Some career pivots happen slowly. Others arrive with the force of a hairdryer on “max.” For MVP Nathalie Leenders, the leap from hairdresser to IT - and eventually to Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Business Applications - started with a straightforward realization: hairdressing is physically demanding work, and she could feel it catching up with her. She loved the craft and the people, but she also knew she couldn’t ignore what the long hours on her feet, repetitive motions, and strain on her shoulders were telling her: this wasn’t going to be sustainable forever.
Instead of treating that moment like an ending, Nathalie treated it like an invitation. An invitation to learn, to rebuild, and to follow the trail of curiosity that had been quietly showing up all along - like the time the PCs at her hairdressing school broke and she was the one who could actually fix them (and couldn’t quite understand why everyone else was stuck staring at the error message).
Today, Nathalie is recognized across the Power Platform community for her work with Power Automate and Power Apps, her passion for sharing what she learns, and her commitment to making tech feel welcoming - especially for people who don’t see themselves as “technical.” Spoiler: she’s not allowed to say that about herself anymore. (Her husband has officially vetoed it.)
This is Nathalie’s MVP story - told the way she lives it: friendly, brave, and powered by a “why not?” mindset.
From the salon to IT: a reinvention powered by curiosity
In her second year of hairdressing school, Nathalie realized the physical demands of the job were already taking a toll. “This already hurts my shoulders,” she remembered - an honest moment that sparked an even braver question: What else could I do?
That question led her to an open day at a technical school. She signed up, dove-in, and completed an IT support-focused program - learning the fundamentals by doing the work.
And then - true to her “jump in head-first” style - she landed in a role that quickly expanded her world. Nathalie was placed as a temporary service manager at an accountancy company, working in ITIL, change management, escalation management, and even training teams abroad. Before long, she was leading VIP support as an on-site support manager in the Netherlands… and learning firsthand that responsibility can arrive quickly (and feel heavy). “I almost got burned out by that at 22,” she shared.
After stepping back into roles like help desk and second-line support, Nathalie kept following the thread that had always pulled her forward: making work easier. She also got intentional about skilling up - using Microsoft Learn (including the Microsoft Learn Challenges), working toward Microsoft Certifications, and learning in public the way so many makers do: through YouTube deep-dives and the steady stream of community content (blog posts, videos, and walkthroughs) shared by people who love to teach.
When HR needed a volunteer-day sign-up process, she learned SharePoint Designer workflows and forms. When global service desk reporting needed clarity, she built Power BI dashboards. And when she spotted an opportunity on an automation team, it was like everything clicked: this was the kind of problem-solving she wanted more of. That’s how the Power Platform became her home base - not through a perfectly mapped plan, but through real-world needs, one workflow at a time.
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MVP Lindsay Shelton and MVP Nathalie Leenders speaking at thePower Platform Community Conference
The community moment: “Be courageous” (and take the empty seat)
Nathalie didn’t “discover the community” through a grand announcement or a formal onboarding. For a long time, she thought the community was simply that place online where people asked Microsoft questions and helpful strangers answered.
Then her company sent her to the very first Power Platform Community Conference in Orlando - and suddenly the “helpful strangers” had names, faces, and a whole room full of energy. She met community leaders and MVPs she’d only seen online, spotted previously on a live Microsoft 365 & Power Platform Community Call, and thought: That sounds interesting… why not?
Her employer had a tagline: Be courageous. Nathalie decided to take it seriously. She saw an empty seat next to MVP Hugo Bernier, asked if she could sit there, and they talked for an hour and a half. That single “courage” moment turned into a mentorship and friendship that helped her learn how the community works - how to shape sessions, share ideas, and show up consistently. In time, Hugo would also nominate her for the Microsoft MVP award.
From 30 people to 900: learning to speak (even when it’s scary)
If you’re waiting for the moment you feel “ready” to speak, Nathalie has some gentle news: the nerves don’t magically disappear. You just get better at walking on stage anyway.
Her first talk happened because she listened closely. At a local user group (Power Addicts NL), someone mentioned they’d love to learn about Microsoft Teams Adaptive Cards. Nathalie had just worked with them and thought, Wait… I can do that. So she did - speaking in front of about 30 people who were supportive, curious, and cheering her on.
