James McGillivray
Director of Content Creation and Customer Delivery, Cobalt Analytics
Johannesburg, South Africa
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James McGillivray, Data Management and Analytics MCSE, has been working in Business Intelligence for over a decade. He spends his working hours building solutions that allow people to make informed decisions. quickly and accurately. He is a Director at South African Data Consultancy, Cobalt Analytics.
Before his career in data, James was an avid musical theatre student and musician. This love for performance has developed into a passion for developing and delivering presentations that are informative and enjoyable. James speaks frequently at Data Community Events, and has presented at some of the most well-known Data Events around the globe, including PASS Summit, SQL Bits and the Power BI World Tour.
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Lean on Your Data Tribe: Thriving Amidst Constant Change
In an era of relentless technological advancements, the data landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Staying ahead requires more than just individual effort—it demands the collective wisdom, support, and innovation found within a strong community.
In this session, we will delve into the transformative power of the Microsoft Fabric community in navigating the complexities of modern data environments. We will explore the crucial role that the community plays in fostering continuous learning, problem-solving, and career growth. We will discuss how engaging with a community can provide invaluable resources, mentorship, and support, enabling individuals to adapt swiftly and effectively to new technologies and methodologies. Through real-world examples, attendees will learn how to leverage their data tribe to not only keep pace with change but to thrive and excel in their professional growth.
Join us to discover how leaning on your data tribe can empower you to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve sustained success in a rapidly evolving data world.
TeamCraft: Mastering Microsoft Fabric Projects
Are you a manager looking to tackle a project using Microsoft Fabric but unsure how to assemble the dream team? In this session, we will take a look at all the complexities of building a team for a Microsoft Fabric project, whether your team is F2 or F2048.
We'll start with a quick overview of the technologies within Microsoft Fabric, helping you understand the huge variety of available options and why finding experts in every technology isn't always feasible or even needed. But fear not! We'll show you how to prioritize the skills that truly matter for your project, whether you're working with a small, tight-knit team or overseeing a larger group of diverse talents.
Worried about those skill gaps? Don't sweat it! We'll walk you through the process of identifying your team's strengths and filling any holes that might trip you up along the way. And if your project is on a tight schedule or the scope is a bit too specialized, we'll discuss when it's smart to bring in short-term consultants to lend a helping hand.
But wait, there's more! We'll shine a spotlight on the indispensable role of a skilled manager in keeping the team humming along smoothly. From breaking down the project into bite-sized tasks to ensuring everyone's pulling their weight, you'll leave with a toolbox full of practical tips and strategies to lead your team to victory.
So, if you're ready to turn your Microsoft Fabric project from daunting to downright doable, join us for a session packed with insights, anecdotes, and actionable advice. Let's roll up our sleeves and get ready to build the team of your dreams!
A Power BI Data Modelling Safari
The best way to learn about the African Bush is to go on a Safari. Spending a day with experienced guides, who can point out many things that would otherwise go unseen. This full-day session on Data Modelling in Power BI is the same. Your guides will spend the first half of the day working through the theory of Star Schemas, and how to shape your data to make the best Power BI Model from source. In the second half of the day, we'll explore DAX, starting with measures that are simple to create and explaining how and why they just work. We'll then look at some examples of problems that may not work on the model, and explore different DAX solutions to solve these problems.
Data Hygge - Creating a Comfortable Data Environment
Hygge is a Danish word, a hard to describe, yet powerful attitude towards life. Denmark is consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries on earth, a fact often attributed to the widespread practice of Hygge.
If the ulimate goal of a data professional is to make the consumers of our data happy, then we should practice our own form of Hygge in our data lives.
The Journey to Great Report Design
You've been asked to create a report for the business, but you don't know who the report is for, why they need it and the best way to present the data that supports meaningful decision making.
In this full-day session, we will guide you through the process of understanding the "why" of the report before beginning with the "how".
You will leave the day with a solid understanding of approaching any new reporting request, ensuring that the customers' needs are at the forefront of your design, generating maximum value for your clients in the shortest amount of time and avoiding costly rework.
