Sharon Smith
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Solution Architect for ANS Group
London, United Kingdom
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I'm a dual Microsoft Business Applications MVP in Customer Experience and Customer Service. An expert Microsoft Certified Dynamics 365 Solution Architect, who's led the delivery and implementation of several tailored and value-oriented solutions to meet diverse global and national business requirements, that lead to positive customer outcomes.
15x Microsoft Certified and Success by Design Accredited, I use its principles that blend strategic design, rigorous gap analysis, and the pursuit of excellence in service delivery, to craft pathways to success for customers.
As Founder of the UK Charity HeuristicDev: The Mentoring Hub, a Microsoft Women In Power (Platform) Mentorship Program Lead, and regular Community contributor through my HeuristicDev blog posts and public speaking, I have a 'thing' for learning, a thirst for knowledge, and a desire for sharing both to uplift and empower all.
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Area of Expertise
Collapsing BizApps: the AI & Agents driving the Dynamics 365 UI/UX Revolution
"As we enter the Era of Agents, the notion of Business Applications - of CRUD databases with a bunch of business logic - is collapsing.
The logic is going to agents who are multi-repo CRUD - they won't discriminate what the back end is. They will update multiple databases."
These are the paraphrased words of Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, in January 2025.
So what does that mean for products such as Dynamics 365 and Power Apps that are very static UI-led?
Once all the logic is in the AI tier, what will that ultimate futuristic expression look like?
This session gets hands-on to explore the evolution already being seen as AI drives the UI/UX revolution and we pivot to the concept of the "UI for AI".
This session uses hands-on demonstrations to show how AI is driving the UI/UX revolution in the Dynamics 365 Business Applications.
Covering the latest in the evolution journey, including, but not limited to:
• Immersive Copilot Homepage previewing in Dynamics 365 Sales Hub
• Project Sophia as the Business Research Tool previewing in M365 Copilot for Sales
- Dynamics 365 Sales Qualification Agent as one of the 10 pre-built Autonomous Agents
- Microsoft Copilot Sales Chat agent
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Sales Agent
- The Microsoft AI Accelerator for Sales program
• Dynamics 365 Sales Research Agent - the new home for Project Sophia
• Dynamics 365 Contact Center for Sales inside Dynamics 365 Contact Center for Service
Journeying from Client Side to Microsoft Partner
The journey from being on the Client Side across into Consultancy at a Microsoft Partner is a significant one.
It's also far more varied in the barriers to overcome than many see on the surface.
Especially when you're Women In Tech, who've already had successful first careers outside of the industry, looking to navigate what is seen as a male-dominated and highly-demanding landscape.
Join three women with very different back stories as they talk candidly through their real-life experiences on:
• What obstacles or barriers slowed us down from making the move
• What eventually drove each of us forward
• What our first 3 / 6 / 12 months were like and how our backgrounds on the Client Side experiences made them so different
And provide advice on:
• What benefits career-changers and Client-Side specialists bring across with them
• What Partner organizations can do to best support such transitioners
• Whether this could be the right journey for you
This jointly-presented session explored how very different the same roles can be on the Client Side and the critical impact this had on each speaker's individual journeys.
It is aimed at:
• Mentors and recruiters who might be looking to support those thinking about making the transition.
• Senior management and line managers in Partner organizations to educate them how they can successfully recruit, onboard, and then continuously enable those making the transition
• Functional Consultants and Solution Architects currently working on the Client Side who are thinking about applying for a position in Professional Services with a Microsoft Partner
In addition to the in-person attendees, the LinkedIn post concerning the session reached 2,300 members, who also had access to the slides from the session at: https://heuristicdev.co.uk/speaker-sessions.
The Power of Mentoring in the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem
The Power of Mentoring, particularly for women working with, and in, the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem, is undeniable.
Good mentoring partnerships are impactful. They can shape careers, foster leadership, and create long-lasting relationships that help each other grow. They can contribute to women's success and development, both professionally and personally, through skilling and building networks of support.
Being part of the Microsoft Community and its "Better Together" story has shaped me. My journey as an ambassador for Women in Power (Platform), as one of its inaugural mentors, and now as one of its Mentorship Program Leads, has defined me.
Alongside its founder, Danielle Moon, we're daring to dream even bigger.
We're going to bring to life a global charity: The Mentoring Hub, as a space to guide, support, train, and uplift women in our sector. To help more women take their story onto the speaker stage: from local meet-ups to national and global conferences, and to have their mentor cheering them on in the front row!
In this session we talk about the experiences of mentoring: from external and work-based cohort programs, to targeted intensive one-off 'unblocking' sessions. The benefits that these different approaches bring to both mentees and mentors, and the challenges that can sometimes arise.
Whether you're a mentor, mentee, ally, or someone wondering about what mentoring could bring to your professional and personal journey, we hope these insights will help inspire you too.
The guests who join me on this session will vary, as it is intended that they will be the Mentors supporting their Mentees as first-time speakers at the event.
European Power Platform Conference
The Power of Mentoring, particularly for women working with and in the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem, is undeniable. Good mentoring partnerships are impactful; they can shape careers, foster leadership, and create long-lasting relationships that help each other grow. They contribute to women’s success and development, both professionally and personally, through skilling and building networks of support. Being part of the Microsoft Community and its “Better Together” story has shaped me. My journey as an ambassador for Women in Power (Platform), as one of its inaugural mentors, and now as one of its Mentorship Program Leads, has defined me.
Alongside its founder, Danielle Moon, we’re daring to dream even bigger. We’re going to bring to life a global charity, The Mentoring Hub, as a space to guide, support, train, and uplift women in our sector, to help more women take their story onto the speaker stage—from local meet-ups to national and global conferences—and to have their mentor cheering them on in the front row! In this session we talk about the experiences of mentoring, from external and work-based cohort programs to targeted intensive one-off ‘unblocking’ sessions, the benefits these different approaches bring to both mentees and mentors, and the challenges that can sometimes arise.
Whether you’re a mentor, mentee, ally, or someone wondering about what mentoring could bring to your professional and personal journey, we hope these insights will help inspire you too.
ColorCloud Hamburg 2025 Sessionize Event
Global Dynamics 365 Bootcamp Sessionize Event
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Community CRM Call
Monthly Online Microsoft D365 CRM Community Call.
Session: From Client Side to Professional Services: Lessons Learned, and Lessons for Partners to Learn
Description: The personal story of my journey as a Solution Architect moving from the Client Side into Professional Services for one of the top Microsoft Inner Circle Partners. Providing helpful learning for those thinking about making the transition, as well as for Partner organizations on how they can best support such transitionees.
DynamicsCon Virtual Sessionize Event
NZ Business Applications Summit 2024 Sessionize Event
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