Where Microsoft’s community comes alive: the Inspire Stage at ESPC25
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: Jonah Andersson Christian Buckley Heather Cook Karuana Gatimu Melissa Hale Adam Harmetz Caroline Kallin Karoliina Kettukari & Sari Soinoja Sean Lally Dona Sarkar Marjia Siddik Sharon Smith 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 CookNewsletter - Microsoft Global Community Initiative - November 2025
Microsoft Global Community Initiative Newsletter November 2025 👋Hello MGCI Members around the world, Welcome to this month’s newsletter sharing insights on what’s happening in communities around you. Microsoft Ignite, Nov 17-21 in San Francisco It’s November! Which means, Microsoft Ignite is right around the corner and behind the scenes we are preparing theater sessions and connections pods for our community. Check out the schedule for all community-focused sessions and make sure you don’t miss out on session such as: Tue, Nov 18: Community Connection Pod: Microsoft Global Community Initiative: Connecting People, Powering Impact Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft) & Isidora Katanic (Experts Inside) This session introduces the Microsoft Global Community Initiative and how it empowers individuals to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive change worldwide. Join us to learn how you can participate, lead, and amplify your voice in this global movement. Wed, Nov 19: Community Theater: Women in Tech & Allies: Turning Allyship into Action Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft), Karuana Gatimu (Microsoft), Danielle Moon (Microsoft), Isidora Katanic (Experts Inside), Femke Cornelissen (Wortell) Allyship isn’t a buzzword—it’s a commitment to creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. Join this interactive Community Forum to explore what authentic allyship looks like and why it matters. We’ll share real-world scenarios, practical strategies, and personal stories that highlight how allies can advocate, amplify, and act. Whether you identify as an ally or want to engage allies in your journey, you’ll leave with actionable steps to foster inclusion, challenge bias, and build a culture of equity in tech. Thu, Nov 20: Community Connection Pod: Engage, Connect, Grow: Your Path in the Microsoft Community Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft), Jonathan Jones (Microsoft), Shari L. Oswald (PowerUP!Learning), Eric Overfield The Microsoft community is a powerful network of professionals, advocates, and innovators—but where do you start? This interactive session will show you how to get involved, share your expertise, and build your personal brand. Learn best practices from experienced community leaders and discover opportunities to contribute meaningfully. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned participant, you’ll leave inspired and equipped to take your next step. Next General Session – November 18 th Don’t miss out on the next General Session taking place on November 18th. Mark your calendars and join us LIVE for the AM or PM session broadcasted on the Microsoft Tech Community. With updates directly from Ignite and other cool community topics, we are looking forward to welcoming you in this month’s general session with: Topic: Running Events & Building Community in Tough Environments Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speakers: Augustine Correa, Biz Talk Lead at CompuCom and Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju, Management Executive at Convenant Technologies In this session, we explore strategies for executing impactful events in challenging or resource-constrained environments. Speakers will share insights on fostering community resilience and engagement when external conditions are less than ideal. Attendees will leave with practical tools and inspiration to build meaningful connections through events, regardless of circumstance. 📅 November 18 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM 📅 November 18 ⏰ 5:10 PM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM Community Spotlight: #CommunityLuv Celebrating 3 years of communitydays.org we would like to shine a light on one of our Board Members Tom Daly’s LinkedIn post. What started as a small idea, turned out to be THE one-stop-shop featuring hundreds of Microsoft tech community events around the world. You can like, share or comment on the post here on LinkedIn. Congratulations, November MVPs! On November 1 st , Microsoft welcomed a selected group of newly awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) into the MVP Program. We love to see this community growing, which is a proof of the commitment out there to communities worldwide. A big congratulations to the newly awarded MVPs! ESPC, Dec 1-4, Dublin here we come! Our MGCI (Board) Members and Microsoft leaders are heading over to Dublin to attend, speak, or staff their sponsor booths at ESPC in Dublin. The conference covers topics around Microsoft 365 & AI technologies and you can still register to attend. More than 3000+ IT enthusiasts will gather together to learn and achieve more with Microsoft 365 & AI. Come join us! MGCI in December ❄️ Join in with a cup of hot chocolate, as our monthly general session will take place on December 16th, right before the winter break starts. Stay tuned as more details will follow in next month's newsletter. Upcoming Events Upcoming Community Led Events Community Days | Fabric Data Days | Nov 4-11 | Hybrid Community Days | Vancouver Microsoft 365 Summit | November 6 | Vancouver, BC, Canada Community Days | MN M365 15TH BI-ANNUAL FALL WORKSHOP DAY | November 7 | Edina, Minnesota Community Days | AI COMMUNITY DAYS - TUNIS | November 8 | Tunis, Tunisia Community Days | COLLABDAYS GREECE 2025 | November 8 | Virtual Community Days | Experts Live Emirates 2025 | November 10-11 | Dubai, UAE Community Days | Viva Engage Festival - APAC | November 12 | APAC Virtual Community Days | Viva Engage Festival - EMEA | November 12 | EMEA Virtual Community Days | Update Conference Prague 2025 | November 13-14 | Prague, Czechia Community Days | Microsoft Ignite 2025 NYC Community Summit | November 17-18 | New York City, NY Community Days | M365 Community Days DC - Microsoft Ignite 2025 Watch Party + Unconference | November 18 | Washington DC Community Days | SmartCloud 365 - 2025 | November 25 | Germany Virtual Community Days | Shift Enter Summit 2025 | November 26 | Mixát, Budapest Microsoft Global Community Initiative Resources We’ve made it easy for you to find all the MGCI resources you need at your fingertips. This space features the PowerPoint decks from our Monthly General Sessions and Event Training Sessions & Office Hours as well all MGCI Event Producer playbooks, checklists and templates. Check it out! Missed last month's events? In case you missed our October events, you can check out the recordings of the General Sessions here: AM General Session PM General Session And the recording of the Event Organizer training here: MGCI Event Organizer Training Sincerely, Your Board Officers Microsoft Global Community Initiative
