You Don’t Need Power BI Until You Master Excel

Many professionals are captivated by the allure of tools like Power BI, but the real strength lies in advanced Excel training.

Our Academy-level course focuses on building the skills required to build dynamic models that transform complexity into clarity in both Excel and Power BI.

This isn’t just another Excel training program; it’s a career-enhancing journey featuring practical techniques that can truly change your reporting game.

Experience the Course – Free Sample Access

Try 4 Free Modules from the Self Service BI Academy. Includes real lessons on PivotTables, Power Query, and more. No credit card required.

The Foundation of True Business Intelligence

Skillwave’s Self Service BI Academy is a premium, self-paced training course crafted for business professionals who demand excellence in analytics.

Tailored specifically for finance and accounting experts, our course offers an immersive journey into advanced Excel techniques.

You’ll progress from refining raw data with Power Query to building dynamic Power Pivot data models and applying DAX formulas for insightful analysis.

Convert complex data into clear, actionable insights

Integrate diverse data sources for better decision making

Empower your team with effective reporting tools

Achieve measurable growth through strategic analysis

Empowering Data Professionals for Career Growth

This course is your launchpad to a more impactful career. If you work with data every day, you'll gain advanced skills that not only enhance your technical expertise but also boost your professional value.

Who This Is For:

Excel Users

Ideal if you’re experienced with PivotTables.

New to PivotTables? Our Excel Fundamentals Academy can get you started.

Power BI Users

Basic report-building skills are enough—learn when and how to leverage both Excel and Power BI for the best results.

What You’ll Gain

Accelerated Career Opportunities: Personalized coaching and real-world strategies to help you move into leadership roles.

Practical, Actionable Skills: Transform complex data into clear, business-driving strategies.

Real-World Impact: Apply hands-on techniques that make you the indispensable data expert your organization needs.

Meet Ken Puls – Your Expert Guide

Ken Puls is the visionary behind Self Service BI Academy.

With more than 30 years of experience in business, IT, and accounting, he has built powerful BI solutions that connect Excel and Power BI in secure, multi-user environments.

As a recognized Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and a Microsoft MVP since 2006, Ken brings unmatched credibility and expertise to every lesson.

His mentorship transforms complex data challenges into actionable strategies that deliver real results, empowering you to make an immediate impact.

Learn from a true industry leader whose engaging style and practical insights will elevate your skills and accelerate your career.

Course Overview & Curriculum

At Skillwave’s Self Service BI Academy, our curriculum takes you step-by-step from raw data to insightful reporting. Here's what you'll master:

Advanced Excel Techniques

Develop complex formulas and data manipulations to tackle real-world challenges.

Power Query in Action

Learn to clean and reshape your data, enabling one-click refreshable reports.

Building Robust Data Models

Construct dynamic models which serve as the basis for deeper analysis.

Mastering DAX Formulas

Use DAX for intricate calculations that reveal meaningful insights.

Integrating with Power BI

Transition your Excel expertise into interactive, data-rich Power BI dashboards and reports.

Data Mastery at a Glance

Your journey to mastering data is broken down into clear steps designed to challenge conventional wisdom and empower your career. Here’s how it works:

On-Demand Video Training

Over 28 hours of high-impact video lessons, with approximately 4 hours of content and practice each week.

16-Week Structure

Complete the course in 16 weeks, including a dedicated ‘reading and practice week’ every fourth week.

Ask Ken Anything Sessions

Participate in live, interactive 2-hour sessions held twice a month. All sessions are recorded for later review.

Skillwave Support Forum

Access our dedicated forum for quick help and community insights.

Training Commitment

Over 51 hours combining video lessons, practice time, and coaching sessions.

Live Kick-Off Call

Join an introductory call during the 2nd week of each month (with multiple time slots available) to get a comprehensive overview of the program.

Flexible Learning

Consume content at your own pace with a blend of on-demand modules and live support.

Each weekly module is designed for immediate application, with live coaching sessions that help you build practical tools you can use right away. This hands-on approach means you're not just absorbing theory—you’re creating solutions that make a real difference in your reporting and decision-making.

Introduction

Welcome to the Course!

