navigating Career Changes and Building Networks

05:00 The Impact of AI on Data Roles

08:04 Soft Skills vs. Technical Skills in Data Careers

10:47 Rediscovering Passion in Data Work

13:40 The Importance of Continuous Learning

15:47 Investing in Employee Development

18:36 The Role of Managers in Career Growth

20:04 Identifying Great Tableau Users

21:49 The Balance of Soft and Technical Skills

29:19 The Role of Evangelism in Data Careers

33:13 Mentorship and Personal Growth

38:25 Future-Proofing Your Data Career

47:58 Coaching for Career Advancement

Keywords

data career, future-proofing, AI in data, Tableau, mentoring, career coaching, investing in people, data roles, soft skills, professional development