Where the Road Leads, Community Grows: The Caravana Cloud Story
Sometimes, creating change starts simply: by bringing people together and giving them a place to learn, connect, and imagine new possibilities. This is the spirit behind Caravana Cloud, an event series organised by Maycon Alves in collaboration with Microsoft MVPs and community friends. Across Brazil, the initiative brings cloud knowledge closer to local communities while creating connections, encouraging new opportunities, and helping technology ecosystems grow from within. MVP Francisco Ferreira and community expert Ivanildo Gonçalves are part of the organization team led by the former MVP and community leader Maycon Alves and embody the community spirit that makes a positive change in society. The newest Caravana Cloud cycle is the sixth edition of the initiative and is planned from December 2025 through October 2026. The route includes: December 2025: Fortaleza, Ceara March 2026: Campina Grande, Paraiba July 2026: Natal, Rio Grande do Norte Upcoming stops: Jundiai, Sao Paulo; Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; and Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul For Maycon and the other community leaders involved, the goal is bigger than a single event. Caravana Cloud is about taking knowledge to different regions, opening doors for people who may not otherwise have access to in-person technical events, and planting the seed of community wherever the road takes them. More than a technical event Caravana Cloud has already reached more than 19 cities over the course of its journey. Each stop creates an opportunity for attendees to meet speakers, ask questions, learn from real-world experience, and connect with others who are building careers around Microsoft technologies. The format is community-led by design. MVPs and experienced professionals share what they know, but the value also comes from the conversations around the sessions: students meeting mentors, professionals discovering new possibilities, and local organizers seeing that they can continue the momentum after the caravan leaves. That is one of the strongest outcomes of community events. A session may introduce a product, a platform, or a new technical approach, but the lasting impact often comes from the confidence people gain when they realize they are not learning alone. A social project behind the scenes Caravana Cloud also includes a social impact effort. At event stops, the organizers collect non-perishable food and donate it to local institutions. Maycon has intentionally kept that part of the project low profile. The point is not promotion, photos, or marketing. It is a quiet commitment to make each event useful beyond the technical agenda. That choice says a lot about the values behind the initiative. Sharing knowledge already creates opportunity; combining that with local giving turns a technology event into something broader: a contribution to the community hosting it. The personal commitment behind community work Community leadership often looks simple from the outside: a venue, an agenda, a few speakers, and a group photo at the end. In reality, much of the work happens before anyone enters the room. Maycon describes organizing Caravana Cloud as difficult but deeply rewarding. Like many community organizers, he has invested time, energy, travel, and personal resources to make events happen because he believes in the value of sharing knowledge. He continues writing, speaking, organizing, and helping others because community contribution is something he loves. That commitment reflects what many Microsoft MVP communities around the world know well: the most meaningful impact often comes from people who keep showing up, even when it requires personal sacrifice. Why regional events matter Brazil's technology community is large, diverse, and geographically distributed. Bringing cloud learning to different cities helps expand access beyond the largest technology centers and gives local communities a chance to build their own networks. Events like Caravana Cloud help Microsoft technologies become more tangible for people who want practical guidance, local language conversations, and examples from professionals working in similar contexts. They also create a path for new speakers and organizers to emerge. Each city adds something different to the story. Fortaleza, Campina Grande, Natal, Jundiai, Rio de Janeiro, and Porto Alegre are not only stops on a schedule; they are communities with their own audiences, challenges, and opportunities. Continuing the journey As Caravana Cloud moves through its 2025-2026 edition, the series continues to show how community can connect technical learning with local impact. The project is a reminder that MVP-led and community-led initiatives do more than share product knowledge. They build confidence, create relationships, support local ecosystems, and sometimes quietly help families and institutions through social action. More information and evidence from the Caravana Cloud journey are available on Maycon's blog. Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the Microsoft MVP Program, visit the MVP Communities website and follow program updates on LinkedIn or through #MVPBuzz. Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work you’re already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.Where Community and Code Connect: MVPs at Nebraska.Code 2026
A tech community worth traveling for Nebraska may not be the first place that comes to mind when people picture a major technology conference. Yet Nebraska.Code 2026 has created something remarkable in Lincoln, Nebraska: a gathering where developers, engineers, and technology professionals come together to learn, connect, and share what is working in the real world. Microsoft MVPs traveled from across Canada and the United States to participate - not only by presenting technical sessions, but also by exchanging ideas, answering questions, and strengthening a community built on curiosity and generosity. “What I love most about Nebraska.Code is the community feel. I feel like I’m learning among friends.” - Rob Richardson, Microsoft MVP Jonathan "J" Tower (MVP), Brian Gorman (MVP), Debra Benkovich (community member), Mike Benkovich (MVP) More than sessions: a shared experience The MVPs and Regional Directors who joined Nebraska.Code brought expertise across AI, software development, cloud architecture, and