Sprint-Zero Jon Russell & Mike Gowland

Summary
Emma-Claire Shaw, the Lead Product Manager for Power Platform at DEFRA, shares her personal journey and insights into citizen development. She talks about what makes a good product manager, the challenges of managing products at a large scale, and the exciting new technologies in the Power Platform. Emma also highlights the importance of proper governance in Power Platform and how it helps citizen developers. She opens up about her own struggles with imposter syndrome and gives advice to others who might feel the same. Lastly, Emma discusses her upcoming speaking engagements and the shift towards a more technical focus within the Power Platform community.

Key Takeaways


People Skills & Passion: Essential for product management.
Strategic Scaling: Prioritization is key in large-scale management.
AI Advancements: Power Platform’s AI simplifies building and enhances solutions.
Governance: Vital for Power Platform’s secure development.
Citizen Developer Support: Crucial for Power Platform’s success.
Imposter Syndrome: Common but conquerable with self-trust and learning.
Community Engagement: Sharing and learning through speaking and involvement.
Technical Shift: Power Platform’s community is increasingly tech-oriented.

Special Thanks to

Emma-Claire Shaw for joining us for this episode! You can find their socials at:


LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawemmaclaire/

KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - Find out more about him and listen to his music here

Resources mentioned in this episode

Summary
Join us on Sprint Zero as we chat with Keith Atherton, a solution architect at ANS Group. Discover Keith’s leap from traditional coding to the dynamic world of low code, unlocking rapid prototyping and MVP development. Get a glimpse of his gaming roots and ongoing ventures, and how AI is revolutionizing creativity in gaming. Plus, Keith shares how much organisation went into starting "On Air In the Cloud", his regular podcast show. Don’t miss Keith’s take on becoming an MVP, the power of community, and the art of juggling professional growth with personal well-being.

Key Takeaways


Low code speeds up prototyping and MVP creation.
Visual tools in low code clarify the end product for clients.
AI could transform game development and creative fields.
Podcast success hinges on careful planning and organization.
Tech community connections foster opportunities and growth.
MVP status offers networking and community recognition.
LinkedIn courses share expertise but require time investment.
Self-care and balance are vital in community engagement.
Workload management and delegation prevent burnout.
MVP nomination reflects on achievements and sets goals.
User group involvement enriches through connections and learning.
Workload awareness is key to sustained productivity.

Special Thanks to

Keith Atherton for joining us for this episode! You can find their socials at:


LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-atherton/
X https://twitter.com/MrKeithAtherton
Their LinkTree for more resources https://linktr.ee/keithatherton


KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - Find out more about him and listen to his music here

Resources mentioned in this episode


On Air In the Cloud Podcast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onairinthecloud
Europress "The Games Factory" https://clickwiki.github.io/games-factory/

Summary
What do you get when you mix DJing in nightclubs with web development expertise? You get Franco Musso, the CRM Biz Coach. This episode dives into the intricacies of freelancing, the dynamics of Power Pages in the market, and the art of conference speaking. It also touches on the synergy between music and tech, the significance of mental and physical health, and the camaraderie within the tech community

Key Takeaways


Freelancers: Stand out by honing skills and self-promotion.
Power Pages: Complex pricing, yet offers business scalability.
Misconceptions: Power Pages, though underrated, enable robust web apps with Dataverse’s security.
Conference Speaking: Success hinges on tailored content and audience engagement.
Nightclub Skills: DJing shapes diverse professional abilities.
Burnout: Vital to spot and tackle burnout symptoms early.
Health Connection: Stress highlights the mental-physical health link.
Tech Community: Thrives on mutual support and knowledge exchange.
Power Platform: A welcoming network fostering growth.
Microsoft Stack: Continuously evolving for collaborative innovation.

