Session Abstract

Choosing between Canvas and Model-driven apps is not always a one-or-the-other decision. Sometimes the most effective solution blends both. This session explores how to select the right type of Power App based on your business requirements, data model, and user experience goals. We’ll look at how each app type contributes to different parts of a complete solution, from intuitive data capture to structured process execution. I’ll share a real-world example that combines a Canvas app for a custom intake experience with a Model-driven app for managing the underlying business process. You’ll also see a demo of a Model-driven Power App enhanced with Canvas App pages that deliver a richer and more engaging interface. Together, we’ll uncover how these app types connect through Dataverse to create scalable, maintainable, and user-friendly solutions that reflect how your organization truly works.

Christina Wheeler

Christina Wheeler is a Principal FastTrack Solution Architect at Microsoft, where she helps enterprise customers accelerate adoption of Dynamics 365 applications, first-party AI agents, and custom Copilot Studio solutions. As part of Microsoft's Dynamics 365 Apps & Agents organization, she works closely with customers and Microsoft product engineering teams to drive successful deployment of Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service AI-powered agent solutions. Serving as a bridge between enterprise customers and engineering, she helps remove adoption blockers, influences product improvements through customer feedback, and enables organizations to realize the full value of Microsoft's AI-powered business applications. Prior to her current role, Christina spent three years as a Solution Engineer in Microsoft's Financial Services Industry (FSI) organization, working with some of the largest banking and insurance customers. Through executive briefings, MTC engagements, technical demonstrations, workshops, and hackathons, she helped business and technology leaders identify innovative ways to leverage Microsoft Power Platform, Copilot, and AI technologies to drive business transformation. Christina's passion for technology began early. She started programming at age eleven and built her first computer at thirteen. Her publications include contributions as the technical editor of “SharePoint 2007 Developer’s Guide to Business Data Catalog,” co-author of “SharePoint 2010 Field Guide,” “SharePoint 2013 Inside Out,” and author of “Mastering Microsoft Teams: Creating a Hub for Successful Teamwork in Office 365.” Christina received her first MVP award October 2017 in M365 Apps & Services and became a Business Applications MVP in 2022 before retiring from the MVP program to join Microsoft.