

Microsoft Innovation Podcast
Mark Smith [nz365guy]
If you want to get your ideas or questions featured on an episode, please leave us a voicemail: https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/voicemail/Dive into the future of work with the "Microsoft Innovation Podcast," exploring the intersection of People, Business, Technology, and AI. Engage with expert guests—including thought leaders from Microsoft, industry innovators, and community specialists—who are redefining the world with advancements in AI, Cloud technologies, the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and beyond.Every episode delivers a blend of in-depth discussions, practical insights, and actionable strategies tailored for professionals driving enablement and innovation. Join us across our five shows:The Power Platform ShowThe MVP ShowThe Copilot ShowThe Ecosystems ShowThe AI Advantage (coming soon)
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 20, 2018 • 46min
Dynamics 365 Training with Lindsay Marrin
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/20How to develop teaching skillsAre students created equal?Engage students that don’t want to be on the trainingClass facilitation when there is a wide difference in skill levelsBest preparation before attending a Dynamics classThe importance of Microsoft certificationMicrosoft Official Courseware (MOC)Preparing for examsMicrosoft Dynamics Learning Portal (DLP)Microsoft Certified Trainer for Dynamics 365 (MCT)Dynamics 365 training as part of an implementation projectCreating custom training content for a tailored implementationMethods of deliveryBootcampOnline training (live virtual)Self-study (eLearning)BooksBlogsYouTubeBooks MentionedShop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew B. Crawford https://amzn.to/2GiEG2MDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink https://amzn.to/2GTF8p4ResourcesBlog https://www.geekgirlcrm.caDynamicsU https://dynamicsu.com365 Talent Portal – DLP access for non-partners https://www.365talentportal.com/consultant/access-to-dlp-members-onlyBecome an MCT https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mct-certification.aspxMicrosoft Teams https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-softwareEDX https://www.edx.org/school/microsoftMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Roadmap https://roadmap.dynamics.comUser Adoption with Gretchen https://www.nz365guy.com/dynamics-365-adoption-gretchen-opferkewOneNoteOffice LensMicrosoft 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

May 6, 2018 • 53min
Recruiting & Leadership in the Dynamics Practice with Heather Hall
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/19Doing Dynamics 365 Recruitment rightProfile of a great candidateCore roles in a Dynamics 365 delivery teamEngaging with recruitersPoaching of staffChoosing candidatesOnboarding new people into the teams’ cultureHow to stop top long-term talent leavingTesting for attitude and team fitDynamics 365 skill-testing candidatesMicrosoft Certification and the selection processForms of educationCreating first day momentsAdvice to leaders; to do more of? Less ofLeadership in a Dynamics PracticeBiggest leadership challengesInspire your peopleMicrosoft 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

Apr 23, 2018 • 58min
Dynamics 365 Administrator at Ford with Clarissa Simpson
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/18Dynamics 365 Administrator at FordDay in a life of a Dynamics AdministratorThe roles and responsibilities and culture on a Dynamics 365 teamVendor and Partner engagementHow to motivate a teamMicrosoft as a vendorWorking with Microsoft PartnersHallmarks of an outstanding Microsoft PartnerDynamics 365 CommunityAddressing gender balance in the Dynamics 365 communityBooks MentionedBryce Courtenay https://amzn.to/2GlajbQResourcesFord https://www.ford.comMicrosoft Power Bi https://powerbi.microsoft.comAssistive Technology Blog–Venkat Rao http://assistivetechnologyblog.comSlack https://slack.comMicrosoft 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

