Santhana Lakshmi Ponnurasan
Power BI DataViz World Championships 2025 and 2026 Finalist |Microsoft MVP
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Actions
Lakshmi is a Microsoft MVP (Data Platform) and a Certified Power BI Data Analyst, currently working in the Institutional Effectiveness department at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is passionate about creating creative and innovative Power BI reports that not only make data pop but also provide actionable insights. She was a Finalist in the Microsoft Power BI DataViz World Championships 2025 and 2026, showcasing her ability to combine technical expertise with storytelling. An engaging speaker, she frequently speaks about all things Power BI at user groups and conferences, and also shares tips and best practices on her Medium blog.
Badges
Area of Expertise
Topics
Things I'm Doing to Stay Relevant as a Power BI Developer in an AI World
AI is changing how we build Power BI reports. It can write DAX, suggest visuals, summarize insights, and even create report pages within seconds. As a Power BI developer, I’ll be honest.. this can feel exciting and a little scary at the same time.
In this session, I’ll share the practical things I’m doing to grow with AI instead of competing against it. This is not a session about predicting whether AI will replace developers. It is an honest and friendly conversation about how our role is evolving and how we can prepare for what comes next.
You’ll leave with practical ideas you can start applying immediately and, hopefully, a little more confidence about your future as a Power BI developer.
The Visualization Paradox: Myth vs. Fact
Think you know the rules of good data visualization? What if some of them are wrong? In this fun, thought-provoking session, we’ll challenge some of the most common beliefs in data visualization and separate myth from fact. Is less always more? Are pie charts really that bad? Should every dashboard be interactive? Does a beautiful report automatically tell a better story?
Through visual examples, and real-world scenarios, we’ll explore what actually makes a visualization effective and why the answer is often "it depends."
Plenty of examples, surprising truths, and ideas that will make you rethink how you design and consume data. Come ready to question the rules, challenge what you’ve been taught, and see data visualization from a different perspective.
Getting Started with Microsoft Fabric and Power BI: A Hands-On Workshop
New to Fabric or Power BI? This workshop is the perfect place to start, giving you an end-to-end intro to Fabric and Power BI and equipping you with the skills and confidence to dive deeper into the world of modern analytics.
We’ll start with Fabric in the morning, building out an end-to-end solution, then on Power BI in the afternoon.
Through guided exercises led by experts, you'll gain knowledge you can take back to your own projects, and you'll be set up for a successful conference!
*Please note that this workshop is hands-on and requires attendees to bring a laptop to participate.
The Psychology Behind Powerful Power BI Reports
Ever created a Power BI report that looked great but didn’t quite land with your audience? You’re not alone. Designing dashboards isn't just about visuals- it's about how people think, see, and feel when they interact with your report. In this session, we’ll explore how basic psychology principles can help you build more intuitive, impactful, and human-friendly reports. No psychology degree needed- just curiosity!
Session Takeaways
1. How the brain processes data and visuals (and what that means for your report design)
2. Design techniques based on psychology principles
3. Real Power BI examples showing how small changes lead to big insights
Walkaway with:
1. Free downloadable: “Psychology in Power BI – Design Checklist”
2. PBIX Templates and assets
Designing Dashboards for Distracted Humans
We live in an age of distractions- constant pings, meetings, multitasking, and information overload. And yet, we expect our dashboards to hold attention, deliver insights, and drive action. That’s a big ask.
This session dives into the psychology of attention and how it directly affects dashboard design. We’ll explore how to create dashboards that not only look good but actually get used- even by users who are only half-paying attention.
Who is it for?
This session is for Power BI developers and data professionals who build reports for others, UX-conscious analysts who want to improve usability and for anyone who’s ever said, “But the data is right there- why didn’t they see it?”
Key Takeaways:
By the end of this session, you’ll learn:
- Why attention span is a design problem, not just a user problem
- How to design dashboards for scanning, not deep reading
- Techniques to reduce cognitive load and make key insights pop
- Real-life Power BI examples that transform clutter into clarity
- Simple ways to test if your dashboard works- even with distracted users
Making Data Speak: Storytelling Frameworks That Drive Impact
We live in a world full of dashboards, charts, and reports- but not all of them tell a clear story. Many show a lot of numbers but leave users unsure about what to focus on or what action to take. This session is about changing that. We’ll look at how storytelling frameworks can turn data into insights that are easy to understand and hard to ignore.
Using practical Power BI examples, you’ll learn how to guide your audience through data, highlight what matters most, and design dashboards that support better decisions.
Takeaways:
1. Understand why many dashboards fail to communicate insights clearly
2. Learn simple storytelling frameworks you can apply to any dashboard
3. Know how to guide attention and highlight what truly matters
4. Improve clarity, flow, and usability of your visuals
5. Walk away with practical tips you can use immediately in your own reports
Breaking the Limits of Native Power BI Visuals: Live Demo
Native Power BI visuals are often seen as “basic” or “limited,” pushing users toward custom visuals or over-complicated solutions. But what if the real power lies in using native visuals intentionally and creatively?
In this demo-heavy session, we’ll take standard Power BI charts, tables, and KPI cards and push them beyond their default capabilities. Through live transformations, practical tips, and playful design tricks, you’ll see how small changes can dramatically improve clarity, storytelling, and user engagement.
Walk away with:
Techniques to make native visuals feel custom
Design strategies that prioritize understanding over decoration
Tips, tricks, and shortcuts you can immediately apply to your dashboards
Warning: Expect lots of live demos, some “aha” moments, and a little fun along the way.
Power BI Visual Transformations That Guide Decisions: Live Demo
Most Power BI visuals start as simple charts, but small, intentional design changes can turn them into tools that truly guide decisions. In this session, we’ll take a few common business scenarios and transform basic visuals into clearer, more insightful ones. Each visual will be built live, step by step, while explaining the design choices behind every change.
The focus is on intentional design- not flashy visuals, but thoughtful improvements that help people notice what matters and act with confidence.
Session Takeaways:
- Learn how to upgrade basic visuals into more insightful ones
- Understand how small design changes improve clarity
- Discover ways to add context that makes numbers meaningful
- Learn how to highlight what matters most
- Walk away with practical ideas you can use in your own reports
Power BI in Higher Education: Real Use Cases from Enrollment to Graduation
Higher ed generates massive data across admissions, enrollment, advising, and alumni, often stuck in silos. This session shows how Power BI unifies it through real examples: funnels, trends, retention, student success, faculty workload, and outcomes. Learn to model complex structures, clean data, and build clear visuals you can apply immediately.
Beyond the Basics: Discover Power BI’s Best Kept Secrets
Power BI is packed with incredible features, but let’s be honest- how many of them do we actually use? Beyond the usual visuals and DAX formulas, there’s a whole world of lesser-known tools that can boost efficiency, enhance interactivity, and optimize performance. In this session, we’ll uncover some of Power BI’s hidden gems that can take your reporting game to the next level!
Who is it for?
This session is for Power BI developers, analysts, and business users who want to go beyond the basics and unlock features they might have overlooked. Use these features to level up or use them to know more about what else Power BI has to offer.
Session Takeaways:
1. Discover underutilized features that can simplify your workflow or enhance your reports/dashboards.
2. Learn how to improve navigation, performance, and interactivity in your reports.
3. Walk away with new tricks to make Power BI work smarter for you.
The Power BI Glow-Up: Watch a Report Transformation Live
Do your Power BI reports feel functional but lack visual appeal? It’s time for a glow-up! Great data storytelling isn’t just about numbers—it’s about how you present them. This session will equip you with UI/UX best practices, design hacks, and practical tips to elevate your reports from basic to breathtaking.
Who Is It For?
This session is for Power BI users who want better-looking reports, Data pros who care about clarity and impact and for anyone who loves good design + great data!
Session Takeaways:
1. Quick design fixes for instant improvements
2. Smart visual choices for better storytelling
3. Color, layout & formatting tips that work
4. Before-and-after transformations to apply instantly
Walk away with practical, easy-to-apply hacks to give your reports a serious glow-up!
FABCON SQLCCON 2027 - WORKSHOPS Sessionize Event Upcoming
Power BI & Fabric Summit 2027 Sessionize Event Upcoming
2026 Power Platform Community Conference Sessionize Event
Nashville Power BI User Group User group Sessionize Event
The Cloud & AI Summit 2026 Sessionize Event
Data Analytic Group Monthly Connect 2026 User group Sessionize Event
Global Microsoft Analytics Community Conference 4 – Online Event Sessionize Event
SQL Saturday Atlanta 2026 - AI & BI Sessionize Event
FABCON 2026 & SQLCON 2026 - SESSIONS Sessionize Event
Microsoft Fabric Community Conference - FABCON 2026 - WORKSHOPS Sessionize Event
Power BI & Fabric Summit 2026 Sessionize Event
Birmingham Power BI Meetup Group 2026 #PBIBrum User group Sessionize Event
Fabric & Power BI Wales User Group User group Sessionize Event
Power BI Women User group Sessionize Event
Data Leadership World Summit 1.0 Sessionize Event
2025 Power Platform Community Conference Sessionize Event
DFW PowerBI & Fabric User Group User group Sessionize Event
DATA BASH '25 Sessionize Event
Future Data Driven Summit 2025 Sessionize Event
European Microsoft Fabric Community Conference 2025 Sessionize Event
Data Toboggan - Cool Runnings 2025 Sessionize Event
Power BI Days DC 2025 Sessionize Event
Data Platform Downunder Virtual Meetup 2025 User group Sessionize Event
Microsoft Fabric Cafe 2025 User group Sessionize Event
SQL Saturday Atlanta 2025 - AI & BI Sessionize Event
Cloud Data Driven User Group - 2025 Virtual Sessions User group Sessionize Event
Triangle Area SQL Server User Group (TriPASS) 2025 User group Sessionize Event
DATA BASH '24 Sessionize Event
Data Platform Neurodiversity Day 2024 Sessionize Event
2024 Data.SQL.Saturday.SD (SQLSatSD) Sessionize Event
SQLSaturday Denver 2024 Sessionize Event
SQL Saturday Albany 2024 Sessionize Event
Power BI Days DC User group Sessionize Event
SQL Saturday Atlanta 2024 - BI & Data Analytics Sessionize Event
#DataWeekender 6.5 Sessionize Event
Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers. If you suspect this profile to be fake or spam, please let us know.
Jump to top