# Vlog #1 : Why attend Conference (Tableau conference 2016) #data16

> This is content from just-tim, the data-and-analytics channel by Tim Ngwena (formerly 'Tableau Tim'). Tim has 12+ years of hands-on BI experience and covers Tableau most of all, plus Power BI, Looker, Hex, SQL and data modelling, the analytics industry, and the craft of doing the job — always tool-agnostic and honest about the trade-offs.

- **Author:** Tim Ngwena (just-tim, https://just-tim.com/about)
- **Published:** 2016-10-31
- **Format:** Video · 6 min watch · transcript available
- **Topics:** Community, Industry trends, Career
- **Tools:** Tableau
- **Canonical:** https://just-tim.com/posts/vlog-1-why-attend-conference-tableau-conference-2016-data16
- **Watch:** https://youtu.be/ebacvhmh934

I'm heading to the Tableau Conference 2016 in Austin and kicking off my first vlog, partly to put faces behind the YouTube videos. I walk through why attending a Tableau Conference is worth it, from the hundreds of sessions to the networking and the sense of being part of something bigger.

## Key takeaways

- Tableau Conference offers quantifiable value: hundreds of sessions, discounted certification and training, and one-to-one 'Tableau doctor' sessions where you can bring a real problem or sample data.
- Networking is the single most valuable aspect, with tens of thousands of attendees plus Tableau staff and developers on hand to meet.
- Beyond the practical benefits, the conference acts as a platform for creativity with data and a reminder you're part of a wider community passionate about data.
- Use Tableau's official justification letter, adapting it to your organisation, to help convince managers to support your attendance.

Watch the full video, read the transcript and use chapter deep-links on the page: https://just-tim.com/posts/vlog-1-why-attend-conference-tableau-conference-2016-data16

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just-tim — Data and analytics, with a point of view. · https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HYxRWmaNlJux-X7rNLZyw · https://twitter.com/TableauTim · https://www.linkedin.com/in/timngwena