What happened next reads like a six-month montage: conference in September, user group speaking in October and November, a community call in December, her first international gig in Tallinn, Estonia in January - and then the MVP award in March. “A whirlwind… a roller coaster of emotions,” she said, and you can almost hear her smiling through the chaos.
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Nathalie Leenders speaking to a room of 900 people at the Power Platform Community Conference
Fast forward, and Nathalie found herself speaking to a room of roughly 900 people at the Power Platform Community Conference. Her inner monologue? Equal parts excitement and disbelief: “It’s still scary,” she admitted. But she also reminded herself of something important: you don’t have to be “somebody special” to share something useful. You just have to show up and help.
Imposter syndrome? Yes. Every time. (And that’s okay.)
When asked about imposter syndrome, Nathalie didn’t hesitate: she feels it “every single time” she’s in public. The trick isn’t to pretend it’s not there - it’s to reframe what “success” looks like.
The best advice she ever received was simple: if you help one person in the room, you’ve done enough. Maybe someone learns from Microsoft Cloud Advocate April Dunnam’s video. Maybe someone learns from MVP Luise Freese’s blog post. And maybe someone needs the same concept explained with Nathalie’s wording, her pacing, her examples. “If I do it in a slightly different way and it resonates with somebody, then that’s it,” she said.
That “one person” mindset shows up in practical ways, too. Even at local events in the Netherlands, Nathalie often presents in English - because if there’s one person in the room who only speaks English, the group switches. Small choice. Big signal: you belong here.
Mentorship, in both directions
Mentorship is a theme that runs through Nathalie’s story long before the MVP award. Before she even knew the Power Platform community existed, a person from Nigeria reached out to her on LinkedIn asking for guidance. Nathalie did what she always does: she showed up thoughtfully, verified it was legitimate, and then invested in the relationship. For about a year and a half, they met regularly to talk about certifications, career moves, and how to stand out in a crowded job market.
She’s also been on the receiving end of mentorship in a big way - at a previous company, she was mentored by a leader who was promoted to CIO during their mentorship. Experiences like that shaped how Nathalie thinks about “giving back”: it’s not a slogan. It’s a practice. Sometimes it’s a formal mentorship. Sometimes it’s answering a question, sharing a sample, or helping someone find their next step.
Want to get involved? Start small - and start today
If you’re reading this thinking, Okay… but how do I even begin? Nathalie’s answer is refreshingly low-pressure: join the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform Community Calls. Pop into a weekly call. Try a monthly call. Lurk if you want. Ask questions when you’re ready. “Just join the calls, just have fun,” she said. “And if you don’t enjoy them - perfectly fine.”
Curious about speaking? There are mentorship/buddy programs designed to help first-time presenters take that leap. And even if speaking isn’t your goal, those calls are an incredible way to see what others are building. Nathalie still joins whenever she can - because every week someone shares a “new trick,” and she’ll often bring that inspiration back to her client work (with full credit to the original creator, of course).
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MVP Nathalie Leenders speaking at the Power Platform Community Conference
Balance is part of the build
Behind the scenes, Nathalie is intentional about sustainability. She looks for ways to combine efforts - turning a talk into a blog post, or aligning community work with moments she’s already “in content mode.” She also protects her personal calendar. If she’s sick, she reschedules (even if she really wanted to be there). And while her employer supports community engagement during work hours when possible, she’s mindful about not making late-night calls and weekend sessions the default.
Parting advice from Nathalie: go for it (and have fun along the way)
Whether you’re considering a career change, exploring the Power Platform, or quietly wondering if you could ever become an MVP, Nathalie’s advice is the same: don’t be afraid to go for it. If you try something and it doesn’t work out, at least you tried. And you’ll learn something you couldn’t have learned any other way.
Ten years ago, she never would have pictured this version of her life: international speaker, blogger, solution builder, and MVP. But that’s the thing about reinvention - you can’t map the whole journey from the starting point. You just take the next brave step… and keep going.
Connect with Nathalie: You can learn more about Nathalie on her Microsoft MVP profile and at her website: blog.nathalieleenders.com.
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