About Ben
My name is Ben Finlay, a Microsoft PL-300 certified Associate Data Anaylst based in Perth, Australia with a background in Graphic Design. I am passionate about creating appealing data visualisations that tell clear and compelling data stories, helping users make better decisions. My goal is to make it easier for people to understand and use data efficiently.
Currently, I am seeking my next opportunity while working on some projects that I am interested in contributing to my portfolio.
I am available for short-term projects and/or longer-term employment/engagement.
Past Life
I went to school in Sydney for Graphic Design and have worked in the large format print industry for almost 15 years. During that time, I have worked as a Graphic Designer, Concept Artist, Pre-press, Project Manager, and I even implemented a CRM system!
One of the dissatisfactions of a concept artist is that you may have produced something that you believe is visually appealing and conveys the message that the brand wants to convey. However, you have no idea how your creation helped the brand, and if at all, by how much. Companies may do analysis on their marketing, but that's information the artist seldom sees.
Epiphany
I've always been passionate about creative expression, but as time passed, I realized that the large format industry was losing its charm in terms of opportunities for meaningful creative input. The trend was shifting towards receiving artwork created in-house by brands rather than collaborative efforts in ideation and design. A larger part of my role became processing artwork for production.
This is when I discovered the exciting world of data visualisation! I started exploring different career paths that can perhaps utilize more of my visual skills. Swamped by information, I was interested in finding a better way to see it all and understand it all. Why not visually? I started chatting with a Data Scientist friend, and that's when I realized that data visualisation is the perfect career path that I've been searching for all along. I have always been intrigued by information, data visualization provides the tools to digest those information. My Data Scientist friend talked about how, in the data field, they often struggle with creating captivating visualizations that are appealing and that the user wants to interact with. This is promising because I believe this is an area that I, an ex Graphic Designer, can make a real difference in.
My Career Transition Journey
In order to make my career transition a reality, I knew I needed to chart a course towards my goal.
I started by scouring the internet to come up with a list of resources to study. I knew I needed to immerse myself in this new field to truly understand it, so I found online courses, articles, and forums to help me along the way. I also identified key skills required for a data visualizer through looking at job advertisements, and I made sure I have a list of resources to cover all of them.
But I didn't stop there. I know I will need to gain real-world experience to be relevant to future employers, so I reached out to my friend who worked in the data industry for project suggestions. The projects they recommended challenged me and helped me develop my skills further. They were also able to recommend a range of data sources that I can "play" with to understand how to handle different types of data that I might come across.
Of course, I knew I needed a tangible goal to work towards. Without one, how would I know when I was ready to apply for a job? So, I set my sights on obtaining the Associate Data Anaylst PL-300 certification from Microsoft. The process of studying for the certification highlighted some not-so-exciting parts of the job, such as security and administration, but I was determined to figure it out so that I could have a career in data visualization.
Today
Most of my present time is spent learning more about the Microsoft Power Apps Ecosystem and developing more case studies to display here for my new journey into the world of data visualization. I am keen for any opportunities, be it short term or long term, so that I can learn further and put my skills into practice.
My Helper
During my career transition journey, Freya the OHS officer is always by my side, following my every move. I can normally tell if I have been sitting in front of the computer for too long - a sad meow for attention and a sudden paw on the keyboard.
Hobbies
I have been a Warhammer player since I was a kid. I am very proud of my miniature army collection that I collected over the years. It's been a great way to meet different people and painting the miniatures can be rather relaxing. Aside from this, I also enjoy going for walks in Kings Park.