Apr 8, 2018 • 49min
Presales and Dynamics 365 Practice Growth with Koen Van de Vyver
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/17Bringing craftsmanship to the CRM tradeWhat is Presales for Dynamics 365Getting training for a presales roleThe toughest element of working in presalesDemonstrating the capabilities of Dynamics 365 to a customerCreating Demo’sMaintaining your demo environmentsBest practice for your demo environmentsRelationships between Presales and SalesHarvard Business Review titled “To Improve Sales, Pay More Attention to Presales““Distinct from marketing and sales operations, presales provides a specific set of activities that lead to qualifying, bidding on, winning, and renewing a deal.”“Souping up the presales engine can yield a five-point improvement in conversion rates, a 6–13% improvement in revenue, and a 10–20% improvement in the speed of moving prospects through the sales process.”Books MentionedSteve Jobs by Walter Isaacson http://amzn.to/2HTF3BoExtreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin http://amzn.to/2u4THUjThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday http://amzn.to/2HR6ETLDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport http://amzn.to/2u6dd2DMake Your Bed by William H. McRaven http://amzn.to/2Ga4h0ZNeil Benson – Scrum PodcastResourcesTed https://www.ted.comMarica Söderstam – Dynamics 365 Product OwnershipSoundCloud https://soundcloud.comThe Art of Manliness https://www.artofmanliness.com/category/podcast/ClickDimensions https://www.clickdimensions.comKingswaysoft https://www.kingswaysoft.comScrum for Dynamics 365 https://www.customery.comMicrosoft 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

Mar 25, 2018 • 54min
Sales in the Dynamics 365 Practice with Brock Sperryn
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/16The difference in selling business application software to infrastructure softwareCustomer characteristics (IT or business)Changes in recent years in the way customers are acquiring Dynamics 365The typical timeframe to sell DynamicsCustomer engagement process in the Dynamics saleCustomer engagement post-saleTypical stakeholders in a Dynamics saleSetting up the pursuit team in a Dynamics saleThe part RFx, play in the sales processLead generationThe role of Pre-SalesSalesperson enablementDifferent customer profiles Government, Not for Profit and CommercialStaying on the cutting edge as a salespersonMicrosoft Partnership and relationship in the sales engagementBooks MentionedScar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis http://amzn.to/2HSx3jTMaster of Scale https://mastersofscale.comLinkedInResourcesIannarino https://thesalesblog.comMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Roadmap https://roadmap.dynamics.comOffice 365 Roadmap https://products.office.com/en-us/business/office-365-roadmap?filters=Microsoft Dynamics 365 Team blog https://community.dynamics.com/enterprise/b/365teamblogCRM User Group http://www.d365ugaustralia.com/ OR Http://crmug.comAustralian Chamber of Commerce https://www.australianchamber.com.auAustralia-Israel Chamber of Commerce http://www.aicc.org.auMicrosoft 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

Mar 10, 2018 • 59min
GDPR and Dynamics 365 with Mohamed Mostafa
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/15General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)Layperson's view of GDPRWhat is GDPR?Who is affected by the new regulation?Microsoft Dynamics 365 Partners and GDPRMicrosoft and GDPRDynamics 365 consultants and the effect GDPR will have on their rolesGDPR and Geography for all those outside the EUGDPR and the current Dynamics platformMarketing, Sales and Service – how will GDPR affect theseDynamics 365 Audit with Read Access and GDPRDynamics 365 Security and GDPRBooks MentionedTinTin http://amzn.to/2FgRMOfResourcesTechLabs http://techlabs.londonMicrosoft Trust Centre https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/TrustCenter/Privacy/gdpr/default.aspxEUGDPR https://www.eugdpr.orgTrello https://trello.comMicrosoft ToDo https://todo.microsoft.com/en-gbLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.comWunderlist https://www.wunderlist.com/365Saturdays http://365saturday.comMicrosoft 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

Feb 25, 2018 • 43min
Microsoft Business Applications with James Phillips
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/14Microsoft Business Applications in 2018Leading a 5000+ strong team at MicrosoftChallenges of leading a large teamManage competing prioritiesThe long-term future for on-premiseLeverage the power of Office365 and Azure for on-premiseEnterprise Microsoft FlowPowerAppsCommon Data Services (CDS)Customer focus for developmentMicrosoft Business Application for Microsoft PartnersMicrosoft partners that are executing well in Business ApplicationsAI and the role that it will play in the future of Business ApplicationsDynamics 365 https://dynamics.microsoft.comPowerApps https://powerapps.microsoft.comPower BI https://powerbi.microsoft.comMicrosoft Flow https://flow.microsoft.comBooks MentionedCompetitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance by Michael E. Porter http://amzn.to/2H7kHFaCompetitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael E. Porter http://amzn.to/2G4824zForged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times by Nancy Koehn http://amzn.to/2skhRczResourcesUber https://www.uber.com/invite/marks1145Strava https://www.strava.com/mobileZwift https://zwift.comMicrosoft 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

