From Excel to AI Agents—We’ve Come a Long Way
My top takeaways (and favorite fire quotes) from Qlik Connect 2025
I just got back from Qlik Connect in Orlando, FL, and it left me feeling a bit nostalgic. Back in 2014, I attended my very first tech conference. I can’t quite remember the name, but I do remember the excitement. It was a data visualization event, and I came back SO inspired. I was just getting started in my career and believed—wholeheartedly—that I could make an impact with data
Attending Qlik Connect this year had me reflecting not only on that first experience but also on how far the dashboarding, business intelligence, and data visualization space has come.
What’s Changed:
In those early days, the conversation revolved around dashboards—how to build them, which charts to use, and how to finally ditch Excel (or at least try!).
Today, it’s a different story. There’s less talk about dashboards and more about data pipelines, architecture, and management—we’ve all learned just how critical data engineering really is.
That’s why I was especially excited about the unveiling of Qlik Open Lakehouse — a fully managed Apache Iceberg solution designed to break the limits of traditional data warehouses. Integrated into Qlik Talend Cloud, it offers real-time ingestion, automated optimization, and cross-engine interoperability. The result? Up to 5x faster queries and 50% lower costs. With support for Snowflake, Spark, SageMaker, and flexible AWS deployment, this is a major leap forward.
And we’re not just talking dashboards anymore. Now we’re in the realm of predictive analytics, machine learning, and yes—my favorite—mini RAG models with Qlik Answers.
Qlik also announced its new Agentic Experience — a single, conversational interface that empowers users to engage with data through specialized AI agents. Powered by Qlik’s associative engine, users can ask questions, uncover insights, and take real-time action. Key features include:
Qlik Answers™, merging structured and unstructured data for contextual responses
A Discovery Agent that flags risks and opportunities
A Pipeline Agent that helps design data flows aligned with business goals
What Hasn’t Changed:
Some things stay the same: the culture conversation, the fact that working with data is hard, and that transformation takes time and effort.
That’s actually one of the things I loved most about Qlik Connect — it struck the perfect balance. Not too big, not too small. And most importantly, the message was practical, grounded, and hype-free.
I even had the chance to sit down 1:1 with Qlik CEO Mike Capone, and wow—he brought the 🔥. Here are three quotes that stuck with me:
“Leaders don’t wait—they act.”
“Relentless execution will define the next generation of leaders.”
“Are you moving fast enough—not just to keep up, but to win?”
You all know I’m a move fast and fail faster type of leader, so his words really resonated.
Another thing that’s evolved is the people. Over time, you grow up in the industry with your peers, cheering each other on and reconnecting at moments like this. And honestly, that’s what it’s all about:
Connecting the data.
Connecting the people.
Connecting the insights.
Some things never change. And I love that.
Don’t miss my 1:1 interviews from Qlik Connect:
Heidi Halley, Global ITS and Logistics Director at Medair. ➡️ Watch Here
Ruthann Wry, Chief People Officer, Qlik: ➡️ Watch Here