MVP Insights: Asif Rehmani Defines MVP Journey, Summit NA Session, User Adoption

Welcome to “MVP Insights,” a podcast that explores the universe, ideas, and opportunities of the brightest stars in the Microsoft business applications ecosystem. 

In this episode, John Siefert is joined by Asif Rehmani, Founder and CEO, VisualSP, Microsoft MVP. The two discuss Asif’s journey to becoming an MVP, the toughest projects in his career, and his session at the upcoming Community Summit North America 2024.

This episode is sponsored by Community Summit North America, the largest independent gathering of the Microsoft Business Applications ecosystem, taking place Oct. 13-17, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Register today to connect with thousands of users across the Microsoft business applications ecosystem at the for user, by user event.

Key Takeaways

• MVP overview: Asif reflects on his journey from teaching Microsoft SharePoint classes in 2005 to becoming a Microsoft MVP in 2007, emphasizing that MVPs are recognized for their community help rather than expertise. He shares his experience of creating a website that featured SharePoint content, which led to his MVP nomination and continuous contributions to the community through various platforms.
• Areas of focus: Asif’s journey began as a SharePoint trainer in 2005, evolving into a consultant and speaker at numerous conferences. His expertise expanded from SharePoint to Microsoft 365 and Dynamics, focusing on supporting and training users on various software platforms. Currently, much of his focus lies in helping users adopt new software.
• Managing tough projects: Asif’s company, VisualSP, is a product company. They faced the challenge of meeting a customer’s urgent need for training and support on Microsoft Dynamics, which they wanted to roll out in a week. Despite the tight deadline, VisualSP successfully gave support and training to the sales team.
• Summit NA session: Asif will be leading a session at Community Summit North America 2024, taking place October 13-17 in San Antonio, Texas. In his session, “Get Real Time User Behavior Analytics of Your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE / CRM Users,” users will learn how to leverage behavioral analytics from the free Microsoft clarity tool to understand user interaction with their Dynamics 365 CRM system amongst other things.
• Final tips: In closing, Asif shares a final tip for the community. He emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and avoiding “change fatigue” by advocating for empathy and support to ensure user success, rather than overwhelming them with changes.

Stream the audio version of this episode here: