Microsoft 365 Community Conference event guide: Keynote, Viva sessions, and More

[Jack_Elmore]

• What: Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2024
• Register today | Note: Use the MSCMTY discount code to save $100 USD.
• Content: 1 Microsoft keynote + 1 AMA || 150+ overall sessions – 88 Microsoft-led and 7 Viva sessions (see list below) | 18 full-day workshops (pre-day and post)
• Microsoft is sending over 175+ product makers to present and engage
• Review all sessions, workshops, and speakers.
• When & where: April 30 – May 2nd, 2024 
• In-person: Orlando, Florida – Swan & Dolphin Resort – Disneyworld
• Workshops: April 28, 29, and May 3, 2024
• Twitter & hashtag: @M365CONF | #M365Con
• Cost: $1,899 - full conference (Includes 3 continental breakfasts, 3 lunches, a T-shirt, and backpack. Additional costs for full-day workshops.)

“We have been humbled by the customer adoption and excited to see you grow your careers and impact on your organizations. The Microsoft 365 Community Conference (#M365Con) is a wonderful place to get together with the best community in tech – to see old friends, meet new friends, compare notes on best practices, go to the amazing Expo Hall and learn from our partners and see their latest solutions.”
– Jeff Teper, President – Collaborative Apps and Platforms – Microsoft

Why attend?

• Discover the latest innovations in AI and learn best practices from Microsoft’s product makers to boost your productivity, creativity, and collaboration. 
• Build your Microsoft 365 skills and knowledge through hands-on demos and workshops that will equip you with the tools you need to take your work to the next level.
• Network with thousands of Microsoft experts, MVPs, industry leaders, and the best community in tech.

Join Microsoft and community experts in-person, in one place. The Microsoft 365 Community Conference returns to Orlando, FL, April 30 – May 2, 2024 – with two pre-event and one post-event workshop days. It’s a wonderful event dedicated to Copilot and AI, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Viva, Power Platform, and related Microsoft 365 apps and services. Plus, a full Transformation track for communicators, HR, and business stakeholders in workplace experience.

You’ll hear the latest product updates and guidance from over 175 Microsoft product makers — filled with real-world solutions across keynotes, sessions, and pre/post event deep-dive workshops to build your expertise – presented alongside Microsoft MVPs and community experts. We hope you join in to learn, share, and engage –including evening gatherings, the attendee party (hosted at Universal Islands of Adventure and includes rides and attractions across the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel Superhero Island, and Jurassic World (home of the VelociCoaster), and Microsoft will have a dedicated, fully-staffed product booth and community space within the Expo Hall alongside all the wonderful event sponsors.

Jeff Teper (President of Collaboration Apps and Platforms at Microsoft) shares his ideas and thoughts on the value of the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2024:

Microsoft keynotes, sessions, and workshops: Copilot/AI, Viva, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Power Platform, D&I, and related technology

Microsoft keynote, general sessions, and AMA (Ask Microsoft Anything)

Hear from Microsoft leadership revealing the latest innovations shaping the flexible, innovative, and secure business environments of the future. (all times listed in EDT)

• OPENING KEYNOTE | “The Age of Copilots” with Jeff Teper (President of Collaboration Apps and Platforms) | Tuesday, April 30^th, 8:00am – 9:30am (Pacific Hall)
• GENERAL SESSIONS
• “What’s new and next for Microsoft Viva and the employee experience” with Kirk Gregersen, Kristi Kelly, and Nick DeFalco | Tuesday, April 30th, 3:15pm - 4:15pm (Pacific Hall - Room 1)
• “Transform workplace experience: Strategies and best practices” with Steve Clayton | Tuesday, April 30th, 11:30am - 12:30pm (Room 4 - Transformation)
• “Reshaping productivity with Copilot for Microsoft 365” with Bobby Kishore and Dan Parish | Tuesday, April 30^th, 9:30am - 10:30am (Pacific Hall)
• “The future of work with Microsoft Teams” with Sumi Sing, Manik Gupta, and Mark Swift | Tuesday, April 30^th, 11:30am - 12:30pm (Pacific Hall - Room 1)
• “Content Management and Collaboration for the AI Era” with Zach Rosenfield, Lincoln DeMaris, Melissa Torres, Sesha Mani, and Ashu Rawat | Tuesday, April 30^th, 2:00pm - 3:00pm (Pacific Hall - Room 1)
• “Microsoft AMA” with Jeff Teper and numerous product leaders | Thursday, May 2nd, 1:30pm - 2:30pm [MSAMA] 
• CLOSING KEYNOTE | "Delivering Business Value and User Satisfaction in the Era of AI" with Karuana Gatimu | Thursday, May 2nd, 2:45pm - 3:45pm

Microsoft-led breakout sessions (each 60 minutes)

Take the opportunity to select the sessions best suited for your role and interests. All breakouts bring product updates, demos, customer stories, best practices, and insights into product and solution strategy – including guidance on the future.

You can review all sessions and the unique set of Microsoft-led sessions – all of which are listed below in this guide. We will keep everything up to date as there are still a few embargoed sessions.

Microsoft Viva sessions

Here’s a quick rundown of sessions to learn more about Microsoft Viva, the employee experience platform (EXP) built for the AI era.

