The Microsoft ecosystem is evolving faster than ever. Between AI, Copilot, automation, low-code development, cloud platforms, and the growing Power Platform ecosystem, many professionals are asking the same question: How do you actually build a long-term career in Microsoft technologies today? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer Nathalie Leenders to explore the journey from certifications and exams to real-world expertise, consulting experience, and community leadership. Nathalie Leenders is widely known in the Microsoft community for her deep technical knowledge, her passion for Power Platform, her educational content, speaking engagements, and her strong presence within the Microsoft ecosystem. But her path into technology was not a traditional “developer from day one” story. Nathalie shares how she originally worked in IT service management and support roles before gradually moving into SharePoint, workflows, InfoPath, Power BI, and eventually Power Platform development. Her story is a powerful reminder that successful careers in tech rarely follow a perfectly straight line. HOW CURIOSITY AND LEARNING CREATED A MICROSOFT CAREER One of the strongest themes throughout this episode is curiosity. Nathalie explains how her willingness to continuously learn new technologies became the foundation of her success. Long before Power Platform became the global phenomenon it is today, she was already experimenting with SharePoint Designer workflows, automation scenarios, and business process optimization. When the opportunity arose to join an automation-focused team, she embraced the challenge even before fully understanding all the technical requirements. Rather than waiting until she felt “ready,” Nathalie learned by building real solutions in real environments. She discusses how tutorials, Microsoft Learn, YouTube videos, community content, and experimentation helped her grow into a Power Platform consultant capable of solving enterprise-scale problems. She also highlights how visual learning played a major role in her development and why practical hands-on work remains essential in modern IT careers. THE REAL VALUE OF MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS IN 2026 Are Microsoft certifications still worth it in 2026? Nathalie gives an honest and balanced perspective on certifications, exams, and technical learning paths. She explains that certifications themselves are not magic career shortcuts, but they can absolutely help people learn structured knowledge, build confidence, and open career opportunities when combined with practical experience. A major part of the conversation focuses on PL-400, one of the most advanced Power Platform certifications available. Nathalie shares how she intentionally challenged herself with the difficult Power Platform Developer certification early in her career, despite being told it might be “too difficult.” That challenge ultimately accelerated her technical growth and pushed her deeper into topics such as JavaScript, plugins, advanced Dataverse concepts, and Power Platform extensibility. Mirko and Nathalie also discuss common mistakes people make while preparing for Microsoft exams. Instead of simply memorizing practice questions, Nathalie encourages listeners to focus on understanding concepts, building real projects, experimenting with technologies, and connecting theoretical learning with actual business scenarios. She emphasizes that true expertise comes from combining certifications with implementation experience and continuous curiosity. WHY THE MICROSOFT COMMUNITY IS A CAREER SUPERPOWER Another major focus of this episode is the incredible impact of community involvement. Nathalie passionately explains how user groups, online community calls, Microsoft events, local meetups, and community-driven learning helped shape her career. She encourages beginners not to feel intimidated by technical communities and reminds listeners that most people in the Microsoft ecosystem are highly supportive and genuinely willing to help others succeed. The conversation highlights the Dutch Women in Tech community, local meetups, MVP networking, and the collaborative culture that makes the Microsoft ecosystem unique. Nathalie explains how even attending events quietly, listening to conversations, and asking small questions can become the starting point for massive career growth. Eventually, those same community interactions led her toward public speaking, blogging, mentoring, and becoming a recognized Microsoft MVP. POWER PLATFORM, LOW-CODE DEVELOPMENT, AND REAL-WORLD CONSULTING This episode also delivers deep insights into the Power Platform itself. Nathalie shares why so many people start with Canvas Apps and how Power Apps provides one of the most approachable entry points into modern application development. She explains how low-code development still requires real technical thinking, problem-solving skills, logical architecture, and performance optimization. The discussion covers Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, Power BI, automation design, connectors, workflows, enterprise integrations, and real consulting experiences. Nathalie shares examples of complex automation solutions she built involving document generation, approval workflows, secure processing, external systems, APIs, and enterprise-level business automation. She also explains why consultants today must understand the broader Microsoft ecosystem instead of specializing too narrowly in only one product. The future of Power Platform development is another exciting topic in the conversation. Mirko and Nathalie explore how Copilot, AI-assisted development, GitHub Copilot, and Microsoft’s growing AI ecosystem are changing the way developers build solutions. Nathalie discusses how AI can already help with expressions, code suggestions, and development acceleration while still requiring strong technical understanding and business context from the developer. MVP VS MCT: WHAT CHANGED HER CAREER THE MOST? As both a Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Nathalie offers unique insight into both programs. She explains the differences between the two roles, how MCT focuses on structured technical education and exam training, while MVP recognition is deeply connected to community contribution, knowledge sharing, blogging, speaking, and helping others in the ecosystem. One of the most inspiring parts of the discussion is Nathalie’s perspective on helping others grow. She explains how community visibility, blogging, and public speaking created opportunities far beyond certifications alone. People now approach her at conferences because they read her blog posts, watched her sessions, or learned from her content online. That human connection and community recognition became one of the biggest accelerators in her professional journey. THE FUTURE OF POWER PLATFORM CAREERS The Microsoft ecosystem is changing rapidly with AI, Fabric, Copilot Studio, Foundry, automation, and cloud-native business applications becoming increasingly interconnected. Nathalie explains why modern consultants and developers need broader technical awareness across multiple Microsoft technologies rather than only focusing on a single tool. Understanding integrations, architecture, business processes, and cross-platform collaboration is becoming more valuable than ever. She also shares one of the most important career lessons from the episode: stay curious. Technology changes constantly, certifications evolve, products shift, and entirely new AI-powered experiences appear almost every month. The people who continue learning, experimenting, collaborating, and adapting will be the ones who build sustainable long-term careers in the Microsoft ecosystem. IN THIS EPISODE Building a Microsoft Power Platform career from the ground upThe real value of Microsoft certifications and PL-400Why community involvement accelerates technical growthHow AI and Copilot are changing low-code developmentKEY TOPICS COVERED POWER PLATFORM • POWER APPS • POWER AUTOMATE • DATAVERSE • MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS • MICROSOFT MVP • MICROSOFT CERTIFIED TRAINER • LOW-CODE DEVELOPMENT • CANVAS APPS • POWER BI • FABRIC • COPILOT STUDIO • AI DEVELOPMENT • MICROSOFT LEARN • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION • AUTOMATION • ENTERPRISE APPS • BUSINESS PROCESS AUTOMATION • MODERN WORKPLACE • CLOUD CONSULTING • MICROSOFT COMMUNITY • TECH CAREERS • M365 • POWER PLATFORM CONSULTING • MICROSOFT AI • DEVELOPER CAREERS Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/m365-fm-modern-work-security-and-productivity-with-microsoft-365--6704921/support.
