Community-driven learning thrives when passionate volunteers create spaces to share, connect, and grow together. In this post, we look back at Workplace Ninja Finland’s biggest live event to date—nearly 150 IT professionals and community contributors gathering in East Helsinki for two days of practical insights, collaboration, and new connections.
The Workplace Ninja Finland User Group has reached an exciting milestone, hosting its third—and largest—live event since its relaunch two years ago. Bringing together nearly 150 IT professionals, MVPs, and community contributors, the event in November 2025 showcased the growing appetite for in‑person technical learning and reaffirmed Finland's vibrant role in the global Workplace Ninja community.
A Community Rebuilt Through Passion and Collaboration
The group’s journey is rooted in resilience. What once began as an active Facebook community went quiet during the pandemic, reflecting a shared global pause. But two years ago, a team of Finnish MVPs and dedicated volunteers reignited the initiative under the global Workplace Ninja brand. Their vision: to create an open, inclusive, and constantly evolving space for IT professionals. Today, that vision has blossomed.
- 1,800+ followers engage with the community on LinkedIn
- 381 members connect daily on Discord—exchanging ideas, asking questions, and helping one another troubleshoot
- Webinar recordings on YouTube and session materials on GitHub ensure that learning reaches beyond the room
This multichannel approach has become a model of accessible, community‑driven knowledge sharing.
A Two‑Day Event Powered by Global Expertise
Hosted at a campus in East Helsinki, the event drew speakers from across Europe. International MVPs—Jörgen Nilsson, Ronni Pedersen, Morten Nilsen, and Kent Agerlund—joined Finnish MVPs Petri Paavola, Panu Saukko, and Pavel Mirochnitchenko to deliver deep‑dive sessions on topics ranging from the Intune community toolbox to practical Zero Trust deployments.
True to the community’s ethos, the event also welcomed non‑MVP speakers, giving user group members space to highlight their own journeys, challenges, and technical insights. This openness helps cultivate new voices and supports the MVP Program’s commitment to diversity and local leadership.
Outstanding Feedback Reflecting High Impact
Attendee responses were overwhelmingly positive, with most presentation ratings landing above 4.5 out of 5—an impressive outcome for a free, fully community‑run event. Participants highlighted the mix of expert deep dives, lighter sessions, and the value of networking:
- “I learned something from every session… This is really doing good for endpoint administrators.”
- “The open mindset to share best practices is priceless.”
- “Great combination of formats and the best part was the new contacts and discussions.”
Encouraged by this success, the organizers are already planning their next event for 2026—with a focus on continued growth and even more opportunities for community participation.
The People Who Made It Happen
Events like this stand on the shoulders of passionate volunteers. Special thanks to the event crew—Petri Paavola, Panu Saukko, Pavel Mirochnitchenko, Teemu Tiainen, Mikko Järvinen, and Kimmo Pitkänen—whose dedication and teamwork exemplify the spirit of the MVP and Workplace Ninja communities.
Organizers of the event from left to right: Petri, Panu, Mikko, Kimmo, Pavel, TeemuJoin the Story
This event is a testament to what happens when enthusiasts, experts, and curious learners come together with a shared mission: to uplift each other and strengthen the global workplace technology community.
What’s your community story? Interested in contributing or speaking at a future event?
Let us know in the comments—or learn more about the MVP Program and how you can nominate someone making an impact in your local tech community.
Microsoft