FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/592
Curious about how someone transitions from studying theology to becoming an MVP in the world of ERP systems? This episode, featuring our special guest Hylke Britstra from the Netherlands, will unravel that fascinating journey. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Consultant, Hylke brings a unique blend of financial services management, theology, and a passion for Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations to the table. Listen as he shares personal stories about his family life, his love for Italian cuisine, and his upcoming vacation plans in Zeeland. Hylke also opens up about his journey to becoming an MVP in 2023, offering insights into his decision to concentrate on Dynamics 365 F&O and his enthusiasm for sharing knowledge.
But that’s not all—this episode goes beyond the technical details, shedding light on the indispensable role of soft skills in finance and operations projects. Reflecting on personal experiences, we explore how supportive managers and interpersonal dynamics can make or break ERP implementations. Discover practical strategies for developing people skills, including workshops and key user training, that can significantly improve project outcomes. If you're keen on understanding the human side of technology and what it takes to balance technical and people skills in complex projects, this episode is a treasure trove of knowledge.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP
If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.
Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mark Smith (00:06):
Welcome to the MVP show.
My intention is that you listento the stories of these MVP
guests and are inspired tobecome an MVP and bring value to
the world through your skills.
If you have not checked it outalready, I do a YouTube series
called how to Become an MVP.
The link is in the show notes.
With that, let's get on withthe show.
(00:31):
Today's guest is fromNetherlands.
He works as a MicrosoftCertified Trainer and Consultant
in Dynamics AX or Dynamics 365,Finance and Operations.
He was first awarded as MVP in2023.
He's a strong project-basedworker and analytical thinker.
You can find links to his bio,social media etc.
(00:53):
In the show notes for thisepisode.
Welcome to the show, Hylke.
Hylke Britstra (00:58):
Thank you, mark, thank you.
Mark Smith (01:00):
Good to have you on and always love speaking to
folks from the Netherlands,being that New Zealand was named
by an explorer from your partof the world.
But yeah, you must have aZealand right in the Netherlands
, correct?
Hylke Britstra (01:18):
Yeah, my holiday starts in a week, and then we
go to Zeeland.
Mark Smith (01:22):
Wow.
Hylke Britstra (01:22):
And I think it's related to New Zealand with the
names and the founder Correct?
Mark Smith (01:27):
Correct, Correct.
Abel Tasman, Tell me food,family and fun.
You just talked about going onholidays.
Tell me a bit about the foodthat you like and your family
and what you do for fun.
Hylke Britstra (01:39):
Okay, yeah, great.
Yeah, I start with family.
I married with my niece.
We have three children.
The youngest one just becamefive last week.
So we have a daughter of five,a son of six and a son of eight.
So, yeah, I'm a father withplaying a lot of soccer,
(02:00):
sometimes playing with thedaughter, with the Barbies,
let's say that kind of things,but I like that.
Yeah, my holiday starts in aweek and we go to Zeeland.
That's a place in theNetherlands.
It's near the sea, so we likebeing on a holiday around the
(02:21):
sea, the beach, playing soccerwith the boys, being in the
water.
So or we go to an island in theNetherlands or we go to Sealand
.
So, yeah, that's part of ourholiday tradition that we want
some place with water near theplace where we are.
Food I think I like Italianfood a lot, so not particularly
(02:44):
the Dutch foods.
I eat that as well, but I'mmore of the Italian food.
I think I like that a lot.
Mark Smith (02:51):
Nice.
Hylke Britstra (02:52):
So yeah, that's a bit about me, I think.
Mark Smith (02:55):
I like it.
I like it.
Tell me how you got to whereyou've got to in your career.
What was your journey?
Hylke Britstra (03:11):
what was your journey?
Well, when I finished my school, I started studying financial
services management.
So I started to study as afinancial.
I finished that study as well,but during that time I had some
questions about what do I want?
So I made a very differentdecision.
After that, I went to a bibleschool for a year.
So in the Netherlands I went toa Bible school for a year so in
the Netherlands we have a fewand I went for a year to that
and after that I did a study tobecome a pastor.
(03:32):
So I also finished that study.
But during that study I workedat a company where they used
Accepta.
So it was like a side job whereI worked and they used accepta.
They implemented it, and duringthat job I I got more and more
questions about can you help uswith accepta, can you help us
(03:54):
with new questions from userscreating work instructions.
