Community News Desk Blog articles

Event Guide - European Collab Cloud & Biz Apps Summit - Cologne, Germany

HeatherCook — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:28:53 GMT

Microsoft at the European Collaboration Summit 2026- Cologne, Germany | Microsoft Event Guide 

Get ready for an exciting experience at the European Collaboration Summit, European AI & Cloud Summit, and European BizApps Summit! Taking place from May 5-7, 2026, in Cologne, Germany. This event gives you the chance to explore over 300 sessions packed with insights on Microsoft 365 products and solutions, AI in business and operations, Microsoft Security and Compliance, Copilot and Agents, Microsoft Viva, SharePoint, Power Platform, Fabric, and so much more.

The best part? With a small upgrade, your ticket to one conference opens the door to all three! You’ll have the flexibility to attend sessions across all three events, connecting you with even more Microsoft experts and tech enthusiasts. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and network!

The summit will feature pre-conference full-day tutorials led by M365 industry experts on best practices, insights, and implementation across collaboration, AI, Copilot, and more.

The conference has an incredible speaker lineup with:

40 top Executives and Product Leaders from Microsoft

20 Regional Directors

120 MVP speakers from around the globe with inspiring business and technology keynotes from Marco Casalaina, Vice President of Products, Microsoft Azure AI, Adam Harmetz, Vice President of Product, OneDrive and SharePoint, Collaborative Apps & Platforms, Microsoft, and Julie Koesmarno, Principal Group Product Manager, Agent 365, Microsoft on how the future of AI and the age of the Agents is here. Learn how AI can work for your organizations and propel careers forward.

Along with the European Collaboration Summit, two more conferences are co-located: the European AI and Cloud Summit, which focuses on AI, Microsoft Azure, OpenAI, and Cloud Security; and the European BizApps Summit, which centers on the Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, Citizen Development, and Low Code/No Code Business Applications. See sessions from all three conferences on the sessions page.

Kicking off on May 4 with pre-conference tutorials, the events all run May 5-7, 2026. 

From a grassroots gathering of 200 professionals in 2012 to the largest Microsoft collaboration conference in the world, the European Collaboration Summit is where the future of work comes together. What began as a SharePoint‑focused event has consistently been ahead of the curve—spotlighting major innovations from SharePoint Server 2013 to the rise of Office 365 and beyond.

Today, with more than 3,000 attendees from across the globe, CollabSummit is a must-attend destination for anyone shaping modern collaboration. Each year, Germany becomes a global hub for CEOs, IT leaders, developers, consultants, makers, and students—coming together to gain practical insights, discover what’s next in Microsoft collaboration technologies, and build connections that last well beyond the event.

At its core, CollabSummit is powered by community: a shared commitment to learning, open knowledge‑sharing, and inclusive connection. Huge thanks to Adis Jugo, Mustafa Toroman, Waldek Mastykarz, Garry Trinder, Brett Lonsdale, Margit Jugo, and the outstanding teams of volunteers and sponsors who continue to turn this vision into an unforgettable experience.

101 on the European Collaboration Summit

What: European Collaboration Summit

Where: Cologne, Germany
Cofex Cologne Koelnmesse Halle 1, 50679 Köln, Cologne, Germany

When: May 5-7, 2026, with Pre-day May 4

Content: Microsoft presence at the European Collab Summit (ECS) | 3 keynotes | 51 Microsoft Breakout sessions

Review all sessions, tutorials, and speakers.

Registration: Register today | Use the MICROSOFT15 discount code to save 15% off registration.

Cost: Learn more about ticket prices

CollabSummit Ticket: €845 (approx. $990 USD)

Included access to the content during the main conference days of European Collaboration Summit on May 6-7, 2026.

ECS All Session Pass: €1385 (approx. $1,624 USD)

Includes access to sessions of European Collaboration Summit, BizApps Summit, and AI&Cloud Summit on May 6-7, 2026.

CollabSummit + Tutorials, May 5-7: €1,485 (approx. $1,741 USD)

Includes access to one of the full-day tutorials on May 5 and to all of the content of the European Collaboration Summit on May 6-7, 2026.

Master Pass, May 5-7: €1,845 (approx. $2,164 USD)

Includes access to ECS Conference + Tutorials + European BizApps & European AI & Cloud Summits

European Collab Summit Socials: Linkedin.com/showcase/collabsummit

Note: For this guide, we’ll use their main acronym ECS to talk about the event European Collaboration Summit and be clear when highlighting content in either Collab, Cloud or Biz app side of things.

Microsoft Keynotes

AI Microsoft Keynote

Marco Castalaina, Vice President of Products, Microsoft Azure AI

May 6, 2026 | Confexhall Section 3

AI & Cloud Summit Keynote

The Age of the Agent: AI That Works for You

Julie Koesmarno, Principal Group Product Manager, Microsoft

May 6, 2026 | Confexhall Section 3

Collab Keynote

The Future of AI is Already Here

Adam Harmetz, Vice President of PM in the Collaborative Apps & Platforms, Microsoft

May 7, 2026 | Confexhall Section 3

May 5 Tutorials

Microsoft 365 Developer Power Class: Copilot and Platform Extensibility | Speaker: Julie Turner, Paolo Pialorsi, Garry Trinder, Vesa Juvonen | May 5, 9:00 AM | Room: Tutorial - A

Model-Driven Apps for Canvas Apps Developers Powerclass | Speaker: Robin Rosengrün, Luise Freese | May 5, 9:00 AM | Room: Tutorial - Y

Microsoft-led breakout sessions

Build your own experience by choosing the sessions that matter most to you. Every breakout is packed with impactful product updates, dynamic demos, inspiring customer stories, and practical best practices—plus deep dives into product and solution strategy. You’ll even get a sneak peek at what’s ahead. This is your chance to dive in and get inspired.

You can review each full agenda for European Collab Summit sessions Plus, use the event mobile app (iOS and Android) to add sessions to your schedule.

Microsoft-led CollabSummit sessions

Preparing your organization to fully capitalize on Copilot for Microsoft 365 starts with strong technical readiness. These sessions dive into what it takes to be prepared, sharing the latest insights and best practices. Learn from our experts how to harness AI effectively and unlock the full value of Copilot across your organization.

Wednesday

Technology Adoption for Business Results | Speaker: Karuana Gatimu | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: M

Search, then Chat: How Copilot Orchestrates Answers (and Why Sources Beat Verticals) | Speaker: Mikael Svenson | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: T

Understanding Microsoft 365 Copilot Extensibility | Speaker: Vesa Juvonen, Paolo Pialorsi | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace | Speaker: Heather Cook | May 6 12:00 | Room: M

Entra Agent ID: A Technical Deep Dive for AI Agent Developers | Speaker: Anton Staykov | May 6 2:20 | Room N

Engage everywhere: communities, events, and storylines in Teams, powered by AI | Speaker: Dan Holme | May 6 3:20 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Empower Your Workforce with SharePoint Agents: Creating, Curating, and Collaborating with AI | Speaker: Vesa Juvonen | May 6, 4:40 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Thursday

Building AI Agents for Enterprise Document Automation | Speaker: Ajla Badza | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: M

What's new and what's next: developing solutions with SharePoint Framework (SPFx) | Speaker: Vesa Juvonen, Bert Jansen | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Creating real-world agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio | Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: M

Measuring What Matters: Copilot Analytics and ROI for Enterprise | Speaker: Balaka Ganguly, Manas Kumar Biswas | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: Q

Engage everyone: Modernizing communications and amplifying leader effectiveness | Speaker: Dan Holme | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People | Speaker: Karuana Gatimu | May 6, 1:30 | Room M

From pilot to scale: Secure and govern Microsoft 365 Copilot | Speaker: Erica Toelle | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: Q

From AI Hype to Everyday Impact: Using Copilot to Get Stuff Done | Speaker: Heather Cook | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 3

Microsoft-led AI and Cloud sessions

Professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses can explore opportunities with Azure, Copilot, and OpenAI, enhancing their knowledge and networking. Attendees will experience demos, discussions, and insights into Microsoft's cloud strategy. The focus is on understanding the impact of cloud adoption and promoting Responsible AI.

Guardrails for innovation: How to secure AI agents without slowing down | Speaker: Erica Toelle | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: U

Build AI Agents That Actually Know Your Data (with Fabric + Foundry) | Speaker: Josh Ndemenge | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: X

Automate model selection with Azure AI Foundry Model Router - to fast-track cost efficiencies and win big | Speaker: Lee Stott | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

Architecting Intelligent APIs: Unifying AI Services with Azure API Management | Speaker: Massimo Bonanni | May 6, 12:00 PM | Room: U

Build voice agents that work | Speaker: Milan Kaur | May 6, 12:00 PM | Room: Y

LLM evaluations for the rest of us | Speaker: Garry Trinder, Waldek Mastykarz | May 6, 2:20 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

Building a Serverless AI Agent with LangChain.js + Model Context Protocol (MCP) | Speaker: Julia Muiruri | May 6, 3:20 PM | Room: V

Improving Ops with Copilot in Azure and GitHub Copilot | Speaker: Pierre Roman | May 6, 3:20 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

One CLI to Deploy Them All: Building Smarter on Azure with azd | Speaker: Massimo Bonanni | May 6, 4:40 PM | Room: U

Introduction to Azure Kubernetes Service for IT/Ops admins | Speaker: Vinicius Apolinario | May 6, 4:40 PM | Room: V

Build and launch AI Agents fast with AI toolkit | Speaker: Carlotta Castelluccio | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

Creating an Ansible based infrastructure testing framework | Speaker: Kimmo Forss | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: V

Fine Tuning Model Customization with Azure AI Foundry | Speaker: Bethany Cheum | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: X

The Future of IT Ops: AI-Driven Tools You Can Build Today | Speaker: Pierre Roman | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

Let AI Tune Your Document Database: From Slow Query to Insight with DocumentDB + VS Code | Speaker: Tomasz Naumowicz | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: V

Integrating LLMs with Patterns, Cost, and Practical Usage | Speaker: Garry Trinder, Waldek Mastykarz | May 7, 1:30 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

Critical Evaluation of AI Coding Assistants: Productivity Gains vs. Security Risks | Speaker: Maxim Salnikov | May 7, 1:30 PM | Room: U

Securing AI End-to-End: Microsoft’s Integrated Approach with Purview, Defender & Entra | Speaker: Bernd Vellguth, Shruti Ailani | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: V

Building Effective Agents with MCP and LangChain | Speaker: Marlene Mhangami | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: U

Build Data Agents Fast: Low-Code to Pro-Code in Microsoft Fabric | Speaker: Josh Ndemenge | May 7, 3:50 PM | Room: U

From Smart Models To Agent Factories: Accelerating AI Solution Development with Microsoft Foundry | Speaker: Lee Stott | May 7, 3:50 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 2

On-Device AI with Foundry Local: Free, Private, and Offline | Speaker: Maanav Dalal | May 7, 3:50 PM | Room: V

Microsoft-led BizApps sessions

Browse these sessions to learn about Power Platform, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Business Apps, Dynamics 365, and Citizen Development.

Model Context Protocol vs. Connectors: Rethinking Integration in the Power Platform 💡 | Speaker: Mats Necker, Daniel Laskewitz | May 6, 11:00 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 1

Power Platform Admin Essentials: CLI, Tools & Tips | Speaker: Carl Cookson, Daniel Laskewitz | May 6, 2:20 PM | Room: A

Vibe Engineering: Navigating the New Map of the Power Platform | Speaker: Scott Durow | May 6, 3:20 PM | Room: Confexhall Section 1

From Rapid Prototyping to Production: Accelerating Innovation with Power Platform | Speaker: Daniel Laskewitz, Carsten Groth | May 6, 4:40 PM | Room: A

Create documents from a Custom Engine Agent (many ways) | Speaker: Damien Bird | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: Confexhall Section 1

Operationalizing Agents at Scale: The Agentic COE Playbook | Speaker: Rob Bennett, Saurabh Pant | May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: B

Beyond Shipping: How to Keep Your Low-Code Solutions Healthy | Speaker: Daniel Laskewitz, Albert-Jan Schot | May 7, 11:20 AM | Room: A

The art of building reusable prompts with AI Builder | Speaker: Miguel Verweij, Daniel Laskewitz | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: A

How Microsoft Builds Enterprise Copilot Agents: Patterns, Tooling, and Evaluation for Production Readiness | Speaker: Clint Williams, Kristina Marko | May 7, 2:30 PM | Room: D

Women in Tech Panel

Heather Cook and Karuana Gatimu will be hosting a diverse group of women in technology and their allies for an engaging roundtable discussion on the current opportunities and challenges presented by the era of AI. They will explore whether anything has fundamentally changed or if familiar patterns persist. You will leave feeling motivated and empowered to embark on your next endeavors in our dynamic industry. Everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute!

May 7, 10:20 AM | Room: run.events Stage (Expo)

Expo City

Expo City is where Microsoft innovation comes to life.

At the heart of CollabSummit, Expo City brings together Microsoft, its partners, and the global community shaping the future of Modern Work. This immersive hub connects Microsoft 365, Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, Viva, Security, Power Platform, and AI in one dynamic space — designed for discovery, conversation, and real-world impact. Attendees engage directly with Microsoft-aligned solutions, explore live demos, and exchange ideas with the people building what’s next.

More than an expo floor, Expo City is the meeting place for the Microsoft ecosystem — where strategy meets execution, partnerships are formed, and innovation moves from vision to reality.

You have a chance to WIN a Citroen Ami!

Don't miss the closing ceremony for the drawing for a brand-new Citroen Ami for one lucky attendee. On the final day of ECS 2026, one lucky attendee will win a brand-new Citroën Ami. Not a voucher. The actual car.

How to participate?

You need a valid ticket for any of the three conferences (European Collaboration Summit, European AI & Cloud Summit, or European BizApps Summit), and you need to be physically present for the drawing.

That's it.

No forms, no hoops. Just be there.

The drawing happens live, on stage, at the closing session. You'll want to be in the room.

Fine print: Only attendees are eligible.

Speakers, sponsors, and organizers are excluded.

Community Panel – description

So You Want to Run a CollabDays? A Practical Guide to Building Great Community Events

Presented by: Rodrigo Pinto, Thomas Goelles, Paul Hunt and Thomas Vochen | June 5 at 11:00 AM

Thinking about running your own CollabDays? Join Rodrigo Pinto, Enterprise Architect and Microsoft 365 & Azure MVP at Perspective Dragon, Paul Hunt, Global M365 Solutions Designer at Willis Towers and Microsoft MVP, Thomas Goelles, Team Lead for Modern Workplace Solutions at Solvion, and Thomas Vochten, Technology Evangelist and Microsoft MVP as they show you how to make it happen. Learn the essentials—from planning and promotion to speakers, sponsors, and show‑day execution—plus proven tips for great content, strong partnerships, and inclusive community-building.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up, you’ll leave with a clear playbook and the confidence to run a successful CollabDays event.

Microsoft Global Community Initiative at ECS

Coming soon - meet up for MGCI board, regional leads and those who want to join! Learn how to produce local events in your city!

AI Competition

On Wednesday, May 6, on the FutureMakers Stage in the Expo City on Wednesday, May 6, as the AI Competition finalists will present their 5-minute pitch on their AI focused product or solution live on stage. This is your chance to watch the most innovative startups in the AI ecosystem battle it out for first place—walking away with a bronze package for next year's event. You don't want to miss being the first to see the newest innovations from startups around the world.

Microsoft Booth – Experience Overview

Step into the Microsoft booth and experience AI in action. From a central collaboration hub designed for 1:1 developer conversations and architecture deep dives, to the Microsoft Foundry Information Tower showcasing the Agent Factory and production-ready AI at scale, every space is built for discovery and impact.

Connect in the Microsoft Lounge for deeper GTM, funding, and acceleration conversations, or gather around the digital engagement screen for live demos, platform storytelling, and walkthroughs that bring Microsoft’s AI vision to life.

Learn more

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

We look forward to connecting in Germany for one of the year’s most career defining collaboration events. The European Collaboration Summit delivers opportunities to engage with industry leaders, explore emerging innovations, and gain practical insights that can accelerate your professional growth. With role aligned sessions, hands on demos, and in-depth discussions on collaboration tools and strategies, the Summit equips you with the knowledge and perspective needed to stay competitive and ahead of industry trends.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity – register today and take advantage of the exclusive discount!

Finally, don't miss the ECS 2025 recap video! Dive into the highlights and get a sneak peek of all the thrilling moments and what makes ECS events unforgettable:

ECS 2025 Highlights – A Celebration of Collaboration, AI, and Innovation

Register today | Note: Use the MICROSOFT15 discount code to save 15% off registration. We can’t wait to see you in Germany, May 5-7, 2026!

Cheers,

Heather Cook

Event Recap - Experts Live US - New York City

HeatherCook — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 22:20:39 GMT

On October 10 2025, Microsoft’s Times Square office hosted Experts Live US in New York City, bringing together IT pros, developers, and community leaders for a full day of insights on Microsoft technologies, AI, and modern workplace strategies.

Registered: 178

In attendance: 126

A great start for a brand-new event, first time in the US!

Adam Harmetz’s Keynote: The Future of Content Management with AI

Adam Harmetz, VP of PM for Collaborative Apps & Platforms at Microsoft, opened the event with a visionary keynote on modernizing SharePoint and driving the next decade of content management innovation through AI and agents. His session highlighted how Copilot and intelligent automation will transform collaboration, making enterprise content smarter and more adaptive to user needs.

Adam summarized Microsoft 365 & Copilot's major AI news from the past 60 days - 6 major things you need to know that Microsoft announced and made available in preview or GA.

