2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards

50 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2021 Educator of the Year 2021 (Australia): Gill Walker psis provides high quality Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE (CRM) training to corporate clients, government organisations, smaller businesses and Microsoft Learning Partners. All training is provided by Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT), all of whom are also experienced consultants, and the firm works across Australia and globally, with training being available online and in-person. Gill Walker, Principal of Opsis, seeks to unpack the mystery of CRM Success for all by demonstrating why CRM projects can be made so complicated and providing the key aspects to include in all CRM project planning. “I have noticed that the majority of projects that are less successful than they could be demonstrate a lack of understanding, including a lack of understanding of the business, a lack of understanding of the methodology, and a lack of understanding of the technology,” Gill explains. “My intention is to improve the overall results of these projects - in terms of return on investment and return on effort - using an education-led approach.” Having been in the industry for more than two decades, Gill has harboured the determination to succeed from a very young age. “At just 10 years old I was determined to be a consultant - and more specifically a female surgical consultant,” she laughs. “Although that did not work out, I am certainly a consultant, and in a way that the ten- year-old me would not understand!” Gill’s entrance into the industry all began somewhat by accident. Her career has morphed from cancer research to teaching to training to consulting and, for the last 20 years, specifically training and consulting in the CRM space. In 1998, she was headhunted to lead a training team at Microsoft when they were doing a global deployment of Clarify and Seibel - then the two market leaders in CRM technology. This team was responsible for developing and delivering the training for all Microsoft staff and outsource partners across Europe. “This project was sentinel in shaping how I train, and my unshakable belief that increasing understanding, and so moving people up the expertise ladder, leads to increased success,” she elaborates. Another headhunted position saw her make the move from the UK to Sydney and this has now been her home for the last 21 years and, to date, she tells us that her greatest technical achievement was becoming a Microsoft Solution Architect in Dynamics 365. O “My greatest business achievement, however, is riding the uncertainty of being self-employed and sticking with it, all the time developing my skills in both my professional arena, and the sales and marketing skills that are essential to promote my approach.” There is no doubt that Gill has carved a unique path for herself and, whilst there are many other CRM and Dynamics 365 experts out there, some of whom may possess more certifications than Gill, her unwavering belief in education and her approach is what sets her firmly aside from the rest. “I possess a unique combination of technical knowledge - supported by exams - business awareness and communication skills,” she says, and it is these key differentiators which have helped Gill to receive the title of Educator of the Year 2021 (Australia) in the influential Businesswoman Awards. So, what wise words of advice does she have for others looking to achieve similar success? “Focus on your own skill building - and perhaps more broadly than is immediately obvious. Accept that delegating tasks without understanding is likely to lead to failure - so build your own understanding of what you are asking your team to complete.” Opsis provides CRM Success through education (speaking, training and mentoring), consulting, workshops, support and troubleshooting, project management and vendor management. We speak to Gill Walker about her unique approach and how it has stood her in good stead over the last 20 years. Jul21609 Contact: Gill Walker Company: Opsis Web Address: opsis.com.au

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