I was young at that time, so Idid everything I could to help
that company by using Acceptaand I like that a lot, based on
the combination of processes,people and the ERP tool.
So yeah, I did some verydifferent studies when you
(04:16):
relate it to Accepta and F&Ofinancial operations, but more
and more I saw the link betweenall the things I learned in
study, like finance in myfinance study, but the study
theology for becoming a pastor.
I worked a lot with people andI realized more and more that
the people side is muchimportant in ERP implementations
(04:39):
as well.
Mark Smith (04:57):
So I think, yeah, everything came together.
So at this moment I still workin the F&O area because I liked
it so much that I only took moreprojects and later went to work
for a Microsoft partner insteadof working at the customer side
where I started.
Interesting, interesting, so isyour focus now just on Dynamics
365 F&O, or do you do BusinessCentral as well?
No only F&O, what?
Hylke Britstra (05:12):
are your thoughts on Business Central?
Well, I always say it's thebrother of F&O.
So I think there are two ERPsystems in that scope and I
think where I see using FNO alot is where the companies are
focused in multiple countriesand they need one solution for
it.
I think maybe Business Centralcan do more and more as well.
(05:35):
But, to be honest, I don't workwith that application, but I
hear about that application, ofcourse, but for me, fno is so
big that we said in our unit wereally need to focus to make
sure that you can reach theexpert level, and doing both
systems would not help me to doeverything on the level that I
(05:56):
want to.
Mark Smith (05:56):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I totally agree with staying
focused.
What was your journey tobecoming an MVP?
How did that come about?
Hylke Britstra (06:04):
Well, it's more like I like writing a lot and I
like sharing a lot and knowledgesharing.
So I think it was a couple ofyears ago and I realized more
and more I was like 15 years inthe work field of AXAPTA, fno,
ax that I realized I know quitea lot.
(06:25):
If I look to other consultantsthat come to trainings that I
give or in projects where Ispeak to other people, then I
realize more and more with 15years of history.
Then I realized more and morewith 15 years of history, you
can explain things because youknow the history of the
functionality or you even cantell the version where the
function came in AX or AXAVT orFNO.
(06:45):
So I thought I think it's timeto share a bit, because when I
started in the work field, I hada lot of questions as well.
So Google was my best friend,let's say I just had to find my
knowledge.
I Googled a lot, I went ontrainings and I always
appreciated the people thatshared their knowledge so that I
(07:07):
could understand thefunctionality as well.
And I thought it's now time forme to do the same, because now
I can help others and I likewriting.
So, yeah, I just started writing, sharing on LinkedIn, and first
it was not getting noticed alot, of course, but I just said,
every week I do a new articleand let's see what happens.
(07:28):
And it was not that I wanted abig audience or something.
I thought if I shared therelevant things, then it can
help a lot of people.
And well, that became biggerand bigger.
And I never had the purpose ofbecoming MVP, I just wanted to
share.
And well, that became biggerand bigger.
And then I was nominated andthen I thought, okay, now let's
(07:51):
go for it, because of courseit's an honor if it's doable.
Of course it's an honor if it'sdoable.
So, yeah, my route to become anMVP was mostly just starting
doing what I like sharingknowledge of FNO.
Help people in the best way Ican.
That's my passion.
But yeah, it was like it becamemore and more the route to
(08:15):
become MVP, even if that wasnever the purpose.
Mark Smith (08:19):
And how did you get nominated or who nominated?
Hylke Britstra (08:21):
you Bilur, so she is an MVP in the FNO part as
well and she is a follower ofmy articles, so she nominated me
and, yeah, I'm very gratefulfor that, because, of course, um
, it is a very, very beautifulexperience if you become mvp and
(08:42):
you get a lot of newconnections and a lot of new
people in your network, and Ithink the power of mvp is that
they are always open to helpeach other.
So, if you have a question, wehave a whatsapp group, for
example, with the FNO MVPs.
We always help each other whenpossible, so that's great.
Mark Smith (09:01):
If you had to look back over your career, what have
been the highlights, the keykind of inflection points or
mentors, or what you know?
When I ask this question, whatjumps to mind first for you?
Hylke Britstra (09:18):
ask this question, what jumps to mind
first for you?
Oh, that's a good one.
Um, I think one of the peoplethat helped me a lot was, uh,
was the manager on my side job.
