Rise of Telana: Combining Azure and GCP to Drive Applied Innovation
How do you deliver outcomes, no matter the platform? Everyone has the same tools. The difference is what you do with them. That’s the ethos behind Telana, the new force born from Ancoris + Sundown Solutions. This week on Microsoft Mentors, we unpack how Telana is blending Azure and GCP to deliver applied innovation, not just technology. Because here’s the truth: ✅ Innovation isn’t tech for tech’s sake ✅ Buyers don’t care about cloud loyalty ✅ It’s all about solving real business problems So… Azure or GCP? Wrong question. The most exciting projects in 2025 are multi-platform by design because customers want outcomes, not infrastructure debates. Telana is delivering those outcomes: >£1.5M annual savings for a retail client through smarter data >Real-time clinical environments running seamlessly on GCP >Strategic AI adoption on both Microsoft and Google stacks @André Azevedo has seen this play before; from Cloudreach’s 30→1000 headcount growth to building Telana’s brand that’s purpose-built for this next era. We talked: ➡️ What applied innovation actually looks like in the field ➡️ Why Microsoft + Google is a strength, not a split ➡️ The leadership lessons that shaped Telana’s launch Are you designing your cloud strategy around platforms or outcomes? #Azure #GCP #CloudStrategy #MicrosoftPartners #InnovationLeadership #AppliedInnovation #MicrosoftMentors #Telana #CloudTransformation
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Idea to Impact: How IBM Is Rewiring Microsoft Delivery
IBM & Microsoft. Once fierce rivals. Now strategic partners. If you'd said this in the 80s in the midst of the PC wars, you'd be laughed out of the server room. Fast forward to today, IBM have a strong strategic partnership with Microsoft and have launched a dedicated Microsoft Practice. Why? Because transformation at enterprise scale now demands collaboration at enterprise scale. 🟦 Azure 🟨 Fabric 🟩 Copilot 🟪 AI at the edge of every workflow Customers are looking for aligned ecosystems. And IBM’s new Microsoft Practice puts decades of enterprise consulting muscle behind Microsoft’s modern cloud stack. In this week's Microsoft Mentors podcast, I sat down with Tim Callahan to unpack: ➡️ The vision behind IBM’s Microsoft Practice ➡️ What this means for Azure customers (hint: faster idea-to-impact) ➡️ How IBM is restructuring to fuel transformation, not turf wars ➡️ And why, in a world racing toward AI, it’s not about picking sides, it’s about building bridges This episode is packed with insight, nuance, and a few throwbacks to OCS and Blue Yonder mailboxes 👴 What do you make of the IBM + Microsoft alignment?
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From outsider to insider: How Richard Conway helped shape Azure in the UK
It started with two people in a pub… and ended with 250 people queuing outside a packed-out Azure event. That’s how you build credibility in the Microsoft ecosystem. Before Azure was mainstream, Elastacloud were deep in the weeds. Writing tools, building community, and backing the tech nobody else cared about (yet). Richard Conway and Andy Cross didn’t just spot the trend. They help make it happen. ➡️ Founded the UK Azure user group ➡️ Trained 200+ Microsoft Partners ➡️ Got seconded by Microsoft to onboard customers at scale That traction led to big data specialism, high-performance projects, and eventually, acquisition by Acora. Now Richard’s CTO of a modern MSP, helping mid-market customers navigate the same cloud journey Elastacloud once pioneered. If you’re trying to build credibility as a Microsoft Partner, this is how it’s done.
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You can scale a company and your fitness at the same time!
Since refocusing his attention on his own health and fitness (and dropping 30kg!) Hugh rediscovered his energy and built a culture that runs (literally) on wellbeing. His big realisation? Making time for your health + fitness doesn’t slow the business down. It supercharges it. 🏃 Valto Run Club now takes 10+ people out every Thursday ⛰️ They’ve just hiked all 15 Welsh 3000s in under 24 hours for charity 💬 And some of the most honest business conversations now happen mid-jog, not in boardrooms And it’s led to clear, measureable results for the business... ➡️ Stress is lower ➡️ Retention is up ➡️ Performance is stronger ➡️ And the business has scaled to 50+ people with a genuine culture of care Hugh shares the full story on this week’s episode of Microsoft Mentors; from burnout to business breakthrough, and how he's weaving wellbeing into the Microsoft Partner playbook. If you're a founder, leader, or future CEO in the Microsoft space... This one’s a blueprint for building a business that’s fit for scale, and fit for life.
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Grow to scale or grow to sustain? The Founder dilemma
Grow to scale or grow to sustain?The founder dilemma no one talks about enough.Big vision. Bigger risks.And a million micro-decisions in between.This week’s Microsoft Mentors Live is a proper deep dive with Mitesh Chauhan — founder of LA Net.We cover the gritty side of building a Microsoft services business from scratch:Wearing every hat — delivery, sales, accounting, hiringTraining talent from scratch (and watching them outgrow you 👀)Walking away from easy revenue to protect your nicheThe big question we kept circling back to:➡️ Are you building to scale?➡️ Or building to sustain?Two very different mindsets.Two very different outcomes.Neither wrong — but one will burn you out if you’re not honest about what you're really chasing.🎙️ It’s one of my favourite chats so far — and a must-watch for anyone growing an MSP, Microsoft Partner, or technical consultancy.
Microsoft Mentors: The Podcast lifts the lid on the journeys of the most successful leaders in the Microsoft Partner ecosystem.
Through candid conversations with founders, business owners, and technical leaders, we explore the strategies, grit, and lessons behind their growth and how they’re building competitive advantage for the future.
These are the untold stories and practical lessons from leaders who are defining success in
Azure, AI, Data, App Innovation and Security.
Our mission? To tell Partner stories at scale and create impactful Microsoft conversations.
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