When it comes to actually seeing the data – the patterns and what it actually means – there are two popular terms in data science right now: data visualization and data storytelling.

Data Science has become a massive buzz term in recent years.  In fact, being a Data Scientist was called the “Sexiest Job of the 21st Century” by the Harvard Business Review in 2012. But what does that mean and what does it exactly entail?

In my last post on spreadsheet formatting, I discussed the importance of making data in a spreadsheet accessible to users by using some simple formatting techniques. In this post I will discuss no matter how well data is formatted, sometimes it just needs to be visualized.

Most people who have worked in an organization have, at one time or another, come across a spreadsheet. Perhaps you have been the author or merely a recipient, but spreadsheets are still a fairly common way to share data, information, or charts. Whether you are a Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel person, it is important to consider how your spreadsheet is formatted. If a spreadsheet is being shared, the formatting should also consider what the focus of the content is and how to structure the information to best convey this message.

Starting this site/blog wasn’t an easy decision for me. I’ve been doing some kind of data analysis going on 20 years now. I love numbers – you should know that about me. And believe it or not, lots of people don’t love numbers. Even worse, some people believe numbers and data can be twisted to suit their purpose. And that dichotomy has created some challenges for me. Nevertheless, I decided to start this blog to share my experiences, my knowledge, and maybe a bit of advice here and there.