That’s me with comedian and CRN awards host, Shappi Khorsandi. What would my younger self think? I have certainly blown her little socks off as this is no joke!
10 October 2024, I won CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards 2024 – Entrepreneur of the Year! I am as stunned as you are! Of course delighted as never regarded myself as an entrepreneur. I appreciate now that you can be an entrepreneur (or intrapreneur) if you are a visionary, oodles of energy and not immediately expecting a financial reward. However, they can feel isolated, especially when bringing their overpowering vision to life. Having a solid support network and mentors is essential. I have many big visions!
In 2012, I worked in GSK Comms, amongst digital responsibilities, I morphed into an unknown role at the time as a Yammer Community Manager partnering with IT. I met Business Illustrator Virpi Oinonen who created fun drawings to demonstrate Yammer business value. I love her work and brought her into my work, and we made launch collateral.
Virpi said you are an “Intrapreneur” – someone who applies entrepreneurial skills and a growth mindset within an organisation. Similar to entrepreneurs, but instead of starting new business, they innovate and drive change from within a company. I shared this with my manager Richard Gera, he said Yes, You!
Last year when ChatGPT & Copilot were announced I lost a great job on Viva adoption as improving productivity took precedence over a thriving employee experience. During 5 months without a job, I did many things I wouldn’t have done otherwise. I feared I might never work again due to lack of AI knowledge so felt compelled to make myself useful I learned to Prompt with Copilot. LOVE it and Microsoft Designer Blog – Metaphors simplify complexity with Copilots
I continued to focus on improving the employee experience, shifting my specialist IC skills to a generalist HR architected Viva Wayfinder1.0* New Hire Solution using nearly all of the employee experience features within Microsoft Viva with Loop and Planner. Stunned but delighted when Microsoft endorsed my solution and published it as a workshop on Microsoft Marketplace with staunch support from MVP Simon Doy.
I also upskilled as a honey sommelier, bee appreciator – and low cost digital photographer. Created Instagram accounts: Honey & Bubbles ~ not for profit and 4Photographer – low cost digital photography. Complementary Facebook groups: Honey & Bubbles Sensory Experiences and 4Photographer – low cost digital photography
Claire Smyth (Microsoft) invited me to an AI Sustainability Panel Discussion at Keble College Oxford with start-up entrepreneurs, where I shared important buzzy insights on how AI is helping bees, which are essential for our ecosystem and nutrition.
After 5 months unemployed but with delicious new personal skills, I got a job building a new M365 Adoption & Change Practice and Copilot adoption collateral, which I duly did – along with many internal and external Pre-Sales approved intrapreneurial activities. Then, 25 female colleagues and I were invited to submit nominations for CRN Women & Diversity Awards. Following intense judging 1200+ impressive nominations, 8 of us in the company were Finalists. Shortly after this announcement my employment was harshly terminated. I was in 2 categories the other being “Role Model of the Year”!? Told this was not personal. However, taking into account the above it felt extremely unfair, bizarre behaviour and I was not offered a consultation period.
“Economic conditions like high inflation and interest rates that have lowered consumer spending and demand. Tech companies cutting costs with layoffs (me), adding stress and uncertainty. Global economic uncertainties have caused reduced spending. Shareholders have seen a sharp decline with investment impacting the financial health of tech companies.” Copilot.
However, this award Is not about paid work but my personal activities for the greater good. I behave like a not-for-profit entrepreneur— not seeking monetary gain but acting as a role model to preserve the vital importance of the bee’s work as a pollinator battling climate change, deforestation, pollution, and pesticides. And a better new hire process! I also started a Digital Upskilling initiative in a Global.Org Petition – see end.
I host Honey Tasting Workshops that combine the Interconnectedness of having different parts or things connected or related to each other. This hive concept can be applied to various contexts, such as people, events, systems, or networks working out loud, and ensure resilience and sustainability—whether in biodiversity ecosystems or business networks. Best bit is savouring liquid gold paired with food, a mindful sensory experience into the medicinal benefits of Honey & Bubbles.
My passion project is now a not-for-profit start-up with a focus on the pure medicinal superfood Bee Pollen bubbles that I bring over from my home in Spain – free from pollution and pesticides. I have recently adopted a bee hive in Spain and by the end of this year will have my very own brand of honey with Sponsor a beehive • Miel Montgo
If you have managed to read this far well done …. me and 25 super women in tech launched a Global.Org Petition – Make basic digital skills a recommended new hire training. Please take Action: Sign, Repost, Share! no need to donate.
Huge THANKS to Larisa Lavinia Lucaciu & Lenovo, Sabrina Shilstone & CRN, Claire Smyth at Microsoft & Louis Arthur-Brown for time and kindness over the past challenging weeks. Many more thanks owed but as I’m still seeking new paid opportunities need to keep in confidence.
CRN JUDGES: THANK YOU FOR DEEPER APPRECIATION ON WHAT I AM TRYING TO ACHIEVE PERSONALLY & PROFESSIONALLY FOR THE GREATER GOOD AS I DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!
Steve Crook, thank you for trying to understand what I am doing. I only know once I look back, as the idea is not fully formed.
In summary (1) Improve the new hire process that leads into digital upskilling. (2) Buy pure local honey and bee pollen for nutritional wellness, and appreciate the importance of bees in our ecosystem. (3) Help AI newbies!
Note *VivaWayfinder1.2 is buzzing! Last month, I led a project team of 7 (3 MVP Hackers, Simon’s Doy, Hudson, Jackson, and 2 Microsoft HR advisors) in the Microsoft Global Hackathon, which took onboarding with Viva into a Mesh immersive experience with Copilot. Microsoft Global Hackathon 2024: MVPs/RDs’ Innovation and Contribution – Microsoft Community Hub
If you are curious about the Viva Wayfinder approach then watch the Power Platform recording which is 25 minutes of me talking real fast as it usually takes 40 minutes to explain with lots of interconnected features https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZy2OhrNovg&t=873s | Slides LesleyCrook-VivaWayfinder_April2024.PowerPlatform.pptx
Sensai~teacher of AI 
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