So when I worked at thatcompany I did like, uh, well, in
that time that I worked there Idid three studies, so he saw me
studying different things, buthe always took the time when I
had questions to help me toexplain things if I didn't
(09:38):
understand it.
Or let's say, with accepta thatwas the version accepta 3 where
I started with.
Then I had a great toolingsolution, for example, but I
didn't understand why peopledidn't want to use it.
So I learned about change andand well, how people can react.
Um, and I think he alwaystrusted me in doing my job and
(10:02):
and he just let me free to dowhat where I was good at, but
where necessary, he alwayshelped me also in making choices
of of what was good for me forfuture.
So well, he, he pops up in mymind at first and I must say my
current manager.
She helps me a lot as well, ofcourse very different questions
(10:28):
that I have than like 15 or 10years ago.
I was a bit younger then andwell, I think I learned more
becoming older.
Well, sometimes you becomewiser in things or you look
different to things, but still,of course, I have some project
as well where I think, how am Igoing to manage it?
Or I need some reflection.
And then, well, also, mycurrent manager she can ask the
(10:49):
best questions.
To be honest, that always helpsme to get good perspective or
get new insights me to to getgood perspective or get new
insights.
Mark Smith (11:00):
I like that you mentioned that a lot of skills
that you have, you know, learnedfrom probably non-technical
areas and part of your, your um,your bible, training, that type
of thing.
As around people skills and yousaid that that was important
Can you clarify that a bit more?
(11:20):
Tell me, why is it important ona finance and operations
project, why the people skillsare just as important as
technical skills?
Hylke Britstra (11:31):
Well, I think I learned that at my side job in
the beginning.
Ax was implemented and one ofthe employees near retirement
did not come back when thesystem was going live and it was
not her time to go toretirement already.
She was near it but she didn'tcame back because she said this
(11:52):
is too difficult for me, I'm notgoing to embrace this change,
I'm not possible, it's notpossible for me to do it.
And it was like a shock to mebecause for me it's just a tool,
what's happening, and that wasjust like well, maybe I did not
even work with Aksapta for sixmonths myself and I already saw
(12:12):
somebody that said I'm not goingto make this step, I'm leaving.
So at that moment I realizedit's not only the tool, you need
to focus on people as well.
And I think still at thismoment a lot of attention
implementations is going to thetool.
(12:38):
We all say implementations areso difficult when it becomes to
like projects like F&O.
And if I talk to customer, it'salways like it's twice
expensive.
If I thought before it's twicethe time we spent and that we
thought and it's bringing me thehalf of what I expected.
So like it's likeimplementations, it's like
difficult.
But if you look to it, I thinkfocusing on the soft skills can
help a lot.
Because why is it so difficult?
(12:59):
Talk to people to ask them.
But also, I always think in inthe triangle, you have processes
, you have people and you havethe erp tool.
They must be connected.
If we do all the focus on theerp tool, it's like too much
love will kill you.
Too much much focus on F&O willkill the tool, because it is.
I think it's a great tool, butit's like a Ferrari.
(13:21):
A Ferrari can be a great car,but if you are not able to drive
, please don't step in a Ferraribecause it's going too fast for
you.
So it's not only the tool, butwe focus so much on the tool and
I think what I learned more andmore is that if the processes,
the people and the tooling arenot connected in a good way to
each other, you cannot solve itby doing more focus on the tool.
(13:44):
That will not solve thatproblem.
If processes are not aligned ina company, you will not solve
it with a tool.
You need first to makeagreements and then you can
solve it or, let's say, optimizeit with a tool, but then it
always comes back to people.
Then you have to makeagreements with people, you have
to ask people speak to people.
(14:05):
So for me people side is veryimportant in that kind of
projects.
Mark Smith (14:10):
Interesting If a new person was starting out their
consulting career.
How do they?
You know, it's very easy.
They can go to Microsoft Learn.
They can go, you know, and gettraining from a Microsoft
certified trainer.
They can learn the skills ofthe product and I find you know
my years experience in thisplace getting tech skills is the
easy piece.
There's an abundance of it.
(14:32):
How do you?
Hylke Britstra (14:35):
get the people skills?
Yeah, good question, well incommon.
I think it's more difficult toget that information from like a
website, because by peopleskills it's not only about
reading it and thenunderstanding how it works.
