Data Strategy with Golden Semantic models - best approach ?

Summary

Golden Semantic Models in Power BI simplify data strategy by creating a central, reusable data layer for FP&A teams.

Golden Semantic Models as a data strategy foundation

An FP&A professional at a fast-growing SMB seeks the best approach for building golden semantic models in Power BI. With two years of BI experience and six years of data background, the goal is creating a scalable architecture serving the entire organization.

Why golden models matter during growth

Rapid business growth quickly leads to multiple reports with different definitions of the same KPIs. Golden semantic models provide a single source of truth: a certified data model everyone uses, eliminating inconsistencies and enabling self-service BI.

How to approach this

Start with a centralized semantic model in Power BI containing core metrics. Use live connections from reports to this model. Implement row-level security for access control and document definitions in a shared data dictionary.