By: Excelkits
Data can be powerful, but for many businesses, content creators, and educators, translating numbers into something engaging and accessible is challenging. Traditional spreadsheets and charts can be overwhelming, leaving audiences disengaged and often confused. Matt Jensen, CEO of Excelkits, is on a mission to make data visualization accessible to everyone.
His innovative platform, Excelkits, empowers businesses, content creators, and educators to transform complex data into interactive and engaging visuals without writing a single line of code. Born from a desire to help businesses improve their content, Excelkits has evolved into a powerful tool that allows users to create custom dashboards, calculators, charts, and embeddable websites to boost engagement and drive conversions.
Excelkits started as a side project by Matt, who saw the potential to help businesses create better content. The platform offers no-code tools that allow anyone to create custom or pre-made dashboards, calculators, charts, and other dynamic visuals seamlessly embedded into websites. Whether your data lives in Excel, Google Sheets, Google Drive, or Apple Numbers, Excelkits allows you to directly upload and sync your information, creating bespoke visualizations without writing a single line of code. This is a game-changer for those who need to communicate data-driven insights in a simplified, captivating manner.
The story of Excelkits is intertwined with Matt Jensen’s unique leadership style and his forward-thinking perspective on how we interact with data. He leads a fully remote team of developers, and his insights into building and managing this team offer valuable lessons for others in the tech space.
The Secret to Managing a Remote Development Team
As the CEO of a growing tech company, Jensen faces unique challenges in managing a remote development team. He emphasizes, “The key is how you structure your projects and day-to-day work. Projects need to become completely encapsulated around required design, product specifications, and other expectations.” This structured approach enhances communication and productivity, providing team members with a clear understanding of their tasks.
Jensen adopts a unique philosophy when hiring developers: “It’s shocking how few people ask to see a developer’s published work.” He believes that reviewing a developer’s contributions on platforms like GitHub provides a clearer understanding of their skills compared to a traditional resume. “You wouldn’t hire an architect without looking at their designs—developers shouldn’t be any different.”
Balancing Flexibility and Structure
In a fully remote environment, balancing flexibility with structure is crucial. Jensen stresses the importance of clear communication regarding goals and expectations. Avoid defining concrete approaches and trust your team to implement your goals on time,” he advises. This autonomy fosters ownership and accountability among team members.
“Proactivity is really a prerequisite for remote work. Teams that work synchronously take for granted how much of their process is crisis management, which is impossible to manage in a remote team,” he notes. This proactive mindset has been instrumental in ensuring that Excelkits runs smoothly while allowing developers to work from various locations.
Fostering a Culture of Continuous Learning
To keep his team at the forefront of technology, Jensen advocates for a culture of continuous learning. He shares, “I really like crowdsourcing ideas within the company: ‘Hey, I’m trying to do X; do you know of any tech that might help?’” This collaborative approach fosters innovation and keeps the team engaged with the latest trends.
When discussing the traits he values in remote developers, Jensen highlights independence and the ability to implement feedback constructively. “Independence is the most important trait I look for when hiring remote developers. The ability to ask insightful questions and express doubts early can significantly enhance your team’s productivity.”
The Future of Data Visualization
Looking ahead, Jensen envisions a future where data visualization becomes even more integral to business operations. “There’s always going to be new shiny things; focusing on what provides the most value to you and your customers is a great barometer,” he asserts. Excelkits is well-positioned to meet this demand by providing accessible and user-friendly solutions.
For businesses seeking to convey complex data in a simplified format, Excelkits is not just a tool but a partner in driving engagement and conversions. Embrace the power of no-code solutions and empower your data to tell compelling stories.
With Excelkits, the possibilities are endless.
Published By: Aize Perez