• “Getting started with Viva Amplify” with Naomi Moneypenny and Michael Holste | Thursday, May 2, 11:00am – 12:00pm
• “Employee listening and feedback with Viva Insights, Glint and Pulse” with Jamie Gonzalez and Quentin Mackey | Thursday, May 2, 9:15am – 10:15am
• “Microsoft FastTrack Presents: Tailored Strategies for Optimizing Viva Suite Deployment” with Jeffrey Manning, Jill Brown, and Manas Kumar Biswas | Tuesday, April 30, 11:30am – 12:30pm
• “Building the future with Viva Connections” with Nancy Handa and Tejas Mehta | Tuesday, April 30, 11:30am – 12:30pm
• “Viva Communications and Communities administration, moderation, security and compliance” with Mike McLean and Venkat Ayyadevara | Wednesday, May 1, 11:20am – 12:20pm
• “The Viva Communications and Communities Solution” with Ed Averett, Jason Mayans | Thursday, May 2, 8:00am – 9:00am
• “Viva Engage: Community, communications, leadership and knowledge” with Dan Holme and Jason Mayans | Tuesday, May 1, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• “Customer panel: Modern communications and engagement strategies” with Dan Holme | Thursday, May 2, 8:00am – 9:00am

The Transformation track for communicators, HR, and business stakeholders in workplace experience (sessions) + full details

Dive deep into strategies, insights, and best practices to modernize communications and engage employees. Develop an actionable plan that aligns stakeholders to drive the transformation that matters to your organization, whether you want to nurture a high-performance organization, foster culture, and diversity, accelerate innovation, or ensure successful adoption of technologies like Copilot and AI. Take away prescriptive product guidance from experts, inspiration from thought leaders and real-world learnings from peers across industries.

• “Scaling leadership, sparking transformation, and fostering culture” with Dan Holme | Wednesday, May 1, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• “Communications for the frontline workforce and beyond” with Brionna Hunter, Jason Mayans, and Michael Holste | Thursday, May 2, 9:15am – 10:15am
• “Planning a corporate communications strategy with SharePoint News and Viva Amplify” with Maeneka Grewal, Naomi Moneypenny, and Dave Cohen | Wednesday, May 1, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
• “Building communities to connect employees and accelerate knowledge sharing” with Dan Holme | Thursday, May 2, 11:00am – 12:00pm
• “Leveraging AI for communications” with Dan Holme | Wednesday, May 1, 11:20am – 12:20pm
• “How Microsoft is transforming communications & engagement” with John Cirone | Tuesday, April 30, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
• “Employee Experience: A Microsoft HR perspective” with Tameka McNair | Wednesday, May 1, 10:00am – 11:00am
• “Creating an actionable plan for transformation leveraging modern communications and employee engagem...” with the Microsoft Team
• “Creating an actionable plan for transformation leveraging modern communications and employee engagem...” with Chris Bortlik

 Register today | Note: Use the MSCMTY discount code to save $100 USD.

Get the most out of M365Con: Top five tips while attending

1. Introduce yourself | Unique perspectives await, including yours.
2. Attend as much as you can | Laptops down, eyes open – depth learning, tips, and tricks abound.
3. Share what you know |Your knowledge saves time – pay it forward.
4. Ask questions, share feedback | Your issues and ideas Inform us and influence the roadmap.
5. Hydrate and dress for steps | Keep the brain healthy and mind active.
6. BONUS | Update your LinkedIn profile and photo | Best reflect your professional experience and growing technical aptitude.

We asked three Microsoft technology and event experts, @Sharon Weaver, @Sean Bugler, and Derek Cash Peterson -- to share their in-person tips and tricks so you can best prepare to have an awesome and optimal Microsoft 365 Community Conference experience: 

Learn more!

To give you a deeper sense about what we have planned, review pre-event insights from our product teams:

• "The Microsoft 365 Community Conference" by Jeff Teper 
• “Top 10 reasons to attend the Microsoft 365 Community Conference” by Adam Harmetz 
• "Enable AI and productivity in your organization" by Karuana Gatimu
• “Come see what’s next for OneDrive” by Jason Moore
• "Oh, to be a dev at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference" by Vesa Juvonen and Fabian Williams
• "Thoughts on the upcoming Microsoft 365 Community Conference" by Mark Kashman 
• "Preparing for the in-person event: Attendee tips and tricks | #M365Con" on the Microsoft Community LinkedIn page
• "Make a plan to attend three upcoming new Microsoft Planner events"

Visit M365Conf.com and follow the action on X/Twitter: @M365Conf / #M365Con, @Microsoft365, @MSFTCopilot, @SharePoint, @OneDrive, @MicrosoftTeams, @MSPowerPlat, @Microsoft365Dev, and @MSFTAdoption.

Join in: The Microsoft 365 Community Conference in Orlando, FL | April 30 - May 2, 2024 | aka.ms/M365Conf24 – Sponsored by Microsoft.

I hope you will join us in Orlando for what will be a fantastic week! I am looking forward to the action alongside the community, MVPs, and Microsoft product members from Copilot, Teams, Office, SharePoint, OneDrive, Loop, Viva, Power Platform, Lists, Planner, and more.

Remember, Microsoft customers can use the discount code MSCMTY to save $100 USD off your conference registration. Register today