6 Lessons

Getting Started
Recommended Schedule
Course Introduction
Who’s Ken
Monkey Tools License
Self Service BI Ecosystem

Week 1

PivotTable Review

8 Lessons

Structuring Data for Self Service BI
Excel Tables
Benefits of Excel Tables
Introduction to PivotTables
Creating PivotTables
Formatting PivotTables
PivotTable Design Options
Filtering Pivot Tables

The Trouble with Data

5 Lessons

Building Modern BI Solutions
The Trouble with Data
Classic Excel Cleanup
Power Query Adds ETL Capability
Dealing with Data in Modern Excel

Power Query Basics

4 Lessons

Accessing Power Query
How Systems Import Dates
Importing a CSV File
Update Options

Week 2

Appending Data

8 Lessons

Basic Append Operations
Importing a Folder of Files - Overview
Importing a Folder of Files - Step 0
Importing a Folder of Files - Step 1
Importing a Folder of Files - Step 2
Importing a Folder of Files - Step 3
Importing a Folder of Files - Step 4
Update Options Revisited

Merging Data

5 Lessons

Merging Tables with Power Query
7 Ways to Join Your Data
Semi Joins
Cartesian Products
Merging with an Approximate Match

Week 3

Reshaping Tubular Data

7 Lessons

Unpivot With Ease
Unpivot Subcategorized Tables
Pivoting Stacked Data
Pivoting Multi Column Vertical Pairs
Pivoting Multi Column Horizontal Pairs
Data Grouping Recipe
Calculating Percentage of Total via Grouping

Conditional Logic

3 Lessons

Creating Conditional Logic
Conditional Logic - Advanced
Columns From Example

Introduction to Power Pivot

5 Lessons

Where PivotTables Fail
Enter the Data Model
Relating the Tables
Aggregating Data with DAX
Filtering, Ordering and Sorting

Week 4

Taking Stock - Data Cleansing

1 Lesson | 1 Quiz

Practice Lab 1 - Data Cleansing
Quiz - Data Cleansing

Week 5

Architecting Business Intelligence Solutions

8 Lessons

Steps to Successful Business Intelligence
Identifying the Business Process
Wireframing Report Requirements
Determining the Model Grain
Exercise: Designing Tables from Wireframes
Solution: Designing Tables from Wireframes
Determining Unique Columns Required for the Model
Collecting and Normalizing Normal Data

Dimensional Modeling Terminology

5 Lessons

Facts and Dimensions
Preparing for Dimensional Modeling
Designing Dimension Tables
Designing Fact Tables
Measuring Facts

Relationships

4 Lessons

Relationship Types
Relationship Schemas
Effect of Relationship Issues
Preventing Filtering Issues

Week 6

Dimensional Modeling Recipes

11 Lessons

Composite Key Joins
Bridge Tables
Flattening Snowflaked Dimensions
Creating Calendars
Creating Calendar Boundaries
Creating Calendars from StartDate to EndDate
Fiscal Periods for 12-Month Dec 31 Year Ends
Adjustments for 12-Month Non-Standard Year Ends
Fiscal Periods for 12-Month Non-Standard Year Ends
Adjustments for 364-Day Calendars
Fiscal Periods for 364-Day Calendars

Week 7

Slowly Changing Dimensions

6 Lessons

Slowly Changing Dimensions
Filling Blanks with Dates
Option 1: Surrogate Keys Without Meaning
Option 2: Surrogate Keys With Meaning
Creating the Bridge Query
Replacing the Fact Table’s Foreign Key

Case Study - The Loaded Pencil

5 Lessons

Loaded Pencil Data Staging
Loaded Pencil Deminsional Model
Loaded Pencil Calendar Table
Loaded Pencil Relationships
Loaded Pencil Basic Measures

Week 8

Taking Stock - Modeling

1 Lesson | 1 Quiz

Practice Lab 2 - Dimensional Modeling
Quiz - Data Cleansing

Week 9

DAX and Filter Context

8 Lessons

Filter Context and Measure Calculation
Debugging Filter Context
Aggregating Dimensions
Why Relationships May Be Needed
CALCULATE
Removing a Filter
Calculating Percent of Total via DAX
Conditional DAX

