From Data to Dashboard: Building Interactive Financial Visualizations in Python

From Data to Dashboard: Building Interactive Financial Visualizations in Python#

Turn your financial analyses into interactive web dashboards that look as polished as the insights they communicate. This two-day workshop gives students with foundational Python experience the structure, support, and hands-on time they need to source data, prototype compelling visuals, and publish a shareable dashboard.

Workshop Overview#

  • Instructor: Jeremy Bejarano

  • Email: jbejarano@uchicago.edu

  • Audience: Students comfortable with basic Python who want to level up their data storytelling and presentation skills.

  • Tools: Python, WRDS for data access, Streamlit for interactive dashboards, plus supporting open-source visualization libraries.

  • Format: Each day alternates focused lectures with guided breakout sessions so you can immediately apply what you learn. Expect plenty of time for questions and in-the-room troubleshooting.

Required Software#

Make sure the following tools are installed and ready before Day 1:

  • Python 3.12 (conda environment recommended) – Install the Anaconda distribution, then create an isolated environment for the workshop:

    conda create -n finm python=3.12
conda activate finm
pip install -r requirements.txt

    After activating the environment, verify streamlit hello runs.

  • VS Code (or another editor) – Grab VS Code plus the Python and Jupyter extensions, or bring your preferred IDE.

  • Git + GitHub account – Install Git and set up a GitHub account if you don’t already have one.

  • WRDS credentials – Request an account and test your connection ahead of time:

    import wrds
db = wrds.Connection(wrds_username="your_username")

    WRDS may prompt you to create a .pgpass file; select Y if asked.

What You’ll Learn#

  • Pulling and wrangling financial datasets from the Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) platform.

  • Designing visual narratives that highlight the story behind your analysis.

  • Building interactive dashboards in Streamlit that you can run locally or publish to the web.

  • Packaging your work so that stakeholders can navigate, explore, and trust your results.

Detailed Schedule#

Monday, September 22#

  • Discussion 1 - 12 - 1:30 pm : Kickoff, Streamlit tour, tooling setup

  • Breakout Session - 1:30 - 2:30 pm

  • Discussion 2 – 2:30 - 4:00 pm: Benchmark slides and forecasting repository overview

Tuesday, September 23#

  • Discussion 3 – 12:00 - 1:30 pm: Forecast integration and dashboard polish

  • Breakout Session - 1:30 - 2:30 pm

  • Discussion 4 – 2:30 - 4:00 pm: Final presentations and retrospectives

Project Focus#

Across both days you will scope, build, and present a custom financial dashboard:

  1. Identify a question or analysis that matters to you or your team. You might choose to explore a specific asset class or other dataset available in ftsfr.

  2. Use WRDS to collect, clean, and validate the underlying data.

  3. Prototype visualizations that surface the key findings.

  4. Assemble the final interactive dashboard in Streamlit and publish it locally, with optional guidance for hosting on the web.

Expect plenty of instructor feedback during the breakout blocks, plus practical tips on layout, performance, and narrative flow. There will also be room to explore advanced touches—like scenario toggles or comparison views—for teams who move quickly.

Preparation Checklist#

  • Confirm the required software and WRDS credentials are working.

  • Bring a laptop, charger, and any prior analysis you might want to showcase.

  • Consider a data question you are excited to explore; we will workshop ideas during the opening breakout.

Helpful References#

Stay in Touch#

Questions, suggestions, or tweaks to the plan? Reach out anytime—Jeremy is refining the flow based on your feedback and is looking forward to building with you.