My story

Welcome to BI Insight.

Hello! I am Soheil Bakhshi, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP, author, and Microsoft Fabric/Power BI consultant based in Aotearoa (New Zealand). I was born in Iran and have been passionate about data, technology, and sharing knowledge for as long as I can remember.

Over the years, I have learned a great deal from the global data community and believe in giving back by sharing what I have learned through my books, blogs, talks, and online content.

My journey started in 2005 when I wrote my first book in Persian, a step-by-step guide to using multimedia software on PC, which was published in 2006.

In 2013, I launched this blog, BI Insight, to share my hands-on experiences and lessons from real-world data and analytics projects.

Between 2020 and 2021, I authored Expert Data Modelling with Power BI (First Edition), a book that received great feedback from the global Power BI and data analytics community. Its success led to the publication of the Second Edition in April 2023. I also wrote a free eBook titled Power BI for Intermediates: A Step-by-Step Training Guide.

My interest in data began early. In 1994, I learned MS-DOS 5 and GW-Basic and became fascinated by how simple code could create visual outputs.

I started my professional IT career in 2001, working on diverse projects across development and analytics. My early years involved programming with Delphi 5 and 6, Paradox databases, and SQL Server 2000. Later, I focused on building complex ETL solutions using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) from 2008 to 2016. Around 2013, I moved into data visualisation and business intelligence, developing and administering Tableau and Tableau Server.

I was also one of the earliest adopters of Microsoft Power BI, back when it was a suite of Excel add-ins like Power Pivot, Power View, Power Map, and Power Query. When Power BI became a standalone product in 2015, I was among its early users and have followed its evolution closely. In recent years, my focus has expanded to Microsoft Fabric, the new unified analytics platform from Microsoft.

In 2019, I received my first Microsoft Data Platform MVP award, which I have proudly maintained ever since.

What I Do #

Today, I work as a Business Intelligence and Data Platform Consultant, helping organisations modernise their analytics environments and adopt Power BI and Microsoft Fabric effectively. My work covers:

  • Power BI and Microsoft Fabric solutions: advanced reporting, semantic models, and governance frameworks
  • Data strategy and governance: defining policies, documentation, and BI best practices
  • Data modelling and warehousing: applying Kimball methodology and modern modelling techniques
  • ETL and data integration: building pipelines using Power Query, SSIS, and Azure Data Factory
  • Cloud analytics: implementing scalable solutions on Microsoft Azure and the modern data stack
  • Training and mentorship: delivering tailored Power BI training and workshops for teams
  • Community and content: speaking at local and international events, writing technical blogs, and contributing to the global Power BI community

Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you find the content helpful, and I always welcome your thoughts and feedback in the comments section of each post.

Cheers,
Soheil Bakhshi