"We are moving faster than ever in the AI build out, partnering with frontier firms to show what's possible as we help orgs of all sizes stay on the forefront of AI. And as I talked about in the keynote, our research shows employees at these frontier firms are significantly more likely to say their orgs are thriving (71% to 31%). I know the pace of change is intimidating - but the payoff is worth it and we are here to help. So try out our latest innovations in Copilot, create an agent or use one of our new ones - and give us feedback. We're listening." – Adam on LinkedIN

Panel Discussion: Rising Together—Allyship, Acceleration & Women Who Lead Tech Forward

In a time where AI and cybersecurity evolve at breakneck speed, we cannot afford to leave talent behind. This panel explored the critical role of allyship and inclusive leadership in shaping the future of tech. Led by inspiring women in AI and security, the conversation went beyond technical frontiers to examine the structures and support systems that helped them thrive.

The data tells the story: women now make up around 28% of the tech workforce, but representation in AI (22%) and cybersecurity (24%) remains far from equal. The stakes are high—studies show diverse teams detect threats 30% faster and build more ethical AI models. This wasn’t just a diversity talk; it was a strategy session. Attendees learned how allies in leadership, policy, and peer networks are accelerating change, and walked away with actionable steps to amplify underrepresented voices and redesign hiring and mentoring structures for the future we want to build.

Celebrating three years of CommunityDays.org

This year also marked the three-year anniversary of CommunityDays.org, a global platform born from the SharePoint Saturday movement. CommunityDays.org empowers volunteer organizers to host free technical training events worldwide, spanning Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Azure, and more. Its growth reflects the enduring spirit of community-driven learning and collaboration in the Microsoft ecosystem. We posted a longer for article on the Microsoft Tech Community to celebrate.

The local volunteer event producers

A huge thank you to the incredible team who made Experts Live NYC possible:
Anna Bordioug, Dr. Booma Poolan Marikannan, Femke Cornelissen, Jason Rivera, Justine Wolters, Manpreet Singh, Melissa Ballesteros, Micah Heaton, Morten Knudsen, Raae Wolfram, Samir Makwana, Thomas Daly.

Gratitude to sponsors

Many Microsoft partners are the local, national and worldwide sponsors that help these events year after year - they pay for the food and fun prizes at many of these community events.

Join the best community in tech

Our CommunityDays events are always looking for speakers, and they’re a fantastic way to hone your speaking skills, get feedback directly from customers, partners, and Microsoft MVPs—and connect into The Best Community in Tech.
Find upcoming events at: Community Days | Homepage

About Experts Live USA

Each year, Experts Live USA organizes a one-day event attended by IT Pros and Developers who come to deepen their knowledge of Microsoft technologies. National and international community experts bring attendees fully up to speed on the latest Microsoft technologies—all in a single day.

Over the years, well-known speakers and MVPs have become closely associated with Experts Live. Held on four continents, more than 12 international Experts Live events take place annually, reaching over 5,000 people. Thousands more benefit from our knowledge through Experts Live Café, TV, Radio, and social media. Driven by a vision to empower the IT community worldwide, we continuously expand our reach by adding new Microsoft tech conferences in different continents, countries, and regions. And soon, the Experts Live experience will be spreading across the USA too.

Experts Live US supports STEM Kids NYC, helping them bring technical classes, materials, and support to kids in the New York City area. The volunteer team gave the non-profit a check for $2000.00.

WOOTWOOT!

Introducing the Viva Engage Track at the 2026 Microsoft 365 Conference

JonJones_MSFT — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:13:36 GMT

Internal communications has never been more complex — or more essential. Whether you’re trying to cut through the noise, connect leaders with employees, or bring clarity to AI-driven change, the role of the modern communicator is evolving fast.

At this year’s M365 Community Conference, we’re excited to bring you the Viva Engage Track — a focused learning path designed to help communicators, HR leaders, IT partners, and community champions build connected, informed, and high‑performing workplaces. You’ll get access to Microsoft’s own communications experts, Viva Engage product leaders, and practitioners who run global‑scale comms — all ready to share the patterns, storylines, frameworks, and real‑world playbooks that drive impact. You’ll learn how to inform, inspire, and activate employees in ways that actually work at scale.

The sessions are stacked with can’t‑miss moments

Across three days, this track walks you through the full modern comms lifecycle — strategy, storytelling, measurement, deployment, AI readiness, and community activation. Whether you’re focused on executive comms, knowledge sharing, community management, or engagement strategy, this is built for you.

Today’s communicators are expected to:

Navigate more channels than ever
Reduce noise while increasing clarity
Build trust in an era shaped by AI
Move leaders closer to employees
Create belonging in hybrid, dispersed organizations
Support rapid change and transformation

Here’s a closer look at what you’ll learn in the Viva Engage & Communications track:

Modern Communications & Strategy

How Microsoft Manages Global Employee and Executive Communications
Learn from John Cirone, Sr. Director of Communications, how Microsoft orchestrates communications for 200,000+ employees, drives leadership connection, and uses Engage, SharePoint, and Copilot to scale impact.
Breaking Through in a World of Information Overload and AI
Amy Morris, Director of Communications, will help you reimagine channels and delivery across Engage and SharePoint to reach the right people at the right time—without adding noise.
Use data, insights, and employee listening to build your comms strategy

How do you measure and define success, and leverage signals from employee engagement and listening to drive business transformation and performance? Join Microsoft communications and product leaders for a practical look at how to build an effective listening system with tools including Engage, Insights, Glint and Pulse. Learn how to empower leaders and change agents with a comprehensive, 360-degree view of employee sentiment. And explore how insights can inform strategies and tactics to achieve your business objectives.

Events, Communities & Knowledge Sharing

Company-Wide Events—Scaling Innovation with Engage
Learn how organizations run high-impact town halls, all-hands, and campaigns using Events, Q&A, Storyline, and Copilot. Product Group experts Dan Holme and Tricia Lybrook will give you the end-to-end experience for creating events your employees will remember!
AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base
See how Engage, Copilot, and intelligent agents help surface expertise and solve problems faster, while keeping people in the loop. See demos and learn directly from product group leaders Allison Michels and Ramya Rajasekhar about making this reality in your own organizations.

Governance, Deployment & AI Transformation

From Governance to Growth: A Practical Playbook for Viva Engage Deployment
Turn governance, readiness, and compliance into a launchpad for adoption and engagement. Hear directly from the Product Group Leaders, Venkat Ayyadevara and Spencer Perry.
Community in the Age of AI - Humans at the center of Copilot Adoption
Elevate your communications and campaigns through the power of community and peer-to-peer lead learning. Communicators can lead the AI transformation at your company. Learn how AI-powered agents support community managers, but humans drive rituals, events, and engagement. Hear product experts Allison Michels and Sarah Lundy as they take you behind the scenes and showcase some Microsoft employee favorites, like the Copilot Adoption Community, campaigns, Camp Copilot and more.
The Communicator’s Guide to Viva Engage
Learn how to maintain relevance and authenticity in the age of AI through personalization, targeting, and sequencing that respects how people work. Learn from Product Group expert Sarah Lundy, drawing on her experience at Microsoft Digital Comms, and Product Manager Najla Dadmand as they show how technology and communications can work together.

Spotlight Session: Engage Everywhere - The Viva Engage Roadmap

One of the most anticipated sessions of the entire track, Engage Everywhere: Communities, Events & Storylines in Teams (Roadmap), offers a first look at what’s coming next. Hear directly from our Product Leadership Team, Jason Mayans, VP of Product, Steve Nguyen, Customer Experience, and Murali Sitaram, CVP Viva Engage.

You’ll explore:

The deeper native integration of Viva Engage inside Microsoft Teams -making communities, events, campaigns, and storylines feel seamless across devices and workstyles.
AI-enhanced capabilities that connect employees to knowledge, leaders, and each other more intuitively and efficiently.
New ways organizations can unify communications and engagement across Teams, Engage, Email, and SharePoint.
What’s next for Events, Storyline, and Communities as Microsoft continues to converge engagement experiences in one place.

This session is designed to help you visualize the future employee communications and engagement ecosystem—and understand how to build toward it today.

Key Takeaways:

Whether you’re modernizing communications, rolling out Copilot, building communities, or shaping culture, you’ll walk away with:

Practical templates, patterns, and playbooks
Insights from Microsoft’s own communications experts
Guidance for integrating AI responsibly and effectively
Clear steps to elevate engagement across your organization

The Viva Engage Track brings together the people driving community and connection every day, inside Microsoft and across customers to explore what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s possible. If you want to build stronger community, elevate employee connection, or shape the future of workplace storytelling, this track belongs on your agenda. Join us!

Announcing the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2026

JonJones_MSFT — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:47:41 GMT

Your front row seat to the future of intelligent work

The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is back April 21–23, 2026, at Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Florida. This year’s theme — a beacon for builders, innovators, and icons of intelligent work — reflects the momentum across Microsoft 365 and Copilot as we enter a new era of AI‑powered productivity.

Across three days, attendees will gain access to 200+ sessions, 21 workshops, and 200+ Microsoft experts and engineers, making this one of the largest and most comprehensive Microsoft 365 learning events in the world. Whether you're deploying Copilot, modernizing your intranet, securing your environment, elevating communications, or building next-generation apps and automations, there’s content tailored for every role and organization.

Learn From the Product Leaders

Expect big announcements, deep dives, and roadmap insights from leaders including Jeff Teper, Vasu Jakkal, Charles Lamanna, Rohan Kumar, and Jaime Teevan along with additional guests. Their keynotes will explore the future of collaboration, AI, security, and the Microsoft 365 platform — and how organizations can turn innovation into impact.

Hands-On Experiences

Attendees can get up close with the latest product capabilities inside the Innovation Hub — our Microsoft booth experience featuring live demos, Copilot workshops, and a full lineup of Lightning Talks throughout the week. The show floor also hosts community spotlights, podcasts, interviews, and creator activations.

We’re also celebrating a major milestone: SharePoint’s 25th anniversary, including a special celebration and premiere moment that brings the community together to honor 25 years of innovation.

Community at the Center

Onsite programming includes the Women in Tech & Allies Luncheon, MVP meetups, NDA roundtables, community led meet & greets, and one on one opportunities to connect with Microsoft product teams. Plus, don’t miss the attendee party at Universal Islands of Adventure — always a highlight of the conference experience!

Deep-Dive Workshops

Those looking for hands-on, immersive learning can join pre and post-day workshops on April 19, 20 & 24, covering everything from Copilot rollout to Teams Rooms, SharePoint, Viva, security, governance, development, and more. The workshop program is designed to help organizations accelerate adoption and build real world capability fast.

Join Us in Orlando

Registration is officially live. Save your seat and be part of the worldwide Microsoft 365 community as we explore what’s new, what’s possible, and what’s next.

👉 Register now: https://aka.ms/M365Con26
💸Customer discount available: $150 off with code SAVE150
📅 April 21–23, 2026
📍 Orlando, Florida

Celebrating Community Manager Appreciation Day - January 26

HeatherCook — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:38:07 GMT

Today is Community Manager Appreciation Day, and I want to take a moment to shine a bright, well‑deserved spotlight on the people who ensure our communities feel supported, informed, inspired, and connected: our Community Managers.

In the Microsoft ecosystem, community managers do far more than answer questions or keep conversations flowing. They are the bridge between customers and product teams. They elevate voices. They create belonging. They help people feel seen. And they make sure that every meetup, every online exchange, every post, every question; adds value, builds trust, and strengthens the fabric of our global community.

Community Managers are the ones who:

Champion our users and amplify their successes
Foster safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can learn and contribute
Translate feedback into action, advocacy, and product impact
Support speakers, MVPs, new creators, and first‑time contributors
Celebrate the wins, guide through challenges, and keep momentum alive
Bring humanity, empathy, and heart to everything we build

Their work is often behind the scenes, yet absolutely essential to the health and growth of our technical communities, user groups, community events, and product ecosystems.

Why It Matters

Communities don’t just “happen.” They are nurtured. They are cultivated. They are cared for.
When people feel welcome, supported, and empowered, innovation accelerates.
Community Managers make that possible.

So, this week, let’s celebrate them loudly.

Give Your Community Manager a Shoutout

Shout out your - Community Manager. The ones who run your programs, initiatives and experiences! Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), Regional Leads, user group leads, forum moderators, Discord admins, event organizers, event producers or anyone who helps keep your community experience strong, if they have made a difference for you, let them know.

Drop a shoutout in the comments. Tag them. Tell us what they’ve done that mattered. These acknowledgments mean more than you know.

To every Community Manager across the Microsoft ecosystem and beyond:

Thank you.

Thank you for the care, the passion, the hours, the creativity, the resilience, and the heart you bring to this work every single day. You are the reason communities thrive. You create belonging and empathy and opportunities! You are AWESOME!

Happy Community Manager Appreciation Day! 💙

Event Recap - ESPC 2025 - Dublin, Ireland

HeatherCook — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:32:26 GMT

ESPC 2025 proved to be an unforgettable event, held in the vibrant city of Dublin, Ireland from December 2–4, 2025. Bringing together technology professionals from around the world, this year’s conference was a true celebration of innovation, learning, and collaboration. With a strong focus on AI-powered tools, Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, SharePoint, OneDrive, Copilot Studio, and more, attendees were offered an exciting look into the future of work and technology. It was a week defined by inspiration, shared expertise, and standout moments of community and connection.

ESPC by the numbers

1,750 attendees
151 speakers overall—including Microsoft speakers and MVPs
5 keynotes | 9 tutorials | 116 sessions

Keynotes

ESPC25 kicked off with an electric atmosphere, beginning with the ESPC25 opening keynote delivered by Jeff Teper, President, Collaborative Apps and Platforms. A packed auditorium was a great kick-off with the “best community in tech,” setting the stage for the rest of the week's programming. This vision and demo-packed session explored how Microsoft 365 Copilot, SharePoint, Teams, and AI agents are reshaping the future of work—driving innovation, productivity, and collaboration for customers. Beyond the latest product news and demos, Jeff’s keynote introduced the new concept of “Work IQ”—how Copilot and Microsoft 365 come together to provide a differentiated AI experience that is best in class.

Miceile Barrett demoed Microsoft 365 Copilot, Alex Weingart showed new features in Microsoft Teams, Zach Rosenfield shared the SharePoint Knowledge Agent and Michel Bouman took folks through Copilot Studio and Agent 365.

The keynote included a standout moment as Jon Wear, director of transformation at British Airways, joined Jeff onstage to share his company’s journey with Microsoft 365 Copilot—explaining how British Airways is saving time, money, and delivering a superior experience for its customers thanks to early investments in AI. Thank you Calum McEwan and the rest of the BA account team for the partnership.

Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow Jaime Teevan followed with the afternoon keynote, challenging the audience to evolve from using AI for personal productivity—and begin expanding what’s possible by using AI to collaborate with others. Jaime’s keynote covered how the way we work with AI must change; how the way we share and store knowledge will change; and how the way we build models needs to be different. What’s not changing? Us. She posed the question - How will AI reinvent collaboration?

The audience came away inspired to have better conversations, and Jaime challenged them to create and share knowledge at ESPC and beyond, and to lean into collaboration as key to unlocking AI’s potential. Thank you, Jaime, Aimee Riordan and your team for the great partnership.

Check out the keynotes from ESPC

Breakout Sessions Overview

ESPC25 Microsoft Breakout sessions were interactive and encouraged lively discussion and knowledge sharing.

The sessions encompassed a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from cloud innovations and cybersecurity best practices to digital workplace solutions and real-world case studies. With a strong emphasis on community engagement, participants benefited from direct interaction with industry leaders and Microsoft experts, making the event a comprehensive learning experience for professionals across all levels.

Latest Innovations in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat - Speakers: Connie Welsh, Bryan Wofford
What’s new in Copilot Studio - Speaker: Antonio Rodrigues
SharePoint: The knowledge platform for Copilot & agents - Speaker: Zach Rosenfield
IT Excellence in the AI era: Managing Copilot and Agents for Impact and Control - Speaker: Ben Summers
AI in Action: Microsoft’s Approach to Internal Communications - Speakers: Adam Barzel, Anna Pope, Darina Sexton
Woman in Tech & Allies Panel - Speakers: Heather Cook, Karuana Gatimu, Danielle Moon & Katelyn Helms
Microsoft Teams: What’s New and What’s Next - Speaker: Alex Weingart
MCP (Model Context Protocol) in action in Microsoft 365 Copilot - Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi
Microsoft Teams as Your AI-Driven Work Hub - Speaker: Kartik Datwani
Building Intelligent Content Apps for the Copilot Era - Speakers: Steve Pucelik, Shreyas Saravanan
OneDrive Updates: Smarter Storage, Seamless Sharing - Speakers: Lincoln DeMaris and Jason Moore
AI Intranet: Creating and Managing High Quality Content on the Intranet of Tomorrow - Speaker: Katelyn Helms
AI-Enhanced Planning: Innovations in Planner & Project Manager Agents - Speaker: Howard Crow
AI Risk Management: From Oversharing to Strategic Oversight - Speaker: Gabriel Tiberiu Damaschin
Streamlining Core Operations with AI Automation - Speaker: Antonio Rodrigues
Understanding Copilot Extensibility: a practical guide - Speakers: Vesa Juvonen, Paolo Pialorsi (given twice because it was so popular!
Introducing Microsoft Agent 365 – The Control Plane for All Agents - Speaker: Sesha Mani
AI Agents for People in Agent Builder & Copilot Studio - Speaker: Nandakishor Basavanthappa
Windows AI: Powering Progress Across the Globe - Speakers: Vikas Malekar, Joel Frauenheim
Accelerating Copilot Adoption Across Your Organization - Speakers: Bryan Wofford
True Stories of Copilot in Action - Speakers: Connie Welsh, Danielle Moon
Fireside Insights: Driving Value and Business Growth with AI - Speakers: Danielle Moon, Stale Hansen, Vlad Catrinescu, Lindsay Shelton
SharePoint extensibility, what’s new and what’s coming! - Speakers: Bert Jansen and Vesa Juvonen

Lightning Talks

Lightning Talks offered a dynamic series of short, impactful sessions led by industry experts. Covering a wide range of topics—from accelerating Copilot adoption and real-world AI success stories to business growth strategies and community empowerment—these talks were designed to inspire and inform, giving attendees actionable insights in a fast-paced format.

