# Lucy Bourne - Power Platform Today, April 22nd 2025 In this episode, host **Reece** is joined by **Lucy Bourne**, Co-Director of Oaka Studio and a long-time veteran of the Microsoft Business Applications space. ### **Show Introduction & Guest Background** * **\[**[**01:49**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=109)**\]** Reece introduces the show as "light entertainment" based around the Power Platform community. * **\[**[**02:05**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=125)**\]** **Lucy Bourne** introduces herself as a Co-Director at **Oaka Studio**, a company dedicated to supporting Microsoft Business Applications partners. Their goal is to help partners scale their presence, understand their messaging, and build delivery practices. * **\[**[**02:48**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=168)**\]** **Previous Roles:** Before Oaka, Lucy worked at Microsoft managing the "recruit channel" for ISVs and System Integrators. Prior to that, she was at a scale-up partner working with Dynamics and Power Platform back when it was still called **"Project Sienna"**. * **\[**[**03:22**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=202)**\]** She notes this is nearly her 16th year in the "BizApps" space. ### **Community & Personal Connections** * **\[**[**04:21**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=261)**\]** Lucy recalls her first real community experience at a Dublin event (around 2015/2016), organised by **Janet Robb**. She "blacked" her way onto an MVP-only dinner without knowing what an MVP was. * **\[**[**05:17**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=317)**\]** **Life-Changing Connections:** Lucy credits the community for changing her life entirely. She met her partner (**Lee**) through it, and they now have a three-year-old son, **Ralph**. * **\[**[**05:43**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=343)**\]** They discuss other "community couples," such as **Andrew Bibby and Anna**. * **\[**[**06:05**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=365)**\]** **The Lockdown Story:** Lucy shares a hilarious story about Andrew Bibby moving to the UK from the US during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown (August 2020). He moved into Lucy and Lee's empty flat to quarantine. * Because he couldn't leave, they delivered his shopping. * Andrew, unfamiliar with UK supermarkets, requested **"Canned Chicken"** on his shopping list. Lucy refused to buy it, opting for fresh chicken instead, and they still tease him about it to this day. ### **Travel & Adventure** * **\[**[**10:35**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=635)**\]** Lucy discusses her love for travel, inherited from her adventurous mother (who was in Vietnam when the pandemic hit). * **\[**[**10:54**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=654)**\]** **Downsizing:** Lucy and Lee sold a "ridiculous renovation" project to downsize to a small bungalow, freeing up funds to travel more. * **\[**[**11:27**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=687)**\]** **The Camper Van:** They bought a camper van during lockdown (literally three days in) after finding it on Auto Trader. They have since sold that one and are currently kitting out a new one from scratch. * **\[**[**14:20**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=860)**\]** **Baby’s First Trip:** Lucy vowed to go on every work trip Lee had during her maternity leave. This led to taking her 8-month-old son to New York (HSO’s office in the Empire State Building) and later to **Scottish Summit** in Glasgow. ### **Presenting & Events** * **\[**[**25:30**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=1530)**\]** Lucy reminisces about the "good old days" at Hitachi Solutions with **Chris Huntingford, Will Dorrington, and Kyle Hill**. * **\[**[**26:04**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=1564)**\]** **Keith Watling Story:** She recalls organising an early hackathon in London. She invited **Keith Watling** (after seeing him interviewed by Satya Nadella) to join. * Prior to this, Keith had saved her on a client demo by jumping on a call to fix a Canvas App issue. * To thank him, she promised him a fancy breakfast in London on a Sunday morning. However, nothing was open in the city, so she ended up buying him a **McDonald's McMuffin** at Liverpool Street Station—a moment she is still mortified by. * **\[**[**33:41**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2021)**\]** **The "Battle Royale" Story:** Lucy shares a chaotic presentation experience in Amsterdam with **Neil Parkhurst**. * They were presenting on "Dynamics Marketing vs. ClickDimensions". * The room was initially empty, but minutes before starting, the **entire Microsoft Product Team** for Dynamics Marketing walked in. * Moments later, the **entire Senior Management Team** of ClickDimensions walked in and sat on the opposite side. * The session turned into a shouting match between the two sides ("No, we have that feature!"), while Lucy and Neil watched like spectators at a tennis match. ### **Quick Fire Round** * **\[**[**46:15**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2775)**\]** **Favourite Power Platform Service:** **Power Automate**. * **\[**[**46:25**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2785)**\]** **Favourite Conference:** **Scottish Summit** (partly because Janet Robb organises it, but also for the memories). * **\[**[**47:11**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2831)**\]** **Last Music Listened To:** **Bastille** – specifically their new history-themed album *& (Ampersand)*. Lucy calls the live show the best gig she's ever been to. * **\[**[**48:07**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2887)**\]** **Podcasts or TV:** **Podcasts**, specifically the *Off Menu* podcast with James Acaster and Ed Gamble. * **\[**[**49:12**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2952)**\]** **TV Show:** *The Gentlemen* (Guy Ritchie series). * **\[**[**49:56**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=2996)**\]** **2 Hours Free Time:** She would go on her mountain bike with headphones on (loud music), cycle to a bar, have a cocktail, and then get Lee to pick her up. * **\[**[**50:40**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=3040)**\]** **Books or Audiobooks:** **Kindle Books**. * **\[**[**50:50**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8&t=3050)**\]** **Glass Half Full or Empty:** **Half Full**. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF\_PRKxTch8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF_PRKxTch8)