Valerie Junk

Every framework, canvas, and best practice exists for a reason. And then you get a real project, a real client, and a real deadline, and suddenly the gap between what you know and what you can actually do becomes very clear.

Building a Power BI report is not the hard part. Building one that actually guides people toward a decision, rather than just handing them a pile of numbers, is where most reports fall short. In this session we break down report design into layers: from the choices you make around data structure and visual type, through layout and composition, all the way to interaction and how users actually move through a report. Each layer has its own logic, and each one influences what comes next. From there we translate design principles like hierarchy, contrast, consistency, and alignment into practical guidance you can apply in Power BI straight away. And we take it one step further: we show you how, by using these layers and principles together, you can deliberately shape what users notice, what they conclude, and what they do next, instead of leaving that up to chance. This session is for all Power BI report creators and people that want to learn how to turn raw data into actual structured insights.

This session shows what it takes for a Power BI professional to make the shift into Real-Time Intelligence. I share the lessons, challenges and mindset changes from moving to streaming data in Fabric, and give a clear, practical starting point for anyone ready to explore real-time reporting.

Let's face it; there are probably not many people designing dashboards and reports just to have something pretty to look at. Companies asking for dashboards want to get insights and eventually take action with these insights.

Power BI is a powerful tool for data visualization, but too often, we get caught up in making reports look pretty, when the real goal should be to deliver clear, actionable insights. In this session, we’ll shift the focus from creating art to building functional, user-friendly reports that truly serve business needs.

Data is everywhere, but how do you turn insights into action? In this full-day PreCon, we will focus on both creating reports that matter, as well as explore how to use them to truly drive decisions.

Let’s face it: Many Power BI reports include at least one table or matrix visual, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While they are familiar, flexible, and likely the easiest way for report creators to display detailed data, they often represent a lack of trust in the data, which leads to the wish to see all the details. This means they’re just Excel tables in disguise: packed with data but doing little to support decision-making. This session is about taking tables and matrix visuals to the next step. We will look at transforming these visuals into something that works with your users rather than against them. Think cleaner layouts, smarter use of space, and formatting that highlights what matters without needing to scroll through hundreds of rows. You will see examples of how to upgrade a basic table or matrix visual into something that adds value for the end user and, at the same time, increases trust in the report data itself. From subtle design tweaks to DAX tricks for dynamic elements, this session aims to provide you with ideas you can immediately implement. We will also address typical challenges, such as how to respond when the end-user requests “just the raw data” or “a copy of my Excel report in Power BI” and determining when it may be more effective to skip the matrix entirely. What we’ll cover: • Conditional formatting that adds meaning, not just color. • Layout tricks to reduce clutter and improve usability. • DAX techniques for showing the right context at the right time. • How to avoid endless scrolling (and what to do instead)? • When not to use a table or matrix, and what are the better options? This session is intended for report creators ready to move beyond basic matrix and table visuals and create visuals that improve clarity, user engagement, and action.

Data is everywhere, but how do you turn insights into action? In this full-day PreCon, we will focus on both creating reports that matter, as well as explore how to use them to truly drive decisions. We will start by understanding your audience: who they are, what decisions they need to make, and how to design reports that not only resonate with them but also ensure they give your audience the information they need to make decisions. Next, we will look at how to create impactful reports, structure dashboards, use DAX for dynamic titles, and apply effective data visualization to help your audience understand the insights. We will then explore how to sell your insights through storytelling techniques and the psychology of communication. It's not just about the data; it's about how you present it to make it matter to your audience - to truly drive decisions. Good presentation and delivery skills are the difference between a report that looks nice - or a report that can change the world. Finally, we will cover how to make sure your reports continue to drive action over time, assisting users in interpreting and acting on data for lasting impact. Structure of the Workshop: 1) Getting started: Understanding the audience - Who is your end user? (Using the storytelling canvas) - What decisions need to be made? - Common pitfalls when getting to know your end user. 2) Make it shine: Creating reports that matter - Structuring reports. - Effective data visualization. - DAX for dynamic titles, labels & interactivity. 3) Selling it: Communicating insights effectively - Storytelling techniques - The psychology behind effective communication. - How to build a strong narrative in a report. - Presentation & delivery skills (this is where you and your report shine!). 4) Make it stick: Ensuring long-term impact - Helping users interpret and act on data. - How to stay relevant over time. By the end of this PreCon, you’ll have the tools and techniques to not only design powerful Power BI reports but also turn them into actionable insights that drive decisions. It’s not just about the visuals, it’s about how to use data to tell a story that sticks and makes a real impact on your business.

As a Power BI expert, I have always focused on data visualization and storytelling. Working with reports and dashboards, I aim to make data actionable and insightful for business users. But when I started exploring Real-Time Intelligence in Fabric, I had to rethink my approach. How does data in motion change the way we build reports? What challenges come with time-series data and high volume? And more importantly, how do I even get this data? In this session, I will share my journey into Real-Time Intelligence, focusing on the transition from traditional Power BI reporting to working with streaming data. Expect practical insights, key lessons, and real-world considerations, including: • Getting started with real-time data as a Power BI professional • Challenges I faced shifting from static reports to live data streams • What I would do differently if I started again • The business impact: when real-time and time-series data helps, and when it doesn’t • Practical tips for visualizing and working with streaming data in Fabric This session is for Power BI users, analysts, and business professionals who want to understand how Real-Time Intelligence fits into their reporting strategy. If you're looking to move beyond traditional dashboards and explore the potential of real-time data, without getting lost in technical complexity, this session will give you a clear starting point.

