What the "Tableau Ambassador" means to me
I’ve loved working with Tableau the moment I started to learn it. And I kept learning and wanted to use it more.
I found ways to keep on using it
I used it for my day job
I used it for side projects
It was heartbreaking, just because it felt like an unrequited first love.
I’ll be honest. The nomination happened a few times before (and I am very thankful for those who nominated me). I was hopeful and poured my heart into the application. But those few times were also heartbreaking. Not because the people who got selected didn’t deserve it — because they absolutely do. So many create wonderful amazing content. And so many more give that support and encouragement. So many give much, much more than I do.
It was heartbreaking, just because it felt like an unrequited first love. And all you can do is accept it, move on, and love from a distance.
This year is a bit different. The nomination came in. I didn’t want to put any more thought into it. I cherish the thought that someone out there put my name in, but also prepared myself to not have any expectations.
But I think the unexpected happened. I got selected as part of the 2022 Tableau Ambassador cohort.
I wasn’t sure what to feel at first. I was happy, I was thrilled, but at the same time, feeling the same pangs of pain I felt when I didn’t get in those few times. I thought of others who put their hearts into the Tableau community, who put their hearts int the application, but possibly didn’t get in.
This post is an ode to the #datafam community. From where I stand, being in this community is in itself a reward. Sometimes we get titles, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we get recognized (more widely), sometimes we don’t.
But title or no title — there are so many amazing individuals who share more than just Tableau. They share life lessons, encouragement, inspiration, courage. They share hopes and dreams. I sound mushy, but I treasure all of these.
For that, thank you. Thank you and congratulations to all who are in this cohort. But also thank you to everyone else — title or otherwise — who make the #datafam community the amazing community that it is.
