Microsoft MVP | AI & Fabric Specialist for Business Transformation | Helping Enterprises Unlock ROI with Azure, Copilot & Power BI | Forbes Tech | Keynote Speaker | CEO, Onyx Data

Strategic Data & AI Leader | Microsoft MVP | Oxford AI Strategist 

I bridge the gap between technical complexity and Board-level strategy. With nearly 15 years of experience, I have delivered over £93M in revenue growth for global enterprises by transforming data estates into high-velocity strategic assets.

Global Authority & Scalable Insight: 

LinkedIn Learning Instructor: Author of "How to Build and Execute a Successful Data Strategy," an industry-standard framework used by 10,000+ global learners (4.5/5 rating). 
Industry Recognition: Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Forbes Technology Council member, and Gartner Community Ambassador. 
Academic Rigor: Currently calibrating enterprise AI risk and leadership at the University of Oxford (Saïd Business School).

The "Onyx Methodology" in Action:  I help organisations move past "AI Hype" to achieve Operational Utility. Whether leading a global practice of 60+ consultants or advising the C-suite on £200TB+ migrations, my focus is on de-risking technology investments to drive EBITDA.

Core Specialisms:  AI Strategy & Governance (Purview) | Microsoft Fabric & Databricks Architecture | Data Monetisation | High-Performance Team Scaling.

Let’s connect,  I’m focused on the intersection of AI Ethics, Enterprise Strategy, and high-stakes Data Leadership. Always open to discussing the future of our industry with fellow Partners and Architects.

Leon Gordon

Think of your Fabric Capacity like a Train. 

Licensing is the #1 confusion point I see with Microsoft Fabric.

You bought a capacity, but your team still gets "Upgrade to Pro" prompts. 

Why?

It helps to visualise it like a Commuter Rail System:

🎫 The Small Train (F2 - F32): Everyone needs an individual ticket (Pro License) to board and look out the window (view reports). It doesn't matter if you own the train; the passengers still need to pay.

🚄 The High-Speed Rail (F64+): This train is so large that the "Venue" subsidises the cost. Standard Pass holders (Free Users) can ride for free just to look out the windows. This is the "F64 Magic Number."

👮 The Conductor Rule: Regardless of the train size, you always need a special license (Pro) to actually drive the train or manage the passengers (share content/workspaces).

I created this cheat sheet to break down the 3 building blocks of Fabric licensing:

1. Capacity (The Engine): Your computing power.
2. Per-User (The Driver): The Pro/PPU seats.
3. The F64 Rule: When free users can finally see content.

Save this image. It will save you from overpaying for Pro licenses you might not need.

#MicrosoftFabric #PowerBI #DataStrategy #DataArchitecture #Azure

Microsoft MVP | Oxford AI Strategist | Interim Technical CDO / Head of AI & Data | Architecting Sovereign Governance & £93M+ ROI for Global Enterprise

Dr. Nicole Wieberneit

I am an award-winning Global Sales & Strategy executive and have a Doctor in Economics with over 20 years of international experience and proven track record of leading worldwide revenue growth in incubation products in highly complex matrix organizations like Microsoft or SAP. Some of my career highlights include:

•	At Microsoft, I spearheaded the growth of various emerging solutions, implementing innovative GTM strategies leaping revenues for MarTech from $2 million to $50 million, Mixed Reality to $20 million and scaled Low Code to $800 million. 
•	 Directed a transformative field sales experiment, pivoting from product-focused to AI-centered solution selling, which significantly contributed directly to a $150 M revenue increase.
•	Won several awards, such as Hall of Fame Award - People & Collaboration by partnering with and influencing leaders from other divisions to design and execute several cross-sell programs.

My personal mission and Northstar is to lead with authenticity, integrity, and courage paired with a passion for innovation and people. I strive to inspire others to join me on this journey:

I build successful teams by establishing a clear vision of aligning customer and employee experience and use low-cost efforts to scale like driving community building and worldwide enablement efforts through internal and external thought leadership activities. My goal is to capitalize on our solutions and growth opportunities and strategically scale the business with a forward-thinking plan, while promoting a founder’s mentality and encouraging creative thinking in GTM models. 

Let's connect to discuss ways to drive the success of your sales organization, increase win rates, and deliver sales excellence.

Director Sales Strategy / Business Architecture Cross Solution

Nicole Wieberneit

Happy new 2026 - back to work. 

Instead of lefty goals, I focused on energy and intention.

Self-trust is what stuck with me.

Because honestly: how should others believe in me if I don’t?

So my word for this year is TRUST.
Not vibes, but decisions and actions based on backing my own judgement and energy. 

What’s your word for the year?

Sales and GTM executive | Strategies for AI and Data Solutions | Leading high performing teams to accelerate growth | Startup advisory & strategy

No alternative text description for this image

I think real time intelligence is important and so does the guy in the video! And I just stole his tag line.... 

🚀 Unlock the Power of Real-Time Intelligence with Scott Hermes and Saksham Dixit

They will be teaching you in a  free one-day, hands on workshop powered by Microsoft and Valtech on how to turn streaming and time-sensitive data into actionable insights with Microsoft Fabric. 
 
👉 Register now to secure your spot for January 29th, 9 AM - 5 PM PT
https://lnkd.in/gB2EakQu 

👉 Listen to the guy in the video

#MicrosoftFabric 
#RTIAD 
#Valtech 
#ListenToTheGuyInTheVideo

Culture beats code every time" resonated with me deeply during the #Microsoft NRF Pre-Day. 

Shanthi Rajagopalan and Anne Mezzenga delivered an insightful talk on "No AI Theatre: What Retailers Really Want from Partners," filled with a lot of valuable nuggets. While there were many key takeaways, this phrase truly stood out. 