You need to practice it, youneed to give examples.
I think in our company.
I work at Empirize Academy andthat means that we are not only
(14:57):
doing projects, we also give alot of trainings.
We decided to make workshopsabout that site as well.
So we have, for example, thekey user workshop, where we have
a, for example, the key userworkshop, where we have a
workshop for key user that arebeing key user in
implementations of ERP softwareand we help them to understand
what skills do you need and whatis a project, what are project
(15:18):
phases, what is expected fromyou.
Also, what are yourresponsibilities and how are you
going to manage the task.
So we decided to make workshopsfor that kind of things, to
also being able to develop your,let's say, the soft skills and
the skills you need for thatkind of actions.
And what you see for me that Igive both.
(15:39):
So I give application trainings, like I'm a certified trainer,
so I can give the training forMBA 310, the finest training for
FNO, for example.
But I see that as a training.
I share my knowledge and I helpthem to guide them to the
system.
If you look to the workshops, Ialso give the workshop for key
user.
(15:59):
That is really a workshop whereit is interactive, where we have
not only that I share about howit works, but I ask them what
do you experience in the project?
I ask them for their highlights, I ask them for the projects
and we are discussing that tocheck okay, why, why did it
happen?
What was your role in it?
So I think when, when it comesto developing your soft skills,
(16:22):
it's good to find something likea mentor that can guide you for
that, or make sure that youhave a team around you and do
like supervision sessions,intervention sessions that you
say maybe once a month when weare on the office, we are not
only talking about the newfeatures, we are also talking
(16:42):
about what do we challenge inthe projects and how did it
happen or what do I need to doto make it a step forward.
So I think it's reallyimportant to find people around
you that can help you in thesoft skills.
Mark Smith (16:55):
I like it.
I like it.
So it's really not somethingcan be so much learned from a
book or from a course so much asgetting hands on and getting
the peer.
Hylke Britstra (17:04):
And I think both , I think both, I think both.
But I think learning changewith only a book is very
difficult.
Mark Smith (17:12):
Interesting, interesting.
My wife next week is doingProSci training, which is all
around change and adoption.
Hylke Britstra (17:19):
We use a lot of ProSci in the workshops, so
maybe the triangle that I alwayshave in my mind processes,
people and tooling is also, um,invented.
Based on all the things Ilearned from pro side that I
thought, oh, they are giving youso much good hints or areas to
think about, so, uh, I thinkit's a good focus I like it.
Mark Smith (17:43):
I like it.
Um, what's your focus for thenext 12 to 24 months from a
skilling perspective?
What new skills do you thinkthat you want to add to you over
the next 12 to 24 months?
Hylke Britstra (17:56):
Well, at this moment it is like AI, so then
it's really a technical one.
I see things coming fromCopilot in FNO but but F&O has a
lot of data, so there arestandard functionalities of
Copilot coming in F&O, but Ithink that AI, in common, can
also help companies when theywork with the amount of data
(18:17):
that is stored in F&O.
So I think at this moment I'mfocusing a lot of what can
Copilot do, but also what is therole of AI with big data and
unstructured data coming tostructured data.
Still, I think I want to makeit in the connection with the
triangle.
So not only focus on the tool,but also, well, in my trainings.
(18:39):
It's interesting because if Igive a finance training or a
project training, it's not aboutCopilot.
But after the lunch break Ialways ask do you want to see
something from AI?
And people always say oh, yeah,yeah, yeah, let me see, because
for them it's quite new.
And sometimes I even start withMicrosoft Designer creating
pictures to show them what isthe effect of the prompt that I
(19:02):
give to the system for thequality of the outcome, and then
I show them in F&O what AI cando, but also sometimes in office
in Word, and then I say OK,lately I was at a company and I
said you know your company quitewell, so I opened Word and I
said give me an article aboutthis company, for this specific
(19:24):
people site, about this company,for this specific people site,
and they were really impressedabout what AI gave them as
result, or that article abouttheir company.
It was really the core of theircompany translated into that
Word file with the article, andI think people or working with
people at that moment is notthat I say we have a very great
(19:44):
tool and it will changeeverything, but I want to know
where are you at this moment?
Do you understand AI already?
What are your expectations ofAI and what do I experience
already?
