From Blogger to Builder: Power Platform, AI Bootcamps, and the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/677Pavan Mani Deep Yaragani, a first-time Microsoft MVP from Singapore, shares his journey from blogging about Power Platform technologies to earning MVP recognition in 2024. His story reveals how finding your specialty and consistently creating high-quality technical content can lead to community recognition and MVP status.TAKEAWAYS• Started career at HCL Technologies as a Dynamics 365 professional directly after college• Currently works as assistant lead engineer and manager in healthcare, focusing on model-driven Power Apps and Power BI• Earned Microsoft's "Top 10 Bloggers" recognition for several consecutive months• Blogs primarily about new Power Platform features, testing them in trial and preview accounts• Recently organized an online AI boot camp in Singapore with 30-35 participants• Recommends finding a niche skill where you can contribute consistently for 1-2 years• Was nominated for MVP by Golokan Mishtan from Singapore• Credits the 90-day mentoring challenge as boosting his MVP journeyOTHER RESOURCES: 👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP 👉GitHub: https://github.com/pavanmanideep 👉Personal GitHub: https://pavanmanideep.github.io/ This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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17:08
Autonomous Agents: Marketing Hype vs. Technical Reality
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/676 Andrew Welch, Chris Huntingford, and William Dorrington explore the gap between marketed AI capabilities and technical reality, highlighting how "autonomous agents" often lack true orchestration and memory needed for genuine autonomy.TAKEAWAYS• Home gym innovation with resistance training that uses AI to adjust to your goals and fatigue levels• Analysis of the US AI policy focusing on "US-made AI" compared to more detailed EU and UK frameworks• The increasing fracturing of the global technology landscape with nations prioritizing domestic innovation• Calling out marketing hype around "autonomous agents" that are merely deterministic automation with fancy names• The critical need for memory capabilities in AI to enable true contextual understanding• How delegation skills will become essential as we move toward more capable AI systems• Creative workflows using Copilot for structuring ideas while preserving unique voiceThis year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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37:13
Scheduling Mastery: How Calendly is Transforming Business Relationships
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/675The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we explore the future of meetings in a hybrid world. Jeff Hardison shares insights from Calendly's research showing growing excitement about AI's role in making meetings more effective, while also noting the pendulum swing between asynchronous communication and the irreplaceable value of human connection. Scheduling software Calendly has evolved from a simple time-finding tool into a comprehensive platform for building meaningful business relationships with over 20 million users worldwide.TAKEAWAYS• Calendly was founded by Tope Awotona, who wanted to solve the problem of coordinating meetings across different schedules and time zones• The platform has expanded beyond basic scheduling to offer team-based coordination, automated notifications, and integration with payment systems like Stripe• Calendly positions itself as "neutral Switzerland" between different platforms, integrating with Microsoft, Google, Zoom, Teams, and various CRM systems• 54% of people surveyed are excited about AI's potential role in making meetings more effective• The future of meetings will balance asynchronous communication tools with synchronous human connection• Video communication skills are increasingly essential as remote work and freelancing continue to grow• Microsoft-specific integrations include Outlook, Teams, Dynamics CRM, and Power AutomateCheck out the Calendly for Microsoft webinar and integration page to learn more about connecting your Microsoft ecosystem with Calendly's scheduling capabilities.This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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31:36
From Receptionist to MVP with Amber Bell
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/674Amber Bell shares her journey from receptionist at a GP partner to Microsoft MVP, discovering her passion for training and documentation along the way.TAKEAWAYS• Starting as a receptionist at a Microsoft Great Plains partner in San Diego• Moving up through certifications and discovering a love for training instead of programming• Founding Training Dynamo nine years ago to focus on empowering users through education• Helping clients bridge from GP to Business Central through process review and data cleanup• Finding value in community connections with mentors like Kim Peterson and Anya Jucherski• Emphasizing the importance of involving accounting teams in system transitions• Growing from imposter syndrome to recognizing the value of specialized training skills• Living near the beach in Connecticut with a love for making Mexican food and gardeningIf you have not checked it out already, I do a YouTube series called How to Become an MVP. The link is in the show notes.OTHER RESOURCES: 👉Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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24:39
AI's Legal Frontier: Why Your Next Tech Project Needs a Lawyer
Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/673 Microsoft appears to be settling into a more deliberate AI strategy with increasing focus on data governance, security, and Fabric as a central component for AI implementation. The recent clarity around Microsoft's vision suggests a transition from reactionary AI deployment to a more considered approach for long-term value.TAKEAWAYS• Microsoft Fabric and OneLake emerging as an "AI landing zone" for consolidating multi-cloud data • Free mirroring technology for AWS and other platforms reduces barriers to cross-cloud data integration • Business Applications division potentially facing reorganization within the next five years • Dataverse likely moving to Fabric while Copilot Studio shifts to Microsoft 365 • Traditional UI paradigms may disappear as AI interfaces replace menus and navigation elements • Legal involvement becoming critical in AI development for the first time in software history • Increased focus needed on the social and governance aspects of ESG in AI implementation • Serious concerns about AI's potential to facilitate cybercrime and human rights violationsThis year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world. DynamicsMinds is a world-class event in Slovenia that brings together Microsoft product managers, industry leaders, and dedicated users to explore the latest in Microsoft Dynamics 365, the Power Platform, and Copilot.Early bird tickets are on sale now and listeners of the Microsoft Innovation Podcast get 10% off with the code MIPVIP144bff https://www.dynamicsminds.com/register/?voucher=MIPVIP144bff Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!Support the showIf you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
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)
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