Microsoft Innovation Podcast

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/583   What does it take to become an MVP in the dynamic world of Power Platform development? Join us as we host Mantas Umbrasas, Lithuania's first BizApps MVP, who illuminates his path to this prestigious title. From his early explorations in SharePoint configurations to his inspirational journey with Microsoft's Power Apps and Power Automate, Mantas shares the pivotal moments and community support that propelled him forward. He also offers a personal glimpse into his passions, from savouring the finest Indian cuisine to his excitement over Lithuania's recent Michelin reviews. Mantas paints a vivid picture of Lithuania's serene landscapes, making it a compelling travel destination for nature enthusiasts.In this episode, we also dive into the heart of the MVP journey, addressing common misconceptions and highlighting the dedication needed to achieve this honour. Mantas recounts encouraging community events and discusses his significant contribution to a government project during the pandemic with a Power App prototype for online voting. As your host, Mark Smith, I express my gratitude for your continued support and invite you to engage further by supporting the show. Tune in for a compelling blend of professional insights and personal narratives that promise to inspire and inform.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP 90 Day Mentoring Challenge 10% off code use MBAP at checkout https://ako.nz365guy.com  Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/582  Ever wondered how AI can revolutionize your daily tasks and business strategies? Join us live from the Dynamics Minds conference in Porto Roche, Slovenia, where we kick off with a deep dive into the vibrant energy of the event. You’ll hear all about the creative showcases by exhibitors and a hilarious recount of Chris Huntingford's unexpected travel escapades. Plus, get an inside look into the highly successful "Ecosystems 101" course by Andrew and Mark, complete with real stories of impressive participant engagement and the enriching group exercises.Switching gears, we tackle the vital issue of AI data integration, outlining both the lucrative benefits and serious risks. Discover why investing in premium power platforms is essential, and the dangers of relying solely on basic Microsoft 365 capabilities. We delve into the critical importance of data hygiene and the pitfalls of security by obscurity, especially with AI's ability to exploit poorly managed data. Learn why advanced tools like Purview and Sentinel are indispensable, despite their costs, to sidestep potential regulatory nightmares like GDPR.Finally, imagine a world where AI agents proficient in C++ code and testing can drastically speed up development cycles. We explore groundbreaking applications of AI across various sectors, from marketing to everyday life tasks like booking travel and concierge services. Hear our humorous critique of Microsoft Copilot and insights on the rapid advancements in machine learning. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on how these AI innovations can transform both your business operations and personal life.Join Ana Welch, Andrew Welch, Chris Huntingford and William Dorrington in this insightful episode of Ecosystems Show.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/581  How does a seemingly ordinary career transform into a technological odyssey? Join us on the Power Platform Show as we sit down with Ruben Ruiz, the dynamic Power Platform practice lead at International Workplace Group. From his charming family life and love for mountain biking to his passion for home automation and sweets, Ruben's multifaceted personality shines through. Find out how his journey from Malaga, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal, and his deep appreciation for Portuguese culture and festivals like Saint-Jean and Saint-Antonio, have influenced both his personal and professional life.Ruben's professional saga is equally compelling. He reveals the remarkable scale of Power Platform adoption within his company, uncovering a landscape of over 40 environments, 2,000 flows, 750+ power apps, and more. Learn how this discovery catalyzed the formation of a dedicated team to govern and optimize the platform, transforming simple apps into robust systems integrated with Dynamics F&O. Ruben shares invaluable insights on making these apps highly configurable, leveraging tools like Dataverse, SharePoint, Canvas Apps, Power Automate, and RPA, and the critical role of effective communication in managing large-scale implementations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about driving business transformation through technology.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/580 Imagine discovering a whole new career path through unexpected turns and community support. That’s exactly what happened to our special guest, Heidi Jordan, an MVP from South Dakota and manager at Avanade. From an aspiring math teacher to a problem-solving business analyst and finally a tech leader in business intelligence and SharePoint, Heidi's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Listen in as she shares the pivotal moment in 2016 when she stumbled upon the Power Platform and how it propelled her into the tech world. Heidi’s personal anecdotes about her love for cooking, family time, and enduring South Dakota winters add a heartfelt touch to her remarkable story.In this episode, Heidi also opens up about the challenges and triumphs she faced while transitioning to the Power Platform, including becoming a "Flowmaster" and dealing with complex migrations without prior experience. The importance of community support and mentorship becomes evident as she recounts how impactful mentors and opportunities like attending conferences helped shape her career. Heidi reveals why she moved from the customer side to the partner side of the tech industry, driven by a desire to stay dynamic and avoid repetitive projects. This is a must-listen for anyone curious about how unexpected career paths and community involvement can lead to extraordinary achievements.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP 90-Day Mentoring Challenge - https://ako.nz365guy.com/Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/579Say goodbye to the traditional IT project! The tech industry's landscape is rapidly changing, pushing past long-term contracts to embrace agile and continuous collaborations. Join Anna, Mark, and Chris as they explore this transformation, sharing humorous and insightful anecdotes—like Chris's memorable Government Day laptop mishap—to illustrate the move from isolated projects to ongoing managed services. They're diving into the impact of rapid technological advancements, especially in AI and large language models, reshaping how businesses approach IT today. In the latter half of our episode, we tackle the evolving business models in IT, discussing the shift from traditional managed services to cloud-based solutions. Drawing from the DevOps Institute's insights, we highlight the challenges faced by partners and consultancies, including resistance to change. Finally, we examine the dynamics between customers and partners, particularly around Microsoft’s Dynamics and Power Platform. Is flexible budgeting better than fixed-price contracts? How can incremental investments in AI ensure real progress? Tune in to find out and arm yourself with the knowledge to navigate this ever-evolving tech landscape! Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/578 Unlock the secrets to becoming a top-tier solutions architect with our special guest Sean Astrakhan, a team lead for solution architecture at Microsoft and a celebrated YouTuber course creator. Join us as Sean takes us through his fascinating career journey, from teaching to engineering, while sharing his love for Mexican cuisine and diverse dance genres like salsa, merengue, and hip hop. Discover how his international experiences in Mexico, Spain, and St. Petersburg, Russia have shaped his personal and professional life, and how his passion for coding has opened new doors for him. Explore the world of platform architecture as we dive into the essential responsibilities of a solutions architect. Sean provides invaluable insights as he discusses user experience, the importance of integrating platforms like Power Platform, Azure, and M365, and the broader impacts of design choices on business solutions. Learn how to navigate the complexities of today's technology landscape and find fulfillment in balancing team leadership with managing your own projects.Get ahead of the curve with our discussion on the newly announced well-architected framework, encompassing cost optimization, budgeting, and licensing. Sean shares his motivations behind his course creation and emphasizes the critical role of communication skills for developers transitioning into architectural roles. Finally, we delve into the evolving influence of AI in solutions architecture, with a focus on the limitations and potentials of tools like Copilot, and the importance of data structuring and Power BI for future-ready solutions architects. This episode is packed with valuable experiences and forward-thinking perspectives you won't want to miss.OTHER RESOURCES: Link to Sean's Course - https://www.untethered365.com/architects-acceleratorGitHub: https://github.com/sastrakhan  Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/577   What role do food, family, and fun play in shaping an IT professional's life? Discover the captivating world of Saurabh Bharti, a seasoned Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations consultant hailing from the UK, as he takes us on a flavorful journey through his Indian heritage. From exploring London's diverse Indian food scene to unravelling the rich tapestry of Indian politics and culture, Saurabh's stories offer a mesmerizing blend of personal and professional experiences. Join us as we dream of future travels to India, sharing our own encounters with its vibrant culinary landscape and contemplating the idea of immersing ourselves in its unparalleled hospitality.Our episode also charts Saurabh's fascinating career journey, from his roots in computer science engineering in Bangalore to his current role in the UK. Hear about the pivotal moments that shaped his path, including his introduction to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and the invaluable mentorship that deepened his understanding of finance consulting. Finally, we wrap up with an enlightening conversation with Sir AB, a renowned business applications expert, who shares his profound insights on various topics. With gratitude and anticipation, we look forward to more enriching discussions in future episodes.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/576  How can smaller economies like New Zealand and Australia keep up with the cloud technology revolution? Join us on this episode of the Power Platform Show as we uncover the unique dynamics of adopting Microsoft Power Platform in these less densely populated regions. We promise insights into how population density and economic size shape technological adoption and business culture, and debunk the myths surrounding market size and opportunities south of the equator.Using New Zealand as a case study, we analyze the economic impact of global trade and technology, spotlighting the success of Green Button. We discuss leveraging Microsoft's Azure, Power Platform, and Fabric for a competitive edge. Our conversation extends to the broader economic landscape, contrasting the US's large internal market, Europe's fragmented economies, and China's export-driven strategy. Learn how geography, market size, and government support forge paths for business innovation and growth.Lastly, we explore the transformative power of AI in education, particularly one-to-one tutoring for young children. Imagine reducing learning time while boosting outcomes, allowing families to travel and maintain high educational standards. We also share personal stories about our dream destinations and the practicalities of living abroad in a hybrid work world. From the charm of Tuscany to the vibrant cultures of Portugal, Spain, and Argentina, we provide a fresh perspective on global living and remote work.Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith

Scott Sewell, a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, shares his captivating journey from Dynamics CRM expert to Power BI advocate. He discusses the transformative capabilities of Microsoft Fabric, streamlining data management and integrating various tools. The conversation highlights how effective data management is crucial for AI model training, enabling businesses to generate intelligent insights. Scott also emphasizes the importance of leveraging Dataverse for improved decision-making and operational efficiency, showcasing the evolving landscape of data solutions.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/574Unlock the secrets to navigating an unconventional tech career as we sit down with Michael Roth from Germany, a manager of Experience Tech at Avanade and a Power Platform governance MVP. From educational science to IT consulting, Michael’s journey is anything but typical. He takes us through his transformation, sharing the pivotal experiences and influential mentors that guided him. Hear the story behind his first project, a seemingly simple tea timer app, and discover how his passion for in-person workshops using pen and paper played a crucial role in his professional development. This episode is a testament to the power of personal connections and real-world interactions in forging a successful career.But that's not all. We dive into the transformative power of blogging within the IT community, illustrating how documenting personal solutions can lead to broader recognition and professional growth. Michael shares insights on the critical importance of Power Platform security and AI governance, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures and thoughtful AI integration. This discussion underscores the increasing necessity for effective data handling and governance strategies as technology evolves. Tune in for a compelling mix of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and actionable advice from Michael’s remarkable journey.OTHER RESOURCES: Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP  Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoptionSupport the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith