Santhana Lakshmi Ponnurasan

Business Development Executive

Atlanta, Georgia, United States5 yrs 2 mos experience
Most Likely To Switch

Key Highlights

  • Microsoft Power BI World Championship Finalist 2025
  • Active speaker and community contributor in data visualization
  • Passionate mentor advocating for women in data
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Data Visualization Specialist with a strong focus on Power BI in the Education sector.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Data VisualizationData AnalyticsCommunity EngagementProduct DevelopmentQuality Assurance

Other Skills

Microsoft Power BICollaborationData QualitySocial Media Content CreationLeadershipPower BIMentoringPythonPentahoJiraCross-team CollaborationProject ManagementClient RelationsDevOpsTeam Management

About

Microsoft MVP and a Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst with a passion for turning complex data into clear, actionable insights through creative and intentional visualization. Currently working in Institutional Effectiveness at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where I design Power BI solutions that support data-driven decision-making and tell meaningful stories with data. I was a Finalist in the Microsoft Power BI DataViz World Championships 2025, recognized for combining strong technical skills with compelling data storytelling. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of native Power BI visuals to make insights intuitive, not overwhelming. Beyond my role, I’m an active speaker and community contributor, regularly sharing Power BI tips, best practices, and design thinking at user groups, conferences, and on my Medium blog. I’m also passionate about mentoring and advocating for women in data, helping others grow with confidence. Outside of work, I’m a proud Corgi paw parent, a foodie, and someone who loves staying active and exploring new experiences. Let’s connect if you’re interested in Power BI, data storytelling, or impactful analytics.

Experience

5 yrs 2 mos
Total Experience
2 yrs 1 mo
Average Tenure
3 yrs 4 mos
Current Experience

Missouri university of science and technology

Data Analyst II- Institutional Effectiveness

Aug 2025Present · 9 mos · Remote

  • 1. Building and maintaining interactive Power BI reports and dashboards for university stakeholders that balance aesthetics and functionality.
  • 2. Ensuring data quality, security, accessibility and adherence to visualization best practices.
  • 3. Collaborating across departments to identify opportunities where data visualization can enhance outcomes and efficiency.
  • 4. Continuously focusing on improving time-to-value and promoting data-driven decision-making across the institution
Microsoft Power BIData AnalyticsData VisualizationCollaborationData Quality

Truviz

2 roles

Product Lead- Powerops and Powerviz

Promoted

Oct 2023Oct 2025 · 2 yrs · Remote

  • Responsibilities
  • 1. Collaborated with multiple product teams to ensure timely and efficient project delivery.
  • 2. Conducted in-depth market research to analyze industry trends, customer needs, and competitor products.
  • 3. Shared strategic insights to support product development and marketing decisions.
  • 4. Performed quality assurance testing, identifying bugs and working closely with developers to resolve issues pre-launch.
  • 5. Contributed fresh, innovative ideas to enhance product features and streamline internal processes.
  • Key Achievements:
  • 1. Played a key role in successfully launching the Powerops product.
  • 2. Introduced a new documentation feature that received positive attention and contributed to increased sales.
  • 3. Contributed to Powerops being listed in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved technology tools.
  • 4. Represented the product at industry conferences and seminars, helping to raise visibility and credibility.
Data VisualizationMicrosoft Power BIProduct Development

Volunteer

Mar 2023Oct 2023 · 7 mos · Remote

  • Powerops:
  • 1. Conducted extensive testing using various types of Power BI reports to ensure reliability and performance.
  • 2. Identified bugs and issues, and collaborated closely with frontend and backend teams to get them resolved.
  • 3. Contributed to making the Powerops product production-ready by the end of 2023 through continuous feedback and quality checks.
  • Powerviz:
  • 1. Tested 2 custom visuals to ensure functionality and reported bugs for resolution.
  • 2. Proposed new features based on user experience, several of which were successfully implemented.
  • 3. Designed and built visual templates to showcase practical use cases.
Data VisualizationMicrosoft Power BIQuality Assurance

