storytelling with data podcast: #91 Dashboards that Deliver with Andy Cotgreave

About this episode

Andy Cotgreave discusses the evolution of dashboards and data communication with host Mike Cisneros.

Data visualization veteran Andy Cotgreave joins host Mike Cisneros for a lively, wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of dashboards, the craft of data communication, and the future of generative AI in analytics. Andy reflects on his early career building “dashboards” in Excel for a demanding boss, how that experience shaped two bestselling books ( The Big Book of Dashboards and Dashboards That Deliver ), and what he’s learned from more than a decade at Tableau as an evangelist and public speaker. They discuss the tension between efficiency and emotion in chart design, why no single chart type is ever “right,” and how semantic drift affects the way we talk about dashboards. Andy shares behind-the-scenes stories from Chart Chat, the Iron Viz competition, and his own evolution as a presenter and magician, offering tips for building confidence on stage and connecting with audiences. Along the way, the conversation touches on the launch of Cole, Mike and Alex’ newest book, the fifth in the storytelling with data series, Before and After , upcoming in-person and on-demand learning opportunities, and the importance of community, practice, and curiosity in becoming a better data…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Cisneros

Guest: Andy Cotgreave

Topics covered

• data visualization
• dashboards
• data communication
• generative AI
• chart design
• public speaking
• data storytelling

Keywords

• dashboards
• data visualization
• generative AI
• chart design
• public speaking
• data storytelling
• Tableau

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tableau, storytelling with data

Books & works: The Big Book of Dashboards, Dashboards That Deliver, Before and After

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