Supercharge Your Projects with Microsoft 365 Community Tools - Speaker: Vesa Juvonen
Your Day, Your Way: Personalized AI with OneDrive - Speaker: Miceile Barrett
Managing your brand for career management - Speaker: Karuana Gatimu
Empowering Community Builders: MGCI & Communitydays.org - Speaker: Heather Cook
]Building Copilot with community-led engagement - Speaker: Anna Pope
Introducing Microsoft Baseline Security Mode - Speaker: Sesha Mani
Unlocking SharePoint Advanced Management for Copilot Success - Speaker: Michael Holste & Jeff McDowell
Migration in Motion: Simplify, Secure, and Scale with Microsoft 365 - Speaker: Vishal Lodha
How to find learning Opportunities Everywhere - Speaker: Adam Harmetz
Copilot readiness & resiliency with Microsoft 365 Backup & Archive - Speakers: Kaustubh Chaudhary & Sharon Yam
Unlock SharePoint Embedded integration with Power Platform Connectors - Speaker: Steve Pucelik
Microsoft Teams: Day-to-Day AI - Speaker: Alex Weingart
Driving Business Value with Copilot Analytics and ROI Measurement - Speaker: Manas Kumar Biswas
Understanding Copilot APIs - Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi
Fast-Tracking Value with the Copilot Success Kit & Scenario Library - Speaker: Bryan Wofford

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs)

At ESPC25, MVPs led sessions and Lightning Talks, and participated in the Microsoft Innovation Hub, sharing expertise on Copilot Studio + Agents, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and more. Thank you to all of you always for your support and what you do for the community.

Community Highlights

From the opening keynote to the final farewell, ESPC25 thrived on the energy of its community. Activities included Community Meet-Ups, SharePoint nail art, games, an ugly Christmas sweater contest, and lots of stickers and swag! The atmosphere was alive with enthusiasm, collaboration, and genuine camaraderie—making every moment unforgettable.

Community Lounge meetups: The Community Lounge at ESPC united hundreds of attendees through dynamic meetups—from Women in Power Platform to first-time attendee groups—creating vibrant spaces for learning, networking, and shared passions.

Microsoft Innovation Hub

The Microsoft Innovation Hub inside the Expo proved to be a dynamic space for sparking creativity and collaboration. Hundreds of attendees visited this space daily - collecting coveted stickers and pins and engaging with Microsoft team members and MVPs. Thank you to everyone who hosted, staffed and demo'ed. We received great feedback on this interactive space from attendees - great activations and comfortable seating for networking and hanging out. Here’s what attendees got out of the experience.

Feedback Lounge: Over 350 attendees shared their thoughts with Microsoft experts and MVPs to help shape future attendee experiences.
Cutting-Edge Demos: Participants explored groundbreaking technology and experienced innovation in action. This year’s demos focused on Copilot Studio + Agents, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Developer, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
Experiential Programs: Attendees jumped into guided activities with practical prompts for real-world learning, including a popular Prompathon-style session and a hands-on Vibecoding workshop.
Community Connections: Participants engaged with Microsoft leaders, connected with sponsors, and networked with peers in an environment built for discovery.
Lightning Talk Theater: Attendees enjoyed quick, impactful sessions on trending topics and fresh ideas.

Also check out the Community Closer Keynote with Heather Cook

Women in Tech Luncheon

One of the standout moments at ESPC25 was the Women in Tech & Allies Lunch on December 3. Microsoft leaders Heather Cook, Laura Dark, Danielle Moon, and Karuana Gatimu shared candid insights on advancing diversity and inclusion in tech, offering practical strategies and personal experience.

Over 150+ attendees enjoyed meaningful conversation and networking over lunch, reinforcing the spirit of community that defined ESPC 25—where collaboration and connection were at the heart of the experience. We also had a second panel breakout session with product leader, Katelyn Helms. #OnWedWeWearPink

Inspire Track

The Inspire Track at ESPC25 offered a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to empower attendees in their professional growth and personal development. Featuring expert speakers and timely topics, the track covered everything from evolving roles in tech and managing burnout to building a personal brand and cultivating leadership skills. Whether attendees were looking for new strategies to thrive in their careers or insights into leading with trust and mentorship, the Inspire Track provided actionable takeaways for everyone.

Good Thing We Like Our Copilots CANCELLED: How Your Job Will Evolve in 2026 in AGENTBOSS! - Speaker: Dona Sarkar

How To Thrive in Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom - Speaker: Adam Harmetz

Managing your brand for career management - Speaker: Karuana Gatimu

Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence through Mentorship and Leadership - Speaker: Heather Cook

Community Reporters

The Community Reporter Program featured a group of passionate and engaged community members who shared their unique perspectives on the event. They covered various topics, including event content, attendee experiences, and key takeaways, providing an insider’s look through interviews and thoughtful commentary. Their contributions enriched the conversation, captured the event’s energy and insights, and fostered connection and engagement among attendees both in person and online. Many Community and Microsoft product team leaders were interviewed, and these videos will continue to roll out over the next few months.

You can catch up on the reporter interviews here!

Executive Experience

The Executive Experience at ESPC 2025 delivered a curated program for select customer senior leaders, blending strategic vision, peer networking, and candid dialogue on the future of work powered by AI and Microsoft 365. We look forward to hosting Executive Experience Tracks at other large scale community events where Microsoft is a sponsor.

Happy 25th Birthday, SharePoint

We celebrated the milestone anniversary from the Innovation Hub on day one, with a special panel discussion with SharePoint legends sharing their stories, insights, history, and future—25 years next March! We announced our digital event “Save the date” on March 2, 2026 to the audience both in Jeff's keynote and in this session.

Thank You

A huge thank you to everyone who worked on the event and helped bring ESPC25 to life. Your passion, curiosity, and commitment made this year’s event truly exceptional. Whether it was your first ESPC or you’ve been with us for years, your presence helped create an inspiring and unforgettable experience. Appreciate the efforts of our Microsoft Content Leads as well as our Core workstream. We appreciate the sponsorship with the ESPC producer team - Sarah McNamara, Kevin Monahan, Bridgette Robertson, Sean Colleran, Ella Murphy, Sarah Grech and the rest of the staff too. We appreciate the partnership with all of the community speakers, CCD staff, Microsoft MVP and the ESPC community conference committee who puts many hours into prep and so much on-site goodness! Thank you!

What’s Next?

The journey continues as we set our sights on ESPC26 in Amsterdam! Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2026. We’re already shaping another year of world-class sessions, community moments, our second annual exec track, strategic customer meetings and opportunities to learn, connect, and grow.

Until then, let’s keep the energy alive. Continue exploring, innovating, and collaborating within this amazing community. The future is bright—and together, we’re redefining the way the world works.

Recognizing Microsoft MVPs at ESPC25

JonJones_MSFT — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 20:58:06 GMT

At ESPC25 in Dublin, Microsoft MVPs will be easy to spot. They will lead tutorials, power “Ask the Experts,” mentor emerging voices, and support hands-on demos across the Innovation Hub. The Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) program recognizes exceptional community leaders for their technical expertise, leadership, public speaking and writing, online influence, and a strong focus on solving real world problems. MVPs also receive early access to Microsoft products and direct communication channels with our product teams, which helps them bring timely, practical guidance back to the community.

Why MVPs matter to our community

MVPs are a catalyst for learning and connection. They grow technical communities by organizing meetups, welcoming new participants, and championing diversity and inclusion. They amplify expertise through talks, demos, posts, and guides that turn complex topics into repeatable paths to success. They also share product insight from the field, turning customer feedback into opportunities for improvement by telling engineering what works and what needs attention. The outcome is better products, faster adoption, and stronger communities.

How to become an MVP

You do not apply for the MVP Award directly. You are nominated by a current MVP or by a full time Microsoft employee. If you are active in the community, someone may notice your contributions. You can also be proactive: connect with MVPs in your domain, ask for mentorship and feedback on your portfolio, and participate in MVPled events to contribute and learn. After nomination, you will submit your community work for review. The MVP program team and the relevant product groups evaluate your impact, consistency, and alignment with the program’s values.
Learn more: What is a Microsoft MVP?

MVP presence at ESPC25

We’re excited to welcome 88 MVPs onsite at ESPC25.

You will find MVPs throughout the event experience. Visit the “Ask the Experts” tables for practical Q&A on Microsoft Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Viva, and more. Join MVP meetups to reconnect across regions, share ideas, and celebrate community milestones. Stop by the Innovation Hub for Lightning Talks, Tech Demos, Ideation Lab activities, and the Feedback Lounge. These are hands-on spaces where attendees can experiment, share feedback, and turn ideas into action.

MVP sessions at a glance

Below is the full set of tutorials and breakouts. Use the conference app for rooms and live updates.

Monday — Tutorials (9:00 AM–5:00 PM)

Building Custom Agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot — Andrew Connell (MVP, Voitanos, USA), Mark Rackley (MVP, Protiviti, USA)
Building effective intranets: The Information Architecture (IA) Blueprint for AI Integration — Susan Hanley (MVP, Susan Hanley LLC, USA)
Build Your Own Agent: Copilot Studio in a Day — Joe Griffin (MVP, proMX UK Limited, United Kingdom)
Mastering SharePoint Premium from Content AI to Advanced Administration — Vlad Catrinescu (MVP, MCT, Syskit, Canada)
Agentageddon and How to Prevent It — Kevin McDonnell (MVP, Avanade, United Kingdom), Zoe Wilson (Microsoft RD, MVP, Kyndryl, United Kingdom)
Everything you Wanted to Know About Microsoft Fabric and Power BI, But Were Afraid to Ask — John White (MVP, AvePoint, Canada)
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Bootcamp — Mike Maadarani (MVP, Taiga AI, Canada), Habib Mankal (MVP, WaveCore IT Inc., Canada)
Getting Started with Power Platform & AI on SharePoint — Luise Freese (MVP, M365Princess, Germany)
Hacking and Securing Windows Infrastructure — Paula Januszkiewicz (Microsoft RD, MVP, CQURE, Poland)

Tuesday

10:15–11:15 AM

Building smart agents with Azure AI Foundry — Luise Freese (MVP, Germany)
Smarter Contract Management in M365: AI, eSignature & Knowledge Agent — Leon Armston (MVP, United Kingdom)
Generative AI: Shaping the future of LowCode and Pro Code Development — Jussi Roine (MVP, Finland)
The Oversharing Solution Blueprint — Sara Fennah (MVP, United Kingdom)
The Anatomy of an Agent — Kevin McDonnell (MVP, United Kingdom)
Cracking the Code of Microsoft 365 Copilot’s ROI — Pieter Op De Beeck (MVP, Belgium)
Technical changes in M365 compliance — Tony Redmond (MVP, Ireland)
Fireside Chat with Two Recovering Consultants — Karoliina Kettukari (MVP, Finland), Sari Soinoja (MVP, Finland)

11:45 AM–12:45 PM

Scaling new heights: Mastering AI with Enterprise Scale AI Factory — Kim Berg (MVP, Sweden)
Case Study: 2 years with M365 Copilot — how did we succeed — Karoliina Kettukari (MVP, Finland)
Securing Generative AI: A Zero Trust Approach to Deploying Copilot in your Company — Seyfallah Tagrerout (Microsoft RD, MVP, Switzerland)
Unleashing the Power of RAG in Copilot Studio: Applications and Best Practices — Rick Van Rousselt (MVP, Belgium)
Model Context Protocol vs. Connectors: Rethinking Integration in the Power Platform — Mats Necker (MVP, Germany)
You’re Holding it Wrong — Best practices in Power BI Reporting — John White (MVP, Canada)

2:00–3:00 PM

How to work like a Brainiac with M365 Copilot — a nobrainer — Caroline Kallin (MVP, Sweden)

3:15–4:15 PM

Navigating the AI Agent Landscape: Strategy, Selection, and Use Cases — Foyin OlajideBello (Microsoft RD, MVP, Ireland)
From Assessment to Action: Strengthening Microsoft 365 Governance — Christian Buckley (Microsoft RD, MVP, USA)
Mastering the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK — Tony Redmond (MVP, Ireland)
Navigating Communication Channels in Microsoft 365 for Meaningful Engagement — Emily Mancini (MVP, USA)
Testing smarter: Bringing AI into your E2E testing workflows — Elio Struyf (MVP, Belgium)

4:45–5:45 PM

Keynote: Hacker’s Perspective on New Risks: Revisiting the Cybersecurity Priorities for 2025 — Paula Januszkiewicz (Microsoft RD, MVP, Poland)
Copilot Customization: Choosing Between Copilot Studio & Teams Toolkit — Andrew Connell (MVP, USA), Mark Rackley (MVP, USA)
Intune 2025: The Latest Features in Action — Florian Salzmann (MVP, Switzerland)
Scaling Azure Applications: From Small Projects to Global Infrastructure — Tiago Costa (MVP, MCT, Portugal)
Power Platform Governance: Taming the Wild West! — Agnius Bartninkas (MVP, Lithuania)

Wednesday

10:15–11:15 AM

Voice AI Agents with OpenAI and Microsoft Teams — Renato Romao (MVP, Ireland)
Developing Hybrid Cloud with Azure Local: A Synergy of Bridging OnPremises and Cloud — Jonah Andersson (MVP, Sweden)
Beyond the Black Box: Creating Transparent and Ethical Reporting for Microsoft Copilot — Thomas Golles (MVP, Austria), Stephan Bisser (MVP, Austria)
From Code Villain to SPFx Hero: SPFx Best Practices for Sustainable Solutions — Dan Toft (MVP, Denmark)
Deep dive into Microsoft Security Exposure Management — Jussi Roine (MVP, Finland)
Implementing SCIM for MultiTenant Identity Management in M365 and Azure — Rodrigo Pinto (MVP, Portugal)
ErrorFree Solutions — Error Handling in Power Apps and Power Automate — Tomasz Poszytek (MVP, Poland), Krzysztof Kania (MVP, Poland)
Voices of Change: Real Stories of Mentoring in Action — Keith Atherton (MVP, United Kingdom)

11:45 AM–12:45 PM

Elevate Your Intranet: Practical PresentDay Tips for a FutureReady Platform — Susan Hanley (MVP, USA)
Use Agents Toolkit to Build Solutions on Microsoft 365 — Bill Ayers (MVP, MCM, MCT, United Kingdom)
Accelerate Agent Building with Copilot Studio — AlbertJan Schot (MVP, Netherlands)
Microsoft 365 tenant setup & configuration. Been there, done that? — Thomas Vochten (MVP, MCT, Belgium)
Defence Against the Dark Arts — Building Rock Solid Entra ID Security Solutions — Andy Malone (MVP, MCT, United Kingdom)
Microsoft 365 Copilot Extensibility: Navigating the Possibilities and Pitfalls — Thomas Golles (MVP, Austria), Stephan Bisser (MVP, Austria)

2:00–3:00 PM

Automating 2500 RFPs per year with Azure AI Foundry and Azure AI Search — Chris O’Brien (MVP, United Kingdom)
Developer challenges in GenAI projects — Stas Lebedenko (MVP, Ukraine)
Automating Microsoft 365 Governance — Best Practices to Ensure Compliance — Tobias Maestrini (MVP, Switzerland), Daniel Kordes (MVP, Switzerland)
The adventures of a Microsoft 365 Platform Owner — Jasper Oosterveld (MVP, Netherlands)
Canvas Apps Mastery: Create Reusable Code — Krzysztof Kania (MVP, Poland)
IntuneDriven Approaches to Minimize Local Admin Risks — Simon Skotheimsvik (MVP, Norway)
Ask Me Anything: Life at Microsoft & the MVP Journey — Susan Hanley (MVP, USA), Jonah Andersson (MVP, Sweden)

3:15–4:15 PM

Taming the Wild West of Generative AI with Purview and Defender — Tatu Seppala (MVP, Finland)
Demystifying Agent Types within the Semantic Kernel Framework — Arin Roy (MVP, Netherlands)
How to deal with 2.8 million files? — Sari Soinoja (MVP, Finland)
Deep Dive on Power BI, Teams and SharePoint — John White (MVP, Canada)
Prepare for GenAI and Copilot: Step up your Data Security and Information Governance game! — Bram de Jager (MVP, MCM, Netherlands)
Entra ID App registrations — The good, bad and the ugly — Andy Malone (MVP, MCT, United Kingdom)

4:45–5:45 PM

Zero Trust — Dope or Nope? — Sami Laiho (MVP, Finland)
Utilize a Local LLM to Chat with Your M365 and onpremises Data — Peter Paul Kirschner (MVP, Austria), Guido Zambarda (MVP, Italy)
Assess Power Platform Governance, from Results to Action — Edit Kapcari (MVP, Deutschland)
AIPowered Content Management Transformation with SharePoint Premium — Eric Overfield (Microsoft RD, MVP, MCT, USA)
Securing Your Copilot Agents: Implementing Robust Security Controls — Reshmee Auckloo (MVP, United Kingdom)

Looking back: ESPC24 photos and highlights

ESPC24 offered a vivid snapshot of community in motion. MVP meetups felt like a reunion of peers who build together. “Ask the Experts” tables turned complex questions into practical next steps. The Microsoft booth was a high energy hub where conversations led to collaboration. The D&I luncheon brought a full room together around inclusion and belonging.

Connect with MVPs at ESPC25

Visit the Innovation Hub for Lightning Talks, Tech Demos, Ideation Lab activities, and the Feedback Lounge. Introduce yourself at MVP meetups. Make time for the “Ask the Experts” tables to get tailored guidance for your scenarios. If you are exploring the MVP journey, these touchpoints are ideal for learning more, sharing your portfolio, and asking for mentorship.