MGCI General Session PM - Oct 2025 - Behind the Mic: Powering Great Sessions with Speaker Support
Learn along with your community peers! Join Host Heather Cook for our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) General session – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Agenda: MGCI Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: Behind the Mic: Powering Great Sessions with Speaker Support Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speaker: Perla Ramirez, Senior Manager of Global IT, Change Management and IT Programs, Crowell & Moring, MGCI Regional Leader This session explores the essential elements that make speaker-led sessions impactful, engaging, and memorable. Attendees will gain insights into speaker preparation, delivery techniques, and how to create meaningful audience connections. Whether you're a seasoned presenter or new to the stage, this session offers practical strategies to elevate your next talk. 📅 Oct 21 ⏰ 5:10 PM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand. Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learningMGCI General Session AM - Oct 2025 - Behind the Mic: Powering Great Sessions with Speaker Support
Learn along with your community peers! Join Host Heather Cook for our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) General session – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Agenda: MGCI Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: Behind the Mic: Powering Great Sessions with Speaker Support Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speaker: Perla Ramirez, Senior Manager of Global IT, Change Management and IT Programs, Crowell & Moring, MGCI Regional Leader This session explores the essential elements that make speaker-led sessions impactful, engaging, and memorable. Attendees will gain insights into speaker preparation, delivery techniques, and how to create meaningful audience connections. Whether you're a seasoned presenter or new to the stage, this session offers practical strategies to elevate your next talk. 📅 Oct 21 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand. Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learningIgnite Connections: Unleashing Community & Networking at Microsoft Ignite 2025
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
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 CookCelebrating Three Years of CommunityDays.org
Happy Anniversary Communitydays.org CommunityDays.org—A Brief History In Autumn 2021, the tech community faced a moment of uncertainty. The beloved SPSEvents.org, a community run non-profit and a cornerstone for SharePoint Saturdays and Microsoft community events, announced its closure. For many, this felt like the end of an era. But for Thomas Daly, a longtime Microsoft MVP and community organizer, it was a call to action. Recognizing the void left behind, the SharePoint Community began talking - event organizers trading ideas in virtual spaces about how to reconnect with audiences. Many were struggling to reach people, setting up their own websites and relying almost entirely on word of mouth to spread the word about events. Those conversations weren’t just reflections—they became a spark for something new. At the time all in-person events and user groups had gone virtual or were on hiatus as the Covid-19 Pandemic had forced everyone to embrace digital events for the unforeseeable future. Here is a throwback to the SPSEvents.org site that many remember and love. Recognizing the vital role that community-driven events played in technical learning and networking, Thomas Daly talked with Jason Rivera and Manpreet Singh other Microsoft MVPs & leaders in the Tri-State Microsoft community - came together and stepped up to create a new home for these gatherings. Their vision was clear: empower organizers and attendees worldwide to connect, learn, and grow through free, inclusive technical events. Tom shared his idea with me and Karuana Gatimu: to have the site led and administered by the community. We jumped at the chance to collaborate with the team and support his effort. We proposed that Microsoft contribute by providing the site’s infrastructure and launching a new initiative: the Microsoft Global Community Initiative, to support local, volunteer event producers. The Launch of CommunityDays.org By October 13, 2022, CommunityDays.org was officially launched by Tom Daly, sponsored by SoHo Dragon and Microsoft. The launch was announced by Jeff Teper at Microsoft Ignite and accompanied by a blog post from Karuana Gatimu. The first events followed swiftly, setting the tone for a platform that would champion inclusivity, accessibility, and community-driven events in the Microsoft ecosystem. Collab Days Belgium (October 15, 2022) M365 Friday Cincinnati (October 21, 2022) CollabDays New England (October 22, 2022) AMS Kuala Lumpur, (October 28, 2022) AMS Sao Paolo (October 28-29, 2022) AMS Singapore (October 29, 2022) Global AI Developer Community Days, Mumbai, India (October 29, 2022) Global AI Developers Days – Tri-State (October 29, 2022) Community Days Mexico City (November 3, 2022) Rooted in the groundbreaking spirit of SharePoint Saturday Events, Community Days expanded beyond SharePoint to embrace the full Microsoft ecosystem—Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Azure, and more. From small workshops to global conferences, the platform has become a trusted hub for discovering and hosting events that democratize access to technical education. Over the past three years there have 394 events listed on communitydays.org and the momentum grows weekly for organizers listing events on the site. The Role of MGCI (Microsoft Global Community Initiative) CommunityDays.org is community led through the work of Tom and a small team who manages the site and via the support of the board and regional leaders of the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI). MGCI