This program undergoes a rigorous set of evaluations designed to select the best independent representatives of developers, IT professionals, and strategic technology needs of the world’s most impactful businesses.
As a Regional Director, Martin is recognised by Microsoft as a top technology visionary, chosen globally to help empower developers and IT professional communities with real insights on how to leverage innovative tools, services and solutions using Microsoft technology.
Martin specialises in Internet-of-Things (IoT), Integration and Data Engineering, with proven cross-platform expertise, community leadership, and commitment to business results. The two-year term empowers Martin to collaborate with Microsoft’s global product teams to understand the needs of customers and ultimately help Microsoft build better products and services.
As a technology advocate, Martin continues to lead global community groups and local initiatives, running technology-enabled business outcomes based on technology breakthroughs.
We talked to Martin to learn more about his role in the Microsoft Regional Director program, his favourite aspects of the Microsoft technology stack and products, and how he provides value to his clients at Insight with transformation solutions.
1. What is your role at Insight?
I work as a Technology Strategist for Insight Enterprises in Australia, a role that sees me working in the Office of the CTO on R&D, IP generation and business and sales enablement. In the role I get to engage at every level with the business, from the C-Suite for strategic planning and change, to the IT department for delivery and governance.
2. As a member of the Microsoft Regional Director program, what activities do you participate in and how do you engage in the community?
Other than general program communications, I am continuing to promote and advocate community engagement within Insight, Microsoft and in the broader technical communities both in Perth, and further afield. I run a number of groups locally and globally, and I am always looking to get involved in areas that support diversity and inclusivity and create social impact. This can be as little as making myself available to talk about the things I find important for community engagement, or as large as helping to organise and deliver programs that drive community and industrial change.
3. How does the program empower you to provide better business value to customers through technology?
I am currently also a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Azure, and whilst that role is one of technical advocacy, the Regional Director program also has a remit that provides business and strategic advocacy. The program supports all levels of feedback and does not shy away from providing constructive feedback where we feel Microsoft could perhaps do better. I think that is a key thing, the role is not just about advocacy but also about providing feedback to Microsoft to help improve outcomes for all customers through improvements to products and services.
4. What is your favourite part of being a Regional Director?
The people for sure. This program has been running for a long time and there are many Regional Directors that have been in it for a long time. Even beyond that, there is a wealth of knowledge locked in the heads of those in the program and having an ability to leverage that, improve my knowledge, and use that to have a positive impact on outcomes is just such an amazing opportunity.
5. What excites you the most about the future of Microsoft technology?
I love the philosophy of the ‘new Microsoft’ that has been created under Satya Nadella. Creating a business built around inclusivity and diversity and creating technical solutions that support that effort, I think shows how far they have come as a company. Furthermore, taking that ethos and creating solutions that help democratise those technologies benefits everyone, whether you are a Microsoft advocate or not, and indeed the ‘new Microsoft’ is as open to open source as it has always been to its own product set.
6. What advice would you give an organisation in their path to digital transformation?
Don’t be afraid to take the first step. Change is hard, particularly when it creates organisational change, and the pace of technical change at the moment easily outstrips the ability to implement it; but that does not mean we should sit back and wait for a plateau. Leap in now, tackle some of the smaller problems that can deliver huge organisational value, and do not be afraid to build a roadmap that is flexible enough to allow for a change in direction in the future.
For more information on Microsoft’s Regional Director Program click here.
