15th Data & AI Meetup: Reinforcement Learning; TensorFlow on Azure; Visual Analytics

We’d like to invite you to our 15th Data & AI Meetup, hosted at Skydeck @ DB Systel in Frankfurt, Germany.

Agenda:

5:30pm: Doors open

6:00pm: Welcome & Intro
by Alexander Loth, Digital Strategist at Microsoft
and Darren Cooper, Principal Consultant at DB Systel

6:20pm: 🚄 Reinforcement Learning of Train Dispatching at Deutsche Bahn
by Dr. Tobias Keller, Data Scientist at DB Systel

7:00pm: 🚀 TensorFlow & Co as a Service
by Sascha Dittmann, Cloud Solution Architect for Advanced Analytics & AI at Microsoft

7:40pm: 📊 Visual Analytics: from messy data to insightful visualization
by Daniel Weikert, Expert Consultant at SIEGER Consulting

8:30pm: Networking & drinks

9:30pm: Event concludes

DB Systel Skydeck in Frankfurt (previous meetup)
DB Systel Skydeck in Frankfurt (previous meetup)

Sign up on Meetup and join us on Twitter @DataAIHub and LinkedIn!

Do you want to speak at our events? Submit your proposal here: https://aka.ms/speakAI

Machine Learning kompakt: Alles, was Sie wissen müssen

Machine Learning Kompakt Cover und Deep-Learning-Kapitel
Machine Learning kompakt und Blick in das Kapitel „Neuronale Netze und Deep Learning“

Nachdem ich bereits Erfahrung als Buchautor (hier und hier) gesammelt habe, hatte ich kürzlich die Gelegenheit als Technical Reviewer ein sehr spannendes Buchprojekt zu unterstützen. Das Buch Machine Learning kompakt: Alles, was Sie wissen müssen, geschrieben von Andriy Burkov, fand ich dabei dermaßen interessant, dass ich es gerne im Folgenden kurz vorstellen werde:

Machine Learning kompakt von Andriy Burkov ist ein hervorragend geschriebenes Buch und ein Muss für jeden, der sich für Machine Learning interessiert.

Andriy Burkov gelang ein ausgewogenes Verhältnis zwischen der Mathematik, intuitiven Darstellungen und verständlichen Erklärungen zu finden. Dieses Buch wird Neulingen auf dem Gebiet als gründliche Einführung zu Machine Learning zugutekommen. Darüber hinaus dient das Buch Entwicklern als perfekte Ergänzung zu Code-intensiver Literatur, da hier die zugrunde liegenden Konzepte beleuchtet werden.

Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio
Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio

Machine Learning kompakt eignet sich außerdem als Lehrbuch für einen allgemeinen Kurs zu Machine Learning. Ich wünschte, ein solches Buch gäbe es, als ich studiert habe!

Protip: viele der im Buch vorgestellten Machine-Learning-Algorithmen können Sie einfach und bequem in Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio selbst ausprobieren: https://aka.ms/mlst

My First Day at Microsoft: A New Journey Begins

Alexander Loth on his first day at Microsoft
Alexander Loth on his first day at Microsoft

Joining Microsoft marks an exciting new chapter in my professional journey. With memories of my farewell to Tableau still fresh, I arrived at the Microsoft office, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Read about my farewell to Tableau here.

Walking through the doors of Microsoft’s sprawling campus, the spirit of creativity and technological advancement was palpable. The legacy of innovation that defines Microsoft was evident everywhere I looked. I was immediately struck by the energy and innovation that permeated the air. From the architecture to the people, everything spoke of a commitment to excellence.

My first day was filled with introductions to my talented new colleagues. Their passion and expertise left me inspired and eager to contribute. With previous experiences at Tableau, CERN, and other industry leaders, I am well-prepared for this new adventure. Each step has shaped me, and I’m confident that this new adventure at Microsoft will add valuable layers to my career.

I’m thrilled to be part of Microsoft’s vision to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. The future promises exciting projects, innovation, and growth.

My day 1 at Microsoft has been a remarkable experience, setting the stage for a fruitful journey. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Stay connected with me on Twitter and LinkedIn to follow my journey at Microsoft.

Thank you Tableau and farewell!

Farewell to Tableau: A Reflective Goodbye - Alexander Loth with Tableau Data Rockstar t-shirt
Farewell to Tableau: A Reflective Goodbye – Alexander Loth

10 years ago, I started using Tableau.

4 years ago, I started working at Tableau.

Today is my last day with Tableau.

