Microsoft Spotlight Podcast
Coming Soon…

The Microsoft Spotlight Post has been an idea of Andrew’s for a number of years but had stepped away from all actions community work for a number of years, the podcast had to take a bit of a back seat. Now in 2021, Andrew has teamed up with Jon Jarvis to launch the Microsoft Spotlight Podcast which isn’t just about the technical elements of any IT role or position but focusing on the individuals that drive through diversity and challenge equality.

For 2021 we are going to focus on the Women In Tech Community….

We are looking for guest speakers that work within the Microsoft ecosystem whether thats as a IT Pro, Consultant, Architect, Partner to come and speak about their careers. You dont need to be a seasoned pro in public speaking, all we ask for is to hear your passion and drive that pushes you to achieve more.

Regards
Andrew Price

Microsoft Spotlight Episode 21 – Holly Lehman

Microsoft Spotlight Episode 21 – Holly Lehman

In today’s episode of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, our hosts are joined by Holly Lehman, who is the Product Marketing Manager for Microsoft Teams.

Holly talks to our guests about her life before Microsoft, moving between Vegas and Seattle working in hospitality. Holly has spoken at many events across the globe and has her own community
podcast titled “Head in the Cloud, Heart in the Community”.

Holly’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lehman_holly
Holly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-lehman-103b8050
Head in the Cloud, Heart in the Community: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeadintheCloudHeartintheCommunity

Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis
Microsoft Women In Tech UK Community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/

Microsoft Spotlight Episode 20 – Antje Lamartine

On this week’s episode of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, we are joined by Antje Lamartine who is a Microsoft MVP based in Germany.

Antje is a Senior Change Success Manager for IF-Blueprint AG based in Munich, Germany. In this episode, we discussed Antje’s life in the US/ Germany, how the Women In Tech community varies in each country and how she becames a part of the Microsoft MVP Community.

Antje’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntjeLamartine
Antje’s LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/AntjeLamartine
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis
https://youtu.be/Y77pdfqXiqg

Episode 19 – Tracy van der Scyhff

Microsoft Spotlight Episode 19 – Tracy van der Scyhff
On this week’s episode of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, we are joined by Tracy van der Schyff who is the first dual MVP that has joined us on the show.

Tracy is a Microsoft 365 coach and has owned her own company The GUID Stuff for the past 10 years. This episode is one of the funniest episodes with both hosts in hysterics throughout. Tracy speaks about her own health after recently suffering from a stroke and what she is doing now to ensure a better work/life balance.

PS – This episode is interrupted by Tracy’s internsheep!

Tracy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/elena_sinel
Tracy’s LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/tracyvds
Tracy’s Blog: https://tracyvanderschyff.com/
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis

Episode 18 – Elena Sinel

On this week’s episode of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, we listen to the inspirational story of Elena Sinel who is the Ceo and Founder of TeensInAI

Elena is our second Microsoft Regional Director on the show and is the first Regional Director from Uzbekistan. Having worked all over the world, Elena settled in London having never worked in IT but after her daughter had a bad experience expressing interest in Computer Science at school, TeensInAI was born. Elena talks about all things AI, her career journey, and a wonderful story about the co-owner of TeensInAi!

Elena’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/elena_sinel
Elena’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenasinel/
TeensInAI: https://twitter.com/TeensInAI
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis

Episode 17 – April Dunnam

On Episode 17 of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, our hosts are joined by April Dunnam who is the Power Platform Advocacy lead at Microsoft.

April talks to our hosts about her IT career so far, earning her MVP status in 2018 after running her on consulting company for 8 years before taking on a role at Microsoft in 2019. April unlike most of our guests so far has had a love of IT from an early age and built her first computer at around 9 or 10 years old then building websites to pay for her college tuition.

Check out Microsoft Spotlight at the South Coast Summit on the 16th October at 4pm where we will be doing a roundtable with the Women In Teams group.

April’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/aprildunnam
April’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunnam/
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis

South Coast Summit: https://www.southcoastsummit.com/

Regards
The Author – Blogabout.Cloud

Episode 16 – Dona Sarkar

On Episode 16 of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, our hosts are joined by Dona Sarkar who is the Director of Accessibility at Microsoft.

Dona talks about her time at Microsoft where she has worked since 2005, Dona was an engineer on the Windows Dev team for 12 years covering 5 versions of Windows. Dona speaks passionately about neurodiversity and how her role at Microsoft will ensure that accessibility needs for all users are met.

Dona will be at the South Coast Summit where you can watch her session “Burnout Begone as a Service” on Saturday 16th October at 13:00. After you can also watch the Microsoft Spotlight Podcast live, where we will be hosting a roundtable with the Women in Teams community at 16:00.

Dona’s Twitter: Dona Sarkar (@donasarkar)
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis
South Coast Summit: https://www.southcoastsummit.com/

Episode 15 – Sharon Weaver

On Episode 15 of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, after a small Summer break, our hosts are joined by Sharon Weaver who is a Microsoft Regional Director, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Process Improvement, and Productivity Expert.

Sharon is the founder and CEO of Smarter consulting and speaks to our hosts about being a leader within the Kansas area by running the Kansas City O365 User Group. Sharon shares her journey from coding as a hobby when growing up to working in medicine then falling back into IT! We also find out what the role of a Microsoft Regional Director is!

Sharon will be hosting a session at Commsverse on the 15th September, where you can watch her session “All Roads Lead to Teams! Working with Tasks by Planner and To Do” at 17:20pm GMT.


Sharon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharoneweaver
Sharon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonweaver/
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis

Episode 14 – Sophie Dimelow

On today’s episode of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, our hosts are joined by Sophie Dimelow who is our youngest guest so far!

Sophie is a Microsoft Sales Consultant at The Pure Technology Group, Sophie talks about how her IT career started after starting off as an IT recruiter and her journey to her current role. Sophie enthusiastically tells our hosts that although not from a technical background, she is enjoying learning and immersing herself in Microsoft technology.

Sophie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/dimelow_sophie
Sophie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiedimelow/
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis

Episode 13 – Jese Navarajan

On episode 13th of the Microsoft Spotlight podcast, our hosts are joined by Jese Navaranjan who is a Microsoft MVP working at Avanade. Graduating university after completing a maths degree, Jese talks to our hosts about her journey from being a Business Analyst to becoming an MVP.

Jese talks about her passion for presenting in user groups and her desire to become a mentor for women in the IT community.

Jese’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeseNav2
Jese’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jese-Navaranjan
Microsoft Women In Tech: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9053874/
Andrew’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewatchernode
Microsoft Spotlight Twitter: https://twitter.com/msftspotlight
Jon’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonjarvis