Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Kolokolov.
Hi Alex, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into business intelligence began not as a business plan, but as a passion. I was working as a Team Lead in a major IT company, implementing enterprise analytics solutions from IBM and Microsoft. While competitors were focused on showcasing the technical power of their tools, I was more interested in how businesses could actually use dashboards to uncover insights.
Then came the turning point: I got fired. I had to make a choice—find another corporate job or build something on my own. I took a risk—launched my own training workshops, which quickly grew into Data2Speak Inc.
Today, beyond running my company, I’ve built a strong presence in the data visualization and AI community.
Lately, my focus has been on the intersection of AI and data analytics, specifically testing AI’s capabilities in data analysis and business intelligence. At Data2Speak Inc., we run AI crash tests, evaluating multiple LLM tools on real-world business data. To address this, I’ve launched specialized AI training programs for analysts and managers, teaching them how to work with AI effectively. These courses focus on prompt engineering, AI-powered BI workflows, and practical strategies to ensure AI-driven analytics lead to meaningful business decisions.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When has it ever been? Transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship was a leap into the unknown—especially after getting fired while having a newborn and a toddler at home.
Early on, the biggest struggle was financial—no investors, no product, just my experience. I had to borrow money to rent a venue for my first workshop, and my wife kept asking when I’d get a “real job.” As the business grew, a new challenge emerged—scaling. Hiring the right people, training them fast enough, and balancing client demands was overwhelming.
More recently, working with AI in data analytics has presented its own struggles—AI tools are promising but still flawed, often misinterpreting tabular data and business logic, requiring constant refinement and human oversight. But every challenge has been a learning curve, shaping Data2Speak Inc. into what it is today—an evolving, adaptive business at the forefront of BI and AI integration.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in business intelligence, data visualization, and AI-driven analytics. Our core mission is to help organizations make sense of their data by turning overwhelming numbers into clear, actionable insights through interactive dashboards and AI-powered solutions.
We’re known for cutting-edge BI consulting, corporate training, and AI crash tests, where we rigorously evaluate AI tools on real business cases to identify their strengths and limitations in data analysis. Through these experiments, we’ve found that while AI can automate insights, it often struggles with context, logic, and data relationships, requiring human expertise to bridge the gaps. My service is to teach leveraging the AI power while avoiding blind reliance on flawed automation
What sets us apart is our practical, no-nonsense approach—we don’t just build dashboards; we teach businesses how to use them effectively. Our AI courses focus on helping managers and analysts navigate AI-powered BI workflows, prompt engineering, and decision-making with AI. I’m most proud of our impact—whether through our books like Data Visualization with Power BI, the Annual Eurasian DataViz conference, or the Make Your Data Speak award, our work is helping shape a smarter, data-driven business world.
What makes you happy?
I love challenging outdated approaches, breaking the cycle of boring, ineffective reports, and showing that data visualization isn’t just charts—it’s storytelling with impact. Nothing is more satisfying than watching a business grow because they finally have the right dashboards, or seeing someone’s career take off after they master the art of turning raw numbers into compelling visuals. Lately, exploring AI in BI and running AI crash tests excites me, because it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. And, of course, building a business on my own terms, without corporate red tape, gives me the freedom to keep innovating and doing what I love.
Pricing:
- Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI Book – $43.40
- Dashboard Development – $3-10k/project
- The Guideline – $25/mo or $9.90/mo if billed annually
- Power BI Courses – $12.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://data-2-speak.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/data2speakcom
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askolokolov/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@data2speak