As I pen down my farewell to Tableau, it’s hard not to look back at the incredible journey that began 10 years ago. I reflect on a decade-long connection that began with using Tableau and culminated in four amazing years as an employee. This journey has shaped my career, leaving me filled with gratitude. Read about my 10-year blogging anniversary here.

These last four years have been the most inspiring of my career, what a ride it has been! It’s been a great opportunity and an amazing experience, joining this unique Seattle start-up as one of the first employees in Tableau’s Frankfurt office. Watching our DACH team grow to 120+ people is far more than I had imagined at the beginning, it is simply amazing!

As for my next phase, I’ll take on a strategist role at a leading cloud & AI company. I am excited to continue creating an impact in the digital age.

I’m very grateful to have worked alongside talented people both in Tableau and in our greater #datafam community — people who are brilliant and freakishly friendly. I am immensely grateful for the guidance of my mentors, Nate Vogel and Andy Cotgreave. Their wisdom and support have been instrumental in my growth at Tableau. I have many lifetime memories and made lots of great friends. I wish all of you at Tableau all the best for your next chapter, joining the Salesforce Ohana.

This farewell to Tableau is filled with gratitude, memories, and excitement for the future. Thank you, Tableau, for the incredible ride. So long, and thank you for everything!

— Alex

Watch my 4-years-in-2-minutes clip here:

Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates on my farewell to Tableau and new ventures.

#datamustread: How to Master Your Data Journey

From ideas to dashboards: The essential books for mastering your Data Journey, featuring 'Info We Trust', 'Visual Analytics with Tableau', and 'The Big Book of Dashboards'.
From ideas to dashboards: The essential books for mastering your Data Journey, featuring ‚Info We Trust‘, ‚Visual Analytics with Tableau‘, and ‚The Big Book of Dashboards‘.

Today, data is at the core of everything we do, but the journey to mastering it can be overwhelming. Last year I started lecturing a Data Analytics course at university (as part of an MBA program). In the meanwhile, I was refining the list of books that I highly recommend to read. Three of these books form the Data Journey!

The Data Journey: A Human-Focused Approach to Data Storytelling

The Data Journey is not just about numbers; it’s about understanding the evolution of data, the power of visualization, and how it all connects to real-world business. Here are the books that will guide you on this path:

1. Info We Trust: How to Inspire the World with Data

Begin your Data Journey with a deep dive into data storytelling. Info We Trust explores data lifecycle across disciplines, with inspiring references and hand-drawn illustrations. It’s a must-read for anyone serious about data communication.

This book examines all parts of the data storytelling lifecycle across disciplines. The use of marginalia and hand-drawn illustrations give you both simple lessons to take away and insights into where to find out more. The book is full of magnificent references that inspire further reading.

2. Visual Analytics with Tableau

Ready for hands-on experience? My book, Visual Analytics with Tableau, provides a step-by-step guide to mastering Tableau, from basic chart creation to advanced statistical modeling. With Tableau available for free to students, there’s no reason not to dive in!

Visual Analytics with Tableau covers everything you need to get started with Tableau (students get Tableau for free!). The book guides you from the first steps of connecting to data, creating different types of charts, and adding calculation fields to more advanced features such as table calculations, forecasts, and clusters, as well as R, Python, and MATLAB integration for sophisticated statistical modeling.

3. The Big Book of Dashboards: Visualizing Your Data Using Real-World Business Scenarios

Back to business (as this course is designed for an MBA program). We close our Data Journey canon with The Big Book of Dashboards. This is a comprehensive reference book with real-world solutions for business dashboards and a detailed analysis of do’s and don’ts.

This comprehensive reference book offers real-world solutions for business dashboards. It’s a practical guide to understanding do’s and don’ts in data visualization, categorized by industry and functional business areas.

Need More Inspiration for Mastering Data Journey? #MakeoverMonday: Improving How We Visualize and Analyze Data, One Chart at a Time

Because vizzing alone is only half the fun, you should not miss the #MakeoverMonday book. Eva Murray and Andy Kriebel are icons in the data visualization community (read the interview!) and they have curated the thousands of visualizations from the #MakeoverMonday project into a practical guide that will take your design and data communication skills to the next level!

The #MakeoverMonday book by Eva Murray and Andy Kriebel is a treasure trove of data visualization insights. It’s a practical guide to enhancing your design and communication skills.

Join the Conversation: Your Recommendations for the #DataJourney

Interested in more insights on data visualization, analytics, and Tableau? Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn, and let’s continue learning together. And don’t forget to check out my book Visual Analytics with Tableau to take your data journey to the next level!

What other books have inspired you on your data journey? Share your favorite data books in the blog post comments or reply to this tweet: