In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the fantastic women who are leading and innovating across the tech industry. And there are few spaces that better exemplify how women can thrive in and impact a technology ecosystem than the world of Microsoft Dynamics 365.
The Dynamics 365 channel is a rewarding, welcoming space that offers a range of roles for anyone looking to help organizations make the most of a transformative, industry-leading technology. From life-long tech enthusiasts and born leaders to mid-career lane-changers, you’ll find women from all kinds of backgrounds and skill sets working in Dynamics 365.
But there’s always room for more. In fact, there’s a whole host of initiatives and programs actively working to attract more women into the Dynamics space, offering training and support to help women build and grow exciting careers.
Thinking about a change of career? Here are just a few reasons why working in Dynamics 365 could be a great move.
Flexible and hybrid working opportunities are common
Thanks to the cloud-based nature of Dynamics 365 products, many professionals in the community have the chance to work remotely or take on flexible working hours. According to a recent study of the ecosystem, 90% of Microsoft cloud professionals work remotely or from home at least one day a week, with 41% working from home full-time, and almost half (49%) also working a flexible/hybrid schedule.
This can be extremely valuable if you have caring responsibilities, giving you that extra bit of wiggle room to balance your personal and professional life.
And because of the demand for Dynamics 365 professionals, you’ll find a lot of potential employers offering other great benefits to try and attract candidates with the skills they need. Perks like health insurance, training and development opportunities, bonuses and pension contributions are among the most common enjoyed by pros working with the platform.
Your peers will have your back
Wherever you want to take your Dynamics 365 journey, you can be sure that you’ll always have plenty of support and resources available to you to help you develop a great career.
Organizations like Diversity in Dynamics are committed to helping women and professionals from minority backgrounds thrive in tech, partnering with companies throughout the ecosystem to make sure that opportunities are available to everyone.
Diversity in Dynamics is dedicated to making the space as inclusive as possible, and their work to date has inspired hundreds of businesses in the Dynamics 365 field to make a commitment to fostering greater diversity. They also host events where you can connect with others in similar roles, learn how to boost your career, and find new opportunities.
You’ll get to work with outstanding female leaders
Jenn first encountered ERP technology while doing data entry at a manufacturing company. She quickly became acquainted with database systems, report writing, and other key ERP processes. During her time there, the organization migrated to a new ERP platform, giving Jenn a first-hand look not only at implementation, but also the transformative effect a good solution can have on a business. After learning to use the new system, she was later approached by the implementation partner that deployed the ERP to join their team as a Consultant at just 23 years old.
“It was very much a man’s world, and I was met with some doubt with me being so young—and looking even younger. I had to prove that even as a young woman, I knew what I was talking about. My boss would just laugh and say ‘just work with her and you’ll see’. I definitely won over some curious minds, but I still doubted myself a lot. I worked for six months before going on maternity leave, and I often wondered if I was good enough for such a fast-paced job.”
“Shortly after giving birth, I became a single mom. That put a lot of fire in my belly to provide for myself and my son. I went back to school and I absorbed as much knowledge as I could. That helped me push through my insecurities. I believed in myself and fought for my seat at the table.”
Over time, the business shifted its focus to Dynamics GP and NAV, and later to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Jenn worked her way up from a Consultant role and was soon running implementation projects. Today, she’s Vice President of the practice. As an active contributor to the Dynamics 365 community since 2018, Jenn has spoken at events, including Directions North America, Days of Knowledge, DynamicsCon, and various user groups. She’s also a member of the Community Summit Planning Committee
The path Jenn took to a successful tech career is more common than you might think, and now, she’s determined to help other women advance through the industry into crucial leadership roles.
“Men and women both have their strengths and weaknesses—you need both perspectives for the greater good. Women are amazing influencers and can naturally be a little more nurturing and inclusive,” says Jenn.
You can learn in your own time, at your own pace
Microsoft offers huge amounts of learning content, much of it free, so you can grow your Dynamics 365 know-how at your own pace.
Platforms like Microsoft Learn are packed with self-directed courses and quizzes, allowing you to build technical skills and confidence. Whatever role you have your eye on, there’s a learning path available to equip you with everything you need to know. You can even use Learn’s handy AI tool to create a personalized learning path based on your career goals.
Whether you’re new to the tech industry, transitioning from another field, or eyeing a new role after a career break, you’ll find resources that will help you learn in a way that suits you. When you’re ready, you can earn official certifications that will verify your abilities across a range of roles and products, making you an attractive prospect for any potential employer.
As Carme Cortada, CEO of the Microsoft Partner Triangle and and Co-chair of Diversity in Dynamics puts it: “The way technology and tools have changed in the last few years is making the Dynamics 365 channel more attractive to people who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to join this space.”
CEO at Triangle and Co-chair of Diversity in Dynamics
There are tons of supported learning opportunities
Even with so much learning content out there, diving into a new topic and making a big career switch can be intimidating. But you don’t have to go it alone.
If you think a career in Dynamics 365 could be a good fit for you, but you’re not sure where to start, or have concerns about the potential instability that changing careers can bring, help is at hand.
The ReSKILL program, part of the Business Central Talent Initiative, is specifically designed to help those looking to cross-train into a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central role, offering not only fully paid and supported training, but exciting work opportunities with Microsoft Partners.
Created through a partnership between Microsoft and other leading organizations in the ecosystem, the program takes people with experience in finance, manufacturing, supply chain, software development and helps them become Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultants or Developers, earning valuable certifications along the way. As well as in-depth training, participants also learn on the job, working for a Microsoft Partner from day one to help build skills and learn about real-life use cases.
Learners also join the #BCTalent community, a network of learners who can provide support and advice throughout their journey. The community is comprised of 39% women, ensuring a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
These programs are helping more women start and develop careers in the Dynamics 365 space, not only by providing training, but by proving that people from a variety of backgrounds and career pathways can become Dynamics 365 pros—an important step to diversifying the industry. “I think we should find ways to educate businesses and embolden them to look at more than just education or experience. Look at how smart candidates are, how interested they are, and try to find their “why?””, says Jenn.
“With so many amazing programs out there, like ReSKILL, we can teach great women faster than ever about the technology or software itself. Along with that, we need to encourage women to share their stories, mentor them, and show them the unlimited potential of a career in Dynamics 365.”
If you’re eyeing a change, a role working with Dynamics 365 could be just the exciting, supportive career you’re looking for. As Jenn explains, “it’s always worth it to take a chance on yourself.”
Ready to join the growing number of women building careers in Business Central?
Find out how to kick-start your new career with ReSKILL.