Nine years ago, Ksenia Turner embarked on a career that would see her rise as a leader in the ICT space, navigating an industry often dominated by men.
Today, as Business Success Manager for Modern Work and Productivity at Crayon, she plays a pivotal role in helping partners adopt Microsoft solutions. Her present-day role is surprisingly broad, which causes some anxiety at dinner parties: “I always blank a little bit when people ask me what I do, because I do everything,” she explains.
Ksenia’s eventful career journey aligns perfectly with this year’s Women’s Month theme at Crayon: #AccelerateAction. This series spotlights inspiring women at Crayon who are driving meaningful change. Her story is a standout case: demonstrating the power of perseverance and innovation in the tech world.
Ksenia’s technology career began in 2014 while she was still studying at the University of Calgary. At Microsoft’s retail operations in Canada, Ksenia led product launches, technical training, and team enablement.
This early exposure encouraged her to pursue more technical roles. “When Windows 10 came out, I was the Services Advisor, providing technical support for Microsoft products and devices,” she recalls.
By the time she moved to Australia in 2017, Ksenia had assumed administrative and operational roles in a flagship Microsoft location, later moving into corporate education solutions.
As she worked her way up, Ksenia faced challenges common to many women in tech. She felt driven to prove her expertise in a competitive field, and nimbly pivot in a rapidly evolving industry. Thus she consistently upskilled herself, earning numerous Microsoft certifications across AI, security, cloud computing, and business applications – a process that continues today.
After nearly a decade at Microsoft, she joined Crayon in November 2023. “Microsoft went through a restructuring exercise, and that’s when I applied to Crayon. I have been here ever since,” she recalls.
Ksenia’s present-day role in Crayon is defined by her ability to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and business strategy. As Crayon’s unofficial “Copilot Queen”, Ksenia can translate complex concepts into practical, actionable guidance for partners, helping them integrate AI-powered solutions effectively.
Take for example Ksenia’s Train-the-Trainer workshops, which equip partners with the technical skills to deploy and use Copilot solutions effectively. Over 60 partners across ANZ and APAC have attended these workshops, enhancing their capabilities and driving improved service delivery.
To date, Ksenia has organised and held over 40 one-on-one enablement sessions with partners, 20 partner/customer “one-to-many” events, and ten Crayon events.
“Ksenia and her team have not only created the sales capability, but also supported our partners from a technical point of view, so that they can be strategic and take more of a consulting sales approach,” explains Ana Pedraza, Crayon’s Communications Director (APAC).
Her role extends beyond technical expertise – Ksenia is a mentor, strategist, and thought leader. As part of Crayon’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG), she helps partners make informed decisions about Microsoft solutions, from licensing to implementation.
“Ksenia’s all go, go, go – constantly pulled in ten different directions,” explains Sandy Vaishnav, Crayon’s Channel Sales Director for ANZ. “But she’s always available to have those in-person engagements with partners and customers.”
Beyond her role at Crayon, Ksenia is a champion for knowledge-sharing and mentorship. She actively participates in building a partner community for Copilot adoption, guiding businesses to understand not just the technology itself but how it fits into a broader ecosystem of security, governance, and efficiency.
Her impact is not just in numbers – though they are impressive – but in the way she reshapes how partners approach technology. She fosters a mindset of strategic adoption over quick implementation, ensuring long-term success for partners and their customers.
“Ksenia opened a window for partners to think: ‘Copilot is not a plug-and-play solution, we need to think about security, we need to think about the whole ecosystem to work properly,” Ana explains. “She puts them into the mindset of selling a solution, rather than just making a product sale.”
As Crayon gears up for FY2025 with an ambitious goal – bringing Microsoft 365 Copilot to every device across every role – Ksenia’s role has never been more vital.
She continues to explore ways to expand Crayon’s reach in the AI and modern workplace space: furthering partner enablement, driving the adoption and successful implementation of Copilot in today’s modern workplace, and maintaining Crayon’s leadership position in the channel.
Ksenia Turner is the embodiment of #AccelerateAction – driving meaningful change within Crayon and across the ICT industry. Her journey, from a university student working in retail to a respected leader in tech, is proof that knowledge, adaptability, and the courage to push boundaries can lead to remarkable success.
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