Newsletter - Microsoft Global Community Initiative - July 2025

Brass Contributor

Jul 08, 2025

Hello MGCI Members,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter including the latest news and highlights happening in our communities around the world.

Event Spotlight - TechCon365 + PWRCON + DATACON Seattle

Last week, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Azure enthusiasts gathered in Seattle for TechCon365 + PWRCON + DATACON—a powerhouse three-in-one event packed with over 130 sessions, 25+ hands-on workshops, and a bustling expo floor. Experts covered everything from Copilot Studio and Fabric to governance, identity, and secure collaboration. Keynotes and deep dives by MVPs, Microsoft engineers, and community leaders brought a real-world lens to how AI is reshaping the workplace.

A major focus this year was empowering IT pros and developers to use AI responsibly and effectively. Sessions highlighted extending Microsoft Copilot with context, controls, and governance; best practices for data integration and automation in Power Platform; and practical demos for building secure, scalable apps. The energy was high throughout the week—especially in community networking events, AMA booths, and peer-led workshops.

Why it matters to our community: This event wasn’t just about learning new tools—it was about transforming ideas into impact. Attendees walked away with strategies, templates, and governance models they can immediately use. More importantly, it strengthened connections across the global tech community, creating new opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and innovation. Events like TechCon365 show the power of shared knowledge and the momentum we build when we grow together.

Congratulations! - 2025 Microsoft Power Women Award Winners

The Microsoft Power Women Awards are part of our continued mission to celebrate, elevate, and empower women in technology across its partner organizations in the EMEA region. This initiative is one of the ways Microsoft champions greater diversity and inclusion within our partner ecosystem, and beyond. Check out our 2025 winners here - Power Women Igniting Inspiration – Microsoft Pulse

Community Spotlight - #CommunityLuv

We love to scroll through different social media channels and see what our community has posted with hashtag #CommunityLuv. In this month’s community spotlight we are reminded that community isn’t just about sessions and keynotes—it’s also about the laughs, the late-night dinners, and the friendships that span countries and time zones. This month’s #CommunityLuv spotlight features a group of friends—including MGCI Board Member Mark Rackley and MGCI Regional Lead and conference leader David Wilhelm—sharing sushi and stories after a long day of learning. These are the moments that make our community feel like family—where connections go beyond the tech and turn into lifelong friendships.

Would you like to be featured in our newsletter? Share you community posts with hashtag #CommunityLuv.

General Session Recording

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this month’s General Session.

The recording is available here on our Microsoft Tech Community

Thank you to Tim Balk for a great presentation and conversation!

Topic: Unconventional Ways to Promote Community Events

Join host Heather Cook and our MGCI board members who will update you on all things MGCI. Learn from our guest speaker Tim Balk who will talk about stepping outside the usual flyers and Facebook posts with creative, unexpected strategies to draw attention and build excitement for your next community event. From sidewalk chalk art and mystery teaser campaigns to pop-up performances and interactive installations, this guide explores inventive approaches that engage curiosity, spark conversations, and bring people together in surprising ways.

Next General Session – July 15

Don’t miss out on the next General Session taking place on June 17. Mark your calendars and join us LIVE for the AM or PM session broadcasted on the Microsoft Tech Community.

Guest Speaker Topic: Thriving Against the Odds: Building a Formidable Community in Unfavorable Environments

Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft

Guest Speaker: Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju, Management Executive at Convenant Technologies

📅 July 15 ⏰ 8:00 AM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM

📅 July 15 ⏰ 5:00 PM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM

Event Training Recording

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this month’s General Session.

The recording is available here: Event Training: Speaker Selection for Community Events - June 2025

Thank you to our hosts: Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver

This month's topic: Speaker Selection for Community Events

Choosing the right speaker can make or break an event. In this session, we’ll explore effective strategies for identifying, evaluating, and securing speakers who align with your event goals and audience expectations. Learn how to balance expertise, engagement, and logistical fit to ensure your event delivers real value. Whether you're planning a small workshop or a large conference, this training will give you the tools to make informed, confident speaker selections.

Upcoming Events

Communities around the world are hosting events to bring the community together to learn, network and have fun. Don’t miss out on what’s happening around you – check out communitydays.org to find upcoming events. Are you organizing a full day or multi-day event yourself? Make sure you list it on communitydays.org, so others can find your event too.

Upcoming Community Led Events