And I must say I see so muchpossibilities but also so much
people looking with big eyes,like what is happening, that I
think that will be one of mymain focuses for myself to
(20:08):
understand what it does inrelation to F&O, but also to be
able to train people and guidepeople in how to work with it
and how to make your first stepsinto AI and what's next after
that.
Mark Smith (20:24):
Hylke, thank you so much for coming on the show.
Hylke Britstra (20:27):
It was a pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
Mark Smith (20:35):
Hey, thanks for listening.
I'm your host businessapplication MVP, mark Smith,
otherwise known as the NZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
Thanks again and see you nexttime.
Thank you you.
Welcome to the MVP show.
My intention is that you listento the stories of these MVP
guests and are inspired tobecome an MVP and bring value to
the world through your skills.
If you have not checked it outalready, I do a YouTube series
called how to Become an MVP.
The link is in the show notes.
With that, let's get on withthe show.
(00:31):
Today's guest is fromNetherlands.
He works as a MicrosoftCertified Trainer and Consultant
in Dynamics AX or Dynamics 365,Finance and Operations.
He was first awarded as MVP in2023.
He's a strong project-basedworker and analytical thinker.
You can find links to his bio,social media etc.
(00:53):
In the show notes for thisepisode.
Welcome to the show, Hylke.
Hylke Britstra (00:58):
Thank you, mark, thank you.
Mark Smith (01:00):
Good to have you on and always love speaking to
folks from the Netherlands,being that New Zealand was named
by an explorer from your partof the world.
But yeah, you must have aZealand right in the Netherlands
, correct?
Hylke Britstra (01:18):
Yeah, my holiday starts in a week, and then we
go to Zeeland.
Mark Smith (01:22):
Wow.
Hylke Britstra (01:22):
And I think it's related to New Zealand with the
names and the founder Correct?
Mark Smith (01:27):
Correct, Correct.
Abel Tasman, Tell me food,family and fun.
You just talked about going onholidays.
Tell me a bit about the foodthat you like and your family
and what you do for fun.
Hylke Britstra (01:39):
Okay, yeah, great.
Yeah, I start with family.
I married with my niece.
We have three children.
The youngest one just becamefive last week.
So we have a daughter of five,a son of six and a son of eight.
So, yeah, I'm a father withplaying a lot of soccer,
(02:00):
sometimes playing with thedaughter, with the Barbies,
let's say that kind of things,but I like that.
Yeah, my holiday starts in aweek and we go to Zeeland.
That's a place in theNetherlands.
It's near the sea, so we likebeing on a holiday around the
(02:21):
sea, the beach, playing soccerwith the boys, being in the
water.
So or we go to an island in theNetherlands or we go to Sealand
.
So, yeah, that's part of ourholiday tradition that we want
some place with water near theplace where we are.
Food I think I like Italianfood a lot, so not particularly
(02:44):
the Dutch foods.
I eat that as well, but I'mmore of the Italian food.
I think I like that a lot.
Mark Smith (02:51):
Nice.
Hylke Britstra (02:52):
So yeah, that's a bit about me, I think.
Mark Smith (02:55):
I like it.
I like it.
Tell me how you got to whereyou've got to in your career.
What was your journey?
Hylke Britstra (03:11):
what was your journey?
Well, when I finished my school, I started studying financial
services management.
So I started to study as afinancial.
I finished that study as well,but during that time I had some
questions about what do I want?
So I made a very differentdecision.
After that, I went to a bibleschool for a year.
So in the Netherlands I went toa Bible school for a year so in
the Netherlands we have a fewand I went for a year to that
and after that I did a study tobecome a pastor.
(03:32):
So I also finished that study.
But during that study I workedat a company where they used
Accepta.
So it was like a side job whereI worked and they used accepta.
They implemented it, and duringthat job I I got more and more
questions about can you help uswith accepta, can you help us
(03:54):
with new questions from userscreating work instructions.
I was young at that time, so Idid everything I could to help
that company by using Acceptaand I like that a lot, based on
the combination of processes,people and the ERP tool.
So yeah, I did some verydifferent studies when you
(04:16):
relate it to Accepta and F&Ofinancial operations, but more
and more I saw the link betweenall the things I learned in
study, like finance in myfinance study, but the study
theology for becoming a pastor.
I worked a lot with people andI realized more and more that
the people side is muchimportant in ERP implementations
(04:39):
as well.