Intermediate DAX Concepts

7 Lessons

Challenge: Generate Cost by Line
Cost by Line Using Calculated Columns
Cost by Line Using Iterator Functions
Challenge: Flipping Signs in a Column
Reporting Filter Context in a Pivot
Dealing with Multiple Values
Flipping Signs in a PivotTable Column

Week 10

Calendar Intelligence

7 Lessons

The Importance of a Calendar Dimension
DAX Functions - Extracting Date Components
DAX Functions - “x” to Date Measures
DAX Functions - Previous/Next Period Measures
DAX Functions - Shifting Dates with DATEADD()
The Golden Date Pattern
Creating Calendar Safe Patterns

Understanding Blanks

2 Lessons

Understanding Blanks
Safely Reducing Dimensions

Taking Stock - Data Cleansing

1 Lesson | 1 Quiz

Practice Lab 3 - DAX Measures
Quiz - Data Cleansing

Week 11

Introduction to Power BI

7 Lessons

From Excel to Power BI - Background
Overview of the Power BI Ecosystem
Power BI and Your Organization
Microsoft 365 Background
Acquiring Power BI Desktop
Request Your Power BI Account
Setting Power BI Defaults for Success

Power BI Desktop

7 Lessons

Starting From Scratch
Importing Excel Models into Power BI Desktop
Visuals - Report Headers
Visuals - Creation and Formatting
Visuals - Cross Filtering
Visuals - Drill Down
Visuals - Customs

Week 13

The Power BI Service

8 Lessons

Publishing to Power BI
Creating Dashboards
Insights and Q&A
Creating Mobile Views
Creating Alerts
Refreshing Power BI Datasets
Benefits and Drawbacks of My Workspace
Where Do the Costs Come In?

Sharing in Power BI (The Right Way)

6 Lessons

Creating Workspaces
Publishing to a Named Workspace
Creating a Power BI App
Accessing a Power BI App
Updating a Power BI App
Managing User Access

Week 14

Multi-User Environments

6 Lessons

Benefits of Core and Thin Architecture
Creating a Development Stage
Deploying Updates
What is Row Level Security?
Creating RLS Roles
Assigning RLS Roles

Power BI & Office - Better Together

6 Lessons

Power BI and Office - Better Together
Sharing Excel Workbooks via Power BI
Analyze in Excel
Export to PowerPoint
Which Tool to Use and When
*NEW* Importing Power BI to Excel

Taking Stock - Power BI

1 Quiz

Quiz - Power BI

Week 15

Performance - Dimensional Modeling

4 Lessons

Model Performance and Stability
How the Vertipaq Engine Works
6 Tips for Data Model Optimization
Model Auditing with Monkey Tools

Performance - Query Folding

3 Lessons

Dealing with Big Data - A Case Study
What is Query Folding?
How to Tell if Query Folding is Active

Performance - From Folder (Local or SharePoint)

8 Lessons

Ideal From Folder Setup
Why is my From Folder Solution Slow
Choosing the Correct Connector
Offloading Transforms via Snapshots
Turning From Folder Solutions for SharePoint
Comparison of From Folder Method Performance
Creating Efficient From Folder Solutions
Do You Really Need From Folder?

Taking Stock - Modeling

1 Quiz

Quiz - Performance

Week 16

Help Resources

6 Lessons

Free Help Forums
Free Blogs and Articles
Master Your Data
Power Query Recipes
Power Query Academy
Free Newsletters

Rate This Course

1 Lesson

Course Feedback

Ask Ken sessions

Ask Ken Sessions

3 Lessons

Ask Ken Anything
AKA Content Index
AKA Session Recordings

No credit card required.
Just enter your name and email to start learning today.

Unlock 4 free modules from the Self Service BI Academy — including PivotTables, Power Query, and a bonus preview of advanced topics. Start learning today, no payment required.

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Module 1: The Modern BI Ecosystem

Understand how today’s best companies approach data-driven decision making.

Module 2: PivotTables Refresher

Brush up on Excel fundamentals for powerful data summaries.

Module 3: Power Query Overview

Learn how to clean and transform data like a pro.

Module 4: Bonus Sample Lessons

Explore handpicked lessons that give you a sneak peek at advanced topics covered in the full Academy.

Real Results from Data Professionals

Our graduates have challenged the conventional approach and transformed their careers by mastering practical, hands-on data skills. Their stories show how our course turned complex challenges into real opportunities.

Self Service BI Academy

Ken, I can't thank you enough for answering my question and for creating such an incredible course and these amazing sessions. To be completely honest, I was highly skeptical about the AKA sessions at first—I just couldn’t believe they were real! Never in my life have I taken a course where I had the privilege of speaking directly with the developer. This experience has truly exceeded my expectations, and I’m beyond grateful for it!

Madalin Bechianu

I loved that there was lots of support, and I could move forward with everything at my own pace. Great mix of on demand and live support when required.

Greg P.

The main function that I took from this course is the use of Power Query. I have already implemented it in my day-to-day work and have built a very useful P&L budget statement for 2025. The course gave many options to learn different aspects and gave many good examples.

Joel D.

What I loved most about the course were the hands-on examples. They were incredibly useful in helping me apply the concepts in a practical way, making it easier to understand and retain the material. I’ve taken other courses offered by Ken, and I continue to be impressed by his teaching style. He has a remarkable ability to explain complex concepts clearly, and his passion for the work really shines through. It makes the learning experience both enjoyable and engaging.

Kelly H.

I loved the bite sized videos & the numerous step-by-step demo practice files. In particular, the initial weeks that taught me how to use Power Query in Excel context (cleaning data, appending, merging, conditional columns) was very eye opening and I am using that in my work to ensure data accuracy and efficiency!!!

Sarah L.

Master Advanced Excel for BI - Enroll Now

Build Your Power BI Foundation
Don't Let Outdated Excel Skills Hold You Back

This isn't just a course; it is your gateway to career-transforming expertise. Enroll now to gain the tools and confidence that set you apart in the competitive world of data analytics.

$995

Enroll Now

$995 upfront with 12 months of full access; renew for only $249 per year.

Extensive Training

Over 51 hours of content across 34 modules, 5 quizzes, and 4 workshop labs.

Ongoing Support

Enjoy downloadable resources, a private discussion forum, and a Certificate of Completion.

Practical Skill-Building

Master Power Query, build dynamic Power Pivot models, create effective DAX measures, and more.

Additional Benefits

Complimentary digital copies of Ken’s best-selling Master Your Data with Power Query book, the Power Query Recipe collection, and an annual pro license for Ken’s Monkey Tools add-in.

This course is offered as an annual subscription, giving you 12 months of access to all course materials—videos, example files, twice-monthly “Ask Ken Anything” calls, and our private Discussion Forum. Use the forum to ask questions, apply the teachings to your work, and reinforce your learning by helping others.

Your subscription automatically renews on your annual renewal date using the credit card on file unless you cancel in advance. You will receive an email reminder one month prior to renewal. Please see the FAQs below for more details on renewals and cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the course materials? Are they downloadable?

The videos are streamed on-demand and may be watched as often as you like. However, they are not downloadable. The example files and handouts for each lesson are downloadable.

Do I have to wait until the next kick-off call before I begin watching the videos?

No, you can begin watching the videos and using the example files as soon as you are registered. You do not have to wait for the kick-off call.

Where are the course videos hosted?

All the videos for the course are hosted on Vimeo. Please note that some networks block access to Vimeo, in which case the videos will not be watchable. You may want to double-check that your network allows access to Vimeo before registering in the Academy, to ensure that you will be able to see the videos.

What support is included with the course? How do I ask questions?

All users with a current course subscription receive access to our private Discussion Forum, where they can ask questions related to the course materials, as well as how to apply those teachings to their own work. This forum is also intended to act as a place for students to practice their own learnings by helping others with those questions. While the focus of this forum is primarily aimed at allowing students to learn by helping each other, they are monitored by our course authors as well. For technical issues related to the site, course access, or other questions regarding your account, please get in touch through our Contact Us page.

How do I submit questions for the AKA sessions? Can I still submit questions if I am not able to join the session live?

We recommend you may submit your questions (and upload any support files) at least 24 hours before the call via the 'Ask Ken Submissions' lesson. If you are not able to join the AKA session live, you can still submit your question and watch the session recording later.

How do I access the recordings of the live AKA sessions?

After the AKA session, the recording will be uploaded to the 'AKA Session Recordings' lesson (usually within 48 hours) so you can watch them whenever you like.

Can my corporate groups get private AKA sessions?

Yes, if you have a group of 15 or more people registered in the course, we are happy to offer one private AKA session in addition to the regular AKA sessions open to all students. This will allow the instructor to help you directly with questions on your organization's data, instead of having to provide a cleansed sample data set that is safe to be viewed by others.

How do I receive my Certificate of Completion?

After all the modules and lessons have been completed, you will be able to download the Certificate of Completion from the My Courses area of your Account Dashboard.

How do I renew my subscription?

If you subscription is set to auto-renew, our system will automatically renew your subscription for another year on your renewal date using the billing information on file. If you subscription is set to manual renewal, our system will generate a manual invoice and email it to you on the renewal date. About a month (4 weeks) before your next renewal date, you will receive an email from us reminding you that the renewal is coming up and to confirm your billing details so your access is uninterrupted.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You may cancel your subscription at any time, and you will continue to have access to all of your course materials until your expiry date. To cancel your subscription, go to the Billing page from your Account Dashboard and select the subscription to cancel from the My Subscriptions area. Once in the Subscription Details page, you can then choose to cancel your subscription from the Actions field. After your subscription expires, you will not longer have access to the course materials, including the downloadable 'Master Your Data' book and Recipe Cards.

What payment methods do you accept? What currency is used?

We accept credit card payments through our secure online payment portal, Stripe. If you would like to discuss other payment options, please get in touch through our Contact Us page. All transactions are charged in US Dollars. Please note that because Skillwave is registered in Canada, we are required by Canada Revenue Agency to collect the 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST) on registrations made by Canadians.

What is your refund policy for this course?

We think you will love our training. However, we recognize that sometimes a course is not right for where you are in your learning journey. Provided that you have completed less than 10% of the course and it is within 14 days of the purchase date, we will un-enroll you from the course and either issue a credit note equal to your original purchase value which you can use to register in a more suitable course in the Skillwave course catalogue, OR defer your course enrollment data until you’ve had time to upskill to an appropriate level. Please see our full refund policy at https://skillwave.training/terms/

Can an account be shared with or transferred to another user?

Logins, downloads, and other materials are for the exclusive use of the registered user only. Sharing of credentials is in violation of our site policies and may result in termination of product and/or site access without notice.

How to I receive my complimentary Monkey Tools license?

Simply fill out the form in the Monkey Tools License lesson in the first module of the course. The annual license is free for as long as you are part of the course. Thus, if you choose to renew your subscription to the course, we will also renew your Monkey Tools license for another year at no charge. (If you choose not to continue your course access next year, you may choose to either cancel or renew the Monkey Tools license separately.)

What if I already have a Monkey Tools license?

For existing Monkey Tools license holders, we will extend your Monkey Tools pro license renewal date until one month after the course subscription renewal/expiration date. No refunds or other extensions will be provided for overlapping subscription terms.

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Experience the Course – Free Sample Access

Ready to See What the Academy Is All About?

Before committing to the full Self Service BI Academy, why not experience it for yourself?

For a limited time, you can get free, immediate access to 4 modules — including 3 taken directly from the full Academy. It’s a no-risk way to experience the course, meet your instructor, and see how this training can transform the way you work with data.

Includes:

1

An introduction to the modern BI ecosystem

2

A refresher on PivotTables

3

An overview of Power Query

4

A preview of the full course experience

Experience the Course – Free Sample Access

You’ll get instant access—no credit card, no pressure.

Choose Your Path to BI Mastery

Try Before You Enroll

Not sure if the Academy is right for you? Get free, instant access to 4 modules. See the quality for yourself — no payment, no pressure.

INCLUDES:

PivotTables refresher, Power Query intro, and more.

Experience the Course – Free Sample Access

You’ll get instant access—no credit card, no pressure.

You Don’t Need Power BI Until You Master Excel

The Foundation of True Business Intelligence

Empowering Data Professionals for Career Growth

Meet Ken Puls – Your Expert Guide

Course Overview & Curriculum

Data Mastery at a Glance

For a Limited Time - Get Free Course Access Instantly

Real Results from Data Professionals

Ready to See What the Academy Is All About?

Choose Your Path to BI Mastery

For a Limited Time -
Get Free Course Access
Instantly