Onyx data

Community Volunteer

Jun 2023Present · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • In my role as a Community Volunteer for Data Challenges, I actively contribute to nurturing a dynamic and cohesive community of individuals who share a passion for data exploration, problem-solving, and continuous learning.
  • Responsibilities:
  • 1. Engage with participants and foster a supportive and inclusive community environment for data challenges.
  • 2. Facilitate discussions, answer questions, and provide guidance to participants regarding data analysis, problem-solving techniques, and best practices.
  • 3. Actively participate in community forums, social media groups, and online platforms related to data challenges to promote engagement and knowledge sharing.
  • 4. Collaborate with the organizing team to develop and refine data challenge problem statements, datasets, and evaluation criteria.
  • 5. Provide feedback and support to participants throughout the data challenge, helping them overcome obstacles and enhance their skills.
  • 6. Contribute to the continuous improvement of the data challenge platform and processes by providing valuable insights and suggestions.
  • 7. Act as a brand ambassador for the data challenge initiative, promoting its benefits and impact within the data community.
Social Media Content CreationLeadershipCommunity Engagement

Topmate.io

Power BI Community Mentor

Jan 2023Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

  • As a Power BI Community Mentor, I had the privilege to contribute my expertise and passion for data visualization and analytics to support and guide aspiring Power BI users within the community.
  • Responsibilities:
  • 1. Mentor and provide guidance to individuals seeking assistance in Power BI usage, best practices, and data visualization techniques.
  • 2. Engage with community members through forums, online discussions, and virtual meetups to address queries, share insights, and provide solutions.
  • 3. Offer expertise in Power BI functionality, data modeling, DAX formulas, report design, and dashboard development.
  • 4. Assist users in troubleshooting issues, identifying opportunities for improvement, and optimizing their Power BI projects.
  • 5. Share industry trends, tips, and tricks to empower community members to enhance their data analysis skills and maximize the potential of Power BI.
  • 6. Actively participate in knowledge-sharing activities, including webinars, blog posts, and tutorials to contribute to the growth of the Power BI community.
  • Achievements:
  • 1. Received positive feedback and recognition from community members for providing valuable insights, solving complex problems, and fostering a supportive learning environment.
  • 2. Contributed to the growth and engagement of the Power BI community by actively participating in discussions, sharing knowledge, and encouraging collaboration.
  • 3. Mentored a diverse range of around 200+ individuals, including professionals, students, and data enthusiasts, and witnessed their growth and success in leveraging Power BI for impactful data visualization.
  • Working as a Power BI Community Mentor allows me to combine my passion for data analytics with my enthusiasm for helping others succeed. I thoroughly enjoy every opportunity to share my expertise, contribute to the Power BI community, and witness the positive impact of mentorship on individuals' data visualization journeys.
Power BIData VisualizationMentoring

Hitachi consulting

Consultant C2- Business Insights & Analytics

Jul 2017May 2019 · 1 yr 10 mos · Hyderabad Area, India

  • As a Data Visualization Specialist, I've had the privilege of working on diverse projects that leverage data to drive insights and decisions.
  • Responsibilities:
  • 1. Social Media Sentiment Analysis and Dashboard Creation for Client PPG:
  • Managed Python scripting to gather data from social media sources.
  • Conducted sentiment analysis.
  • Created interactive dashboards using Pentaho to visualize insights.
  • 2. Hitachi Employee Benefit App:
  • Contributed to the visualization team.
  • Developed intuitive dashboards for the Hitachi Employee Benefit App.
  • Ensured a user-friendly experience for employees accessing critical information.
  • 3. JIRA Reporting:
  • Solely responsible for coding to generate JIRA reports across various projects.
  • Assisted the JIRA team in report generation and dashboard creation to streamline project management processes.
  • Achievements:
  • 1. Successfully delivered an interactive dashboard for PPG, enhancing their ability to gain insights from social media sentiment analysis.
  • 2. Played a key role in improving the user experience of the Hitachi Employee Benefit App through effective data visualization.
  • 3. Improved project management efficiency by streamlining JIRA report generation and dashboard creation processes.
PythonPentahoData VisualizationJira

Education

SRM IST Chennai

Bachelor’s Degree — Electronics and Communication Engineering

Jan 2013Jan 2017

Apeejay Stya Education (Svran Foundation)

Jan 2009Jan 2013

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