DataForge Academy was founded by Brady Nielson, a data analyst, engineer, educator, and mentor who has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of science, analytics, and learning. Brady’s path began in the field — literally. After earning a B.S. in Geology and an M.S. in Mining Engineering, he worked as a Project Engineer and Blasting Engineer, using data to solve real‑world problems in high‑stakes environments. He built models, dashboards, and reporting systems that helped teams make safer, smarter, more efficient decisions.
Those early years taught him something foundational: Data isn’t just numbers — it’s clarity, insight, and confidence.
Later, Brady transitioned from the mining industry by earning his second M.S. in Data Analytics and then went on to become a Data Analyst III as well as a Senior Evaluator in higher education. In these positions, he worked mainly with SQL, Python, Tableau in a DataBricks environment to transform large‑scale datasets into decision tools every day. He evaluated academic performance, built reporting pipelines, and helped universities improve how they measure learning.
But something else happened along the way — something that changed everything.
Brady discovered he loved teaching.
Whether mentoring coworkers, guiding students, or helping teams understand complex analytics, he found joy in breaking down difficult concepts and watching people grow. That passion — combined with his background in engineering, analytics, and education — sparked the idea for DataForge Academy.