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It’s ok not to be ok. We all hear it, it’s a good motivational sentence or a buzzword. However, few people actually walk the walk by demonstrating vulnerability. Honest stories are hard to share, whether it is for current or past events. We should always remind ourselves that being vulnerable is a strength to role-model for those who are not brave just yet.
My first memory of Nathalie is a pretty special one. We met as speakers at the Cloud Technology Townhall in Tallinn in February 2023. Picture this; first time the event was running, cold yet beautiful Tallinn, everyone excited and didn’t know what to expect. Nathalie stood out with her kindness, humble behavior, and red hair. Her combination of hair color and inner strength reminded me of two things: Princess Merida from Brave, and how much for years I wanted to dye my hair but never had the courage.
Little did I know, Nathalie’s personality planted a seed in me. A seed that later gave me strength to change something so plain yet so many meaningful about me. It is incredible what impact people can have on you; the smallest ripple effect to inspire you. She truly has the community badger spirit.
Say Hello to Nathalie Leenders
Let's hear it straight from the source, what makes Nathalie...Nathalie!
“Professional hairdresser turned IT professional. Started off in change management, did data analytics and rolled into the Power Platform. I love cats, rollercoasters and travelling. Also passionate about sharing knowledge as well as any tips and tricks I learn along the way.”
You can keep up with Nathalie through here. Let’s see what made her tech journey so unique.
Origins: How did you discover your passion for technology and what was your first project?
I started out fixing computers at my hairdresser school and found out I could do it. My first project was as a Junior Service Manager doing change requests, escalations, and incident management. That grew onto authorization management and reporting.
Award: What are some of the most rewarding or impactful experiences you have had during your time as an MVP? How did they change the way you learn and interact with others?
I haven’t been an MVP for long. The most rewarding thing is hearing that people learnt something useful in my blog. I often remind people; we are all in this together. We're all trying to figure it out and learn through others.
Real talk: How do you balance work and personal life? Do you ever have to deal with imposter syndrome, and how?
I often have imposter syndrome, and it helps to talk to others about it. We're all in this together. You'd be surprised how many people are out there, same as you are, doing their best. I try to balance work and personal life by planning out things beforehand. If I know I will have a busy week/month, I really try to put in blockers for relaxation, go to the spa, or block time for my family/partner. It's ok to say no occasionally or indicate a later available time.
Giving back: How do you support and uplift aspiring MVPs or Community members? How can we drive new perspectives, for example those with neurodiverse superpowers?
It's ok to be you. The community is an awesome safe space. You can share the way you think, feel, or want to be addressed. After all, you never know what great things you could learn from others who think differently from you or have other interests.
Fun: If you had a WWE smackdown between 2 products, which ones would it be and why?
Power Automate Cloud VS Desktop. This would show differences but also similarities in terms of how they operate, what they can do and offer new insights. I feel Power Automate Desktop (RPA) doesn’t get enough love nowadays.
Reflecting and learning with a smile:
Learning from each other brings us all closer. Here are my top five thoughts from what Nathalie has shared with us:
Having a non-linear career can be the most surprising yet satisfying choice we can make
Sharing the tips and tricks of our learning journey rather than waiting to be at the top of the ladder first is important to bring people together and give hope
Being open to learning from others you would not usually seek or expect is part of evolving ourselves as professionals AND humans
Imposter syndrome is quite common, and we need to talk more openly about it
Planning breaks and self-care time in advance should be a habit for our mental health
A massive thank you to Nathalie for joining the MVP Diaries series. Cannot wait to hear your thoughts and AHA moments which inspired you.