Mark Smith (04:57):
So I think, yeah, everything came together.
So at this moment I still workin the F&O area because I liked
it so much that I only took moreprojects and later went to work
for a Microsoft partner insteadof working at the customer side
where I started.
Interesting, interesting, so isyour focus now just on Dynamics
365 F&O, or do you do BusinessCentral as well?
No only F&O, what?
Hylke Britstra (05:12):
are your thoughts on Business Central?
Well, I always say it's thebrother of F&O.
So I think there are two ERPsystems in that scope and I
think where I see using FNO alot is where the companies are
focused in multiple countriesand they need one solution for
it.
I think maybe Business Centralcan do more and more as well.
(05:35):
But, to be honest, I don't workwith that application, but I
hear about that application, ofcourse, but for me, fno is so
big that we said in our unit wereally need to focus to make
sure that you can reach theexpert level, and doing both
systems would not help me to doeverything on the level that I
(05:56):
want to.
Mark Smith (05:56):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I totally agree with staying
focused.
What was your journey tobecoming an MVP?
How did that come about?
Hylke Britstra (06:04):
Well, it's more like I like writing a lot and I
like sharing a lot and knowledgesharing.
So I think it was a couple ofyears ago and I realized more
and more I was like 15 years inthe work field of AXAPTA, fno,
ax that I realized I know quitea lot.
(06:25):
If I look to other consultantsthat come to trainings that I
give or in projects where Ispeak to other people, then I
realize more and more with 15years of history.
Then I realized more and morewith 15 years of history, you
can explain things because youknow the history of the
functionality or you even cantell the version where the
function came in AX or AXAVT orFNO.
(06:45):
So I thought I think it's timeto share a bit, because when I
started in the work field, I hada lot of questions as well.
So Google was my best friend,let's say I just had to find my
knowledge.
I Googled a lot, I went ontrainings and I always
appreciated the people thatshared their knowledge so that I
(07:07):
could understand thefunctionality as well.
And I thought it's now time forme to do the same, because now
I can help others and I likewriting.
So, yeah, I just started writing, sharing on LinkedIn, and first
it was not getting noticed alot, of course, but I just said,
every week I do a new articleand let's see what happens.
(07:28):
And it was not that I wanted abig audience or something.
I thought if I shared therelevant things, then it can
help a lot of people.
And well, that became biggerand bigger.
And I never had the purpose ofbecoming MVP, I just wanted to
share.
And well, that became biggerand bigger.
And then I was nominated andthen I thought, okay, now let's
(07:51):
go for it, because of courseit's an honor if it's doable.
Of course it's an honor if it'sdoable.
So, yeah, my route to become anMVP was mostly just starting
doing what I like sharingknowledge of FNO.
Help people in the best way Ican.
That's my passion.
But yeah, it was like it becamemore and more the route to
(08:15):
become MVP, even if that wasnever the purpose.
Mark Smith (08:19):
And how did you get nominated or who nominated?
Hylke Britstra (08:21):
you Bilur, so she is an MVP in the FNO part as
well and she is a follower ofmy articles, so she nominated me
and, yeah, I'm very gratefulfor that, because, of course, um
, it is a very, very beautifulexperience if you become mvp and
(08:42):
you get a lot of newconnections and a lot of new
people in your network, and Ithink the power of mvp is that
they are always open to helpeach other.
So, if you have a question, wehave a whatsapp group, for
example, with the FNO MVPs.
We always help each other whenpossible, so that's great.
Mark Smith (09:01):
If you had to look back over your career, what have
been the highlights, the keykind of inflection points or
mentors, or what you know?
When I ask this question, whatjumps to mind first for you?
Hylke Britstra (09:18):
ask this question, what jumps to mind
first for you?
Oh, that's a good one.
Um, I think one of the peoplethat helped me a lot was, uh,
was the manager on my side job.
So when I worked at thatcompany I did like, uh, well, in
that time that I worked there Idid three studies, so he saw me
studying different things, buthe always took the time when I
had questions to help me toexplain things if I didn't
(09:38):
understand it.
Or let's say, with accepta thatwas the version accepta 3 where
I started with.
Then I had a great toolingsolution, for example, but I
didn't understand why peopledidn't want to use it.
So I learned about change andand well, how people can react.
