Pitch your manager on the Microsoft 365 Community Conference

The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is more than a conference—it's your chance to learn, grow, and improve in your career. With over 200 sessions, workshops, and AMAs, you’ll: 

• Learn how to use AI-powered tools to work smarter 
• Explore Microsoft’s latest product updates and learn about those on the horizon 
• Meet leaders and makers from the Microsoft product team 
• Build new skills so you can be more productive and creative with work tools like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Copilot 

The conference is an investment in your professional development, so how do you start the conversation with your manager? 

We’ve put together an email draft you can copy, paste, and customize—or you can lean on Microsoft 365 Copilot to help! 

Get started by writing your Copilot prompt. (And learn more about how to get the most out of your prompts.) 

1. Tell Copilot your goal and helpful context. Explain what you’re asking for, why you need it, and who is involved. Share details about your role, your team, and the specific conference benefits you’re interested in. 
2. Clarify your expectations. Provide Copilot guidance on how to best fulfill your request.  
3. Provide a source. Include the link to the conference website. 

Here’s what your full Copilot prompt might look like: 

Help me write a 1–2 paragraph email to my manager requesting that they send me to the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, May 6–8, in Las Vegas. I’m responsible for [ADD IN YOUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES] on the [ADD IN YOUR DEPARTMENT NAME] team at [ADD IN YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME]. At the conference, I will have the opportunity to [ADD IN THE MOST RELEVANT BENEFITS TO YOU]. As we near the end of the quarter, I am hoping to use some of our T&E budget to attend this conference and come back with new skills and insights to help our team succeed. Use a professional but enthusiastic and conversational tone.  

Bonus: If your manager requests a cost estimate, you can use Copilot to calculate the necessary budget for your trip with a prompt like this. 

Example: I will be travelling to Las Vegas for the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, May 6–8. I am flying out of [STATE OF ORIGIN] and would like to stay at the MGM Grand. Can you provide a cost breakdown for my trip and include a per diem of [PER DIEM FOOD ALLOWANCE] for food.  

Once you’ve worked with Copilot to perfect your email, send it to your manager and start the conversation.  

We can’t wait to see you at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference! 

Email template 

Dear [SUPERVISOR’S NAME], 

I am requesting approval to attend an exciting professional development event: The Microsoft 365 Community Conference. It’s a great chance for me to learn from the broader tech community about how to get the most out of Microsoft 365 and the latest in AI. 

At this event, I’ll connect with thousands of IT pros and experts to build skills and make connections that won’t just help me grow in my career—they’ll help our organization. Through plenty of hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to connect one-on-one with experts, I'll be set up to bring back lots of insights that will help me and our team. 

With over 200 sessions, workshops, and AMAs, I'll have the chance to: 

• Learn how to use AI-powered tools to work smarter 
• Explore Microsoft’s latest product updates and learn about those on the horizon 
• Meet leaders and makers from the Microsoft product team 
• Build new skills so you can be more productive and creative with work tools like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Copilot 

The estimated budget request is: [INSERT COST TO ATTEND], which covers registration, travel, lodging at the MGM Grand, transportation, and per diem of [INSERT DOLLAR AMOUNT] for food. 

I’m eager to discover and share smart ways to achieve our team’s goals, and I am confident the Microsoft 365 Community Conference will be a great resource for me and our team. 

I’m happy to chat live about my request—thanks for your consideration! 

Thanks, 
[YOUR NAME]