🎤 What It Means to Be an Event Producer for The Best Community in Tech

"Building community means creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued—where connection becomes the foundation for collective strength."

 

The joy and privilege of one of the longest jobs I have had over the past twenty-four years has been as an event producer, organizer and creator—though honestly, the title “event producer” captures a part the depth of what the role entails. Being an event producer is a lot like being a conductor of an orchestra: you’re aligning dozens (sometimes hundreds) of moving parts, and your job is to make it all feel effortless to the audience.

But behind the scenes? It’s strategic, emotional, human, and deeply rewarding. In our community there are many people who do this work as volunteers, in addition to their ‘day job’ by managing and leading monthly user groups, by setting up one day technical skilling events like Community Days or Collab Days events or Global Microsoft Bootcamps, or Hackathons in local Microsoft offices, community colleges or Microsoft Partner offices. Some produce multi-day events yearly one of the many or Product “Cons (Conference)”, “Fests” or “Summits” in and around the world.  

This love of organizing, producing, giving and connecting is part of my DNA and something I share with hundreds of organizers who do what I do in what we call “The Best Community in Tech” - the Microsoft Community (all products across the board).  I respect and appreciate this community of people who also thrive on creating experiences for others. Thank you to all of you for all you do for the humans in your communities, this community - the goodness of which extends and influences the world. 

The other side of the coin for me from being a producer and organizer is that I am also a teacher, another program that I run for my job is our Microsoft Global Community Initiative, which is led by 10 board members and 60 regional leads (non-Microsoft employees). We host two monthly meetings where we share programs, templates and support for new producers and longtime producers to learn from each other and answer questions online in our forums and host meet ups at in person events. 

We also provide vehicles for amplifying community events on social media platforms and a website maintained by the community for all community event listings across the world. On this site, you can find free/nominal charge Community Led local 1-day learning events and longer technical skilling conferences and summits produced by our wonderful cadre of third-party Community Produced event producers, many of which are family businesses who have been producing events in the Microsoft ecosystem for decades: https://www.communitydays.org. It is and has been my honor to work, plan, and play with all of you for the length of my career. I joyscroll through the Communitydays.org website all the time! 

The MGCI board and regional leads are also continuously crafting playbooks, how-to guides, videos and sharing best practices on tools and technology on using Microsoft products to streamline event production. Thank you to our board and regional leaders who have been shaping this program with me and always pushing Microsoft to look for more ways to help the passionate organizers of the belonging, skilling and goodness of our community out in the world.

You can learn about the initiative at https://aka.ms/MGCI and participate on our Microsoft Technical Community Hub here: https://aka.ms/MGCICommunityHub – just join the MTC and “follow” the hub to participate and you can check out all of the free and paid events in our ecosystem on https://www.communitydays.org

 

👒 The Many Hats of an Event Producer

Over the years, I’ve learned that producing an event means far more than booking venues and arranging schedules. It’s about creating spaces that hopefully make people feel something, it is about belonging to something greater than yourself. These events that you potentially go back to year after year can be like a favorite vacation area or family gathering spot. Events are spaces where stories are shared, ideas are sparked, and communities are built.

Here’s what we producers actually do when we put on the “event producer” hat:

• Strategize and Plan: Every event starts with a purpose. Who is it for? What are they going to walk away with? We spend time working with teams to ensure we’re on the same page with overarching on vision and outcomes.
• Operational Oversight: Coordination with workstream leads, managing expectations, navigating executive leadership priorities, and maintaining budget oversight over all these items are foundational elements that shape any successful event and ensure its alignment with strategic goals.
• Collaborate with third party producers: Microsoft is a sponsor or guide of many community events so collaborating with the wonderful event producers in our community is a huge part of my job. Who, what, where, when and how.
• Curate and Create Content: Work with content leads and our speakers to help shape the narrative and sessions. Whether it’s a technical deep dive or a panel on inclusion, content is where the magic happens and the big why attendees come to an event.
• Manage the Chaos (Gracefully): Logistics, scheduling, AV, booths, signage, giveaways… we work with our leads and producers to architect Microsoft’s presence at an event so how we show up feels cohesive from start to finish.
• Foster Community: My passion is people. Creating opportunities for connection is the heartbeat of any event we work on. I’m always thinking: “How do we make folks feel seen, welcomed, and energized to engage?” And how much glitter and stickers can we bring?
• Reflect and Grow: We are big on post-event insights—what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next. Feedback is a gift, and we use it to constantly evolve. And data and reporting are key; everyone should be metric driven and also take all feedback in to make the event even better years after year and truly give attendees what they want to experience.

