06/12/2025 –, Main Stream Idioma: English
I’m an experienced data analyst consultant working with data in international development, but I only started learning Python less than a year ago. As a beginner programmer with a passion for data visualization design, I began exploring how to build interactive dashboards with Python and Dash — not just to keep coding, but to share stories that matter deeply to me.
In this talk, I share key lessons learned so far — through a beginner’s lens — the shift from a rough idea to a working concept, choosing data, structuring the dashboard, and finding the balance between clarity and aesthetics in my design decisions. I’ll focus on one dashboard project as a case study to show what worked, what didn’t, and how I adapted along the way. Specifically, I will focus on correlations between malaria risk in children under 5 in Nigeria and other key indicators such as climate change and access to water and sanitation.
I’ll also share my personal experience of troubleshooting when nothing seems to work, and how I kept motivation up when hope was dim. My goal is to encourage others to start their own “imperfect” projects, embrace iteration, and see learning as an ongoing process with both highs and lows.
If you’re curious about Python’s capabilities for data storytelling, want to explore interactive dashboards, or simply need that pep talk to begin your first Python project, this talk will offer insights, encouragement, and — most likely — a glimpse of your own journey reflected back at you.
My talk revolves around building interactive dashboards with Python and Dash — from the perspective of someone who is still a beginner in Python programming, but experienced in working with complex data, other programming languages like R, and creating impactful visualizations in the field of international development.
I’ve spent over a decade as a data analyst consultant, translating global health, education, and development data into stories for decision-makers. Less than a year ago, I began learning Python, motivated by two goals: to expand my technical skills and to explore how interactive dashboards can make complex global issues both accessible and compelling.
From the start, I knew I wanted to tell stories that matter deeply to me. For this talk, I will focus on one dashboard concept — for example, exploring the intersection of WASH, climate and malaria risk in children under 5 in Nigeria — as a case study. This narrower scope will allow me to dig deeper into the process, decisions, and lessons learned.
I’ll share:
How I went from a raw idea to a working concept
Choosing datasets that are both technically workable and narratively rich
Structuring dashboards so users can follow the story without getting lost
Striking the balance between clarity and aesthetics in design
Identifying what felt surprisingly straightforward and what turned into roadblocks
I’ll also speak openly about the challenges — app architecture, stubborn bugs, complex callbacks, messy data — and the moments where I had to rethink my approach entirely when nothing else worked. Alongside the technical side, I’ll cover the emotional reality of learning something new: how to keep going when progress is too slow, how to find motivation in small wins, and how to stay connected to the bigger “why” behind the project.
This talk is not about providing the audience with a flawless final product — it’s about sharing an honest, evolving journey. Attendees will leave with realistic expectations of learning Dash as a Python beginner, strategies for turning ideas into prototypes, and encouragement to start their own “imperfect” projects.
Loredana Horezeanu is a global health data analyst and visualization designer with over seven years’ experience turning complex datasets into clear, actionable stories for decision-makers. She has consulted for organizations including the World Bank and leading US- and UK-based health consultancies, creating impactful visuals that bridge technical insight with narrative clarity. Less than a year ago, she began learning Python to expand her skill set and explore interactive dashboards with Dash. Her current projects lie at the intersection of technology, science, and art — driven by her passion for meaningful storytelling.