September 2025 Edition

Hi Partners,

We’ve had a busy few weeks at Oaka. From planning our next big Partner Pulse event, to supporting an incredible cause with Action for Children, and diving deep into Microsoft’s Specialisations and Designations with some brilliant partner teams, we wanted to bring you up to speed.

Oaka Partner Insights – Demystifying Designations and Specialisations

Last month, we ran a targeted session designed to help Microsoft partners stop guessing and start acting when it comes to Solution Designation and Specialisation.

Here’s why we ran it: Many partners are confused by the route to the ‘achieved’ status; they don’t know why they’re not over the line. Misunderstood metrics and missing associations (both customer & certifications) are often the culprits, not capability.

This session broke down:

Inside the Scoring Model: We unpacked Microsoft’s three core metrics, Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success, and showed how each one is calculated (and where the hidden tripwires are).

Gap Assessment Made Simple: Some eligibility thresholds are not clear. We walked through how to read these with purpose, spot blockers quickly, and know what’s actually holding you back.

The Skilling Factor: These surprises most partners. Having certified people isn’t enough; they need to be properly associated. We showed how to check these stats and see and be aware of what is upcoming.

Specialisation Pathways: Designations are just the beginning. We explained the requirements for specialisation, and the benefits these unlock with funding & Microsoft sellers.

If you missed it, you can still watch it here: Watch the session

Supporting Boycott Your Bed for Action for Children

Next month, we’re proud to be taking part in Boycott Your Bed, an initiative by Action for Children to raise funds and awareness for the thousands of children across the UK who are homeless or living in vulnerable conditions.

Here’s the reality:

• 129,000 children in the UK don’t have a place to call home.
• Many are stuck in unsafe housing, temporary accommodation, or sofa-surfing.
• Most people don’t know how widespread the issue is.

That’s why on Friday, 3rd October, members of the Oaka team will be sleeping out as part of the national Boycott Your Bed campaign. It’s a small gesture, one night outside, but it’s about standing in solidarity, raising awareness, and helping fund frontline services that provide safe homes, support, and a lifeline to struggling families.

We’re teaming up with amazing individuals from across the Microsoft ecosystem, including Nico Caudron and Jackie To, who are helping to amplify the message and get more people involved.

If this resonates with you, there are two easy ways to help:

• Join the event: You can still sign up as an individual or team.
• Donate: Every pound raised goes toward urgent services for children and young people.



Learn more or donate here.

Unlocking AI and Agentic for You and Your Customers

Partner Pulse is back, and we’re bringing together Microsoft partner leaders for a full day of AI insight, strategy, and community. Whether you’re shaping new offerings, chasing growth, or just need clarity on what’s real and what’s hype, this event is for you.

This isn’t theory. It’s action. We’ll be covering what it means to build agentic and AI-driven solutions in 2025, how Microsoft is approaching the opportunity, and what other partners are already doing to get ahead.

Who's it for?

• Senior leaders, GTM and sales heads, founders, and solution strategists at Microsoft partners
• Partners building or refining their Copilot or agentic AI play
• Those looking to move beyond inspiration and into practical next steps

Location: Storey Club, Paddington Central

Address: 4 Kingdom Street, London W2 6BD

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (doors open 9:30)

Optional drinks from 4:00 PM at The Union, Paddington

Why attend?

• Get clarity on Microsoft’s AI strategy and how to plug in
• Explore Copilot Studio specialisation opportunities
• Hear what top partners are doing and where they’re winning
• Get involved in small-group peer workshops focused on real ideas
• Leave with frameworks, stories, and contacts you can use

Brought to you by: Oaka Studio and Seer 365

With thanks to sponsors: Arrow ECS UK and Cognitive Group | Part of Focus Cloud Group

Seats are limited. Register here: Partner Pulse – Eventbrite

Streamlining the Microsoft Partner Operating Model Thursday, October 23rd, 1:00 PM GMT | Online via Microsoft Teams

AI isn’t just reshaping what partners deliver; it’s transforming how partner businesses operate internally. That’s the focus of our next Oaka Partner Insights session.

We’ll be showing where and how AI can be embedded into your partner operating model to reduce friction, eliminate wasted effort, and create smarter pathways to growth.

Expect a straight-talking session covering:

• Where AI genuinely helps inside partner operations, from compliance and incentivemanagement to pipeline prediction and customer success reporting
• How to start small, measure real impact, and scale what works
• Use cases that directly support Designation, Specialisation, and broader GTM efforts

Speakers:

• Nigel Ridpath, Consultant, Oaka Studio
• Joel Abbott, Senior Advisor, Oaka Studio

If you’re leading a partner business and asking, “Where does AI actually fit into our internal processes?”, this session is built for you.

Add to your calendar and register here: Register here.

Building Confident Leaders Who Keep Your Best People

At our last Partner Pulse, only 25% of the attendees reported having received formal management training. That means most managers are doing their best without the tools or frameworks they need, and while they figure it out, great people are leaving because of inconsistent line management.

That’s why we’re launching the Leadership & Management Academy in London this December. It’s a practical, small-group bootcamp designed to create lasting leadership behaviours, not just transfer theory.

What makes it different?

• Two intensive days (9–10 December) followed by seven coaching sessions to embed the learning.
• DISC profiling for every participant, unlocking how to lead different personalities.
• Just 16 seats to keep it focused and impactful.
• Led by Nigel Ridpath and Tamara Phelan, with over 40 years of combined experience, turning managers into leaders.

And a bonus for this cohort: each participant will also receive a signed copy of Nigel’s upcoming book, The Time Traveller’s Guide to Management, due in early 2026.

👉 If you’d like to secure a place for yourself or your team, drop Nigel a line at nigel@oaka.studio with the subject line Leadership and Management Training.

We’ve been partnering with teams who are serious about accelerating growth, and one of the most impactful ways we’re helping right now is by making Microsoft easier to navigate.

Everything we do is focused on helping Microsoft partners grow with clarity and confidence. Whether you're aiming to earn your next Solution Designation, launch a new solution, align with Microsoft’s AI and industry priorities, or simply get your strategy sharp and execution-ready, we’re here to help you move faster, with less guesswork and more momentum.



• Earn your next designation.
• Launch a new solution.
• Align with AI priorities.
• Or just get your strategy straight.

We’ve got the tools, experience, and people to help make it happen.

Want to talk strategy? Want to join an upcoming workshop? Want a fresh look at your Microsoft Play?

Just reply or book a call, and let’s get going!