Pedro Airo is working on Dynamics CRM since its first inception into the market. Needless to say the kind of experience he has on product and .net technology stack.

I had the privilege to work with him for a brief of half a year, although not on direct projects but the kind of discussions we had were truly a great learning.

He is currently working as CRM Architect with RCSI and his knowledge on the product can be just described in two words: Phenomenal and Great.

His introduction in his own words:

“I am Pedro Airo, A Master’s Degree holder from ISEL(Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa), Portugal and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Certified Professional.

I have been working on Microsoft technologies like Microsoft Dynamics CRM 1.2, ASP.Net,C#.Net, WCF, Jscript, JQuery, SSIS.

I’m a very positive and happy guy, i consider myself a hard worker, without this how can we achieve our dreams?

Being friend of my friends, when someone needs me i’m there, hurting anyone of my family or friends is the same of hurting me.

In my free time, I love to be with family and friends, going to the cinema and playing football, table tennis, or any kind of activity makes me happy.”

1. Name, current job title and social media links please

Pedro Miguel Moura dos Santos Airo

Contractor – Microsoft CRM Technical Solutions Architect at RCSI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedroairo

WebSite: http://dynamicsmonster.com/

Blog: http://www.dynamicsmonster.com/blogs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pedroairo

2. What does an average day at work look like

First thing in the morning, my coffee, and because I’m Portuguese has to be an Expresso, without that, is harder to work or even impossible to work.

I like to be in the office before the starting hour so I can plan my day, see all the tasks I have to do, and go from there.

The day itself, some meetings between, however and because of my role, designing and developing are my two favourite tasks for the hole day.

3. What different roles/Job titles have you had whilst using CRM

I started as a Junior CRM Consultant in July of 2004, and since then i’ve progressed to Senior CRM Consultant and after CRM Technical Solutions Architect,

so in the end I’m a very technical guy and happy with that. All the roles are important and in my case couldn’t be more happy about the career that I have chosen,

usually my friends call me a geek, and I’m proud of that.

4. What job did you did before you starting using CRM

Do you what means ice age, yes, I was living in that age. Now seriously, I had the opportunity of when I’ve started to work, I could choose between a Siebel or Microsoft,

and my instinct told me Microsoft, and after almost 11 years, I don’t regret even one time any of my choices, personal and professional.

5. What was the first version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM you worked with and how long have you been using Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Talking about Ice Age, yes, it was CRM V1.2, many people probably don’t know what that means, but I can tell you, few customizations around out of the box entities, adding few new fields and adding

some iframes so it could be extended with a ASP or ASP.Net in that time. Yes, Microsoft says, please don’t change or touch the database, however, for being able to create a post call out (nowadays know as Plugins)

you would need to update directly the “Config Database” and develop a COM+ Component. So, because I could work and upgrade CRM implementations from all the versions, I consider that I know

very well the product, and happy that I could be doing that since 2004.

6. How do you stay up to date with the CRM

I have one rule, which I like to keep to myself, try always to do better and better and trying to not think so out of the box. So, first thing to do, read and keep me up to date with the CRM SDK, and looking at the examples

trying always to improve what I see in there, however, and that I really don’t like, changing a line only because I need to say that I have done that, NO, changing a line or a set of lines because I think that it would be better like that.

Yes, sometimes I do mistakes, but I prefer to be the first one doing that rather than being the last.

Other thing that I do is reading blogs and posts of other good professionals around the world, people that is trying to do their best to become or being part of the elite of the CRM guys in the world.

7. What one feature would you add to CRM Product.

In here, sorry about that but I cannot say because I want to keep to myself and add when I can, myself only or with the help of other CRM guys.

8. What is the best tool/solution you have used recently

In here I could say few, but I will strict to one that has more functionalities, the XRM Toolkit, thanks for who developed that. J

9. What CRM certifications do you have, do you try and keep up to date with CRM certifications

I don’t think that is important to have every single certification, in my perspective, I prefer to know if the guy knows by asking direct questions rather than looking at the certifications that he puts on the CV.

But yes, it is important as well, and in my case I have:

Microsoft CRM Installation & Configuration R1.2

Microsoft CRM 4.0 Extending Microsoft Dynamics MB2-634

Microsoft Dynamics CRM2011 Installation and Deployment MB2-867

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Customization and Configuration MB2-866

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Applications

10. How important is it to have good business analytical skills working with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

I will be here very direct: Without that how can I implement, design or develop something?

10 How useful is it to have programming knowledge to become a good Microsoft Dynamics CRM Professional?

Oh, here this question is touching a very sensitive point in me, because I’ve being saying to colleagues, managers, and friends since ever, and in the case of the Microsoft CRM, how can be possible to develop CRM

without .NET expertise, yes, being a junior, you will improve the skills not only in .NET but as well in JavaScript and HTML for instance sooner or later, but to be considered Senior CRM Developer you don’t have

another option of knowing .Net, and I can’t understand the opposite.

11. How often do you travel as a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Professional?

Until now, I have to say that no big distance travels. In Portugal while I was there, few times in Porto, a city about 300Km from Lisbon, the rest was around Lisboa.

12. Can you see yourself not using CRM in your career in the future

I’ve told few times in interviews, please don’t take me away from CRM for more than 2, 3months, every single day I think I like more the tool.

13. What are your hobbies outside of CRM

Being around with family, in this case, and because I’m far from home, my friends in here became part of that. In terms of sports, Soccer, Table Tennis, Cinema, Eating (yes eating is a hobby,

and because my wife is an amazing chef, it got better), since 5 months ago Gym again, for last trying to play guitar, see how it will go.

14. What was the last book you read and what was the last film you watched

The last book I read was Unbroken and the movie that I have ended was Fast & Furious 6, so I can see the new one if new weeks’ time.

15. Has CRM ever got you in trouble with your partner/family.

No, I never left that happened, I thing that every single person should balance the work and personal lives.

16. Have you friends ever told you to stop talking/tweeting/blogging about CRM? What does your partner/family member(s) think of CRM

Sometimes I get excited when talking about work, but I try to balance that, and yes, sometimes I have to stop.

17. Tell me something interesting/unusual about yourself

I sneeze when I’m really full. Ask my closest ones, family and friemds.

18. Who is the first CRM Expert you remember reading/seeing

Ronald Lemmen, and it would be with pleasure I would meet him in person.

19. Tips for someone who wants to become a CRM Expert

I have one rule, which I like to keep to myself, try always to do better and better and as well innovating in every single task i have to do.

Don’t allow anybody telling you are not good, when or if that happens prove them they are wrong. And talk and discuss openly with colleagues what you have in mind,

even if it is not the best solution, in team the right solution will come out.

Last but not least, don’t be afraid of sharing your ideas being used from your colleagues, you should keep for you, I’m the best doing what I do, or, I want to be the best.

Here is a certificate of appreciate from my end:

Happy CRMing!