Um, and I think he alwaystrusted me in doing my job and
(10:02):
and he just let me free to dowhat where I was good at, but
where necessary, he alwayshelped me also in making choices
of of what was good for me forfuture.
So well, he, he pops up in mymind at first and I must say my
current manager.
She helps me a lot as well, ofcourse very different questions
(10:28):
that I have than like 15 or 10years ago.
I was a bit younger then andwell, I think I learned more
becoming older.
Well, sometimes you becomewiser in things or you look
different to things, but still,of course, I have some project
as well where I think, how am Igoing to manage it?
Or I need some reflection.
And then, well, also, mycurrent manager she can ask the
(10:49):
best questions.
To be honest, that always helpsme to get good perspective or
get new insights me to to getgood perspective or get new
insights.
Mark Smith (11:00):
I like that you mentioned that a lot of skills
that you have, you know, learnedfrom probably non-technical
areas and part of your, your um,your bible, training, that type
of thing.
As around people skills and yousaid that that was important
Can you clarify that a bit more?
(11:20):
Tell me, why is it important ona finance and operations
project, why the people skillsare just as important as
technical skills?
Hylke Britstra (11:31):
Well, I think I learned that at my side job in
the beginning.
Ax was implemented and one ofthe employees near retirement
did not come back when thesystem was going live and it was
not her time to go toretirement already.
She was near it but she didn'tcame back because she said this
(11:52):
is too difficult for me, I'm notgoing to embrace this change,
I'm not possible, it's notpossible for me to do it.
And it was like a shock to mebecause for me it's just a tool,
what's happening, and that wasjust like well, maybe I did not
even work with Aksapta for sixmonths myself and I already saw
(12:12):
somebody that said I'm not goingto make this step, I'm leaving.
So at that moment I realizedit's not only the tool, you need
to focus on people as well.
And I think still at thismoment a lot of attention
implementations is going to thetool.
(12:38):
We all say implementations areso difficult when it becomes to
like projects like F&O.
And if I talk to customer, it'salways like it's twice
expensive.
If I thought before it's twicethe time we spent and that we
thought and it's bringing me thehalf of what I expected.
So like it's likeimplementations, it's like
difficult.
But if you look to it, I thinkfocusing on the soft skills can
help a lot.
Because why is it so difficult?
(12:59):
Talk to people to ask them.
But also, I always think in inthe triangle, you have processes
, you have people and you havethe erp tool.
They must be connected.
If we do all the focus on theerp tool, it's like too much
love will kill you.
Too much much focus on F&O willkill the tool, because it is.
I think it's a great tool, butit's like a Ferrari.
(13:21):
A Ferrari can be a great car,but if you are not able to drive
, please don't step in a Ferraribecause it's going too fast for
you.
So it's not only the tool, butwe focus so much on the tool and
I think what I learned more andmore is that if the processes,
the people and the tooling arenot connected in a good way to
each other, you cannot solve itby doing more focus on the tool.
(13:44):
That will not solve thatproblem.
If processes are not aligned ina company, you will not solve
it with a tool.
You need first to makeagreements and then you can
solve it or, let's say, optimizeit with a tool, but then it
always comes back to people.
Then you have to makeagreements with people, you have
to ask people speak to people.
(14:05):
So for me people side is veryimportant in that kind of
projects.
Mark Smith (14:10):
Interesting If a new person was starting out their
consulting career.
How do they?
You know, it's very easy.
They can go to Microsoft Learn.
They can go, you know, and gettraining from a Microsoft
certified trainer.
They can learn the skills ofthe product and I find you know
my years experience in thisplace getting tech skills is the
easy piece.
There's an abundance of it.
(14:32):
How do you?
Hylke Britstra (14:35):
get the people skills?
Yeah, good question, well incommon.
I think it's more difficult toget that information from like a
website, because by peopleskills it's not only about
reading it and thenunderstanding how it works.
You need to practice it, youneed to give examples.
I think in our company.
I work at Empirize Academy andthat means that we are not only
(14:57):
doing projects, we also give alot of trainings.
We decided to make workshopsabout that site as well.
So we have, for example, thekey user workshop, where we have
a, for example, the key userworkshop, where we have a
workshop for key user that arebeing key user in
implementations of ERP softwareand we help them to understand
what skills do you need and whatis a project, what are project
(15:18):
phases, what is expected fromyou.
Also, what are yourresponsibilities and how are you
going to manage the task.
