Session Abstract

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 the Women in Power (Platform) mentorship program and one of its inaugural Mentors, has defined me. Now, in partnership with its founder, Danielle Moon, we are daring to dream even bigger. Together, we're going to bring to life a global, non-profit Women in Power (Platform) Mentoring Hub, a space to guide, support, train, and uplift women in tech. One of our biggest goals is to help more women take the stage —from local meetups to global conferences with their mentor cheering them on in the front row! In this session, along with guests, I talk about the experiences of mentoring, both cohort programs and more strategic and targeted mentoring, 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 be helpful to you.

Note to event organizers

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.

Sharon Smith

I'm a dual Microsoft BizApps MVP in Customer Experience and Customer Service. An expert Microsoft Certified Solution Architect for the Dynamics 365 business applications, 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 a member of the Microsoft Women In Power (Platform) Mentorship Leadership group, and a regular Microsoft 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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