provides resources like event amplification, production training, networking opportunities, and best practices—ensuring community leaders have what they need to succeed. Importantly, MGCI is community-led, with Microsoft offering tools and guidance while the strategy remains in the hands of passionate volunteers. https://aka.ms/MGCI Partnerships & Connections CommunityDays.org partners with Sessionize and Run.events, leveraging their APIs to automatically pull event information directly into the platform. This seamless integration ensures that event listings are always up to date and makes it easier for organizers to manage their events efficiently. Additionally, SoHo Dragon has been a valued sponsor since the inception of CommunityDays.org, providing crucial support that has helped the platform grow and thrive alongside the Microsoft community. Event organizers can list their events for free, use the call for sponsorship area to manage dealing with sponsors, there are listings of monthly and weekly technical learning community calls, and there is a Speakerboard that shares speaker stats from free community events. Tom leads the administration of the site and shares updates on new features and functionality of the site on the monthly MCGI General Session Meetings. A big thank you to all who have helped with testing and Q&A. Apologies if we missed you, shout out and we’ll add you in. 😊 Augustine Correa Bryan Hart Carl Karawani Daniel Glenn David Leveille David Patrick Emily Mancini Haniel Croitoru Jamel Abed Jamie Willis-Rose Jason Rivera Jonathan Weaver Manpreet Singh Mark Rahn Martin Rövekamp Michal Ziemba Mike Maadarani Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju Pat McGown Rachel Irabor Rob Windsor Russ Onizuka Ryan Schouten Samir Makwana Shari Oswald Sharon Weaver Thomas Daly Wes Preston With Gratitude This success story belongs to you—the organizers, speakers, volunteers, and attendees who make these events possible. Your dedication to sharing knowledge and fostering connections has created a global network of learning and collaboration. Special thanks to: Founders and early champions: Thomas Daly, Jason Rivera, and Manpreet Singh, Community organizers worldwide who give countless hours to host free-to-attend events. MGCI Advisory Board - (Board Members and Regional Leaders) for operational support, and volunteering time for quality testing and amplification of the events. Thank you to Shortcut Shari (Shari Oswald) who create the 3 rd Anniversary sticker It was super fun to celebrate this milestone during the Experts Live US event in New York City with all the attendees and organizer and Community.days.org founder Tom Daly. (photo of Experts Lives speakers, volunteers, and sponsors) Looking Ahead As we celebrate three years, we look forward to continuing this journey together—expanding opportunities, embracing new technologies, and strengthening the bonds that make our community extraordinary. Here’s to many more years of learning, sharing, and growing—together! Visit CommunityDays.org and Microsoft Global Community Initiative to get involved.Event Training: Graphics & Branding for Community Events - September 2025
Join MGCI Board Members Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver who host our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) Event Production Training Ask Me Anything Talks – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Hosts: Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver This month's topic: Graphics & Branding for Community Events Strong visuals and consistent branding are essential for creating memorable and impactful community events. This session will guide you through the fundamentals of visual communication, including: Applying brand guidelines to event materials Designing accessible and inclusive graphics Using templates and tools to streamline your creative process Creating cohesive visuals across digital and print platforms Whether you're designing flyers, social media posts, or presentation decks, this session will help you build confidence and consistency in your event branding. Let’s build stronger, more connected communities—together. 📅 September 25⏰8:10 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCITrainingMTG Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand on our Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learningMGCI General Session AM - Nov 2025 - Running Events & Building Community in Tough Environments
Learn along with your community peers! Join Host Heather Cook for our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) General session – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Agenda: MGCI Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: Running Events & Building Community in Tough Environments Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speaker: Augustine Correa, Biz Talk Lead at CompuCom and Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju, Management Executive at Convenant Technologies In this session, we explore strategies for executing impactful events in challenging or resource-constrained environments. Speakers will share insights on fostering community resilience and engagement when external conditions are less than ideal. Attendees will leave with practical tools and inspiration to build meaningful connections through events, regardless of circumstance. 📅 Nov 18 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand. Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learningMGCI General Session AM - Sept 2025 - Harnessing Microsoft Copilot: Empowering Global Communities
Learn along with your community peers! Join Host Heather Cook for our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) General session – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Agenda: MGCI Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: Harnessing Microsoft Copilot: Empowering Global Communities with AI Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speaker: Nikkia Carter, CTO, Sesa Technologies, Microsoft MVP, MGCI Regional Leader Microsoft Copilot is transforming how people work, connect, and innovate by putting AI into the hands of individuals and communities worldwide. This session explores practical strategies and real-world stories that show how Copilot drives inclusion, accelerates impact, and empowers global communities to achieve more together. 📅 Sept 16 ⏰ 8:00 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand. Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learning