So we decided to make workshopsfor that kind of things, to
also being able to develop your,let's say, the soft skills and
the skills you need for thatkind of actions.
And what you see for me that Igive both.
(15:39):
So I give application trainings, like I'm a certified trainer,
so I can give the training forMBA 310, the finest training for
FNO, for example.
But I see that as a training.
I share my knowledge and I helpthem to guide them to the
system.
If you look to the workshops, Ialso give the workshop for key
user.
(15:59):
That is really a workshop whereit is interactive, where we have
not only that I share about howit works, but I ask them what
do you experience in the project?
I ask them for their highlights, I ask them for the projects
and we are discussing that tocheck okay, why, why did it
happen?
What was your role in it?
So I think when, when it comesto developing your soft skills,
(16:22):
it's good to find something likea mentor that can guide you for
that, or make sure that youhave a team around you and do
like supervision sessions,intervention sessions that you
say maybe once a month when weare on the office, we are not
only talking about the newfeatures, we are also talking
(16:42):
about what do we challenge inthe projects and how did it
happen or what do I need to doto make it a step forward.
So I think it's reallyimportant to find people around
you that can help you in thesoft skills.
Mark Smith (16:55):
I like it.
I like it.
So it's really not somethingcan be so much learned from a
book or from a course so much asgetting hands on and getting
the peer.
Hylke Britstra (17:04):
And I think both , I think both, I think both.
But I think learning changewith only a book is very
difficult.
Mark Smith (17:12):
Interesting, interesting.
My wife next week is doingProSci training, which is all
around change and adoption.
Hylke Britstra (17:19):
We use a lot of ProSci in the workshops, so
maybe the triangle that I alwayshave in my mind processes,
people and tooling is also, um,invented.
Based on all the things Ilearned from pro side that I
thought, oh, they are giving youso much good hints or areas to
think about, so, uh, I thinkit's a good focus I like it.
Mark Smith (17:43):
I like it.
Um, what's your focus for thenext 12 to 24 months from a
skilling perspective?
What new skills do you thinkthat you want to add to you over
the next 12 to 24 months?
Hylke Britstra (17:56):
Well, at this moment it is like AI, so then
it's really a technical one.
I see things coming fromCopilot in FNO but but F&O has a
lot of data, so there arestandard functionalities of
Copilot coming in F&O, but Ithink that AI, in common, can
also help companies when theywork with the amount of data
(18:17):
that is stored in F&O.
So I think at this moment I'mfocusing a lot of what can
Copilot do, but also what is therole of AI with big data and
unstructured data coming tostructured data.
Still, I think I want to makeit in the connection with the
triangle.
So not only focus on the tool,but also, well, in my trainings.
(18:39):
It's interesting because if Igive a finance training or a
project training, it's not aboutCopilot.
But after the lunch break Ialways ask do you want to see
something from AI?
And people always say oh, yeah,yeah, yeah, let me see, because
for them it's quite new.
And sometimes I even start withMicrosoft Designer creating
pictures to show them what isthe effect of the prompt that I
(19:02):
give to the system for thequality of the outcome, and then
I show them in F&O what AI cando, but also sometimes in office
in Word, and then I say OK,lately I was at a company and I
said you know your company quitewell, so I opened Word and I
said give me an article aboutthis company, for this specific
(19:24):
people site, about this company,for this specific people site,
and they were really impressedabout what AI gave them as
result, or that article abouttheir company.
It was really the core of theircompany translated into that
Word file with the article, andI think people or working with
people at that moment is notthat I say we have a very great
(19:44):
tool and it will changeeverything, but I want to know
where are you at this moment?
Do you understand AI already?
What are your expectations ofAI and what do I experience
already?
And I must say I see so muchpossibilities but also so much
people looking with big eyes,like what is happening, that I
think that will be one of mymain focuses for myself to
(20:08):
understand what it does inrelation to F&O, but also to be
able to train people and guidepeople in how to work with it
and how to make your first stepsinto AI and what's next after
that.
Mark Smith (20:24):
Hylke, thank you so much for coming on the show.
Hylke Britstra (20:27):
It was a pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
Mark Smith (20:35):
Hey, thanks for listening.
I'm your host businessapplication MVP, mark Smith,
otherwise known as the NZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
Thanks again and see you nexttime.
Thank you you.
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