Companies need workers who can leverage big data to solve real-world problems, and Tableau is rising to that challenge. The company is helping to prepare the next generation of data professionals by giving students and instructors in high school and college free access to its visual analytics platform and a host of free resources. That may seem costly, but it’s actually a killer marketing strategy. Students and teachers who've mastered Tableau are terrific brand ambassadors, particularly students who carry the platform into their new workplaces, giving the company new, long-term business opportunities. And by digitally verifying student and teacher status, Tableau secures its offer and collects data it can use to nurture students even after they graduate with additional learning materials, certifications, resume tips, and more.