Zane Goodman

Zane Goodman

Data Engineer Trainer

Meet Zane Goodman

About

Zane Goodman is a Consultant and Trainer at Pragmatic Works specializing in Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Python, and modern data platform solutions. He helps organizations design, implement, and optimize scalable analytics environments that transform raw data into actionable business insights. With expertise spanning data engineering, analytics, automation, and cloud-based data architectures, Zane works closely with clients to build solutions that are both technically sound and aligned with business objectives.

As both a consultant and educator, Zane is passionate about helping organizations adopt modern data technologies and develop the skills needed to succeed with them. He frequently works with clients on Microsoft Fabric implementations, lakehouse architectures, data pipelines, notebook development, and analytics workloads, while also leveraging Databricks and Python to solve complex data challenges. Known for his practical and approachable teaching style, Zane excels at breaking down sophisticated concepts into clear, actionable guidance that empowers teams to become self-sufficient and successful.

Whether he is leading a Fabric deployment, developing custom data solutions, or delivering technical training, Zane's focus remains the same: helping organizations unlock the value of their data through modern technologies, practical learning experiences, and real-world best practices.

Certifications

AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals

Microsoft

DP-900: Azure Data Fundamentals

Microsoft

DP-600: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate

Microsoft

DP-700: Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate

Microsoft

DP-800: SQL AI Developer Associate

Microsoft

MS-102: Microsoft 365 Administrator

Microsoft

Courses

Course

Fabric Analyst in a Day

This course equips data analysts to harness the power of Microsoft Fabric, a unified analytics platform that streamlines complex data workflows. You’ll start with an introduction to Fabric's core capabilities, which integrate Power BI, Azure Synapse, and Data Factory into one seamless experience, making data management, transformation, and analysis more accessible. You’ll learn to centralize data across multiple clouds with OneLake, connect and virtualize data from sources like Azure and Amazon, and automate refreshes through pipelines. From building workspaces and lakehouses to creating efficient Power BI reports and forecasting models, each module provides hands-on guidance for applying Fabric’s robust tools. Real-time data monitoring with Data Activator and an exploration of data warehousing fundamentals complete your journey, empowering you to transform data into actionable insights.

Course

Working with PySpark in Microsoft Fabric Notebooks

Dive into the world of big data processing with PySpark in Microsoft Fabric Notebooks! This course offers hands-on experience with PySpark, the powerful framework for large-scale data processing, integrated within Microsoft Fabric’s seamless environment. Learn how to leverage PySpark's robust capabilities to handle and analyze massive datasets, write efficient queries, and build scalable pipelines. You'll explore how Fabric Notebooks empower you to collaborate, streamline workflows, and utilize Microsoft Fabric’s unique features like built-in security, connectors, and scalability for modern data challenges.

Course

Learn With The Nerds - Power BI Meets Fabric - A Seamless Introduction

Join us for "Power BI Meets Fabric: A Seamless Introduction," an exciting event designed to build on the momentum from the recent Microsoft Fabric Conference. Just one month after this groundbreaking conference, we are thrilled to bring you an in-depth look at how Power BI analysts can start leveraging Microsoft Fabric in familiar ways. This event will provide valuable insights and practical demonstrations tailored specifically for current Power BI users, helping you seamlessly integrate these powerful tools into your existing workflows. In this session, we will cover: - Working with Lakehouses - Building data models in Fabric - Using Dataflows Gen 2 - Building Reports from Fabric Semantic Models Don't miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and elevate your data analytics game!

Course

Python for Data Analysis

In this course, instructor Zane Goodman introduces you to the basics of Python. Quickly moving into the core tools and techniques used to ingest, write, clean, and analyze data with Python. Whether you're a beginner or looking to expand your skills, this course provides a hands-on approach to working with real data using one of the most popular programming languages in the world. You'll explore how to use Python libraries like NumPy and Pandas - the powerhouse of data manipulation in Python. You'll ingest, clean, join, group, and aggregate data. Along with an introduction to visualizing data with Matplotlib and Power BI. With practical examples and clear guidance, this course is perfect for learners who want to turn raw data into something meaningful.

Course

Intergalactic Learn With The Nerds Day - Building Scalable Solutions with Microsoft Fabric

Join us for a hands-on Microsoft Fabric training with Zane, where you'll learn how to connect to a Power BI Semantic Model, work with data across the Fabric platform, and understand the value of using Fabric for scalable, integrated analytics. This session will highlight not just the "how," but the "why" behind leveraging Fabric to streamline data workflows and unlock deeper insights.