Event Recap - Midwestern Community Events and AI Tour Chicago

HeatherCook — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 20:52:26 GMT

This September, I had the opportunity to connect with three incredible Microsoft communities across the Midwest. From leadership development in Minnesota to AI-powered innovation in Chicago, each stop offered a unique perspective on how our customers and community leaders are embracing Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Copilot. Here's a recap of the journey:

Stop 1: M365 Twin Cities – Brooklyn Park, MN (Sept 19)

The trip began at M365 Twin Cities, a free, community-led event hosted at Hennepin Technical College. This event continues a legacy that began with SharePoint Saturday Twin Cities, running twice a year for over a decade. It’s one of the longest-running Microsoft community events in the U.S., thanks to the dedication of organizers like Wes Preston, Sarah Haase, and Tamara Bredemus, along with a strong network of Microsoft MVPs and volunteers.

Highlights:

~400 attendees from across the region, over 700 registered
29 sessions across 8 tracks, led by 32 speakers
Strong community energy, with support from 7 sponsors and giveaways (including LEGO sets!)
The welcoming speaker dinner—featuring a standout Midwest walleye dish—was a highlight, setting the tone for a day full of energy, learning, and community building
A warm, welcoming atmosphere fueled by donuts, pizza, and shared purpose

I presented a session titled “Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace.” The session sparked meaningful conversations about emotional intelligence as a leadership cornerstone.

We explored how respect, empathy, and kindness help build trust within teams, and I shared practical strategies for:

Deepening domain knowledge
Empowering autonomy
Encouraging authentic communication
Modeling compassionate leadership

Gold Standard for Community Engagement by Donald Donais

It was fantastic to connect with Donald Donais, Director - Cloud Solution Architect in Minneapolis, who has been a true champion of the Twin Cities tech community for well over a decade. As an FTE sponsor and advocate, Don has consistently given his time, energy, and expertise to support local user groups and community events—something every region wishes they had from the Microsoft Field. His dedication has helped make the Twin Cities a vibrant hub for learning and collaboration. Huge thanks to Don for setting the gold standard for community engagement!

Check out this video on what it means to be a community supporter working in the Microsoft field. https://aka.ms/CommunityDaysTwinCitiesDonaldDonais

AND - I couldn’t be more impressed and proud of Harsha Sridharan and Yi Liu for their outstanding session at Community Days M365 Twin Cities!

Their talk, “Engineering People Skills: Building for Humans in the Flow of Work,” was a terrific blend of technical depth with human-centered design. They shared how Microsoft 365 is evolving to help individuals and teams surface, manage, and grow their skills—right where work happens.

From showcasing how skills appear across tools like Outlook, People Companion, Viva, and Copilot, to explaining how AI can infer and highlight strengths without extra effort, they gave us a behind-the-scenes look at building People Skills in M365.

Harsha and Yi didn’t just deliver a session—they sparked confidence and curiosity about the future of skills in the flow of work. Brava! 👏

Stop 2: Chicago Power Platform User Group – Sept 24 (Microsoft Chicago, Aon Center)

At the CMPPUG meetup, I delivered “The Next Phase: Research, Creation & Smarter Decisions in the Age of Copilot.”

Demonstrated how I used Microsoft Copilot, Researcher, and Create to build the very presentation I was delivering.
Introduced three AI-centric leadership frameworks:
- 10% Rule for continuous improvement
- 10× Thinking for breakthrough innovation
- 10-10-10 Rule for responsible decision-making
Engaged in a lively Q&A moderated by Craig Jahnke, lead for the Chicago Innovation Hub, and Microsoft MVP Ralph Rivas.
and a thank you to Bryan Wofford who went to McCormick to do our tech check for our AI Tour while I was at AON Center.

Highlights:

69 attendees in a hybrid format
Strong interest in Copilot, AI strategy, and responsible adoption
A huge thank you to Craig and Ralph for their leadership and continued commitment to growing the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform community in Chicago
Met with David Horstein, the new Director, of the Chicago Innovation Hub in the Aon Center Microsoft Office to talk about Community Days events, user groups and promoting more stories via our MCAG Community News Desk.

Stop 3: Microsoft AI Tour – Chicago (Sept 25)

At Microsoft AI Tour Chicago, Bryan Wofford and I delivered our workshop twice at McCormick Place, both focused on empowering organizations and community leaders to embrace Microsoft AI.

Copilot Ready: Strategy, Data, and Security - Session Code: WRK523-US

Co-delivered with Bryan Wofford, who created the deck and demo and the lab. This hands-on workshop focused on preparing organizations for Copilot deployment. We had close to 200 people total for the sessions. We covered:

Data readiness and tenant hygiene
Agent security and governance
Scaling with built-in Microsoft tools

Participants brought their own laptops and actively engaged in real-time exercises to assess and improve their Copilot readiness.

I also shared a lightning talk - Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays

Session Code: LTG171-US

This lightning talk introduced the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) and CommunityDays.org, showcasing how these platforms are transforming grassroots tech engagement. We explored:

How to list and find events
Opportunities for new and experienced speakers
Free training and regional leadership connections

Highlights:

Strong interest and engagement in both sessions
Keynotes from Judson Althoff, Karen del Vescovo, Bryan Goode, and Jenny Lay-Flurrie
A packed day of learning, strategy, and connection with customers, partners, and Microsoft engineers
Was thrilled to see colleague, Anne Krupke, Sr. Product Marketing Manager was on stage to demo with Judson Althoff.

Friday afternoon I went to TedxChicago themed “The Future is Human” to see Nisaini Rexach, Lead, Community Engagement @ Microsoft | Copilot Champ give an amazing session on community building along with 8 other wonderful local speakers. Thank you Craig Jahnke for the intro!

Final Reflections

This trip was a powerful reminder of the strength and momentum within our Microsoft community. From grassroots leadership development in Minnesota to AI transformation in Chicago, I saw firsthand how our tools—and our people—are helping organizations lead with empathy, innovate with confidence, and build for the future.

Our CommunityDays events are always looking for speakers and they are a great way to hone your speaking skills, get feedback directly from customers, partners and our Microsoft MVPs. And connect into The Best Community in Tech. Find events to submit for calls for content and speakers at: Community Days | Homepage #CommunityLuv

Get to know the ESPC25 Community Reporters: Your front-row pass to the pulse of the conference!

HeatherCook — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:03:29 GMT

If you're heading to ESPC25 in Dublin this December, you’re in for enlightening sessions, networking opportunities—and access to the heart of the event through this year’s Community Reporters.

These passionate tech leaders will be capturing the energy of ESPC25, conducting interviews, sharing insights—and amplifying the voices of attendees, speakers, and sponsors. Whether you're attending in person or following along remotely, they’ll help you stay connected to the moments that matter most.

Meet the incredible team of Community Reporters who will bring ESPC25 to life:

🎤 Jonah Andersson | Jonah is a developer, lead cloud dev-ops engineer, and Microsoft MVP who champions diversity in tech. She's passionate about highlighting the voices of underrepresented communities and the transformative power of Azure and AI.

🎤 Christian Buckley | A veteran of ESPC and a powerhouse in the Microsoft ecosystem, Christian is a Microsoft Regional Director and MVP. He’s known for dynamic interviews and thought-provoking panels. If you want deep insights and lively debates, follow Christian’s coverage.

🎤 Emily Mancini | Emily brings a sharp eye for design and a deep love for collaboration. As a Microsoft MVP and UX champion, she’s passionate about making tech accessible and intuitive. Expect her interviews to spotlight the human side of innovation and the power of inclusive design.

🎤 Jasper Oosterveld | Jasper is a Microsoft MVP and a data security and Microsoft 365 expert with a knack for making complex topics approachable. His coverage will focus on practical takeaways, especially around Microsoft 365 and Teams, helping attendees turn inspiration into action.

🎤 Eric Overfield | Eric is an author, Microsoft MVP and Regional Director, and a recognized authority in AI, Microsoft 365, data insights, and Azure. He’s passionate about bridging the gap between business needs and technical solutions.

🎤 Chirag Patel | Known for his infectious enthusiasm and community-first mindset, Chirag is a Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer who thrives on connecting people and ideas. He’ll be diving into conversations about real-world solutions, modern workplace trends, and the stories behind the tech.

🎤 Zoe Wilson | Zoe is a Microsoft MVP and Regional Director who helps clients leverage the full range of modern work technologies to drive innovation around business problems. Her interviews will explore best practices, security, and how organizations can empower users while staying compliant.

Whether you're attending ESPC25 to level up your skills, connect with peers, or explore the future of Microsoft technologies, this year's Community Reporters will be your guide to the conference’s most impactful moments. Stay tuned for updates, follow the coverage, join the conversation, and be part of a community that’s driving innovation forward.

We can’t wait to see you in Dublin—and if you’re still deciding, let this be your sign: #ESPC25 is where the Microsoft tech community comes alive.

Subscribe to the ESPC YouTube channel https://aka.ms/ESPCYouTubeChannel and we'll have a playlist on our Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel - https://aka.ms/Community/LearningChannel

Cheers all!

Heather

ESPC25 – Dublin | Microsoft event guide

HeatherCook — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:14:32 GMT

ESPC25 | Come curious. Leave inspired. European SharePoint Conference 2025 | Dublin, Ireland | December 1–4, 2025 | SharePointEurope.com.

Your guide to ESPC25

Dublin, Ireland, is one of the most dynamic and innovative tech cities in Europe, making it the perfect place for in-person, in-depth learning at the European SharePoint Conference—now simply branded as ESPC25—December 1–4, 2025.

 As the celebrated Irish writer Edna O’Brien once said, “Hospitality is the cornerstone of the Irish heart.” This spirit of warmth and welcome is sure to be felt throughout your stay in Dublin during ESPC25.

You will have the opportunity to learn from experts, network with peers, and discover new technologies that can help you achieve your goals. The event and city have something for everyone: inspiring keynotes, in-depth sessions and workshops, community, art and culture, and many festive moments. Explore powerful new AI capabilities for every role and function: Diving into Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power Platform, and more, you’ll discover how Microsoft is transforming the way we work today—and get a firsthand look at the future of work itself.

You’ll find content delivered by the world’s best Microsoft 365 and Copilot Studio experts, including many Microsoft leaders and employees from the product teams. In this pre-event guide, we list all the Microsoft-led sessions below so you can prepare for what awaits you alongside community and MVP expert sessions.  

There will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn, share, and engage: Evening gatherings, the attendee party, and our Innovation Hub with Microsoft product demo stations, a Promptathon, Vibe Coding, a place to network with your peers, a dedicated community space, the Inspire Stage, and 1:1 meeting spaces are all within the Expo Hall alongside all the wonderful event sponsors.

The 101 on ESPC25

What: ESPC25

Where: The Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 D01 T1W6, Ireland

When: December 1-4, 2025 (keynotes, sessions, tutorials, workshops, and more)

Presenters: 120+ sessions (35+ Microsoft-led), 115+ speakers (MVPs, RDs, Microsoft and community members); check out Microsoft-led keynotes, tutorials, and sessions

Cost:  From €695 + VAT (one day) to €1645 + VAT (four day)

Enjoy an additional €200 discount with our exclusive community discount code: ESPC25COMM

Primary social:  Join in and follow @ESPC_Community (Twitter) and ESPC (LinkedIn); use hashtag #ESPC25

 About ESPC

ESPC25 offers you affordable, world-class learning and networking at your fingertips. Join in 120+ sessions covering:  Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, AI and agents, SharePoint, Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 adoption, governance, admin, intranets, and more.

Over the years, ESPC has visited some of the most incredible cities: from the charming streets of Copenhagen and the historic beauty of Berlin to the vibrant culture of Prague, and the dynamic atmosphere of Amsterdam. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPC kept the excitement alive with engaging online events!

The European SharePoint Conference (ESPC), now known simply as ESPC, is one of the largest and most prominent events in Europe dedicated to Microsoft technologies, particularly Microsoft 365 and Azure. It began in 2011 in Berlin, Germany, as a platform for discussing SharePoint and related Microsoft technologies.

Over the years, ESPC expanded its scope to include other tools in the Microsoft ecosystem, reflecting the industry's trend toward digital transformation and cloud adoption. ESPC has grown to become the largest independent European event for Microsoft technology users, serving as a crucial knowledge hub and networking space. It continues to play a vital role in educating the tech community on best practices for using SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Azure to enhance productivity, collaboration, and security in the modern workplace. 

Review past ESPC events:

2025: Dublin, Ireland

2024: Stockholm, Sweden

2023: Amsterdam, Netherlands

2022: Copenhagen, Denmark

2021: Online (due to COVID-19)

2020 : Online (due to COVID-19)

2019: Prague, Czech Republic

2018: Copenhagen, Denmark

2017: Dublin, Ireland

2016: Vienna, Austria

2015: Stockholm, Sweden

Review all Microsoft keynotes and sessions below: Start building your schedule today!

Microsoft keynotes
(All times represented in local Dublin time)

Opening keynote: The New Frontier of Work: Copilot, AI, and the Future of Microsoft 365
Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms , Microsoft
with Miceile Barrett, Zach Rosenfield, Alex Weingard, and Michel Bouman
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9:00–10:00 AM

Day one PM keynote: From One to Many: The future of AI is Collaborative
Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow, Microsoft
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2:00–3:00 PM

Day three keynote: Beyond the Prompt: Building an AI-Resilient Career with Power Skills
Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience PM, Microsoft
Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft 365, AI and Agents
Thursday, Dec. 4, 9:00–10:00 AM

Community keynotes

Will AI Become Intelligent?
Rafal Lukawiecki, Data Scientist at Tecflix, Ireland
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9:00–10:00 AM

Hacker’s Perspective on New Risks: Revising the Cybersecurity Priorities for 2025
Paula Januszkiewicz, Founder and CEO, CQURE Inc. and CQURE Academy
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 4:45–5:45 PM

Microsoft sessions
(All times represented in local Dublin time)

Breakout sessions: (60 min, in-person)

Latest Innovations in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Speaker: Connie Welsh, Bryan Wofford

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 10:15 AM | Session Code T8

What’s new in Copilot Studio

Speaker: Antonio Rodriques

Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM | Session Code T9

SharePoint as the Intelligence Backbone of Copilot

Speaker: Zach Rosenfield

Tuesday, December 2, 11:45 AM | Session Code T18

IT Excellence in the AI era: Managing Copilot and Agents for Impact and Control

Speaker: Ben Summers

Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T26

AI in Action: Microsoft's Approach to Internal Communications

Speakers: Adam Barzel, Anna Pope, Darina Sexton

Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T27

Woman in Tech & Allies Panel

Speaker: Heather Cook, Danielle Moon and Karuana Gatimu

Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T28

Microsoft Teams: What's New and What's Next

Speaker: Alex Weingart

Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W8

MCP (Model Context Protocol) in action in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi

Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W9

Microsoft Teams as Your AI-Driven Work Hub

Speaker: Kartik Datwani

Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W18

Building Intelligent Content Apps for the Copilot Era

Speakers: Steve Pucelik, Shreyas Saravanan

Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W27

OneDrive Updates: Smarter Storage, Seamless Sharing

Speakers: Miceile Barrett, Lincoln DeMaris, and Jason Moore

Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W28

AI Intranet: Creating and Managing High Quality Content on the Intranet of Tomorrow

Speaker: Katelyn Helms

Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W30

AI-Enhanced Planning: Innovations in Planner & Project Manager Agents

Speaker: Howard Crow

Wednesday, December 3, 3:15 PM | Session Code W38

AI Risk Management: From Oversharing to Strategic Oversight

Speakers: Gabriel Tiberiu Damaschin, Nishan DeSilva

Wednesday, December 3, 4:45 PM | Session Code W45

Streamlining Core Operations with AI Automation

Speaker: Antonio Rodriques

Wednesday, December 3, 4:45 PM | Session Code W44

Understanding Copilot Extensibility: a practical guide

Speakers: Vesa Juvonen and Paolo Pialorsi

Thursday, December 4 ,10:15 AM | Session Code TH8

Agents Among Us – Governance for the Agentic Era

Speaker: Sesha Mani

Thursday, December 4 ,10:15 AM | Session Code TH 9

Creating AI Agents for People and Platforms

Speaker: Nandakishor Basavanthappa

Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code TH14

Windows AI: Powering Progress Across the Globe

Speaker: Vikas Malekar

Thursday, December 4 ,11:45 AM | Session Code TH15

Accelerating Copilot Adoption Across Your Organization

Speakers: Karuana Gatimu, Bryan Wofford

Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code TH16

True Stories of Copilot in Action

Speakers: Connie Welsh, Danielle Moon

Thursday, December 4, 2:00 PM | Session Code TH 28

Fireside Insights: Driving Value and Business Growth with AI

Speaker: TBA

Thursday December 4 15:15 | Session Code TH37

Lightning talks (20 minutes, in person) - Innovation Hub

Supercharge Your Projects with Microsoft 365 Community Tools

Speaker: Vesa Juvonen

Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM

Building Copilot with community-led engagement

Speaker: Anna Pope

Tuesday, December 2, 10:40 AM

Managing your brand for career management

Speaker: Karuana Gatimu (MCAG)

Tuesday, December 2, 11:45 AM

Empowering Community Builders: MGCI & Communitydays.org

Speaker: Heather Cook

Tuesday, December 2, 12:05 PM

Your Day, Your Way: Personalized AI with OneDrive

Speaker: Miceile Barrett

Tuesday, December 2, 12:30 PM

Security First Powering AI Transformation

Speaker: Sesha Mani

Tuesday, December 2, 4:45 PM

Unlocking SharePoint Advanced Management for Copilot Success

Speaker: Michael Holste

Tuesday, December 2, 5:10 PM

Fast-Tracking Value with the Copilot Success Kit & Scenario Library

Speaker: Bryan Wofford

Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM

How to find learning Opportunities Everywhere

Speaker: Adam Harmetz

Wednesday, December 3, 10:40 AM

Copilot readiness & resiliency with Microsoft 365 Backup & Archive

Speaker: Kaustubh Chaudhary, Michael Holste

Wednesday, December 3, 12:05 PM

Unlock SharePoint Embedded integration with Power Platform Connectors

Speaker: Steve Pucelik

Thursday, December 4, 10:15 AM

Microsoft Teams: Day-to-Day AI

Speaker: Alex Weingart

Thursday, December 4, 10:40 AM

Driving Business Value with Copilot Analytics and ROI Measurement

Speaker: Manas Kumar Biswas

Thursday, December 4,11:45 AM

Understanding Copilot APIs

Speaker: Paolo Pialori

Thursday, December 4, 12:05 PM

Migration in Motion: Simplify, Secure, and Scale with Microsoft 365

Speaker: Manas Vishal Lodha

Thursday, December 4, 12:30 PM

Inspire Track (60 minutes, in person) - Inspire Stage

Good Thing We Like Our Copilots CANCELLED: How Your Job Will Evolve in 2026 into AGENTBOSS!

Speaker: Dona Sarkar

Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM | Session Code: Inspire 2

How To Thrive in Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom

Speaker: Adam Harmetz

Wednesday, December 3, 11:45 AM | Session Code: Inspire 6

Managing your brand for career management

Speaker: Karuana Gatimu

Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code: Inspire 10

Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence through Mentorship and Leadership

Speaker: Heather Cook

Thursday, December 4, 2:00 PM | Session Code: Inspire 11

Innovation Hub and Lightning Talk Theater

The Microsoft Innovation Hub at ESPC is a vibrant, multi-zone environment crafted to ignite new ideas, showcase cutting-edge prototypes, and shape the future of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Here, creativity and technology intersect, providing a dedicated space for developers, architects, consultants, and strategists to explore the forefront of innovation. The Innovation Hub is designed to foster collaboration, highlight emerging technologies, and collect real-time insights from the wider Microsoft 365 community. You can meet with Microsoft Product Team members and Microsoft MVPs!

You’ll find the Microsoft Innovation Hub in the ESPC Expo Tuesday through Thursday.

Each day on the Innovation Stage in Zone 1 you will find Lightning Talks for live demonstrations and peer learning in a compact format. And don't miss the SharePoint 25th Birthday Celebration and the Innovation Awards, Tuesday evening at 5:45 PM.

Within Zone 2, you will find Future Tech Demos daily during breaks and lunches. The Microsoft team and MVPs will be on hand to walk you through dynamic demos: Agents/Copilot Studio, Developer, Microsoft 365 Copilot and SharePoint and One Drive.

Get connected in the Zone 3 Feedback Loop Lounge and leave your thoughts on our survey for a chance to win daily prizes.

And finally, meet in the Zone 4 Ideation Lounge each afternoon for guided workshops including a Promptathon and Vibe Coding activities in an environment specifically designed to encourage creativity and collaborative thinking.

This event guide will continue to update as we finalize more of our activations. Stay tuned!

Shout out to event leads and community members Sarah McNamara, Kevin Monahan, Ella Murphy, Bridgette Robertson, John, and Sarah G, and the #ESPC25 team for putting together ESPC25, corralling all speakers and content, and for supporting and promoting the knowledge and expertise to promote the world-class Microsoft 365 tech community around the world.

Cheers, Heather

Last, a glimpse of the ESPC event experience:

Where Microsoft’s community comes alive: the Inspire Stage at ESPC25

HeatherCook — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 01:35:44 GMT

At ESPC25 (December 1–4 in Dublin) the Inspire Stage returns as a cornerstone of the conference experience—offering a space where personal development, professional growth, and community connection converge. This isn’t just another track; it’s a celebration of the Microsoft community’s spirit, values, and shared journey.

A look back: Inspire Stage at ESPC23 and ESPC24

The Inspire Stage first made waves at ESPC23 in Amsterdam, where it hosted the Inspire Awards. This event spotlighted people who made a lasting impact on the Microsoft 365 community. Held right in the EXPO, the high-energy awards ceremony brought together finalists, speakers, and attendees to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact.

At ESPC24 in Stockholm, the Inspire Stage was a hub for 30-minute lightning talks focused on professional development and wellness. Sessions ranged from career coaching and leadership insights to mental health strategies and inclusive practices. The stage also hosted Ask the Experts, where attendees could get real-time advice from the experts themselves.

What’s new in 2025: Inspire Stage at ESPC25 Dublin

This year, the Inspire Stage at ESPC25 is all set for another great conference. Located in the Expo at the Convention Centre Dublin, it’s designed to help attendees fuel their potential, expand their mindset, and ignite their well-being.

What to expect:

Development: Talks like “How To Work Like a Brainiac With M365 Copilot – a No-Brainer” and “Managing Your Brand for Career Management” offer practical strategies to elevate your career and adapt to the evolving tech landscape.

Wellness: Sessions such as “How To Thrive in Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom” and “The Importance of Tech Mentorship and Tech Communities” provide insights into managing burnout, staying balanced, and finding your community.

Ask the Experts: This is your chance to connect with seasoned professionals about personal and professional development, work-life balance, and more!

Who you’ll hear from:

Karoliina Kettukari & Sari Soinoja

Why it matters: the Microsoft community in action

The Inspire Stage is more than a schedule of talks—it’s a reflection of the Microsoft community’s strength and generosity. It’s where MVPs, first-time attendees, and industry leaders come together to listen, learn, support one another, and grow collectively. It’s where hallway conversations turn into career breakthroughs, and where you realize you’re part of something bigger.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. But it’s the community—your community—that brings that mission to life. ESPC25 is your opportunity to connect, grow, and be inspired by the people who make this ecosystem thrive.

Learn more about ESPC25 and register today

Use the community discount code for: ESPC25COMM (€200 off)

See you in Dublin!

Heather Cook

Ignite Connections: Unleashing Community & Networking at Microsoft Ignite 2025

JonJones_MSFT — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:27:13 GMT

Microsoft Ignite is almost here, and we’re bringing the energy, innovation, and connections you’ve been waiting for! If you’re passionate about innovative and groundbreaking technology, this year’s lineup is packed with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss. It is always fun for all of us who work on community teams at Microsoft to come together cross-division to collaborate on Community at Microsoft Ignite together. We have Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Copilot Studio, GitHub, Security, Windows, Surface, Microsoft MVP team, Microsoft Partner team and Cloud +AI all represented.

All sessions are in person and will not be recorded so plan accordingly and be sure to stop by for stickers and the fun interactive areas for when you need a break and place to land during the show.

Spotlight Sessions You Can’t Miss

We’re excited to showcase the community sessions from all three of our key solution areas: AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms, and Security. Each area features sessions designed to help you leverage Copilot, intelligent agents, and cutting-edge technologies to transform your business. Explore the full lineup below and discover every session available to maximize your Ignite experience!

Community Theaters:

The Agent Readiness Framework
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 11:30am - 12pm
Jack Rowbotham

Building Digital Trust: Aligning Microsoft Technologies with Global AI and Regulatory Frameworks
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 1pm – 1:30pm
Sourabh Pandey

Human-AI collaboration: Advancing the future of software engineering
GitHub
Tuesday, November 18, 1:30pm – 2pm
Andrew Goodman, Kevin Rhatigan

Learn Infrastructure-as-Code through Minecraft
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 2pm – 2:30pm
Mark Tinderholt

10 Partner Center Hacks Every Microsoft Partner Should Know
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 2:30pm – 3pm
Michelle Elston

Women in Tech & Allies: Turning Allyship into Action
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:30pm
Heather Cook, Karuana Gatimu, Danielle Moon

AI MVP Panel – Unblocking Customer Innovation
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 3:30pm – 4pm
Prashant G Bhoyar, Marco Casalaina, Martina Grom, Dux Raymond Sy

Path to MVP: Windows & Devices and Intune—Tips from the Team
Surface & W+D
Tuesday, November 18, 4pm – 4:30pm
Lior Bela, Chauncey Larsen, Donna Ryan

Close More Deals with Copilot: Speed, Depth, and Customer Impact
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 4:30pm – 5pm
Jennifer Brown

Shaping the Future of Azure AI Foundry
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 5pm – 5:30pm
Roelant Dieben, Shawn Henry, Steve Sweetman, Quirine van Walt Meijer

Ask Me Anything with Scott Hanselman
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 9:15am – 9:45am
Henk Boelman, Scott Hanselman

So you want to become and MVP (Option 1)
MVP program
Wednesday, November 19, 9:45am – 10:15am
Justin Garrett

Get Started with Copilot Adoption – Tools, Resources and Best Practices from the Microsoft Adoption Hub
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 10:45am – 11:15am
Karuana Gatimu

Security Copilot
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 11:15am – 11:45am
Saurabh Jain

Getting Started with Agents for Customer Zero
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 1:15pm – 1:45pm
Eddie Bader, Juhi Saha

Cloud Perspectives: Lessons Learned and Experiences from Azure MVPs
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 1:45pm – 2:15pm
Nelly Delgado, Taiji Hagino, Ben Reader, Jared Rhodes

Copilot Studio Community
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 2:15pm – 2:45pm
David Abu, Wim Coorevits

Microsoft Entra for Agents: Ask Microsoft Anything
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
Leandro Iwase, Ngozi Nwoko, Sharon Sandhu, Nick Wryter

Cloud Perspectives: A Q&A with Azure Data Leadership
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 3:30pm – 4pm
Arun Ulag

Navigating the Tectonic Shifts
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 4pm – 4:30pm
Vincent Menzione

Building Modern Businesses Through AI and Partnerships
Partner-led organization
Thursday, November 20, 9am – 9:30am
Asher Mathew

Career Chat: Advancing from Product Manager to Product Leader in Tech
AI Business Solutions
Thursday, November 20, 9:30am – 10am
Adam Harmetz

So you want to become an MVP (Option 2)
MVP program
Thursday, November 20, 10am – 10:30am
Justin Garrett

Cloud Perspectives: Azure Migration Community Insights
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 10:30am – 11am
Vikram Bansal

Unlock Copilot Success with Power CAT programs
AI Business Solutions
Thursday, November 20, 11:15am – 11:45am
Chitra J, Luis Camino

Operationalizing Continuous Threat Exposure Management using Microsoft Security Exposure Management
Security
Thursday, November 20, 1:15pm – 1:45pm
Alex Steele

Learn About Licensing Discounts, Azure Credits and MAICPP Support
Partner-led organization
Thursday, November 20, 1:45pm – 2:15pm
Tafara Pulse, Omar Khalid

Cloud Perspectives: Cloud Management & Ops Platform Team Insights
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 2:15pm – 2:45pm
Ruhiyyih Mahalati, Farzana Rahman

Adopting GitHub Enterprise: Unlocking Developer Productivity Today and Tomorrow
GitHub
Thursday, November 20, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
Parker Johnston

Behind the Scenes: The Making of the Session Recap Agent
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 4pm – 4:30pm
Henk Boelman

How the Data Community Can Advanced Your Data & AI Career
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 5pm – 5:30pm
Rie Merritt

Mentorship Matters: Building Meaningful Connections for Growth
AI Business Solutions
Thursday, November 20, 5pm – 5:30pm
Heather Cook, Karuana Gatimua

Connection Pods

Becoming an MVP in Biz Apps or Copilot Studio
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 1pm – 1:45pm
Heidi Jordan, Ahmed Salih

Build your schedule with help from a Microsoft MVP
MVP program
Tuesday, November 18, 1pm – 1:45pm
Kimberly Sanchez

SQL Server Management Studio: Help Drive What’s Next
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:45pm
Makena Watanabe Barickman

Unified SecOps in Action: Practical Incident Response & Threat Hunting with Sentinel, Defender XDR & Copilot
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 1pm – 1:45pm
Uros Babic

Challenges in Migrating Data to the Cloud for AI and Analytics
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 2pm – 2:45pm
Imani Hall, Vybava Ramadoss

Identity Strategy Approaches
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 2pm – 2:45pm
David Nudelman

Microsoft Global Community Initiative: Connecting People, Powering Impact
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 2pm – 2:45pm
Heather Cook, Isidora Katanic

The Revenue Multiplier: Marketplace + Campaigns That Grow Profit
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 2pm – 2:45pm
Karen Fassio

Building Agents with Copilot Studio Lite vs Full
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:45pm
David Abu, Mariana Prudencio

Engaging with the Data Community: from User Groups to Reddit and Everywhere in Between
Cloud & Ai Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:45pm
Rie Merritt

Maximizing Partner Profitability with Microsoft Commerce Incentives
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:45pm
Brittner Saultman

Microsoft Sentinel Data Ingestion: Challenges, Solutions and Best Practices
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 3pm – 3:45pm
Sasha Kranjac

Identity & Network Access Management for AI Agents
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 4pm – 4:45pm
Nichole Peterson

Mentorship That Matters
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 4pm – 4:45pm
Karuana Gatimu, Jonathan Jones

Navigating Partner Center: Setting Your Partnership Up for Success
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 4pm – 4:45pm
Shawna Hronek

Welcome to the new Azure Solutions & Ecosystem – Azure MVP Technology Area
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 4pm – 4:45pm
Gauri Gorhe, Joe Sarabia

Activating the Copilot Community on Agents
AI Business Solutions
Tuesday, November 18, 5pm – 5:45pm
Ahmed Salih

AI MVP Community – Meet the Experts & Join the Journey
Cloud & AI Platforms
Tuesday, November 18, 5pm – 5:45pm
Esra Bakkalbasioglu, Promise Uche Nwachukwu

B2B Revenue Optimization: Using AI for a More Human Sales Process
Partner-led organization
Tuesday, November 18, 5pm – 5:45pm
Jennifer Brown

Unification of Identity & Network Access/Microsoft Entra Suite
Security
Tuesday, November 18, 5pm – 5:45pm
Laura Viarengo

Architecting for Identity Resilience: Proactive Strategies with Microsoft Entra
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 9am – 9:45am
Charlie Gough

Get Certified: how to prepare for a Microsoft certification exam
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 9am – 9:45am
Marisa Mathews

Grow Together: P2P + AI
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 9am – 9:45am
Danny Brown, Nyasha Tunduwani

Supercharge Copilot with SharePoint Embedded: Build, Manage, and Innovate
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 9am – 9:45am
Reid Carlberg, Cindy Lay

Efficient Log Handling with Microsoft Sentinel and Data Lake Architecture
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 10am – 10:45am
Thomas Kurth

Hybrid AI with Surface, Copilot + PCs & Windows AI Foundry
Surface & W+D
Wednesday, November 19, 10am – 10:45am
Frank Buchholz, Chauncey Larsen

Meet your Cloud Management & Operations Platform Team
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 10am – 10:45am
Rahul Bagaria

Power Platform Community
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 10am – 10:45am
Stephanie Cronin, Heidi Jordan, Ahmed Salih

Custom & On-Prem Data Ingestion into Microsoft Sentinel: Challenges and Best Practices
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 11am – 11:45am
Den Mutlu

Maximizing your Microsoft Partnership, Profitably and Effectively
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 11am – 11:45am
Eddie Bader, Juhi Saha

Empowering Knowledge Discovery with SharePoint Knowledge Agent
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 11am – 11:45am
Adam Harmetz, John Mighell

Building Community-Led Events with Agents
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 1pm – 1:45pm
David Abu, Tiffay Songvilay

Insights from Microsoft MVPs on how to ramp up as an AI expert
MVP program
Wednesday, November 19, 1pm – 1:45pm
Kimberly Sanchez

New agentic capabilities in Copilot in Azure
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 1pm – 1:45pm
Dean Kroker

Threat-Informed Data Protection: Aligning Controls to the MITRE ATT&CK Data Lifecycle
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 1pm – 1:45pm
Victor JR Wingsing

Becoming an MVP in Azure or the Data Platform
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 2pm – 2:45pm
Rie Merritt, Gerald Tiu

Reimagining data protection with the new Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 2pm – 2:45pm
Nathalia Borges

Women in Tech & Allies: From Awareness to Action
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 2pm – 2:45pm
Heather Cook, Femke Cornelissen – de Bruin, Danielle Moon

Maximizing your Microsoft Partnership, Profitably and Effectively
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 2pm – 2:45pm
Juhi Saha

Don’t Start from Scratch – Microsoft Community for the Win
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 3pm – 3:45pm
David Abu, Karuana Gatimu

Managing Change Through Uncertainty
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 3pm – 3:45pm
Christine Bongard

Securing the defaults: Building and maintaining your security baseline
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 3pm – 3:45pm
Chris Goosen

Troubleshooting AKS networking with Agentic AI
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 3pm – 3:45pm
Sandhya Castelino, Alex Mang

Building a Strong Foundation in Microsoft Partner Center
Partner-led organization
Wednesday, November 19, 4pm – 4:45pm
Erin Figer

Conditional Access: Practical Insights and Innovations
Security
Wednesday, November 19, 4pm – 4:45pm
Christian DerDecker

Engage, Connect, Grow: Your Path in the Microsoft Community
AI Business Solutions
Wednesday, November 19, 4pm – 4:45pm
Heather Cook, Jonathan Jones, Shari L. Oswald, Eric Overfield

Global AI Community – Connect, Learn & Share Worldwide
Cloud & AI Platforms
Wednesday, November 19, 4pm – 4:45pm
Henk Boelman, Roelant Dieben, Kasam Shaikh, Alexander Wachtel

Copilot & SSMS: Feedback Forum
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 9:15am – 10am
Makena Watanabe Barickman

Mastering Windows Autopatch as a Modern MSP
Security
Thursday, November 20, 9:15am – 10am
Jeroen Burgerhout

Windows Cloud Experiences: Unplugged
Surface & W+D
Thursday, November 20, 9:15am – 10am
Jason Parker, Swarnim Srivastava, Sneha Sultania

Build Your Network, Claim Your Voice: Women in IT at Ignite
Surface & W+D
Thursday, November 20, 10:15am – 11am
Priyanka Balaji, Cassidy Fein, Valerie Goulds, Elaine You

Building best practice ERP agents
AI Business Solutions
Thursday, November 20, 10:15am – 11am
Anne Krupke, Ahmed Salih

Enhancing your AI workload resiliency with the Azure Networking stack
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 10:15am – 11am
Sergio Figueiredo, Mario Lopez

From Hype to Hardening: Designing a Zero-Trust Framework for Copilot
Security
Thursday, November 20, 10:15am – 11am
Victor JR Wingsing

From Zero to AI on K8s: Lessons, Patterns, and Pitfalls
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 11:15am – 12pm
Eric Cheng, Saurabh Sensharma

Learn About Licensing Discounts, Azure Credits and MAICPP Support
Partner-led organization
Thursday, November 20, 11:15am – 12pm
Brooke Daniel, Tafara Pulse

Operationalizing Responsible AI Security in the Enterprise
Security
Thursday, November 20, 11:15am – 12pm
Victor Jr Wingsing

Becoming an MVP in M365
AI Business Solutions
Thursday, November 20, 1pm – 1:45pm
Galen Keene, Tiffay Songvilay, Bryan Wofford

Preventing Mistakes and Misuse: The Power of MAA in Intune
Security
Thursday, November 20, 1pm – 1:45pm
Thomas Marcussen

Best practices and blockers with moving apps to Intune
Security
Thursday, November 20, 2pm – 2:45pm
Dean Ellerby

Building Resilient Enterprises: What Customers Expect from Azure
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 2pm – 2:45pm
Gargi Banerjee, Surya Sripathi Raju

The ROI of Microsoft Ignite: Strategies to share & scale what you learn
MVP program
Thursday, November 20, 2pm – 2:45pm
Kimberly Sanchez

Meet your Azure Engineering Team – Azure Migrate Product Group
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 3pm – 3:45pm
Ashish Babbar, Raunak Pandya

Context is everything: Enriching identity signals for AI-powered soc defense
Security
Thursday, November 20, 3pm – 3:45pm
Daniel Lynch, Anna Qi

The Importance of Networking to Scale your Career
Partner-led organization
Thursday, November 20, 3pm – 3:45pm
Christine Bongard

Azure AI Insiders – Your Early Access Pass to AI
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 6pm – 6:45pm
Esra Bakkalbasioglu, Quirine van Walt Meijer

AI Foundry Chats – Talk AI with the Azure Engineers
Cloud & AI Platforms
Thursday, November 20, 5pm – 5:45pm
Quirine van Walt Meijer, Trish Winter-Hunt

Be sure to visit the session catalog on the event website to add these sessions to your schedule and plan your experience.

Experience Community at Microsoft Ignite

Our Community & Networking space within The Hub is where it all happens! Join us here for Community Theater sessions and Connection Pods, where you’ll dive into roundtable discussions with experts and peers. You can also explore interactive activations designed to spark curiosity—discover new communities, take on exciting challenges, experience cutting-edge tech, and win prizes along the way! Visit the Community page on the event website to learn more about these experiences at Microsoft Ignite.

Don’t Just Attend, Ignite Your Experience

Microsoft Ignite is where ideas ignite and connections thrive. Register now, share this with your network, and start planning your attendee experience today. The sooner you build your schedule, the more you’ll maximize every moment. Special shout-out to Almina Khorakiwala, Cassandra Steiber, and Peter Harrington for leading the charge and bringing community feedback into this year’s Community Hub planning. Way to go, team!

Join us and be part of the conversations shaping the future—because you don’t want to hear about it later, you want to experience it first.

Top 5 reasons to attend ESPC25

HeatherCook — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:07:22 GMT

We are so excited! Don’t miss out on ESPC25, Europe’s premier Microsoft 365 and AI community conference, in Dublin, Ireland. You’ll learn about Microsoft’s product roadmap, gain skills that will help you lead in the era of AI, build connections with a global community of Microsoft experts and enthusiasts—and have fun doing it!

Join us for 120+ sessions and plenty of in-person learning and networking opportunities in a city known for its history, culture, and innovation.

ESPC25 | Dublin, Ireland | December 1–4, 2025 | aka.ms/ESPC2025

Want the low-down on what you can look forward to? Here are five reasons you’ll want to attend:

Learn about AI and the future of work. Dive into the latest advancements in AI, get updates on new features across Microsoft 365 Copilot, and explore how agents can help you scale your team like never before.

Connect with Microsoft experts and product makers. There’s nothing like learning directly from the people who build the tools you use every day—especially in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. With new advancements rolling out at lightning speed, this is your chance to stay ahead of the curve.

Discover how Microsoft 365 Copilot can supercharge your workflow. Microsoft 365 Copilot has been a game-changer for professionals across all functions and lines of business. Whether you’re new to Copilot or a seasoned user, you’ll walk away knowing how to make it work even harder for you.

Gain tangible skills you can use immediately. From hands-on demos to technical sessions across Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Copilot, you’ll gain practical insights and solutions that can make an immediate impact on your work—no matter your role or function.

Network with a global community of professionals. It’s not just about the tech—it’s about the people who use it. ESPC brings together professionals from all over the world who are eager to share experiences, ideas, and best practices. Connect with peers, make lasting professional relationships, and learn from others in your field.

Learn more about ESPC25

What: ESPC25 community event with 120+ sessions

When: December 1–4, 2025

Where: Dublin, Ireland, The Convention Centre Dublin

Cost:

€1795 + VAT: Four days (includes full-day tutorial on December 1 and three conference days, December 2–4)

€1650 + VAT: Three days (sessions only)

€1295 + VAT: Two days (sessions only)

Please use this Microsoft Community discount code: ESPC25COMM (€200 off)

Registration page: aka.ms/espcregisternow

For those interested in being considered for our Executive Experience Track please be sure to check the box when registering. (limited capacity).

Our full event guide will land the first week of November.

Can't wait to say hello in Ireland!

Heather Cook

Join the M365 Community Team at Power Platform Conference

JonJones_MSFT — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:06:30 GMT

We’re heading to Las Vegas for the Power Platform Community Conference—and you can still join us!

If you’re part of the Microsoft 365 community, this is your chance to see how Copilot Studio and AI Agents are transforming productivity and workflows—shaping the future of M365 with automation, integration, and intelligent solutions across Teams, SharePoint, and more.

👉 Register today and come find us in the Community Lounge!
📍 Location: MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
📅 Dates: October 28–30, 2025
🔗 Register now: https://powerplatformconf.com/#!/register

Come explore the Community Lounge on the 3rd floor! Join us for interactive sessions, networking, demos & Ask a Pro stations. Don’t miss “Building Your Career” & “Don’t Start from Scratch” sessions—bookmark them in the Whova event app!

💬 How are you using Copilot today, or what’s your dream use case? Drop your thoughts below!

Karuana Gatimu, Jonathan Jones, Bryan Wofford Microsoft Power Platform Community

hashtagPowerPlatform hashtagMicrosoftCommunity hashtagPPCC hashtagLasVegas hashtagCommunityEvents hashtagCommunityLuv hashtagM365 hashtagCopilotStudio hashtagAI
cc: Heather Cook

Event Recap - TechCon Atlanta - August 2025

HeatherCook — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:12 GMT

Reflections on a Week of Innovation, Community, and Microsoft Excellence in the Heart of Atlanta

We’ve just concluded an unforgettable week at the Microsoft 365, Copilot / AI & Power Platform Conference in Atlanta, GA, hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center from August 11–15, 2025. This special event, a fusion of TechCon365 and PWRCON, brought together passionate professionals, industry leaders, and a vibrant tech community to explore the very best of Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Copilot, and beyond.

The 10-10-10 rule by Suzy Welch from our keynote session.

Event Highlights

492 attendees

61 Speakers, including 13 from Microsoft.

144 Sessions and 27 Workshops.

Atlanta’s signature hospitality and vibrant atmosphere set the tone for an experience that was more than just another tech event—it was a true celebration of learning, sharing, and growth.

Workshops & Hands-On Learning

Attendees immersed themselves in practical, hands-on workshops designed to go beyond the slide deck. Direct access to Microsoft product teams and some of the brightest minds in the community made it possible to leave with actionable strategies and real-world skills ready to be put to work back home.

Keynotes & Special Sessions

Microsoft 365 Keynote: The Next Phase: AI Agents, Real-World Impact & Smarter Decisions in the Age of Copilot - with Heather Cook, Principal PM, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft, was joined by Bryan Wofford, Principal PM, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft, Olesya Sarajlic, Data Analyst, Agent Cloud.

Olesya covered building agents - one for a healthcare support team and Bryan showed us all the new cool features of Copilot in SharePoint. (a nod to Melissa Torres PM on the SharePoint team who shared demo scripts with Bryan). I love how our teams help each other with building content and demos. Thank you!!

I shared our M365 Copilot vision along with three topics close to my heart:

1️⃣ AI-exposed jobs – disproportionately impacting women. We need to get folks skilled, reskilled, and ready for the future. These numbers were a bummer.
2️⃣ Menopause awareness – 1 billion women in menopause as of 2025. This isn’t just a women’s health topic. It’s a workforce, leadership, and community topic.
3️⃣ The 10-10-10 guideline from author Suzy Welch, a decision-making tool my dad, Stan Cook, shared with me years ago that I still use today.

Using the new Researcher Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot, I pulled stats from the 2025 PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer Report (a must read) and generated a 21-page paper in minutes. This will fuel future blogs and content on supporting women in AI-exposed roles and amplifying conversations around women’s health. I also shared how to use Create to build an email header in a flash.

It was super fun to build demos of both of these features. A shout out to team member - GPM Stephanie Horn who shared her awesome notes with me on these demos. Thank you!

I also used Researcher recently to specifically deal with my own health regarding menopause, my lack of a thyroid, working on weight loss, and simply feeling better. The paper that it created from my prompts and documents about me, and what I should be doing was what inspired me to continue the dialogue on this subject for this keynote. I'll be posting about that experience between me, the agent and my doctors soon. A game changer for me personally.

Menopause affects 31% of the population if you do the math - 1.1 billion women, 500 million in a partnership, on average two kids - that is ~2.5 billion people or that 31% of the population indirectly affected by something we don't talk about, we don't study and we don't give enough research funding for - we have to change this and we do that to start by talking about it - a few months ago, I met both Dr. Sharon Malone Grown Woman Talk and Tamsen Fadal who both have excellent books that I also referenced in doing my research.

Breakout Sessions

With session tracks covering Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, Power Platform, Security and One Drive, the conference program truly offered something for everyone. A big THANK YOU to all the speakers who came to support the event. It was AWESOME to have so many Southeast local folks come as well and represent. Much appreciated.

Microsoft-Led Sessions:

Getting Ready for M365 Copilot with Bryan Wofford & Dave Minasyan
Customize SharePoint Lists and Libraries Forms Using SharePoint Framework with Alex Terentiev
Understanding the Voice of the Customer with Power BI and Azure Cognitive Services with Olesya Sarajlic & Stephanie Bruno
Expanding SharePoint Framework Web Parts in Teams, Office and Outlook with Alex Terentiev
Empower Me: Building an AI Agent for Task Automation and Decision Support with Olesya Sarajlic & Victor Cuadros
Unlocking AI Governance with Microsoft Purview with Ajay Kallur
Build Custom Copilot Solutions with SharePoint Embedded with Reid Carlberg
Empowering Community Management with AI and Microsoft 365 with Heather Cook & Bryan Wofford
Microsoft Teams: Collaboration and Communication in the era of AI with Connie Welsh
Power BI monitoring with Log Analytics Workspace with Akshata Revankar
The real Mechanics of AI and how we got here with Bryan Wofford
Enhancing Employee Experience with Copilot with Chris L’Hommedieu
Microsoft 365 PnP for SharePoint Framework Developer with Alex Terentiev
Git Integration and Azure DevOps for PowerBI with Implementing CI/CD with Akshata Revankar

Community & Connections

Ask the Experts

Located at a prime spot on the expo floor, the Ask the Experts station served as a hub for attendees to seek solutions to their toughest questions. Industry experts and Microsoft professionals engaged with participants, providing valuable insights and sparking inspiration along the way.

Women in Tech and Allies Lunch

A community-driven highlight, promoting support, inspiration, and the power of collaboration in tech. We had ~50 attendees. Host Heather Cook, Principal PM, MCAG and panelists Rie Merritt, Principal PM Manager, Azure Data, Danielle Moon, Sr. Specialist - AI Business Process and Olesya Sarajlic, Data Analyst and Sharee Brockington, Change Specialist, Dominion Energy.

Here were the key takeaways:

Your degree doesn't define your tech journey

From theater major to nuclear physics PhD to dental hygienist, we all found our way into tech through curiosity and saying YES to opportunities we weren't "fully qualified" for - yes, AND!

The power of mentorship vs sponsorship

Mentors give you concrete steps to improve.

Sponsors talk about you when you're not in the room and get you noticed.

Have multiple mentors for different needs - formalize these relationships!

Allyship is 1000 small actions

Amplify others' voices, acknowledge contributions, and pull someone else through the door after you make it through

Stop waiting to be "ready

Men apply for jobs they can do 40% of, women wait until they can do 60-70%. If you can do half the job requirements, APPLY.

AI is your partner, not your competitor

Use tools like Copilot to handle the "make this email less angry" moments and free up time for creativity.

Microsoft Global Community Initiative Meetup and Community Connections

The heart of TechCon365 Atlanta was its community. The Expo Area provided a welcoming space for creative activities, casual meetups, giveaways, and connection. Evening gatherings and the conference networking social event brought energy and joy, sparking both new collaborations and lasting friendships.

Looking Forward

As we wrap up this incredible week in Atlanta, the spark for innovation and connection remains strong. Thank you to every attendee, speaker, and partner—especially Sharon Toler and David Wilhelm—for making this conference a can’t-miss event on the tech calendar.

Mark your calendars for future TechCon365 events and keep the momentum going as you bring fresh ideas and new energy to your work and community. TechCon Dallas 2025 - November 3-7, 2025

We can’t wait to see you again. Until then—stay inspired, stay connected, and keep building the future together.

Stay connected on Microsoft Community channels

Microsoft Adoption Hub: https://aka.ms/AdoptionHub

MSFT Adoption Twitter: https://aka.ms/MSFTAdoptionTwitter

Microsoft Community LinkedIn Page: https://aka.ms/MSCommunityLinkedin

Microsoft Community Learning YouTube: https://aka.ms/community/learning

Microsoft Tech Community: https://aka.ms/JoinMTC

One-Stop Shop for Community Events: https://www.communitydays.org

Mondays at Microsoft News Show: https://aka.ms/MondaysatMicrosoft

Microsoft at TechCon Atlanta - 2025 - Event Guide

HeatherCook — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 01:32:23 GMT

Join us in Atlanta for the Microsoft 365, Copilot / AI & Power Platform Conference. This event combines TechCon365 and PWRCON into a week of expert sessions, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the latest Microsoft technology. Whether you’re experienced with Microsoft 365 or new to Power Platform, you’ll find valuable insights and connections here. Enjoy keynotes, workshops, and the vibrant local culture during your visit.

Shoutout to incredible event producers, Sharon Toler and David Wilhelm—your passion for building vibrant tech communities inspires us all! We’re grateful for everyone in this community who brings their energy and expertise, making this conference a can’t-miss highlight on the tech calendar each year.

101 on TechCon Atlanta

What: Microsoft 365, Copilot / AI & Power Platform Conference

Where: Atlanta, GA - Georgia World Congress Center

When: August 11–15, 2025

Content & Speakers: 27 Workshops, 1 Keynote, 144+ sessions (10 led by Microsoft), 61 speakers (MVPs, RDs, Microsoft staff, and our incredible community)

Price: $850–$2,895 (there’s something for every budget—check ticket options!)

Twitter & hashtag: @TechCon365 | #TechCon365

Why Join Us?

Be Part of What’s Next. This is your seat at the table for fresh trends, hands-on tech, and practical insights. If you want to see what’s next for Copilot, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365 (and how real orgs are getting value right now), you’ll find both inspiration and real-world stories here.

Learn, Do, Repeat

Dive into workshops that go beyond the slide deck—get your hands on the tech, ask those burning questions, and pick up strategies you can use back at work. You’ll have direct access to Microsoft product teams and the community’s brightest voices.

Grow Your People Network

Some of the richest takeaways are the connections you make. With attendees and speakers from so many backgrounds, you’ll find new perspectives and maybe a mentor or two. Community meetups, Ask the Experts, and evening gatherings make it easy to spark new collaborations.

Make It Memorable

From creative community spaces to special events (hello, exclusive swag!), it’s more than just content—it’s an experience. Don’t miss out on local Atlanta flavor and the opportunity to recharge with peers who share your passion.

Agenda

Pre-Conference Workshops

Pre-conference workshops are taught by experts Monday August 11 and Tuesday August 12.

Session Tracks

Unlock Copilot for Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint and more. These sessions give you deep strategies and actionable steps to lead your org’s AI transformation. Microsoft MVPs, Regional Directors, User Group Leaders, Consultants, Partner and more share their expertise in their amazing sessions. Check out the full agenda.

Key Microsoft Sessions and Activities

Keynote

Wednesday August 13 - 8:30 am - 9:40 am - The Next Phase: AI Agents, Real-World Impact & Smarter Decisions in the Age of Copilot

Heather Cook, Principal PM, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft, will be joined by Bryan Wofford, Principal PM, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft, Olesya Sarajlic, Data Analyst, Agent Cloud, Microsoft, and more coming soon.