 

🎙️Beyond the Stage

When I’m not producing events or speaking, I’m telling stories. Whether it's through my weekly Curler Reports on TikTok, my podcast Mavens Do It Better, Maven Musings Newsletter on LinkedIn or my background in theater and writing, I believe in the power of authentic storytelling. It’s how we connect, how we learn, and how we grow. 

I also spend a lot of time behind the scenes at Microsoft thinking about community strategy—how we show up for the people who build, use, and evangelize our products. That work, for me, is as much about heart as it is about technology.

 

💬 Final Thoughts

Being an event producer means being a bridge: between ideas and execution, between content and audience, between people and their next opportunity. I take that role seriously—and joyfully.

I’m so grateful to be part of the Microsoft community for over two decades, and I can’t wait to keep building meaningful experiences together.

If you see me at a future event, say hi. Let’s connect. Because ultimately, it’s the people that make the magic.

— Heather 💜

 

Catch those of you attending you this week onsite in Las Vegas, you can still register if you want to come on over or in another city near you soon and always online on the Microsoft Tech Community and our Microsoft Community LinkedIn channel.

 

 

🌟 Where's Heather at the M365 Community Conference

Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2025, held from May 6–8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This year at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, I wear the hat of executive producer for Microsoft’s sponsorship at the conference and worked with 18 workstream leads (all Microsoft employees) who worked on this outside their “day jobs” of building software and creating products. Thank you, team! I also have the honor of contributing to sessions and conversations that are incredibly close to my heart.

Event Guide: https://aka.ms/M365ConfEventGuide

Diversity & Inclusion at M365 Conf: https://aka.ms/M365Conf/DiversityBlog

All schedules below subject to change, please check your Whova Event App for the most up to date listings.

Where I post social media and more: 

🤘LinkedIn: ⏰ TikTok 🦋 Blue Sky Instagram

and my 🌳Linktree all under the handle of (at) heddamaven.

 

🔥 Heather Cook’s Conference Schedule

📅☕ Monday, May 5

Costume: Palm Springs style maxi dress

Mondays at Microsoft | Episode 48 | LIVE from Vegas!

LIVE from Las Vegas, NV during #M365Con ✨ Karuana Gatimu and Heather Cook take you through the latest in #AI news, Microsoft 365 product updates, and community news and events. Join in episode 48 of "Mondays at Microsoft" on LinkedIn, Monday, May 5th, 8am PT! Mondays at Microsoft Episode 48 LIVE from Vegas! If you are onsite join us in Room 255.

Live streamed and on-demand on YouTube: https://aka.ms/community/learning

 

📅🤘  Tuesday, May 6

Costume: Retro Blondie T and some glitter pants

 

Keynote Pre-Show: Will be saying hello and sharing some fun pre-show before our awesome keynotes, Tuesday, May 6th, 8:00am – 9:00am  

"Microsoft 365 Innovation in the Era of AI" | Jeff Teper (President – Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps and Platforms) and Nicole Herskowitz (Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365), Tuesday, May 6th, 9:00am – 10:00am  

"Security in the Age of AI" | Vasu Jakkal (Corporate Vice President – Microsoft Security), Tuesday, May 6th, 10:15am – 11:15am  

 

Meet and Greet: Heather Cook & All interested in the Microsoft Global Community Initiative, Tuesday May 6^th, 2:00pm – 2:30pm, Community Lounge, 3^rd Floor, MGM Convention Center.

 

Roundtable Discussion: Learn about Microsoft for Non-Profits and the Microsoft for Startups Programs, Tuesday May 6^th, 4:00-4:30pm, Cedar Ballroom 252.

 

📅 💫  Wednesday, May 7

Costume: Pink and purple dress to celebrate Women and Allies.

 

Lightning Talk: Expo Hall: Building a Career with M365 with the Help of Community, Wed May 7^th, 11:00am – 11:20am, Expo Hall, Microsoft Lightning Talk Theatre

 

Women in Tech and Allies Luncheon: 12:20 PM – 2:00 PM, Terrace Ballroom, 1^st Floor, MGM Convention Center. Be sure to pick up a wristband for this lunch at the Community Lounge, 3^rd Floor, MGM Convention Center.

