Some people discover their passion early. For Leon Welicki, that passion was building. In this episode, Leon brings us to the grill with asado and a simple idea that carries through everything he builds - great work takes time, commitment, and staying close to the people it’s meant for.
Growing up in Argentina, Leon started writing code at a very young age. What began as curiosity evolved into a lifelong pursuit of creating technology that helps people solve real-world problems.
🌎 Argentina → Spain → Microsoft
Along the way, Leon studied Computer Science, earned a PhD in Spain, and ultimately found his home at Microsoft. Today, he serves as Vice President of Power Platform, leading product and engineering teams across:
| âš¡ Power Apps | 🌐 Power Pages | 🔄 Process Mining | 🤖 Power Automate (RPA) |
His mission is simple: empower more people to turn ideas into solutions.
🎵 More Than Code: The Musician Behind the Maker
Software isn't Leon's only creative outlet.
For years, music has been just as important as technology in his life. An accomplished guitarist, Leon discovered something fascinating: the feeling of being completely immersed in writing software is remarkably similar to improvising on an electric guitar.
🎸 "The feeling I have when I'm writing code or designing a solution is the same feeling I get when I'm improvising on the guitar."
In both cases, creativity, focus, and problem-solving come together in a deeply engaging experience. It's a connection he's observed throughout Microsoft's engineering culture, where many builders are also musicians and creators.
🚀 Why Power Platform?
Long before joining Microsoft, Leon's research focused on adaptable systems—technology designed to evolve and respond to people's needs.
That made Power Platform a natural fit. What excites Leon most isn't the technology itself—it's the impact it creates.
💡 "Power Platform empowers people to solve real problems with software."
Whether someone is a professional developer, business user, or first-time maker, the platform provides an opportunity to transform ideas into meaningful outcomes.
🎥 Keeping It Real with Power Platform
Instead of focusing on product features, Leon shines a spotlight on community members who are creating real solutions to real problems. Through conversations with makers from around the world, the series celebrates:
| ✅ Innovation | ✅ Problem solving | ✅ Business impact | ✅ Community success |
"It's never about the features. It's always about the impact that makers generate and the outcomes they're achieving."
By highlighting real people and real solutions, Keeping It Real demonstrates what's possible when creativity meets technology.
🤝 Staying Connected to Your Users
One of Leon's strongest beliefs is that great products are built by listening. Whether you're a VP, product manager, developer, or first-time maker, meaningful innovation comes from understanding the people who use what you create.
Leon's Formula for Better Products
- 👂 Listen to your users
- 🧠 Understand their challenges
- 💬 Stay connected to their experiences
- 🚀 Build solutions that deliver real value
"You only learn if you connect, listen, and internalize what people are telling you."
🎯 Start with the Outcome
Throughout Leon's career, one principle keeps showing up:
Don't start with the tool. Start with the problem.
Too often, people become focused on technology first. Leon encourages makers to begin with the outcome they want to achieve and then choose the right tools to help them get there.
When the goal is clear, the path becomes easier to find.
âš¡ Leon's Advice for New Makers
For anyone wondering where to start with Power Platform, Leon's guidance couldn't be simpler:
Just get started.
The tools are becoming more powerful and accessible every day, making it easier than ever to build meaningful solutions.
- Bring a real business need
- Focus on the outcome you want to achieve
- Start building
- Learn as you go
And remember—you don't have to do it alone.
The Power Platform community is one of the platform's greatest strengths, bringing together makers, experts, and leaders who are eager to share knowledge and help others succeed.
"Start with a real problem, build with purpose, and keep it real." âš¡🎸
