[Guest Blog] World Maximization: How Microsoft Power Platform Can (Literally) Change Lives

This article was written as part of the Humans of IT Guest Bloggers Series by community member Mary Thompson. 

“If you think you can make a difference, then you have to do it because if you don’t, no one else will.” -Dona Sarkar, Principal Advocate, Microsoft Power Platform

The Microsoft Power Platform is technically P2. Mathematically, an exponential increase is to rise at a steady, rapid rate. This is utterly applicable to the Microsoft Power Platform. As an individual you can grow exponentially by using this citizen developer toolset. The platform as a whole, and its presence in current business application, and future estimated presence is truly mind-blowing. The system as a whole is growing at an unprecedented rate. This is why I have a theory on how it can change the world…

Six months ago, my life changed after attending App In a Day (NYC), the Power Platform day long instructional boot camp. In one day, me, a technical idiot, was digitally up-skilled. I typically struggle with a VPN, but after the course, I could suddenly see a myriad of solutions to daily problems in the business world. By creating apps, automating business processes, and analyzing data using Power BI, I could provide viable solutions for clients with no code! Isn’t that amazing?

I’m the type of person who firmly believes if I can do something, then someone else can do the same thing. Also, If I can help them, I will. With that being said, I was dizzy from an overload of ideas processing in my head at a speed of 10 GHz. How could I share this transformation up-skill with others? My heart was committed. I needed to find a way to put all of this into words to share with others. That is when I decided to call my passion project “World Maximization“.

Specifically, I want to help as many people as possible reach their maximum potential using the Power Platform.

Ideally I want to help everyone, but it’s not realistic to say I can help everyone all at once. You must break big jobs into small manageable pieces. So, in my quest for World Maximization, I plan to start in areas that are near and dear to me heart. For that reason, I’d like to share my logic as to how the Power Platform can be a life-altering up-skill to students and single income families. Of course, it is beneficial to everyone, but this is just where I want to focus my initial efforts in helping to change lives through the Power Platform.

The amazing thing about the P2 and citizen development is that you can create a Power App with something as basic as an excel spreadsheet. I’d be willing to bet that the average elementary age child knows how to work their parents’ cell phone better than the adults. Today’s students have been inundated with computers, iPads, cell phones, apps, etc their entire lives. They think in terms of “what app can do that for me”. Give them the skill set to build something they have been using for 5-10 years, and I know the outcome will be truly innovative.

In addition to a natural ability to be amazing citizen developers from a young age, students’ college admissions acceptance ratse would also skyrocket with this new cutting-edge technology. Athletics are not for every child, similarly, for various reasons, some students may significantly struggle in typical academic settings. What if they had a powerful new skill in app development, without needing to know how to code? The new technology era is another place for students to find their niche and boast some impressive extracurricular activities at the same time.

Another way the Power Platform can help students reach their maximum potential is by giving them a viable income solution through their college journey. Instead of typical minimum wage college jobs, they would have an employable skill that would allow them to do part time-remote app development work, thereby gaining experience at a decent wage. The good news just keeps rolling in: that income can also help pay for college, and help avoid hefty student loans. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

The gift-giving magnitude of the power platform is not just limited to students. I know that it can provide life changing experiences for single-income families as well. As a single mom, I put myself through school, and worked full time. I missed out on a lot of time with my son because I was in school all day and worked at night. I did what I had to do in order to finish school so I could get a job, and provide a steady income and life for my son. I know that if the Power Platform had been around at that time, my quality of life and work-family balance would have been significantly better. I could have worked from home and made a lot more money!

My story is not unique, there are countless of families in similar and worse situations. I know without a shadow of doubt that if single parents had the opportunity to digitally up-skill through learning the Power Platform, it would transform their lives. Once again, an exponentially positive effect would occur from P2: children’s lives would be significantly better as a result of their parents being home more. Power Platform for the win!

My passion and hopes for the future are that World Maximization will become a reality. It doesn’t just stop with these two groups either. It is only the beginning. I don’t know about you, but when I think about the possibilities with the Power Platform, I feel so invigorated to be a part of a community that can help make dreams come true. I’m so excited to see what the future will hold with the Power Platform.

How are YOU using Power Platform to change the world today? Share with us in the comments below!

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