Fireside Chat with Miri Rodriguez: Hosted by Heather Cook, Principal PM, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft

Miri and Heather will discuss The Women of Microsoft: Empowering Stories from the Minds That Coded the World, written by Miri Rodriguez and Izabela Duiwe. This inspiring book, soon to be released, showcases the women who have shaped and led Microsoft, and the lessons we can learn from them.

Panel: Stronger Together: Building Inclusive Communities for Women in Tech and Their Allies - Hosted by Karuana Gatimu, Director of Customer Advocacy, Microsoft

Community is a powerful force for change—and when women in tech and their allies come together, that force grows even stronger. This panel brings together inspiring voices from across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem to explore how we can foster supportive, inclusive, and empowering spaces in tech. Panelists will share how they've built and contributed to thriving communities, overcome challenges, and created pathways for others to succeed. Whether you're a community leader, active member, or looking to get involved, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas, connections, and the motivation to help shape a positive future for tech—together.

Panelists: 

• • Adam Harmetz | Vice President, Product Management | Microsoft
  • Jessie Hwang | Customer Experience PM | Microsoft
  • Miranda Jones | Director, Customer Experience Engineering, SharePoint and OneDrive | Microsoft
  • Nishan DeSilva | Partner Group Product Manager, Security Engineering | Microsoft
  • Sumi Singh | Corporate Vice President, Teams Engineering | Microsoft

 

Update on Women in M365 User Group
Have you been a part of Women in Teams or other groups? The Women in M365 User Group has a new brand and home. Learn more about their monthly meetup, be a guest speaker and connect with other women passionate about Microsoft 365.

Panelists:

• • Laurie Pottmeyer | Principal PM and Microsoft 365 MVP Lead | Microsoft
  • Martina Grom | Co-Founder and CEO | atwork | Microsoft Regional Director
  • Sharon Weaver | CEO | Smarter Consulting | Microsoft Regional Director
  • Rachel Sullivan | Information Technology System Architect | Mastercam

 

 

Roundtable: Come Join MGCI and Give Feedback on Community Events: Learn How to Produce and Promote Free Technical Events in your city! Wednesday May 7, 4:00pm – 4:30pm, Cedar Ballroom 250.

 

Pre-band fun: DJHeddaMaven (me) will spin some funky house and disco tunes before the XAmbassadors.  Wednesday, May 7, 2025 @ 8:00 PM, MGM Grand, Las Vegas (Exclusive to conference attendees)

 

📅⚡Thursday, May 8

Costume: Space, a mix of Doctor Who and Van Gogh

 

Keynote Pre-Show: Will be saying hello and sharing some fun pre-show before our awesome keynotes, Thursday, May 8th, 8:00am – 9:00am  

Day Three Keynote: A New Frontier: Building the Future Firm with AI  | Jared Spataro (Chief Marketing Officer - AI at Work), Thursday, May 8th 9:00am – 10:00am  

 

Meet and Greet: Heather Cook – come say hi and have a chat.  Thursday May 8^th, 11:00am – 1130am, Community Lounge, 3^rd Floor, MGM Convention Center

 

Breakout Session: Empowering Community Management with AI and Microsoft 365
Co-presenting with Bryan Hart and Josh Leporati, Heather discusses integrating AI tools to enhance community management practices. Thursday May 8^th, 12:00pm-1:00pm, Premiere Ballroom 310.

 

Closing Keynote: Carpe Diem | Karuana Gatimu (Director of Customer Experience Product Management) and Heather Cook (Principal Customer Experience Product Manager), Thursday, May 8th 4:00pm – 4:45pm, Boulevard Ballroom, 1^st Floor, MGM Convention Center

Community Closing Keynote: Carpe Diem — Sea changes like AI only happen a few times in your career. Get clear next steps on how the Microsoft can help you seize the day and expand your career. Join Heather Cook and Karuana Gatimu as we close out the conference with thoughts on being humans-first driven organizations and how the superpowers of technical skills and storytelling will benefit you and your organization.

 

For more details on all costumes, sessions, and to plan your conference experience, visit the official Microsoft 365 Community Conference website.