Course

Learn With The Nerds - Python for Data Analysts

In Learn With The Nerds – Python for Data Analysts, instructor Zane Goodman introduces you to the core Python skills every data analyst should know. This hands-on session focuses on using Python to clean, transform, and visualize data—all with practical examples that mirror real-world analysis. Whether you're just starting your Python journey or expanding your analytics toolkit, this course gives you a strong foundation in working with data programmatically. Zane walks through essential libraries like pandas, NumPy, and matplotlib, showing how to manipulate datasets, perform calculations, and create visual insights. You’ll also explore how to integrate Python into tools like Power BI and how it compares to more traditional data platforms. If you're a data analyst looking to unlock the full power of Python, this is where to begin.

Course

Getting Started with Azure Databricks Genie Spaces

In Getting Started with Azure Databricks Genie Spaces, Zane Goodman introduces Genie Spaces as a practical way to explore and interact with data more easily inside Databricks. You’ll learn what Genie Spaces are, what problems they’re designed to solve, and how they fit into real analytics workflows, especially when you want faster discovery and easier access to trusted datasets. You’ll also walk through the key setup considerations before building, including prerequisites, limits, and cost awareness, then create a Genie Space step by step. Zane closes by showing how metadata and benchmarking help you keep experiences reliable and measurable as usage grows. By the end, you’ll have a clear foundation for creating Genie Spaces thoughtfully, with the right guardrails and performance expectations.

Course

Intergalactic Learn With The Nerds Week - Choosing the Right Way to Load Data in Microsoft Fabric

There is more than one way to load data into Fabric, and each has a purpose. Zane Goodman compares the available ingestion methods and explains when speed, flexibility, or simplicity matters most. This session helps reduce confusion before you start building.

Course

Databricks Dashboards Introduction

In Databricks Dashboards Introduction, Zane Goodman shows you how to move from notebook-based analysis to shareable, interactive dashboards in Databricks. You’ll learn the key dashboard options available, how they fit into an analytics workflow, and what you need to have in place before building, including environment setup and dataset readiness. The focus is helping you get from “I have results” to “others can explore and trust these results” with less friction. You’ll build dashboards step by step, starting with notebook dashboards, then moving into AI/BI dashboards and the dataset layer that supports them. Zane covers practical features like filters, calculations, and parameters so your dashboards feel dynamic and useful, not static screenshots. By the end, you’ll know how to publish and share dashboards confidently, with the right structure for reuse and collaboration.

Course

Getting Started with Lakeflow Spark Declarative Pipelines (ETL Pipelines)

In Getting Started with Lakeflow Spark Declarative Pipelines, Zane Goodman introduces a modern way to build ETL workflows in Databricks using a more declarative, structured approach. You’ll learn what Lakeflow Spark Declarative Pipelines are, why they matter, and how they help simplify data engineering by letting you define what the pipeline should produce while the platform handles more of the orchestration behind the scenes. This course is designed to help you understand the core concepts before jumping into hands-on pipeline creation. You’ll set up the required environment, create an ETL pipeline, and work through common transformation patterns using views and structured data logic. Zane also covers scheduling so your pipelines can run automatically, along with row tracking and incrementalization to help process only what has changed instead of reprocessing everything from scratch. By the end, you’ll have a clear foundation for building Lakeflow Spark Declarative Pipelines that are cleaner, more maintainable, and better suited for scalable data workflows.

Show more

Bootcamps

Boot Camps

Oct 19 Virtual Python for Data Analyst Bootcamp

Welcome to the "Python for Data Analyst" bootcamp, a comprehensive and immersive four-day training program designed to equip aspiring data analysts with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in the field of data analysis using Python. This bootcamp is meticulously crafted by industry experts to provide a hands-on learning experience, ensuring that participants gain practical insights and real-world applications of Python in data analysis. Whether you are a beginner or have some prior experience, this bootcamp will help you master the tools and techniques needed to analyze, visualize, and interpret complex data sets effectively.

Boot Camps

Dec 07 Virtual Microsoft Fabric Bootcamp

Microsoft Fabric is an all-in-one analytics solution that encompasses everything from data movement to data science and business intelligence. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, including data lakes, data engineering, and data integration, all within a unified platform. The Microsoft Fabric bootcamp provides a comprehensive overview of the capabilities of Data Factory, Azure Synapse, and Power BI, seamlessly integrated into the Power BI Service. Participants will gain proficiency in the intricacies of the Data Lakehouse architecture, utilizing various technologies such as pipelines, notebooks, and Dataflows Gen 2. Pragmatic Works bootcamps include interactive, hands-on labs that let you apply what you’re learning in real time. With expert instructors available for guidance and support, you’ll build skills by doing—not just watching.

Show more

Popular articles by Zane Goodman

SQL Order of Operations BROKEN DOWN

Pandas Transform Method: EXPLAINED

Microsoft Fabric: How to Take Over Workloads When Employees Leave

Python for Data Analysts - Learn With The Nerds

What Are Fabric Lakehouse Schemas?

What our clients say