Once you understand the "Why" of your report, we will then focus on the "how", working on structure, design, and layout for a successful implementation.
A picture is worth 1000 words: The visual learner's guide to DAX
Unlock the power of Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) like never before! Join me for an enlightening session that will revolutionize the way you understand and utilize DAX, all through the lens of visual learning. If you've ever found DAX to be a bit daunting or perplexing, this is the session you can't afford to miss.
In this session I will take you on an immersive journey into the world of DAX, breaking down complex concepts into simple, visually intuitive explanations. DAX is the backbone of Power BI, and understanding it is vital for anyone working with data in the modern age.
This session will encompass a series of critical concepts and practical applications, all presented in a way that caters to visual learners:
Contextual Clarity: DAX is all about context, and we'll demystify the nuances of row context, filter context, and evaluation context through engaging visual examples. Say goodbye to confusion and hello to clarity!
Measure Mastery: Creating powerful measures is key to DAX success. Our session will teach you how to design and optimize measures, and we'll use visual models to make these principles crystal clear.
After attending this session, you'll leave with a newfound confidence in your ability to work with DAX effectively. Whether you're a data analyst, business intelligence professional, or anyone looking to harness the full potential of your data, this session is tailored to enrich your skillset.
Prepare to be engaged, enlightened, and empowered as we embark on this visual journey through DAX.
Working with complicated data models in DAX
Have you ever watched a demo of DAX functionality, and marvelled at how simple the language is, but yet, when you work on your own data model, it just doesn't work as expected?
In this session, we'll look at 4 common problems which occur when you're using more complicated data modelling techniques, and design and implement a simple solution to overcome these complications.
From role-playing dimensions and bi-directional filters to advanced filter context and overriding the default blank behaviour, we'll learn to solve a variety of problems and add value to our data models.
The Fundamentals of DAX Contexts
DAX is an extremely versatile and powerful language, but once we move beyond simple measures it is imperative to understand the idea of CONTEXT to take our skills to the next level. In this session we will understand the different contexts in DAX and how each one is resolved. We will use practical demonstrations to see how various DAX functions affect context and how to ensure that our DAX is doing what we mean it to.
How did that happen? - A journey through the inner workings of DAX Measures
DAX can be a bit of an enigma. It is incredibly intuitive for new users, but we soon realise that just below the surface lies a complex engine crunching the numbers and dealing with our measures. In this session we’ll take a walk through a number of examples, delving into the steps performed by the engine when calculating values to return. This session is designed for DAX beginners who want to start building more complex measures but need to establish a firm foundation on which to build their knowledge.
Getting to grips with Windowing Functions
If you write SELECT statements in SQL Server, you need to know about Windowing Functions. Whether you are an application developer, a data analyst, a DBA, or an ETL developer, Windowing Functions can help make your queries faster, cleaner, and more valuable to both you and your end-users.
In this session, we will UNDERSTAND the theory, VISUALISE the process, and DEMONSTRATE the output. From simple ROW_NUMBER and RANKing functions through to LEAD and LAG, we'll move quickly through the gears to make you a Windowing Functions Pro.
Attend this session, and learn how to add totals, sub-totals, variances, rolling moving averages, and other useful skills to your toolbelt.
So whether it’s tracking a value against the previous row, creating running totals, or a rolling sum, when you walk out of this session, you’ll be able to write a windowing function to make it happen.
4 Useful DAX Solutions for Business Problems
You’ve built a perfect Star Schema, and your data models are performing amazingly… but now you’re starting to run into business questions that the model isn’t designed to answer. How do you create measures for metrics that don’t fit into a star schema? How do you join on a range? What are non-numeric measures, and how can you create them? In this session, we will look at different scenarios which require these types of solutions, and how to create measures that implement them without compromising on a well-designed data model.
3 Ways to Debug DAX
Identifying why your DAX Measure is producing incorrect results can be a harrowing experience. In this session we’ll look at 3 methods you can employ to remove the pain of debugging your DAX, and quickly identify the problems in your code. Spend less time trying to demystify the vagaries of your measures and more time delivering value to your customers.
