From Dream to Reality: Becoming a 2025 Tableau Visionary

This might sound cheesy, but this is such an emotional one for me—Tableau Visionary!?

When I first started learning Tableau, I was learning from the GOATs. And I don’t use that term lightly. There are titans in the data visualization world, and somehow, I ended up learning from them early on. The bar was set high from the jump. No pressure, right?

I’ve now been using Tableau for seven years, and let me tell you—there’s something magical about year seven. Confidence doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from failing so many times that you stop fearing it.

This isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s proof that you can achieve big goals with persistence, passion, and the right people cheering you on.

Admitting You Want Something is Terrifying

One of the biggest shifts I made this past year? Actually admitting that I wanted this. Out loud. To other humans.

Do you know how hard that is? There’s a certain level of vulnerability, accountability, and risk involved. What if I failed? What if people thought I wasn’t good enough? But here’s what I realized: owning your ambition makes it real. If you don’t say it, if you don’t claim it, how do you ever get there?

Of course, I had to check in with myself along the way:

• Why did I want this? Was it just for the title, or was there something deeper?

• How was I going to get there? And more importantly, what way felt right for me?

  
  

Some of my "why" was proving to myself that I could do it. Imposter syndrome is a beast, and let’s be honest—becoming a Tableau Visionary doesn’t magically cure it either. But having a dream to chase gave me a direction, and that mattered.

I also had to come to terms with this: the way other people achieved this wasn’t necessarily the way I needed to do it. I couldn’t follow someone else’s exact path. Their how wouldn’t work for me. So I had to carve out my own way, trust it, and keep moving forward.

A Community That Makes You Better

One of the best things about the Tableau community? We don’t do this alone. I learned from incredible people. I got advice, support, and even the occasional “Hey, you got this” at just the right moment.

Now, I hope to do the same for others.

Seriously, Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People

If there’s one piece of advice I can give, it’s this: Don’t compare someone else’s middle or end to your beginning.

It’s easy to look at people who’ve been doing this for years and think, I’ll never get there. But the truth is, they didn’t start there either. Every journey is different. Some are fast, some are slow, and some are a chaotic mess (hi, hello, that was mine). But your path is yours, and it’s worth walking.

You Can Absolutely Do This

Being a Visionary means more than personal achievement; it means giving back, sharing knowledge, and helping others find their own path forward. It’s about lifting others up, just like so many people did for me. The Tableau community thrives because we show up for each other, and that’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.

It’s about showing up, staying curious, and making space for others. And if you’re reading this, know that your moment is coming, too.

If you take anything from this, let it be this: You are capable of more than you think. Whether your goal is to become a Tableau Visionary, land a dream job, or just feel more confident in your skills—keep going. Keep learning. Keep putting yourself out there.