#9. Welcome to Practice Leading, the podcast for ambitious and curious Microsoft partner leaders who are passionate about growth, innovation, and building high-performing teams—with no tolerance for BS. I’m your host, Neil Benson, and in this special retrospective episode, I’m sharing the biggest lessons learned from the show’s first eight guests. We’ll revisit insights on creating a culture-over-hierarchy, hiring for industry expertise, empowering teams, pricing strategies, empathetic leadership, mentorship, and building a sustainable team culture.
You’ll hear the real-world results as I experiment with these ideas in my own business, Superware, and the challenges and successes we’ve faced along the way.
If you’re leading a Microsoft practice, this episode is a masterclass from trailblazers who know what it takes to succeed in the Microsoft ecosystem.
KEY LESSONS
1. Culture Over Hierarchy. Our journey began with Mohamed Mostafa from TechLabs London, who shared a secret interview question that's now a staple in my hiring process: “Tell me something not on your CV or LinkedIn.” It’s been a game-changer for uncovering cultural fit!
2. Managing Yourself First. Joel Lindstrom inspired me to prioritise managing myself first— and I share my biohacking experiments from tracking sleep to surviving cryotherapy chambers. I also experimented with team video updates (still a work in progress!) and debated the role of technical certifications for practice leaders. Where do you stand on keeping your certs up to date?
3. Pricing for Value. Ben Vollmer from RSM US drove home the importance of micro-verticals and flexible pricing. We’re testing new app and service models that reflect true customer value. Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with custom deals early on!
4. Empathetic Leadership Areti Iles of Telefonica Tech reminded us that clear communication, coaching, and meaningful feedback are at the heart of great leadership. It's pushing me to keep stretching those empathy muscles—even when it doesn’t come naturally.
5. The Power of a Talent Manager. Thanks to Bob Bell at ITK Consulting, I’m on the hunt for a talent manager to help formalise HR and talent acquisition at Superware. (If you know a good one, hit reply!)
6. Mentorship & Hackathons. Edit Kapcari at Orbis SE inspired me to rethink 1:1s and mentorship frequency. I may not be meeting every week just yet, but regular check-ins are now firmly on my radar. Plus, we’re exploring team hackathons—stay tuned!
7. Building a True Team Culture Katherine Hogseth at CRMK sets the bar high with weekly team breakfasts and a culture that dedicates 20% of company time to learning and development. We’re working towards one day per month for now, but the aspiration is there!
8. Microsoft Partnering Secrets Chris McNulty of Synozur brought clarity to the art (and challenge) of partnering with Microsoft. From leveraging customer innovation hubs to decoding dual recognition, we’re taking steps to sharpen our Microsoft alliance.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to Practice Leading and Neil’s mission
01:00 Why Neil started Practice Leading and what Superware does
01:49 Lessons from episode one: Culture over hierarchy and secret interview questions
03:45 The challenge of hiring for industry experience and onboarding new talent
04:24 Managing yourself first: Healthspan, conferences, and the power of routines
06:13 Should leaders keep technical certifications up to date?
08:52 Pricing strategies and focusing on micro-verticals
09:46 Leading with empathy: The importance of career conversations
11:35 Hiring a talent manager and building HR capabilities
12:25 Mentorship, one-on-ones, and hackathon ideas
14:16 Building a team culture and investing in learning and development
15:29 Partnering with Microsoft: Challenges and new opportunities
RECOMMENDED EPISODES
#1 Culture Over Hierarchy: TechLabs London's Unique Recruitment and Retention Strategies with Mohamed Mostafa
#2 What's your "Why?" for becoming a leader? with Joel Lindstrom
#3 The future of pricing models in the Microsoft partner ecosystem with Ben Vollmer
#4 Building Diverse and Empathetic Leadership with Areti Iles
#5 Talent Acquisition in a Boutique Consultancy with Bob Bell, ITK Consulting
#6 Mentorship and Hackathons for Professional Development with Edit Kapcari
#7 From Four to Forty: Building CRMK’s Team and Culture with CEO, Kathrine Hogseth
#8 Insider Secrets to Succeeding as a Microsoft Partner with Chris McNulty
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