We're thrilled to introduce you to one of the three Iron Viz finalists who will be lighting up the Iron Viz stage at Tableau Conference 2025 in San Diego. The one and only: Bo McCready! 

Originally from the small town of Whitewater, Wisconsin, Bo's journey eventually led him to the vibrant city of Madison before getting to the live music capital of the world: Austin, Texas. Bo brings more than a decade of Tableau experience and a passion for data that's truly infectious.

From Cooler Graphs to Community Inspiration

“At first, I was just excited to make cooler graphs than you could make in Excel! My creativity was sparked a few years later when I attended Iron Viz live for the first time, watching Tristan Guillevin win the title.”

Attending Iron Viz in 2017 sparked a new level of creativity and engagement. By the end of 2018, Bo became an active and valued member of the Tableau Community. His Tableau Public portfolio took off, transforming his career and demonstrating his analytical prowess. 

Photo taken by Bo at Tableau Conference 2017

“Iron Viz is a great way to push yourself to do something cool while being part of a larger community of people supporting and cheering one another on. Plus, competing in the Iron Viz finals has been a dream of mine since I first saw the competition almost 10 years ago, so I kept coming back because I wasn’t ready to give up on that dream yet!”

This year marks Bo's seventh Iron Viz entry, driven by a desire to push his creativity and a long-held dream of reaching the finals. His qualifier viz was inspired by his love of music and Billboard Hot 100 data.

One-Hit Wonders and Midcentury Vibes: The Viz Inspiration

Bo McCready’s 2025 Iron Viz Qualifiers entry

A lifelong love of music and previous experience working with Billboard Hot 100 data proved to be the perfect harmony. Bo loves a good outlier, and the artists who appeared on the charts only once immediately caught his attention. As he explored these unique entries, he recognized many familiar tunes, realizing there was a compelling story waiting to be unfold.

Design-wise, Bo channeled his appreciation for the midcentury modern aesthetic. He carefully selected fonts, colors, and design elements to evoke a vintage feel that complemented the era of many of the highlighted songs, creating a visually engaging and thematically consistent experience.

Bo's other passion: screen printing

“I’m excited to share the stage with such talented peers and give the data world a chance to see what we can do.”

Beyond the data world, Bo enjoys going to concerts, Austin FC soccer matches, and screen printing shirts and posters! He and his wife started 'Pie Chart Press' to explore their passion for art and design, and you might spot some of their data-themed shirts on Tableau Conference attendees!

Bo is excited to reconnect with friends and fellow data enthusiasts at #TC25. His Tableau journey began in 2012, and now, as a Tableau Public Ambassador, Bo is preparing to shine at the Iron Viz Competition LIVE on April 16th at 4pm PT and thrilled to share stage with finalists Ryan Soares and Kathryn McCrindle.