The Power of Pictures: My Journey with Power BI by Susan Howard

In today’s data-driven world, we’re surrounded by numbers — endless spreadsheets, metrics, and dashboards. But data only becomes valuable when it tells a story. That’s where Power BI comes in.

I’ve been using Power BI for many years now, and every time I run training sessions, people are amazed at what it can do. It’s not just a reporting tool — it’s a way to see your data in a whole new light.

Why Power BI Still Reigns Supreme

Let me take you back to my roots — good old Excel. I still love it. Excel is brilliant for calculations, formulas, and quick analysis. But when it comes to helping people truly understand data, Power BI takes things to another level.

They say a picture paints a thousand words — and in the world of analytics, that couldn’t be more accurate. Give me a table full of numbers and I’ll have to work to find meaning. Transform that same data into a gauge, chart, or map, and the message becomes instantly clear.

Imagine you’re tracking your progress toward a sales target. In Excel, that’s a wall of numbers. In Power BI, it’s a dynamic gauge that fills up as you get closer to your goal — visually showing the story of your success.

Bringing Data to Life with Maps

One of my favourite Power BI features is its ability to visualise geographical data. Whether you’re tracking sales across regions, mapping customer locations, or analysing shipment routes, Power BI’s mapping visuals bring global patterns to life.

I’ve seen clients use this to track equipment across continents, identify customer concentrations, and even spot delivery bottlenecks. Seeing your business world plotted on an interactive map changes how you think about it — instantly.

Designing Your Own Data Style

Another reason I love Power BI is its creative flexibility. You’re not limited to standard bar or pie charts — you can download custom visuals to make your data more engaging and relevant.

For example, if you’re presenting logistics data, why not use icons of lorries instead of bars? Or for a presentation about passenger numbers, replace the bars with silhouettes of people. These visual tweaks make your reports not just informative, but memorable — and tailored to your audience.

Power BI’s custom visuals let you make your data truly your own. It’s about more than analysis; it’s about communication.

Always Evolving: The Power of Progress

One of the things that’s impressed me most over the years is how Power BI continues to evolve. It’s not a static tool you learn once — it grows with you.

When I first started, Power BI already felt revolutionary. But each update since then has added smarter features that respond directly to what users need — from new connectors to AI-driven insights and Copilot.

Today, you can even use natural language to ask questions about your data or generate visuals automatically. It’s like having a data assistant built in — helping you create faster, cleaner, and more dynamic reports.

Take Your Power BI Skills Further

If you’re new to Power BI, our Power BI – Introduction course will give you the foundation you need to get started with confidence. For experienced users we have our Power BI – Advanced Reporting course and our Power BI – DAX Calculations and Measures.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll explore:

• Fiscal Reporting: Learn how to align reports with your company’s financial year for clearer, more relevant comparisons.

• Enhanced Visual Reporting: Build interactive experiences using drill-throughs, slicers, action buttons, and custom tooltips. 

And, once you’re confident creating visuals, DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) helps you take the next step – building measures that drive deeper insights, not just totals.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use DAX for time-intelligence calculations such as year-to-date, month-on-month, and comparisons against previous periods.
• Create conditional measures that respond to filters and slicers, revealing the story behind your data as you explore it.

It’s where reporting becomes true analysis – showing not just what happened, but why.

All 3 courses are part of our Systems & Office Applications Training Catalogue, with virtual and onsite delivery available for individuals and teams.

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Wrapping It Up

Data has stories to tell — and with Power BI, those stories finally come to life. Over the years, I’ve seen how visualising data transforms understanding, decisions, and confidence.

If you’re curious about how Power BI could work for you or your organisation, I’d love to chat.

I’m Susan Howard, and I’m passionate about helping people unlock the power of their data through training that’s practical, engaging, and built around real-world needs.

Let’s make your numbers tell a story.