Microsoft Led Breakout Sessions (Times are in Eastern Time (ET))

Wednesday August 13

10:20 am - 12:00 pm

Getting Ready for M365 Copilot - Bryan Wofford & Dave Minasyan

4:00 pm - 5:10 pm

Understanding the Voice of the Customer with Power BI and Azure Cognitive Services - Olesya Sarajlic & Stephanie Bruno

Thursday August 14

9:00 am - 10:10 am

Expanding SharePoint Framework Web Parts in Teams, Office and Outlook with Alex Terentiev

10:50 am - 12:00 pm

Empower Me: Building an AI Agent for Task Automation and Decision Support with Olesya Sarajlic & Victor Cuadros

Unlocking AI Governance with Microsoft Purview with Ajay Kallur

2:20 – 3:30 pm

Build Custom Copilot Solutions with SharePoint Embedded – Reid Carlberg

4:10 – 5:20 pm

Empowering Community Management with AI and Microsoft 365 – Heather Cook & Bryan Wofford

Copilot Extensibility & Agents: Transforming Workflows with AI - Sean Edwards

5:30 – 6:30 pm

Meet the Speakers Attendee Party Social

Join all TechCon speakers for an attendee party social. All are welcome.

Friday August 15

9:00 am - 10:10 am

Microsoft Teams: Collaboration and Communication in the era of AI – Connie Welsh

10:20 am - 11:30 am

The real Mechanics of AI and how we got here – Bryan Wofford

1:50 pm - 3:00 pm

Enhancing Employee Experience with Copilot – Chris L’Hommedieu

Git Integration and Azure DevOps for PowerBI - Implementing CI/CD - Akshata Revankar

Session days and times are subject to change, please see the TechCon Atlanta website for the full agenda.

Special Gatherings

Thursday August 14

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Women in Tech and Allies Lunch—join us for support, inspiration, and a community that lifts each other up

Hosts: Heather Cook

Panelists: Rie Merritt, Danielle Moon & Olesya Sarajlic

Community Activities

Microsoft Global Community Initiative Meetup

Wednesday August 13

1:00pm - Meet in the Expo Hall main stage.

Let's eat lunch together on Wed - meet in the Expo Hall at 1:00pm look for the MGCI Sign that Heather Cook will be holding. We'll get lunch and chat about community and take a MGCI photo together!

Building Connections

From evening events to the conference party, it’s a chance to build genuine professional relationships and have fun while you’re at it. Community is what makes this event special.

A Few Tips for attendees

Review the agenda and map out your must-see sessions

Visit the Expo Floor to meet Microsoft teams and partners

Join meetups for fresh connections

Share your learnings—and follow up after the event to keep the networking alive

Stay hydrated and dress for comfort—Atlanta summers are warm!

Follow @TechCon365 and use #TechCon365 for updates and community stories

Stay connected on Microsoft channels

Microsoft Community LinkedIn Page: https://aka.ms/MSCommunityLinkedin

Microsoft Tech Community: https://aka.ms/JoinMTC

MSFT Adoption Twitter: https://aka.ms/MSFTAdoptionTwitter

Microsoft Adoption Hub: https://aka.ms/AdoptionHub

Microsoft Community Learning YouTube: https://aka.ms/community/learning

One-Stop Shop for Community Events: https://www.communitydays.org

Mondays at Microsoft News Show: https://aka.ms/MondaysatMicrosoft

Secure Your Spot!

Truly, I hope you’ll join us—register today and use code MSCMTY for $200 USD off. This is your moment to learn, connect, and be inspired.

Mark your calendar for August 11–15, 2025 and come make Atlanta part of your tech story. We can’t wait to see you there! WOOTWOOT!

Check out the fun we had at TechCon Seattle

Cheers,

Heather Cook

Event Recap - TechCon Seattle - June 2025

HeatherCook — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:47:36 GMT

We’ve just wrapped up an incredible week at TechCon365 in the vibrant city of Seattle, WA, held at the Seattle Convention Center from June 23-27, 2025. TechCon365 Seattle brought together three specialized conferences — TechCon, PWRCON, and DATACON — delivering a powerhouse of learning, inspiration, and innovation. With a focus on Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and data solutions, the event catered to all levels, from enthusiasts to seasoned experts. Attendees explored the latest advancements in Microsoft 365 and AI, gained insights into Power Platform innovations, and discovered transformative data practices to elevate their careers and businesses.

Event Highlights

1,000+ Attendees, 130 Speakers, including 44 from Microsoft.

245 Sessions and 48 Workshops.

3 Conferences under one roof: TechCon365, PWRCON, and DATACON.

Networking Opportunities: Hundreds of professionals, community members, and leaders from diverse industries.

A big thank you to David Wilhelm and Sharon Toler, along with your wonderful production team, for putting on such great community-focused technical skilling events for over a decade. Your dedication and hard work always make a significant impact, and we truly appreciate all that you do.

Pre-Event Workshops

The workshops at TechCon Seattle 2025 delivered two days of immersive, hands-on learning that set the tone for a dynamic week of innovation and collaboration. With 48 expertly led sessions spanning Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft Data, attendees dove deep into real-world scenarios and cutting-edge tools—from Copilot and AI to Power BI, Power Apps, and Azure SQL.

Led by Microsoft MVPs and seasoned practitioners, the workshops offered practical insights and interactive demos that empowered participants to return to their roles with actionable strategies and renewed confidence. Whether building low-code solutions, enhancing data protection, or mastering collaboration tools, the workshops proved to be a cornerstone of the event experience.

Keynotes & General Sessions

Day 1: The day kicked off with the Microsoft 365 keynote, “Being a Productivity Changemaker in the Era of AI,” delivered by Karuana Gatimu, Melissa Torres, Stephanie Horn, and Kendra Springer.

To round out the day, Bob Ward and Shireesh Thota took the stage with “Transform Your Data into a Competitive Edge with Azure.” Their dynamic session sparked new excitement, showing how Azure’s powerful tools can turn everyday data into valuable business breakthroughs. Attendees left energized by the possibilities and ready to harness data as a true driver of innovation.

Day 2: The Power Platform keynote, "The Future of the Power Platform: Intelligent Apps,” a session led by the fantastic Evan Lew and Srihari Srinivasa at TechCon365 Seattle. They explored how artificial intelligence and Copilot are bringing new energy and possibilities to the Power Platform, making it easier than ever to build smart, adaptable apps. The session was filled with inspiring ideas and real-world examples, demonstrating how these tools can spark innovation and transform the way people work. For anyone excited about creating apps that truly make an impact, this was definitely a session to catch!

Day 3: Sessions and Women in Tech and Allies Meetup, was one of the true highlights of the week was the Women in Tech and Allies Meetup. It was energizing to witness so many passionate voices coming together for meaningful networking and candid mentorship.

Breakout Sessions

Across all three conferences, Microsoft-led breakout sessions addressed a wide array of topics, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and more. These sessions provided actionable strategies and real-world applications to help attendees prepare their organizations for the AI transformation.

TechCon 365 (Microsoft 365) | Microsoft-led breakout sessions

"Keynote: Being a Productivity Changemaker in the Era of AI" will be presented by Karuana Gatimu, Melissa Torres, Kendra Springer, Dan Parish on June 25, 2025

"Getting Started with M365 Copilot" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 25, 2025

"Driving Successful Adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs" will be presented by Jessie Hwang on June 25, 2025

"What’s New in Microsoft Education: Powering the Future of Learning with AI" will be presented by Jethro Seghers on June 25, 2025

"Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) 🤖 with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26, 2025

“Inside the Agent DB: Powering Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Unified Data” with Sigita Cepaitiene and Reza Assadi | June 26th 1

"Getting the most out of Copilot Pages and Notebooks: Introduction and Management Discussion" will be presented by Cora Chen, Sammy Chiu on June 26, 2025

"AI-Powered Productivity with Surface + Copilot" will be presented by Frank Buchholz on June 26, 2025

"The Intranet of Tomorrow: Beautiful, Flexible, and AI Ready" will be presented by Melissa Torres, Wende Copfer, Judith Yaaqoubi on June 26, 2025

"Top 10 Best Practices Every Admin Should Be Doing in M365!" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 26, 2025

"Your Magical Microsoft Map of Community, Learning and Training" will be presented by Heather Cook, Jessie Hwang on June 25, 2025

"Build Your Custom Agent for 320M+ Users in Microsoft Teams" will be presented by Carter Gilliam on June 27, 2025

"Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace" will be presented by Heather Cook, Joel Frauenheim on June 26, 2025

"Understanding Where AI Is at and Where It Is Going" will be presented by Aria Hanson on June 27, 2025

"Revolutionizing Content Management Using the Power of AI with Copilot and SharePoint Premium" will be presented by Marco Rocca on June 27, 2025

PWRCON (Power Platform) | Microsoft-led sessions

"Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) 🤖 with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26th

"Accelerate your data and app development using Copilot in Dataverse and Power Apps" will be presented by Travis Shu and Prithvi Khosla on June 26th

"Collections with Finance Agents – Extensibility to any ERP" will be presented by Akshay Bhatnagar on June 27th

"Enhancing Employee Experience with Microsoft Viva: A Comprehensive Overview" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 27th

"Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Copilot Studio and Power Platform" will be presented by Gaurav Sisodia and Muhammad Arrabi on June 27th

"Secure, Compliant, and Connected: How Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales Manages Your Data and Insights" will be presented by Gaurav Babbar and Manpreet Singh on June 27th

DATACON (Fabric)| Microsoft-led sessions

“A Comprehensive Guide to Direct Lake for the Pro Data Modeler ” with Philip Seamark, Patrick LeBlanc | June 23, 2025

“ETL, KQL, and RTI: Harnessing Data in Motion with Microsoft Fabric” with Matt Gordon, Christopher Schmidt | June 24, 2025

“Query Store and Azure SQL Copilot, who is the fairest in the land?” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 24, 2025

“Maximize efficiency in your data-driven projects by leveraging AI and Copilot technologies.” with Prashant Atri, Tammiraju Prasanth, Prabhjot Kaur | June 24, 2025

“Real-Time Intelligence: Turning Streaming Data into Smart Decisions” with Ajeta Singhal, Mou Rakshit | June 25, 2025

“Microsoft Fabric: Ultimate Data Security for Robust Data Warehousing” with Jean Joseph | June 25, 2025

“Fabric Data Factory: What's New and Roadmap” with Miguel Llopis, Mark Kromer | June 25, 2025

“Deep dive into Direct Lake” with Philip Seamark, Patrick LeBlanc | June 25, 2025

“Getting started with SQL database in Fabric” with Bob Ward | June 25, 2025

“Introduction to SQL Server Essential Concepts” with Bradley Ball | June 25, 2025

“Generate self-service governance dashboard using Microsoft Fabric and Purview” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 25, 2025

“Innovate without limits with Azure Data” with Bob Ward, Shireesh Thota | June 25, 2025

“PowerBI, DirectQuery and SQL Server. It is a good choice?” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM

“Learn how to troubleshoot SQL Server like a Microsoft engineer would” with Arvind Shyamsundar | June 25, 2025

“Deployments aren’t enough – databases deserve a development process” with Drew Skwiers-Koballa | June 25, 2025

“Transform your business with integrated solutions using SQL database in Microsoft Fabric” with Pam Lahoud | June 25, 2025

“Build an end-to-end data solution with Microsoft Fabric” with Patrick LeBlanc | June 25, 2025

“Everything you need to know about Data Virtualization in Azure SQL Database” with Hugo Queiroz | June 25, 2025

“SQL Server 2025: The Enterprise AI ready database” with Bob Ward | June 25, 2025

“SSMS 21 Spotlight: What's new and why it matters” with Makena Barickman | June 25, 2025

“Harness the Power of Microsoft Fabric and Notebooks” with Bradley Ball | June 26, 2025

“Real Time Monitoring with Real-life Use Cases using Database Watcher” with Matt Gordon, Daniel Taylor | June 26, 2025

“Oracle/SQL to Fabric Migration accelerator” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 26, 2025

“10 Free SQL Databases: Your Playground for AI, Advanced Analytics, and Next-Gen Applications!” with Amar Digamber Patil, Muazma Zahid | June 26, 2025

"Getting the most out of Copilot Pages and Notebooks: Introduction and Management Discussion" will be presented by Cora Chen, Sammy Chiu on June 26, 2025

Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) �� with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26th

“Azure SQL DB Hyperscale: The Definitive Modern Database Choice ” with Aditya Badramraju, Arvind Shyamsundar | June 26, 2025

“Unleash the Power of SQL Database in Fabric: Innovate Without Limits Using the Free Trial” with Amar Digamber Patil, Muazma Zahid, Madhuri Yethirajam | June 26, 2025

“Power BI Storage Modes: The Ultimate Showdown” with Philip Seamark | June 26, 2025

"AI-Powered Productivity with Surface + Copilot" will be presented by Frank Buchholz on June 26, 2025

"The Intranet of Tomorrow: Beautiful, Flexible, and AI Ready" will be presented by Melissa Torres, Wende Copfer, Judith Yaaqoubi on June 26, 2025

“Migration Mystery Solved: Moving SSRS and SSAS to Power BI” with Daniel Taylor, Raju Kumar | June 26, 2025

"Top 10 Best Practices Every Admin Should Be Doing in M365!" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 26, 2025

“Unified DevOps for Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL, and SQL Server with next-gen SQL projects” with Drew Skwiers-Koballa | June 26, 2025

“Data Processing Architecture: Key Design Principles & Considerations” with Jean Joseph | June 26, 2025

“Handling Big Data with Power BI” with Patrick LeBlanc | June 26, 2025

"Build Your Custom Agent for 320M+ Users in Microsoft Teams" will be presented by Carter Gilliam on June 27, 2025

"Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace" will be presented by Heather Cook, Joel Frauenheim on June 27, 2025

"Understanding Where AI Is At and Where It Is Going" will be presented by Aria Hanson on June 27, 2025

“Azure SQL Database Hyperscale elastic pools - a deep-dive” with Arvind Shyamsundar, Aditya Badramraju | June 27, 2025

“Supercharge your analytics with Microsoft Fabric Real Time Intelligence” with Christopher Schmidt | June 27, 2025

“AI and SQL ground to cloud to fabric” with Bob Ward, Muazma Zahid | June 27, 2025

“Harnessing the Power of Data Mesh: A Deep Dive into the Four Pillars of Modern Data Architecture” with Jean Joseph | June 27, 2025

“Microsoft Database Docs - Learn about Contributing for your Career” with William Assaf | June 27, 2025

“Collections with Finance Agents – Extensibility to any ERP" will be presented by Akshay Bhatnagar on June 27th

"Enhancing Employee Experience with Microsoft Viva: A Comprehensive Overview" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 27th

"Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Copilot Studio and Power Platform" will be presented by Gaurav Sisodia and Muhammad Arrabi on June 27th

“Build AI Apps Smarter: Optimize SQL Database Costs & Performance in Fabric” with Amar Digamber Patil, Pam Lahoud, Madhuri Yethirajam | June 27, 2025

“Unleashing Modern Data Warehousing: Architecture, Insights & Future Innovations in Fabric Warehouse” with Twinkle Cyril | June 27, 2025

“Mastering Elastic Database Pools: Best Practices and Troubleshooting from Microsoft Support” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 27, 2025

“Secure, Compliant, and Connected: How Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales Manages Your Data and Insights" will be presented by Gaurav Babbar and Manpreet Singh on June 27th

“Build a Robust App with Fabric SQL Database, GraphQL API, and User Data Functions” with Sunitha Muthukrishna, Ed Lima | June 27, 2025

“Mirroring in Microsoft Fabric - Overview and Roadmap” with Wilson Lee, Maraki Ketema | June 27, 2025

“Indexing Internals for Developers & DBAs” with Bradley Ball | June 27, 2025

“Realtime product review data analysis for Retail using Fabric RTI, Purview and Azure Open AI” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 27, 2025

Expo Hall and Community

Ask the Experts

Located at a prime spot on the expo floor, the Ask the Experts station served as a hub for attendees to seek solutions to their toughest questions. Industry experts engaged with participants, providing valuable insights and sparking inspiration along the way.

Microsoft Zone

At the Microsoft Zone, located within the Expo Hall we connected with hundreds of attendees, gaining insights into how Microsoft technologies impact their personal and professional lives. Community members shared their stories, joined Microsoft platforms for ongoing engagement, and, of course, collected plenty of stickers!

Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) Meetup

Thank you to everyone who joined the MGCI Meetup at TechCon Seattle—it was energizing to connect with so many community leaders and advocates in person. We left inspired and aligned around new ways to collaborate and support Microsoft adoption efforts together.

Microsoft Surface Hub

The Microsoft Surface hardware bar at the event featured hands-on demos of the latest Surface devices, giving attendees a chance to explore their design and performance up close and to meet the Surface product team.

Ask Microsoft Anything Panel

The Ask Microsoft Anything Panel was a standout session—packed with honest insights, expert perspectives, and meaningful engagement between the community and Microsoft leaders.

In the End...

TechCon Seattle was an extraordinary event that showcased the power of community, innovation, and collaboration. With its diverse range of sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the event empowered attendees to unlock new possibilities with Microsoft technologies.

For those who joined in Seattle thank you. And thank you to the sponsors. to the speakers for your terrific sessions and to all of the attendees for being a part of the Best Community in Tech. Let’s keep the momentum going at TechCon Atlanta August 11-15!

Event Recap - European Collab/Cloud/BizApps - Dusseldorf - May 2025

HeatherCook — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 04:02:13 GMT

What an incredible three days the team had at the European Collaboration Summit 2025 in Düsseldorf! From May 26-28, attendees from around the globe gathered to connect, learn, and share their passion for collaboration technologies, AI, and business applications. It’s been an unforgettable event filled with knowledge-sharing, networking, and inspiration—thank you to everyone who joined us in making these three summits in one a tremendous success.