As partners we need to focus on

1. What are the big problems Retailers need to solve rather than just focusing on technology.
2. How does your solution fit into it keeping in mind how we impact the human life within. 
3. Assisting with change management, security & governance to drive value. 

Win the human to win the AI transformation!

What problems will you solve WITH accurate real time data?

On the weekend, I talked to a a Chief Claims officer. He was busy working the snow storm and the impact for his customers. Having access to the grid data in real-time was invaluable and supported the decision to move the supply of generators to the right locations. He was reducing the risk and fall out of the storm for his company.  

Now imagine what problems would he have WITHOUT accurate real time data? Similar other companies supply chains. 

** Registration closes soon - Only a few seats left! ** 

Saksham Dixit and Scott Hermes will be teaching a free one-day, hands-on, virtual workshop, co-sponsored by Microsoft, on January 29th, 9 AM - 5 PM PT. 

🚀 Unlock the Power of Real-Time Intelligence
 
Valtech, in partnership with Microsoft, invites you to Real-Time Intelligence in a Day: a free, one-day workshop on turning streaming and time-sensitive data into actionable insights with Microsoft Fabric.
 
📊 The workshop will include:
- Introduction to Real-Time Intelligence in Microsoft Fabric
- Understanding OneLake and Eventhouse
- Creating Eventstream
- Transforming Data with Eventstream and Medallion Architecture
- Creating Real Time Dashboard
- Exploring Data Activator and Notifications

Discover how to transform your data into a dynamic resource that drives smarter, faster decisions. 
 
👉 Register now to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/gB2EakQu

#MicrosoftFabric
#RTIAD
#Valtech
#RealTimeSolutionsForRealTimeProblems

You are not short on AI ideas. You are short on proof.

Here is the uncomfortable part.

Operators already moved on. They want ROI tied to revenue. They will cut anything that reads as experimentation.

Most AI GTM talk still targets everyone: Broad ICP equals low signal, low conversion, and slow learning.
Buyer behavior changed again. AI changes how buyers scan, compare, and shortlist. Your gated content and nurture paths leak.

If your AI plan does not move one revenue metric, it is a cost center with a new label.

Run this play this week.

1️⃣  Pick one workflow with direct revenue impact. Lead routing, outbound targeting, pricing guidance, renewal risk.

2️⃣ Build a simple ROI dashboard. One primary metric, two supporting metrics.
     - Primary options: win rate, sales cycle days, net revenue retention.
     - Supporting options: pipeline created per rep, expansion rate, churn rate.

3️⃣  Lock one narrow ICP for a sprint. One segment, one message, one offer, one proof point.
    - Reduce gating on one asset. Track visit to lead, lead to meeting, meeting to pipeline in the same view.

Be careful to fall into old traps: Shipping AI features, posting AI updates, and tracking usage.

👉 Instead go for a weekly chart that shows lift in win rate, faster cycles, higher NRR, or lower churn. 

In the nutshell drive business value!

Reply with one revenue metric your AI effort must improve this quarter to keep funding.

If you want to learn more about Real-time intelligence in #fabric and have a fun time, you should join Scott Hermes and Saksham Dixit in this workshop. 

When have you ever seen a professional trained actor and Azure Platform and Data Architect running the show?

VP - Azure Platform Architect at Valtech | Your Trusted Azure Advisor

What is the cost of NOT having up to date, accurate information?

- Unity Technologies lost $110 million when its ad targeting engine relied on stale data, leading to poor predictions and a 37% stock drop. 
- Equifax issued credit scores off by 20+ points due to legacy coding issues, affecting loan approvals and consumer trust. 
- British Airways and a European e-commerce firm were fined millions for GDPR violations because they couldn’t detect threats in real time. 

Don't be that Guy: Come and Learn About the Power of Real Time Intelligence on Fabric!

Saksham Dixit and I will be leading a free one-day, hands on Workshop on January 29th, 9 AM - 5 PM PT. 

🚀 Unlock the Power of Real-Time Intelligence
 
Valtech, in partnership with Microsoft, invites you to Real-Time Intelligence in a Day: a free, one-day workshop on turning streaming and time-sensitive data into actionable insights with Microsoft Fabric.
 
📊 The workshop will include:
- Introduction to Real-Time Intelligence in Microsoft Fabric
- Understanding OneLake and Eventhouse
- Creating Eventstream
- Transforming Data with Eventstream and Medallion Architecture
- Creating Real Time Dashboard
- Exploring Data Activator and Notifications

Discover how to transform your data into a dynamic resource that drives smarter, faster decisions.
 
👉 Register now to secure your spot!
https://lnkd.in/gB2EakQu 
#MicrosoftFabric #RTIAD #Valtech #DontBeThatGuy

Want to experience the future of connected commerce than join us for different experiences at NRF!


Sign up now to make sure you’re a part of it: https://okt.to/1O3qzM

Join us at NRF ’26, where we're bringing the future of connected commerce to life across the city…
🚶‍♀️Retail walking tours of SoHo and Flatiron
🛍️ Immersive experiences and networking with Shopify at 113 Spring
💬 Demos of Valtech Concierge at booth #2146
It’s an unforgettable lineup you won’t want to miss. Remember, we’re kicking things off early on January 10th with drop-in sessions and a two-hour Wellness Social at 113 Spring.
Sign up now to make sure you’re a part of it: https://okt.to/1O3qzM

Off to the Big Apple on Saturday for the #Microsoft Partner NRF 2026 pre-day. Anyone up for lunch or a coffee catch up before?

taplio

The Battle

Leon Gordon

Nicole Wieberneit

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taplio

The Battle

Leon Gordon

Nicole Wieberneit

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Leon Gordon's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreLeon Gordon's LinkedIn Performance