Special Thanks to

Franco Musso for joining us for this episode and being our sponsor! You can find their socials at:


LinkedIn - https://tinyurl.com/spnt0
X - https://tinyurl.com/4ke8hscf
Their Blog https://francomusso.com/

KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - Find out more about him and listen to his music here

Summary
In this episode, we interview James Connelly, the multi-discipline technical lead at Network Rail. We discuss James' journey into the Power Platform space and the challenges and successes of implementing Power Platform at scale. We also explore the importance of controlling development in the Power Platform and enabling citizen developers at Network Rail. The episode concludes with a fun discussion about chicken wings in the Wing It section. In this conversation, James Connelly discusses his love for chicken wings and his preference for breaded wings. The conversation then takes a serious turn as James shares his personal experience with a brain hemorrhage and the challenges he faced during his recovery. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and adapting to life's challenges. James also discusses the impact of his experience on his perspective of heroes and role models.

Key Takeaways


Implementing Power Platform at scale requires careful planning and governance.
Controlling development in the Power Platform is essential for maintaining security and data integrity.
Enabling citizen developers can bridge the gap between IT and the rest of the business.
Chicken George in Bedford is a must-visit for chicken wing enthusiasts. Chicken wings can be enjoyed breaded or naked, depending on personal preference.
James Connelly's experience with a brain hemorrhage taught him the importance of resilience and making the most out of life.
Heroes and role models should be those who have overcome adversity and continue to fight for a better life.
It is important to step back from celebrity culture and focus on what truly matters in life.

Special Thanks to

James Connelly for joining us for this episode!


LinkedIn https://tinyurl.com/32fjbjnk

KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - (https://linktr.ee/kenlikefit)

Resources mentioned in this episode


Chicken George - Bedford: https://tinyurl.com/mrykfvcn

James’ Just giving page for the 2024 London Marathon – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JamesConnelly-London-Marathon-2024?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=JamesConnelly-London-Marathon-2024&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=d309db1a96eb42d89952cc533cc5f0f8

Information on Head injuries and about Headway - Headway - the brain injury association | Headway

Admin view blog (coming soon) – www.adminviewblog.com

Summary
Chris Huntingford, Director of Digital Innovation at ANS Group, discusses technology, CRM3, and deploying Copilot. The conversation covers educational challenges, vendor responsibilities, and live demos. Chris shares how he navigates discomfort and sets boundaries. Managing time and availability are also highlighted.

Key Takeaways


The role of vendors and Microsoft partners in educating and keeping educational establishments up-to-date with technology is crucial.
The deployment of Copilot requires sorting out data and security as key success factors.
The future of Gen AI lies in its augmentation of products and people.
Passion and a mindset shift are essential in the technology industry
Live demos and interactive presentations can be engaging and memorable
Setting boundaries and expectations is crucial for maintaining work-life balance and preventing burnout.
Managing time and calendar effectively is essential for productivity and avoiding overcommitment.

Special Thanks to

Chris Huntingford for joining us for this episode! You can find their socials at:


LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrishuntingford/
X https://twitter.com/ThatPlatformGuy

KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - Find out more about him and listen to his music here

Resources mentioned in this episode


[The Book Link??]

Summary
In this episode, Jon Russell and Mike Gowland are joined by Dan Barber, the head of business applications at ANS and a business apps MVP. They discuss topics such as whiskey, Dan's journey in tech, mentoring, the importance of agile methodology in Dynamics implementation, continuous improvement culture, the impact of social media on imposter syndrome, and beard grooming.

Key Takeaways


Agile methodology is a great fit for technology projects due to the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the industry.
Creating a safe space is crucial in mentoring relationships to foster open and honest communication.
Continuous improvement is important in personal and professional growth, and it requires empowerment and autonomy.
Social media platforms like LinkedIn can be both helpful and overwhelming, and it's important to set personal limits and guardrails.
Beard grooming requires time, maintenance, and the right products, and it's a personal choice that varies for each individual.

Special Thanks to
Dan Barber. You can find their socials at:


LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbarber/
X -

KenLikeFit for providing music for this episode - [Find out more about him and listen to his music here] https://linktr.ee/kenlikefit