Feb 12, 2018 • 36min
Digital Transformation with Scott Ward (Part 2)
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/13Can Digital Transformation help Microsoft partners win more business?Type of skills a partner needs if they want to engage customers in their Digital Transformation journeyTraining programs on Digital Transformation for partnersTypical engagement types for Digital TransformationKey stakeholders that need to be involved for it to meet the objectivesGeorge Westerman | Principal Research Scientist with the MIT said: “When digital transformation is done right, it’s like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, but when done wrong, all you have is a really fast caterpillar.”John Hagel III | Co-Chairman at Deloitte LLP Centre for the Edge leaders, he says “Most of the executives I talk to are still very much focused on digital largely as a way to do “more of the same,” just more efficiently, quickly, cost-effectively. But I don’t see a lot of evidence of fundamentally stepping back and rethinking, at a basic level, ‘What business are we really in?’”Recommended next steps for those wanting more from Digital TransformationBooks MentionedDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink http://amzn.to/2qXdrHKThe Innovator's Method: Bringing the Lean Start-up into Your Organization by Nathan Furr & Jeff Dyer http://amzn.to/2D1eECNSprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky & Braden Kowitz http://amzn.to/2mkshTgResourcesDigital Infusions: digitalinfusions.comiTunes https://itunes.apple.comShazam https://www.shazam.com/gb/appsWonder Weeks https://www.thewonderweeks.com/about-the-wonder-week-app/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

Jan 29, 2018 • 50min
Digital Transformation with Scott Ward (Part 1)
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/12The two parts of Digital TransformationWhat is Digital Transformation in a practical senseWhy should organisations care about Digital Transformation?What is hype and what is the reality with Digital TransformationWhat problems does Digital Transformation solve?How to sort through the hype of Digital TransformationWhat tools are there out there to help with Digital TransformationWhat type of organisations are embracing Digital TransformationThe Digital Transformation leadersThe Digital Transformation laggardsWhat should Microsoft partners be doing differently to engage customers with Digital TransformationMicrosoft 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

Jan 14, 2018 • 48min
Dynamics 365 Product Ownership with Marica Söderstam
FULL SHOW NOTEShttps://podcast.nz365guy.com/11Journey to Product Owner based on Dynamics 365Product LeadershipProduct owner of MMS built on the Dynamics 365 platformChallenges with being a product ownerHow is the product sold and marketed?How to future-proof your product when technology is always changingQuality controlRoadmap PlanningCreating and managing what goes into the roadmapHow to keep up with the changes that Microsoft releasesWhy use Dynamics 365?Challenges with using Dynamics 365Agile Product ManagementStrengths of Agile Development for long-term projectsA typical Agile dayMeeting Customer DemandsMeeting multiple customer demandsHow to manage expectationsBugs that customers reportComing up with innovative ideasIncorporating user feedbackCommunicating Product DevelopmentCommunication strategyTeam CooperationBuild team structure for your product developmentHow to keep the team excited about the product years after the product launchKey skills you need in a team that is building a product on Dynamics 365Books MentionedOutliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell http://amzn.to/2CjB55WThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell http://amzn.to/2Dst1wrResourcesInnofactor http://www.innofactor.comMMS http://www.innofactor.com/customers/kommunalThe Five Whys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_WhysProduct Auditing by FASTPATH https://www.gofastpath.com/grc-for-dynamics-365Headspace https://www.headspace.com (25% off link)Todoit https://en.todoist.comMicrosoft 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