Designing a report that will be viewed and used by different audiences can be challenging. You want to present information in an actionable, informative, and visually appealing way. However, users across an organization may have various requirements and Power BI experience levels. While some users need detailed information presented in different dimensions with possibilities to filter and drill through, others may only look for key performance indicators. Some users like to click through a dashboard to see specific information, while others want to print it or have a quick look on the phone to see the most relevant information. This session covers steps you can take to understand the needs of different audiences. Topics covered are: - Techniques and questions you can ask to understand your audience and to gather the report requirements. - Examples of different visualizations (and ways to format them) to communicate with different audiences and get your message across - Providing a consistent look and feel (with templates and color schemes) to reduce the cognitive load when looking at a report - Best practices & tips to design actionable, informative, and easy-to-understand reports. By the end of the session, attendees will understand better how to create a Power BI report that connects with different audiences across an organization.

Designing a report that will be viewed and used by different audiences can be challenging. You want to present information in an actionable, informative, and visually appealing way.

Creating reports that effectively communicate data insights to non-data experts can be tough! While you as a developer know all ins and outs of Power BI and the data in the report, your audience maybe just got started or are less familiar with interpreting data.

Creating reports with Power BI may seem easy at first. However, many people eventually discover that their reports are not being viewed, end-users are confused about navigating, and the process is more complicated than anticipated.

Level: Beginning & Intermediate This session uses a baking competition analogy to guide the audience through 5 steps for creating visually appealing and easy-to-read reports. Just like anyone can bake a cake, anyone can build a report.

Let's face it; there are probably not many people designing dashboards and reports just to have something pretty to look at. Companies asking for dashboards want to get insights and eventually take action with these insights.

Designing Power BI reports can be tough; designing them in a different way than the old-school white background and standard Power BI color scheme can be even harder. Most people are afraid to use something other than the standard provided; however, designing a dashboard in a dark mode style (black or dark color background) is not only aesthetically better (okay, personal opinion 😉) but also can enhance user experience. Just think about working with tools that all have dark mode all day and then suddenly opening a Power BI report brighter than the sun. Who wants that? The session aims to guide the audience through the process of designing a Power BI report that is presented in dark mode. From selecting appropriate visual elements to optimizing readability and accessibility, guidelines will be presented to create stunning visualizations that leave a lasting impression. And, of course, there is also some advice on how to sell this to the business! Key topics - Understand why a dark design can actually be beneficial - Learn about the art of contrast and effective color choices - Tips to increase readability and ease for the eyes - Best practices in general when designing in Power BI - How to sell this to the business

Creating reports that effectively communicate data insights to non-data experts can be tough! While you as a developer know all ins and outs of Power BI and the data in the report, your audience maybe just got started or are less familiar with interpreting data. The charts, graphs and tables you provide with the intention to inform, engage and trigger the audience may even have a complete different effect: they confuse and overwhelm your audience. In this session, we'll explore how to visualize data in a way that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of expertise. The sessions attendees will learn how to identify their audience's needs, select the appropriate visualizations for their data, and present their findings in a clear and concise manner. The session starts with discussing the importance of storytelling and how it can be used to create engaging reports that resonate with the target audience. Then it covers the key principles of effective data visualization, including: * Choosing the right chart or graph for the data * Simplifying complex data to make it easily digestible * Incorporating visual cues to highlight important information * Designing for accessibility, including colorblindness and other disabilities Throughout the session, I provide practical examples and demonstrations of how to create effective data visualizations using Power BI. The audience of the session will leave the session with a solid understanding of how to create reports that are accessible, engaging, and informative for everyone in their organization.

5 steps to put the icing on the dashboard(cake). A session for beginning and intermediate dashboard designers showing some easy steps to make a dashboard visually appealing and easy to read. The session's story is comparing building and designing a dashboard with baking a cake at a baking competition. Everyone has the same ingredients (data) and the same recipe (business question) but in the end, the cakes (dashboards) look different. Using the steps of this session you will learn how you can quickly improve a dashboard without spending too much time. The goal of the session is to inspire and guide dashboard builders and give them confidence in presenting their dashboard to the "jury" (the business) after building it.

Let's face it; there are probably not many people designing dashboards and reports just to have something pretty to look at. Companies asking for dashboards want to get insights and eventually take action with these insights.

Creating reports that effectively communicate data insights to non-data experts can be tough! While you as a developer know all ins and outs of Power BI and the data in the report, your audience maybe just got started or are less familiar with interpreting data. The charts, graphs and tables you provide with the intention to inform, engage and trigger the audience may even have a complete different effect: they confuse and overwhelm your audience. In this session, we'll explore how to visualize data in a way that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of expertise. The sessions attendees will learn how to identify their audience's needs, select the appropriate visualizations for their data, and present their findings in a clear and concise manner. The session starts with discussing the importance of storytelling and how it can be used to create engaging reports that resonate with the target audience. Then it covers the key principles of effective data visualization, including: * Choosing the right chart or graph for the data * Simplifying complex data to make it easily digestible * Incorporating visual cues to highlight important information * Designing for accessibility, including colorblindness and other disabilities Throughout the session, I provide practical examples and demonstrations of how to create effective data visualizations using Power BI. The audience of the session will leave the session with a solid understanding of how to create reports that are accessible, engaging, and informative for everyone in their organization.

Designing a report that will be viewed and used by different audiences can be challenging. You want to present information in an actionable, informative, and visually appealing way.