Powering Up the Power Platform: Leoza Kabir Barker’s Experience at the PPCC 2024

In September 2024, the Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC) took place in Las Vegas, gathering professionals and enthusiasts of Microsoft technologies from around the world. This event offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas about the innovations in the Power Platform, learn from experts, and strengthen connections within this dynamic community.  

For our expert Leoza Kabir Barker, a Power Platform functional analyst and team lead at XRM Vision, this was her second consecutive year at the event (previously known as the “Microsoft Power Platform Conference”). This time, she participated as a presenter on Process Mining, alongside her colleague Éric Sauvé. After delivering her first presentation at the Canadian Power Platform Summit earlier this year, she rose to the challenge of sharing her knowledge with an international audience. In this interview, Leoza shares her highlights as a speaker and participant, along with valuable exchanges within the community.

Interview with Leoza Kabir Barker, functional analyst and team lead

How was your overall experience at the PPCC in Las Vegas?

Leoza Kabir Barker: My experience at the Power Platform Community Conference in Las Vegas was so great. It was a privilege to connect in person with my colleagues from XRM Vision—Eric, Rick, and Giovanna—and to attend so many great and informative sessions. The announcements around Copilot and upcoming updates were very exciting. Delivering my own presentation and meeting many familiar faces from the Power Platform community, whom I usually see on LinkedIn, YouTube, or community forums, was incredibly rewarding as well.

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How did you prepare for your presentation, and did anything about the experience surprise you?

Leoza Kabir Barker: I initially presented on this topic at the Canadian Power Platform Summit, where the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Encouraged by this, Eric and I decided to present at PPCC. I dedicated a good chunk of time to research and refine the content, getting advice from other speakers to enhance our presentation style. The process was a blend of nerves just before starting and immediate eagerness to present again after finishing, which was both surprising and exhilarating.

What were some of the key takeaways you wanted your audience to leave with from your presentation?

Leoza Kabir Barker: The primary message of our presentation was the critical importance of Process Mining for achieving visibility and transparency within organizational processes. Implementing Process Mining can uncover hidden inefficiencies, providing essential data to inform impactful decisions and foster continuous improvement.

What was your favorite part of being at the PPCC, both as a presenter and an attendee?

Leoza Kabir Barker: My top three highlights from the conference were:

1. The Women in Tech Panel Discussion and Luncheon

This panel featured speakers like April Dunnam, Sangya Singh, Suzy Agi, and Ros Quek. Their stories and insights about their journey were so motivating, and Sangya’s words—"Excellence over Perfection" and “Have faith in yourself”—stuck with me. Just before my session, I repeated it to myself, and it gave me the confidence to deliver my presentation.

2. Meeting people from the community

I had the chance to meet Microsoft advocates, MVPs, and community super users, including April Dunnam, Julie Yack, Lindsay Shelton, Damien Bird, Keith Atherton, and many more. These individuals continuously contribute to the community, and connecting with them was a highlight of the event.

3. Time spent with my colleagues

Spending time with my XRM Vision colleagues - Eric, Rick and Giovanna was so great. Engaging in project discussions, brainstorming, and problem-solving in person, rather than virtually, deepened our connection. Our daily gatherings to share takeaways from the conference and have meaningful conversations enriched our collaborative spirit and made the conference a memorable bonding experience.

A moment not to be missed

If you want to see Leoza's conference on Process Mining and are near Calgary, it will be possible on October 23 at the event "Power Up Your Power Platform with Power Automate," in collaboration with Microsoft. For more details, you can check out this event.

Leoza continues to impress with her commitment to learning and knowledge sharing. Her journey, marked by determination and a desire to inspire others, makes her an indispensable figure in the Power Platform community. As she continues her path, it is clear that she will have a lasting impact on those around her and the future of technology. For more insights on Process Mining and additional tips, you can visit her blog, where she shares valuable resources and knowledge.

In addition to her presentation at PPCC, Leoza received the "I cultivate learning" award at this year's XRM Vision gala in Mexico and is the instigator of the "Tips and Tricks" events within our League of Experts, aimed at sharing knowledge among colleagues.

Together towards new innovations

Looking towards the future, the continuous evolution of technology promises numerous benefits for our clients. At XRM Vision, we remain passionate about the innovations that will transform operations and enhance business performance. With talents like Leoza by our side, we are excited to continue innovating and providing solutions that meet the needs of our clients in this ever-evolving technological landscape.

We would like to thank Leoza Kabir Barker for taking part in this interview.