Has Tableau Forgotten the DataFam?

In this episode of The Data Nerd Podcast, host Nisar Ahmed sits down with Tableau legend Andy Kriebel for a raw, unfiltered conversation about DataFam Europe and the state of the Tableau community. Known as a Tableau Visionary Hall of Famer, creator of Makeover Monday, and founder of Next-Level Tableau, Andy has been at the heart of the DataFam for years, so when he says something feels off, it's worth paying attention. Andy shares his honest take on why this year's DataFam Europe felt like a sales and Salesforce-focused pitch to the wrong audience, rather than a celebration of the everyday Tableau Desktop user who is the DataFam. He talks about the lack of practical problem-solving content, the shift away from inspiring customer stories, and the frustrating gap between how much the community gives to Tableau and how little their real needs seem to be reflected on stage. At its core, this episode is about what made the DataFam special in the first place—sharing knowledge, solving real viz problems, lifting each other up—and why Andy believes Tableau's events risk drifting away from that spirit. If you've ever felt both deep loyalty to the product and disappointment in its direction, this conversation will resonate. 🎧 Tune in to learn: - Why DataFam Europe left many longtime users feeling overlooked - How Tableau's conference culture has shifted post-acquisition - Why real customer stories—and not product pitches—once made Tableau Conferences unforgettable - The widening disconnect between Salesforce messaging and what Desktop users actually need - Why speaking honestly matters when you love a product and want it to be better - What it will take to recenter the DataFam and restore the community spirit that defined Tableau's rise Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andykriebel/ Next-Level Tableau: https://nlt.circle.so/join-nlt 🌐 Full episodes of The Data Nerd Podcast and exclusive merch (including the official Data Nerd hat) — visit: www.thedatanerdpodcast.com