About

Hello, I'm Michel van den Brink and I love to build things that make life a little easier, nicer, brighter, more awesome.

Over the past 20+ years I've been building solutions using various technology stack but, for reasons that are hopefully equally apparent to you, I am a little bias towards Microsoft technology.

Designing and building with the Power Platform and Dynamics 365

These last few years more and more of my time and attention is consumed by Microsoft's Power Platform. With a long Microsoft history and Dynamics 365 background, using the Power Platform feels like it's finally all come together.

For me, the most interesting Dynamics implementations have always been the bespoke ones that deviate far from the standard processes of Sales, Customer Service, etc. I've been using the various Dynamics applications as a building blocks for over 10 years and now with the Power Platform and Dataverse at it's foundation we've arrived where I felt we'd always needed to be: first class building blocks on a proven architecture, to build first class apps. (the old XRM dreams weren't crazy after all!)

I'm part of multiple Power Platform and Dynamics 365 teams inside of organizations throughout Europe, most often filling the role of solution architect. Building is of course where all the fun is so, I make it a priority to get my hands dirty as much as I can!

Designing and building with Azure and Visual Studio

The Power Platform offers an unprecedented opportunity for any person to start designing and building apps but, my roots lie in long late night coding sessions to make the machine do what I need it to do.

Visual Studio is my home office and Visual Studio Code is my garage.

Creating plug-ins and add-ons for the Power Platform is certainly a part of it but, I really love to spend time working on a .NET (Framework or Core) project to build something awesome.

I've spend a lot of time creating software solutions for mobile, desktop and services that run in Azure.

Training the next wave of designers and builders

A good chunk my time is spent on helping others to become as enthusiastic about the things, which I am enthusiastic about. Encouraging and enabling people, who may think they are more functional thinkers, to apply their knowledge into building.

There is a lot of power locked in highly skilled people, who are experts in their own fields but, haven't had the opportunity (yet!) to translate that to creating solutions that make their lives a little easier, nicer, brighter and more awesome.

Luckily the Power Platform, with Power Apps, Power Automate, etc. gives any person, with any level of technical experience, the toolset to start building.

Where am I?

Thanks to the internet, I am everywhere. I do 95% of my work remote, designing, building and training or talks all happen online.

Occasionally I do travel around, giving my trainings and workshops at a convention center near you! (or at your office)

My home base is in the city of Amstelveen in the Netherlands, which is just a dash south of Amsterdam and a 15 minute ride away from Schiphol, the nearest airport (shout-out to bus 300!).

Curious to get in touch? Get in touch!