#TableauNext2025 Nominations Are Open!

5 min readNov 3, 2024

Credit | Adam Mico (and Lindsay Betzendahl for logo design)

I’m thrilled to announce that nominations for #TableauNext2025 are now open! Each year, #TableauNext gives us a chance to spotlight remarkable under-celebrated individuals in our diverse and global #DataFam community who are redefining what’s possible in data visualization and the increasing canon of Tableau. Today, I’m more inspired than ever by the jaw-dropping contributions I see daily, and I’m grateful to ride this wave with such talented people. This initiative is less about me; it’s mainly about those who are recognized and the nominators in our community who nominate others.

A Broader Celebration of the Tableau Ecosystem

The #TableauNext initiative has always been about recognizing those who push boundaries and make a public impact. This year, I want us to include but also look beyond Tableau Public or Desktop work. I’m asking you to nominate those who are shaping the future of our entire talented Tableau global community:

Those making significant impacts with Tableau Prep, helping us streamline and clean data to get ready for insights
Experts on Tableau Cloud and Server who empower entire teams and organizations with scalable solutions and share their knowledge publicly
Forum contributors who answer questions, solve problems, and share tips that lift everyone’s skills
Thought leaders who challenge us with new ideas, best practices, and inspiration
CRM Analytics stars who have yet to be recognized
User group organizers who bring the community together and create spaces for us to learn from each other
DataDevs who work in embedded analytics, building apps, or leveraging AI in tools to expand Tableau’s capabilities

This celebration should honor every corner of the Tableau ecosystem, from technical expertise to community building. Let’s recognize those who actively contribute to our collective growth, driving us forward and opening new doors across the entire platform.

Reflecting on Past Achievements of our #TableauNext Cohort

Credit | Adam Mico and #TableauNext Cohorts of 2022, 2023, and 2024

Since 2022, I’ve seen our #TableauNext cohorts go on to achieve incredible things — becoming Visionaries, Ambassadors, and IronViz competitors, taking home Vizzie Awards, leading community initiatives, and even joining Tableau’s team. Each year, our honorees show us how impactful it can be to celebrate those who may not yet have official recognition but who are already changing the game for us all.

The 2024 cohort of 95 “Next-Gen Stars” included talent from 21 countries and spanned all aspects of the Tableau platform. These contributors inspired us with their range of skills and unwavering commitment, from building enterprise-level solutions to nurturing the Tableau community through forums, tutorials, and user group events. This level of impact is exactly what makes #TableauNext so meaningful — and I’m excited to see who will join this legacy in 2025.

Who Should You Nominate?

#TableauNext2025 is an opportunity to celebrate those who contribute in ways that lift us all. We’re looking for Tableau community members who:

Create and share impactful work across the entire Tableau platform — whether in Desktop, Prep, Cloud, Server, or beyond.
Engage deeply with the community through forums, blogs, user groups, or community events.
Mentor and inspire others, contributing resources that help all of us become better.
Demonstrate the potential to be future Ambassadors, Visionaries, and community leaders but are currently NOT a Visionary (or Hall of Fame Visionary), Ambassador, or Salesforce/Tableau employee.
Nominate yourself if you believe that you meet the criteria mentioned above.
Last but certainly not least, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to this initiative. We celebrate individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and those who are neurodiverse, as long as they also support and promote community inclusion. As an openly autistic person, I felt embraced and encouraged by the community to participate, grow, and give back. I want everyone to not only see that support but also feel represented. This is essential not just for the current TableauNext cohort but for all future cohorts as well.

If someone comes to mind, whether they’re an expert in Prep, an organizer of meetups who applies CRM analytics to power up insights and predictions, creates tools to help push Tableau past possible, or someone who solves problems on forums, they deserve to be celebrated. Let’s make sure everyone who contributes to the spirit of #DataFam has their moment to shine.

How to Nominate a Rising Star

Here’s how you can nominate someone who makes a difference:

Fill out the nomination form with their details and examples of their contributions.
Share specific stories or examples of their work — what they do, how they help, and what makes them stand out.
Spread the word! Please encourage others to nominate, too, so we don’t miss any deserving contributors.

Let’s Celebrate the Full Spectrum of Tableau Talent

This year, let’s look across the entire Tableau ecosystem to ensure we don’t overlook any of our incredible community members. #TableauNext2025 is about honoring everyone who contributes in the spirit of #DataFam—those who help us learn, connect, and push boundaries across Prep, Cloud, Desktop, forums, user groups, and beyond. Every contribution matters, and together, these rising stars are building the future of Tableau.

Join me in making this our best #TableauNext yet. Please share this announcement, nominate those who inspire you, and let’s celebrate every part of the Tableau experience.

Important Dates

Nomination Period: Open now through December 31st.
Announcement of the #TableauNext2025 Cohort: Late January 2025.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s honor every deserving contributor and keep the #DataFam spirit thriving! Follow along with #TableauNext2025 for updates, and let’s recognize the future leaders of Tableau!

Notes:

TableauNext is a community-driven initiative. Being part of the cohort doesn’t mean inclusion as an Ambassador, Visionary, or any other Tableau-sponsored recognition. Still, it will help others recognize your contributions and raise awareness of your contributions to the #DataFam community.
I will have significant wrist surgery on November 18th and will likely not be active for a while after that. As a result, this blog will be the 1st one used for a #TableauNext announcement to help lead people here, as I can only support a little on Social for at least a couple of weeks after surgery. I plan to schedule some posts around that time to help make sure the word gets out. #DataFam, please direct people to this blog or this form: https://forms.gle/msqt42DHsa7aoFSi6.

Adam Mico

Note: My book, “Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification,” is available for order here.