5 Things You Can Do to build better looking reports
Power BI Design is a lot like an art form, a mythical beast to many IT professionals. We’re generally inclined to think very analytically about our jobs, and creativity does not always come naturally. Thankfully, there are some patterns we can apply to design reports which are clean, uncluttered, and user friendly. Learn the science behind design, and a series of logical steps to follow to ensure that your reports always meet the mark.
Thinking Differently – The difference between Data Modelling for Paginated and Interactive Reports
Power BI Premium introduced Paginated Reports as an additional output format for Power BI delivery. However, the two formats require vastly different mindsets in terms of development and delivery. Whether you’re coming from an SSRS background and want to understand interactive reports, or you started with Power BI and you need to learn Paginated Reports, this short session will cover the basic differences and give you a cheat sheet to work out the type of report for any situation.
Simply the Best - A DAX Pattern for Top Performers
There may come a time when you’re faced with answering questions like “Who was the best parrot salesperson?”, or “Which region sells the least cheddar?” and a graph just won’t do. In just 5 minutes you can learn how to write a DAX measure that will answer these types of questions, and can work on Tooltips, tables and cards. Add a new weapon to your own repertoire and make yourself “better than all the rest!”
Just Too Much Information: WTF is Cognitive Load, and why should it affect my reports?
Cognitive Load is a concept from Psychology about the amount of effort exerted when reasoning, thinking, or interpreting an input, whether visual, audible or otherwise. In this lightning talk we'll understand what this means in terms of reports, and what we should consider when designing to minimise the cognitive load for our consumers.
YMCA: You Must Consider Accessibility
The Village People were a truly inclusive group, way ahead of their time. To be a "Macho Man" developer, you also need to be inclusive in your design, and consider all possible consumers of your content. In this 5 minute musical number, you will get an Accessibility Primer in a fun and relatable style.
Elevate Your SQL Skills: Aerial Adventures with Windowing Functions
Do you want to soar to new heights with your SQL Server skills while navigating the skies in a thrilling air force-themed adventure? Join me for an action-packed session designed for developers eager to command the full power of windowing functions in SQL Server!
Windowing functions are like the secret weapons of SQL developers, and in this session, you'll learn to deploy them while navigating the turbulent skies on daring missions. If you've heard of windowing functions but haven't fully explored their capabilities, this session is your opportunity to dive deep into this powerful feature. In less time than in takes to fly from London to Munich, I will demystify windowing functions and make them accessible, all while keeping you entertained with high-flying aerial demos.
We'll start by preparing for takeoff, ensuring that everyone is ready to conquer the skies using the power of windowing functions. You'll learn how windowing functions work, and why they are essential for tasks like ranking, aggregation, and data partitioning—just like coordinating aerial maneuvers in a high-stakes air force mission. You'll leave with a solid understanding of the "OVER" clause and how to use it effectively, which will be your ticket to victory in this aerial adventure.
But the adventure doesn't stop there! We'll guide you through real-world scenarios with our air force-themed data sets and hands-on exercises that will allow you to apply what you've learned while piloting your data aircraft. You'll discover how to craft complex queries that can help you make critical decisions while soaring through the skies. From calculating target distances to identifying friendly allies, windowing functions will become your go-to tools to dominate your aerial missions.
By the end of this session, you'll have the skills and knowledge to navigate the data-filled skies and enhance your SQL Server projects. You'll be able to write cleaner, more efficient queries and impress your colleagues and superiors with your newfound skills, all while experiencing the thrill of an air force-themed adventure.
Whether you're a developer looking to sharpen your SQL Server expertise or an analyst seeking to take your data manipulation to new heights, this session is perfect for you. Join me for an exhilarating, informative, and interactive journey into the world of windowing functions and let's embark on daring aerial adventures together. Don't miss out on this high-flying experience! See you there!
James McGillivray
Director of Content Creation and Customer Delivery, Cobalt Analytics
Johannesburg, South Africa
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