Data Pears Founder Nominated for Woman in Tech AI Award
In partnership with Miss Investigate
By Rena Marie
Mara Pereira, founder of Data Pears Consulting, has been nominated for the Woman in Tech Awards in the AI & Data Science Leader of the Year category. This recognition follows her 2024 Global Recognition Award and highlights her outstanding contributions to data visualisation and reporting design.
From Engineering to Data Design
Mara Pereira’s journey began in 2015 when she completed an MSc in Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in project management and manufacturing systems. She launched her career in the quality department at Bosch Thermotechnologies in Portugal, where she discovered her passion for data analytics. This revelation led her to pursue a postgraduate programme in Business Intelligence & Analytics.
After working as a data analyst in Portugal, she moved to London in 2018, where she excelled as a Power BI and Data Visualisation consultant. Her career took a significant step forward at Microsoft London, where she served as a Cloud Solutions Architect specialising in business intelligence products before founding Data Pears in 2022.
Within two years, she grew Data Pears into a £140k annual revenue business, achieving 200% growth and surpassing her previous corporate salary. “The transition from engineering to data visualisation opened my eyes to the pressing need for better reporting design and user experience,” she reflects.
A Woman’s Impact in Data Design
Mara Pereira’s unique contribution to the field lies in identifying and filling a critical market gap where technical expertise meets visual design. “Most data professionals excel at managing information but struggle to create engaging reports that drive action,” she explains. Her innovative solution: integrating mobile app and web design principles with traditional data visualisation techniques.
This approach has resonated particularly strongly in the United States, where 90 percent of her client base resides. This year alone, she secured three major corporate contracts, validating her methodology and demonstrating the growing demand for design-driven data solutions.
Her impact extends beyond consulting—over 6,000 professionals have downloaded her report design templates, and her online courses have enrolled 500 students worldwide, generating more than £65,000 in revenue. “Beautiful design and clear communication are non-negotiable in modern data analysis,” she emphasises. “They are the difference between information and insights.”
Building a Global Knowledge Hub
Mara Pereira extends her influence through various channels. Her YouTube channel, which focuses on data storytelling and design tutorials, has attracted 25,000 subscribers. Her LinkedIn community has grown to over 33,000 followers, creating a dynamic space for knowledge exchange.
She is transforming how professionals create reports through her flagship offerings, the Power BI Report Design Bootcamp and Report Design with Figma courses. These courses combine technical skills with design principles, enabling students to deliver clear, actionable insights.
The student community spans the globe, with strong representation in the USA, Europe, and Australia. Each graduate brings improved reporting practices into their organisation, spreading Pereira’s methods across industries.
Championing Clear Data Communication for All
The Woman in Tech Award nomination recognises Mara Pereira’s unique contributions to the field. Her background in mechanical engineering offers a distinctive perspective on technical communication, while her design-focused approach advances data presentation.
“When I started in mechanical engineering, I often found myself as the only woman in the room,” she shares. This experience shaped her teaching style, leading her to prioritise accessibility and clarity in all her educational materials.
Through her consulting work, educational programmes, and growing global community, Mara Pereira continues to demonstrate that effective data visualisation is more than just creating pretty charts—it is about transforming how organisations understand and act on their data. Her success story serves as an inspiration for aspiring data professionals and a blueprint for combining technical expertise with design thinking in the digital age.
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