By the numbers

2817 attendees
237 Speakers, 53 Microsoft & GitHub Speakers
306 Total Sessions - 65 Microsoft Sessions
98 Microsoft MVPs
16 Regional Directors

A big thank you to organizers Adis Jugo, Mustafa Toroman, Waldek Mastykarz, Garry Trinder, Brett Lonsdale, Margit Jugo and the community content team - Martina Grom, Thomas Vochten, Eric Schupps and Vesa Juvonen, Microsoft.

Keynotes & General Sessions

Day one began with pre-conference tutorials, setting the stage for an action-packed summit. The excitement was palpable as we dove into four groundbreaking keynotes over the course of the event. One of the most talked-about sessions was Marco Casalaina’s keynote, “The Future of AI Is Already Here,” on May 27, where he unveiled the transformative potential of Azure AI and how it’s shaping industries worldwide. The energy continued with Vesa Juvonen’s keynote, “Unlocking the Future of Work with AI and Microsoft 365,” which offered captivating insights into how AI-driven innovation is redefining productivity and featured April Dunnam, Dan Holme, Paolo Pialorsi from Microsoft and Emily Mancini (Left Uncharted),

On May 28, attendees had the unique opportunity to attend simultaneous keynotes tailored to their interests. Gurkan Salk’s “Reimagining the Future of Business Applications Using Generative AI” explored the next frontier of Microsoft BizApps, while Azar Koulibaly’s keynote tackled the EU AI Act and how organizations can navigate and leverage Microsoft’s AI ecosystem effectively. These sessions were packed with actionable insights, leaving participants inspired and ready to implement new strategies.

Breakout Sessions

Throughout the summit, Microsoft speakers led 51 dynamic breakout sessions covering everything from Copilot and AI to Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Azure. Highlights included hands-on workshops such as “Microsoft 365 Copilot Extensibility Using VS Code,” where Paolo Pialorsi and Waldek Mastykarz walked participants through practical applications of Copilot, and sessions like “Maximizing Your Information Architecture Strategy,” led by Mikael Svenson and Kasper Larsen, which provided valuable tips for modernizing enterprise content strategies.

These sessions catered to all levels of expertise and roles, ensuring that every attendee left with actionable strategies and deeper technical knowledge to enhance their organizations' performance.

Microsoft-led Collab sessions

“AI Beginner Development Powerclass” with Carlotta Castelluccio, Korey Stegared-Pace, and Lee Stott

“Am I Entitled? How to manage permissions dynamically in the age of Copilot” with Al Eardley

“Build Your Own Agent Using Microsoft Copilot Studio and Power Platform!” with Henry Jammes, Damien Bird, Bülent Altinsoy, Dewain Robinson, and Daniel Laskewitz
“Building experiences for the Microsoft 365 Powerclass” with Vesa Juvonen, Hugo Bernier, David Warner II, Paolo Pialorsi, Stephan Bisser, Thomas Goelles, Derek Cash-Peterson, and Julie M Turner
“Designing Business-Centric Solutions with Microsoft 365 Copilot” with Andreas Krüger

“Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot with Declarative Agents” with Vesa Juvonen and Paolo Pialorsi

“Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot” with Paolo Pialorsi

“Extensibility Options to Improve Your Employee Experiences within Viva Connections and SharePoint” with Vesa Juvonen

“How well do Copilot and Agents know you and your team?” with Wictor Wilén

“Insider Risk Management - Technical Deep Dive” with Bernd Vellguth

“Latest platform and extensibility options for SharePoint and Viva Connections” with Vesa Juvonen

“Maximizing your Information Architecture Strategy with Microsoft 365 Content Features for Copilot and Microsoft Search” with Mikael Svenson and Kasper Larsen

“Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility using VS Code - hands-on workshop” with Waldek Mastykarz, Paolo Pialorsi, and Garry Trinder | May 26, 9:00am

“Microsoft Cloud Security Powerclass” with Tom Janetscheck and Jussi Roine

“Microsoft Defender for Office 365 - Defense in-depth" with Dominik Hoefling

“Secure and govern Microsoft 365 Copilot” with Erica Toelle

“SharePoint Embedded - API for your applications” with Dragan Panjkov

“The intranet of tomorrow: Beautiful, flexible, and AI ready” with Vesa Juvonen

“Together We Succeed: Harnessing Community for Career Success” with Vesa Juvonen, Garry Trinder, and Waldek Mastykarz

“Unlocking the Potential of People Data in Microsoft 365” with Wictor Wilén

“What's New and Next for Engage and Teams: Communications, Channels, Leadership, Campaigns and Events” with Dan Holme

“What's New and Next for Engage and Teams: Knowledge, Storyline, Communities, Copilot and Moderation” with Dan Holme

Microsoft-led Cloud sessions

“Add multi-channel communication to your AI apps” with Boris Bazilevskiy

“AI Agents for the Rest of Us: Building with the Azure AI Agent Service” with Korey Stegared-Pace

“Build apps that don't fail in production” with Waldek Mastykarz and Garry Trinder

“Build Serverless AI Agents with Semantic Kernel & Azure Cosmos DB” with Mark Brown

“Build voice-based AI agents on Azure” with Boris Bazilevskiy

“Building an Automation Framework Using Ansible for Configuring and Installing Line of Business Applications on Azure” with Kimmo Forss

“Building Application Landing zones in Azure” with Kimmo Forss

“Copilot for Security - advanced automation scenarios” with Shruti Ailani and Bert-Jan Pals

“Device Intelligence with SLM: A Path to Edge Deployment and Cloud Integration” with Lee Stott

“From Traction to Production: Maturing your LLMOps step by step” with Maxim Salnikov

“How to compile models and build agentic applications capable of exploiting the power of Copilot+ PCs for on-device inferencing” with Sam Kemp

“Integrating AI with Semantic Kernel” With Majid Hajin

“Measure and mitigate risks for a generative AI app” with Carlotta Castelluccio

“Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Deployment Best Practices” with Dominik Hoefling

“Microsoft server protection - one agent to rule them all” with Tom Janetscheck

“Orchestrating Intelligence with Multi-Agent AI Workflows” with Daron Yondem

“Personalize your AI: model Fine-Tune with your data in Azure OpenAI” with Massimo Bonanni

“Supercharge Your Startup: Build Faster, Smarter, and Cheaper with AI Agents” with Amit Svarzenberg

“You’ve built an intelligent app powered by Gen AI models—now what?” with Julia Muiruri

Microsoft-led BizApps sessions

“Building Power Apps in the Modern Era” with April Dunnam

“Building Secure and Reliable Copilot Agents created with Copilot Studio” with Marco Rocca and Fabio Franzini

“Copilot in Dynamics 365 Finance” with Severin Bock

“Copilot Studio - You Can't Improve What You Can't Measure” with Henry Jammes

“Innovating with Power Platform's Copilot Studio: Extending and Enhancing SAP with Intelligent Agents” with Marysol Mantilla

“Mission UX: Decoding the Science of User Experience in Microsoft 365 and Power Platform” with David Warner II and Hugo Bernier

“Modernize your Contact Center with Dynamics 365” with Ivica Ivančić

“Quickstart to Microsoft Power Pages” with Dragan Panjkov

“The art of crafting effective prompts for your Power Platform AI tools” with April Dunnam

“Transforming Document Management in Power Platform with Intelligent Automation” with Marco Rocca and Fabio Franzini

“Unleash the power of Custom Actions in Power Automate Desktop” with Dieter De Cock

“Unlocking the Power of AI in Microsoft Fabric” with Josh Ndemenge

Community Highlights

The European Collaboration Summit has always been about more than just technology—it’s about fostering a vibrant, inclusive community. From the bustling expo floor to lively networking sessions, the passion and enthusiasm of attendees were unmistakable. The “Together We Succeed” session, led by Vesa Juvonen, Garry Trinder, and Waldek Mastykarz, exemplified this spirit, emphasizing the power of collaboration and community in building successful careers and innovative solutions.

The Ask the Experts station was another highlight, offering attendees the chance to engage one-on-one with Microsoft experts, MVPs, and community leaders. Many left the event not only with answers to their toughest technical challenges but also with new connections and renewed inspiration.

Microsoft Booth – Microsoft for Startups

During the European AI and Cloud Summit, the Startup Stage, powered by Microsoft for Startups and co-organized by ECS, became a vibrant hub for innovation and collaboration. This dynamic space brought together major industry players, visionary thought leaders, and ambitious startups to explore groundbreaking AI solutions and cloud computing advancements.

On Day 2, the Startup Pitch Competition showcased how start-ups engaged with potential investors while building innovative AI solutions. The winners were honored with prestigious awards, including membership in the Microsoft for Startups Program, which granted them access to exclusive resources, personalized mentorship, and invaluable growth opportunities.

Startup Pitch Competition Winners

1st Place Graia

2nd Place iThink

3rd Place ShArc

Microsoft Developer Blog - Deep Dive into Microsoft for Startups Competition

Be sure to check out this wonderful blog post by our partner Cloud Advocate, Lee_Stott thank you for all you do for the community and this event! This article goes into more details on the Startup competition winners! European AI and Cloud Summit 2025

Attendee Reception & Social Engagement

To celebrate being together in person, the summit hosted an attendee reception that allowed attendees to relax, connect, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of Düsseldorf. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore the city’s rich cultural heritage while forging meaningful connections with peers and industry leaders.

Looking Ahead

As we look back on the European Collaboration Summit 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible speakers, volunteers, and attendees who made this event possible. Your energy, curiosity, and contributions created a truly inspiring atmosphere.

Thank you for being part of this amazing journey. See you next year in Cologne, May 5-7, 2026!

Microsoft 365 Community at Build

HeatherCook — Mon, 19 May 2025 15:55:18 GMT

Community @ Microsoft Build

Microsoft 365 Community team will be Microsoft Build this week in the Hub in the Community Lounge.

Programming from the Community Lounge in the Hub will consist of Table Talks where you can come sit and chat with Microsoft employees and Microsoft MVPs about set topics and then the Conversation Corners which are mini-theater sessions. All of this is across all of our product divisions.

From my team – Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group – it will be me and Jessie Hwang talking about the new Agents AI Hub (live today!) - https://aka.ms/AIAgentsHub on adoption.microsoft.com and about how to join the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (http://aka.ms/MGCI ).

I’m looking forward to hearing all the product announcements and the 2025 Imagine Cup World Championship.

This year’s Imagine Cup finalists are proving that innovation and empathy go hand in hand. Three student teams — Signvrse, HairMatch, and Argus — are using AI to solve real-world challenges and improve lives across the globe.

Signvrse developed an app that translates spoken or written words into Kenyan Sign Language using 3D avatars and Microsoft Azure AI Speech. Inspired by a robotics boot camp where deaf students lacked interpreters, the team created a virtual sign language interpreter that users can carry in their pocket — a powerful tool for inclusion and accessibility.

HairMatch is helping young people embrace their natural hair by using AI to recommend personalized hair care routines and styles. The app aims to boost self-confidence and celebrate identity, especially among communities often underrepresented in beauty tech.

Argus is tackling vision loss with a wearable device that uses AI to help people navigate their surroundings more safely and independently. Motivated by a team member’s grandmother who lost her sight, Argus is a testament to how personal stories can drive global impact.

These students aren’t just imagining what’s possible with AI — they’re building it. The winning team will be announced at Microsoft Build and will receive $100,000 and a mentoring session with Satya Nadella. Runners-up will each receive $25,000, and all participants gain access to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub to help scale their ideas.

This year’s Imagine Cup is a reminder that the future of AI is not just about technology — it’s about people, purpose, and possibility.

Microsoft Build will kick off at 9:00 AM PT with a keynote from Satya Nadella and Kevin Scott. Together, they’ll share how Microsoft is creating new opportunities across its platforms in this era of AI. The keynote will explore how developers can harness Copilot, agents, and the latest AI innovations to build the next generation of intelligent applications. Whether you're attending in person in Seattle or tuning in online, this is the moment to see Microsoft’s vision for the future of development unfold.

I’m sure you have been planning what you will check out via the Microsoft Build session catalog to see sessions in your local time, add favorites to your schedules, or save them to your backpack for later viewing.

Make sure you bookmark the closing keynote with Mark Russinovich and Scott Hanselman - Mark wrote on LinkedIN…

“I can't wait for Microsoft Build! I'm delivering a brand-new Azure innovation session and the closing keynote with Scott Hanselman where we'll do live AI-assisted agent coding (with a really cool project)” https://lnkd.in/gq3mm4aB

Be sure to check out the event guide from Jon Galloway and James Montemagno our fellow community leads on the developer side of the house.

A Developer's Guide to Build 2025 - Microsoft for Developers

This is where I’ll be for the week:

The Community Space is designed to facilitate connection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among attendees. It will feature 8 interactive stations, conversations tables, theater sessions and more. Under “Session Type” you can look for “Community” specifically in the catalog. And here is a link directly into that search, there are 49 sessions!

Monday May 19

Conversations: Host community events in your region? Learn about MGCI! – 1:00pm – 1:45 pm – COMM 402.

Join to learn about the MGCI! This is a community-led program with members from around the world, supported by Microsoft and community enthusiasts. You’ll learn how to get involved, what you can expect as a member, how we engage, and much more!

Table Talks: Learn about the new AI Agent Hub and Copilot Adoption Resources – 2:00-3:00pm, COMM434

Join us for a table talk that delves into insights into the functionalities of the AI Agent Hub, a centralized resource offering streamlined capabilities for managing intelligent agents as well as Copilot Adoption Resources.

Tuesday May 20

Conversations: Join for Demo of AI Agent Hub on Adoption.Microsoft.com

1:45pm – 2:30pm, COMM403

The AI Agent Hub provides you all the resources required to get started or expand your skills building agents with Microsoft. With content from our entire ecosystem of resources it is your number 1 resource for tools, training and inspiration. Join AI Agent Hub and adoption.microsoft.com Lead, Jessie Hwang for this interactive demo.

Table Talks: Belonging: Finding what you need for your career being a part of the Microsoft Community

3:30pm – 4:30pm, COMM435

In the fast-paced world of tech, it’s easy to feel like you have to go it alone—always learning, building, and growing on your own. But something powerful happens when we discover a sense of belonging. This session dives into the heart of the Microsoft 365 Community, where connection, shared learning, and support create space for everyone to thrive together.

Wednesday May 21

Table Talks: Chat about Agents, SDKs and where to find Developer Resources

3:00pm – 4:00pm, COMM436

A casual discussion session covering Agents, SDKs, and guidance on locating essential developer resources.

Have a GREAT week and do check out the session catalog and get registered to view all the online and on-demand content - build.microsoft.com/en-US/home

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

HeatherCook — Mon, 05 May 2025 05:37:39 GMT

"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.

Community News Desk Blog articles

Event Guide - European Collab Cloud & Biz Apps Summit - Cologne, Germany

The conference has an incredible speaker lineup with:

101 on the European Collaboration Summit

Microsoft Keynotes

Microsoft-led breakout sessions

Microsoft-led CollabSummit sessions

Microsoft-led AI and Cloud sessions

Microsoft-led BizApps sessions

Women in Tech Panel

Expo City

You have a chance to WIN a Citroen Ami!

Community Panel – description

Microsoft Global Community Initiative at ECS

Microsoft Booth – Experience Overview

Event Recap - Experts Live US - New York City

Introducing the Viva Engage Track at the 2026 Microsoft 365 Conference

The sessions are stacked with can’t‑miss moments

Here’s a closer look at what you’ll learn in the Viva Engage & Communications track:

Modern Communications & Strategy

Events, Communities & Knowledge Sharing

Governance, Deployment & AI Transformation

Spotlight Session: Engage Everywhere - The Viva Engage Roadmap

Key Takeaways:

Announcing the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2026

Your front row seat to the future of intelligent work

Learn From the Product Leaders

Hands-On Experiences

Community at the Center

Deep-Dive Workshops

Join Us in Orlando

Celebrating Community Manager Appreciation Day - January 26

Why It Matters

Give Your Community Manager a Shoutout

Thank you.

Event Recap - ESPC 2025 - Dublin, Ireland

ESPC by the numbers

Check out the keynotes from ESPC

Breakout Sessions Overview

Lightning Talks

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs)

Community Highlights

Microsoft Innovation Hub

Women in Tech Luncheon

Inspire Track

Community Reporters

Executive Experience

Happy 25th Birthday, SharePoint

Thank You

What’s Next?

Recognizing Microsoft MVPs at ESPC25

Why MVPs matter to our community

How to become an MVP

MVP presence at ESPC25

MVP sessions at a glance

Looking back: ESPC24 photos and highlights

Connect with MVPs at ESPC25

Event Recap - Midwestern Community Events and AI Tour Chicago

Stop 1: M365 Twin Cities – Brooklyn Park, MN (Sept 19)

Highlights:

Gold Standard for Community Engagement by Donald Donais

Stop 2: Chicago Power Platform User Group – Sept 24 (Microsoft Chicago, Aon Center)

Highlights:

Stop 3: Microsoft AI Tour – Chicago (Sept 25)

Copilot Ready: Strategy, Data, and Security - Session Code: WRK523-US

I also shared a lightning talk - Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays

Highlights:

Final Reflections

Get to know the ESPC25 Community Reporters: Your front-row pass to the pulse of the conference!

ESPC25 – Dublin | Microsoft event guide

ESPC25 | Come curious. Leave inspired. European SharePoint Conference 2025 | Dublin, Ireland | December 1–4, 2025 | SharePointEurope.com.

Your guide to ESPC25

The 101 on ESPC25

About ESPC

Review all Microsoft keynotes and sessions below: Start building your schedule today!

Microsoft keynotes (All times represented in local Dublin time)

Community keynotes

Microsoft sessions (All times represented in local Dublin time)

Lightning talks (20 minutes, in person) - Innovation Hub

Inspire Track (60 minutes, in person) - Inspire Stage

 About ESPC

Microsoft keynotes
(All times represented in local Dublin time)

Microsoft sessions
(All times represented in local Dublin time)