the human side of a career in technology. Richard Campbell, a Microsoft Regional Director and MVP, opened the event with the keynote “Beyond the AI Hype: What’s Real, What’s Next,” helping attendees distinguish today’s practical AI capabilities from the ideas still taking shape. The sessions that followed addressed questions many technologists are navigating now: How should developers adapt to AI and agentic coding? How do teams choose among infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform, Bicep, and Pulumi? How can people sustain fulfilling careers while balancing work, life, and stress? Together, the keynote and sessions made space for both immediate technical decisions and a clearer view of what may be coming next. Spencer Schneidenbach helped developers consider how to adapt to a fast-changing development landscape shaped by AI and agentic coding. Mike Benkovich compared infrastructure-as-code options, exploring where Terraform, Bicep, and Pulumi fit and the tradeoffs involved so attendees could make informed choices rather than simply follow the latest trend. Mitchel Sellers brought a candid perspective on balancing work, life, and stress over the course of a technology career. Rather than presenting abstract predictions, the speakers grounded their ideas in practical experience. Attendees could compare options, challenge assumptions, and leave with approaches they could test in their own teams. The learning continued after the sessions as participants asked follow-up questions and connected the speakers’ insights to their own work. “Nebraska might not be the first place people think of when they think about major tech conferences, but Nebraska.Code has built something special.” - Mike Benkovich, Microsoft MVP But the experience extended far beyond presentation rooms. Rob Richardson described the conference as learning among friends - reconnecting with familiar faces while sitting alongside one another to discover something new. That combination of deep technical content and genuine connection is why speakers return and why attendees make the trip to Lincoln. “Being an MVP gives me opportunities to share what I’ve learned, and at Nebraska.Code that meant talking about teaching developers how to adjust to the new world of AI and agentic coding.” - Spencer Schneidenbach, Microsoft MVP Kenneth Versaw (Nebraska.Code co-founder) and Mike Benkovich (MVP) The ripple effect of showing up Community conferences create impact at several levels. Attendees leave with practical ideas they can apply to their work. Speakers sharpen their thinking through questions and conversations. New professional relationships begin over hallway discussions, shared meals, and the simple act of learning together. That exchange can be especially meaningful at a regional event. Attendees gain direct access to speakers and peers they might otherwise encounter only online or at much larger conferences. Presenters, in turn, hear from developers across different organizations, industries, and career stages. Those conversations ground the learning in real experience and often send speakers home with new perspectives. This ripple effect is central to the Microsoft MVP community: MVPs are recognized not only for their technical expertise, but also for sharing it in ways that help others move forward. At Nebraska.Code, that spirit was visible in sessions focused on emerging tools and enduring career challenges alike. As Sellers put it, sharing knowledge matters because “you never know who you will meet, or how far your impact may go.” “People who overlook conferences in places like Nebraska are missing out on some of the nicest people in tech!” - Mitchel Sellers, Microsoft MVP The conference also shows why strong technology communities can thrive anywhere. Nebraska.Code brings hands-on workshops, breakout sessions, lightning talks, and connections to Lincoln, creating a regional hub with reach far beyond the state. Its setting is part of what makes it memorable: approachable speakers, thoughtful conversations, and a community that welcomes people into the learning process. Keep learning. Keep sharing. If Nebraska.Code sparks your curiosity, explore the conference, follow the speakers whose ideas resonated with you, and look for a community event near you. Learn more about the RDs and MVPs that spoke at Nebraska.Code Alec Harrison, Barry Stahl, Ben Dachrai, Brian Gorman, Cory House, Duane Newman, Jonathan "J" Tower, Joseph Guadagno, Mike Benkovich, Mitchel Sellers, Richard Campbell, Rob Richardson, Spencer Schneidenbach, Samuel Gomez, Scott Sauber, and Vaibhav Gujral through their MVP profiles. If you are already sharing knowledge, mentoring others, creating resources, or bringing technologists together, explore the Microsoft MVP Program. Community impact often begins with one useful idea shared generously - and you never know how far it may travel. Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the Microsoft MVP Program, visit the MVP Communities website and follow program updates on LinkedIn or through #MVPBuzz. Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work you’re already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.ESPC Microsoft 365 and AI 2026 Event Guide
Event at a Glance ESPC is Europe's premier Microsoft 365 and AI conference. It brings together IT professionals, business leaders, developers, architects, partners, MVPs, community leaders, and Microsoft experts to learn, connect, and explore the latest innovations across Microsoft 365, Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, and more. Microsoft is a lead partner and headline sponsor, using ESPC as a key opportunity to engage with customers, partners, and the Microsoft community. Dates: November 30 - December 3, 2026 Location: RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands Venue: RAI Amsterdam, Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam, Netherlands (Entrance C) Hashtag: #ESPC26 Microsoft Role: Headline Sponsor Sessions: 35+ Microsoft-led Speakers: 100+ (MVPs, RDs, Microsoft and community members) Why Attend ESPC 2026? ESPC is where the Microsoft community comes together to learn, connect, and shape what’s next. From Microsoft keynotes and product-maker sessions to hands-on demos, community meetups, and networking opportunities, attendees gain direct access to the people building the technologies they use every day. ESPC is known for its welcoming community atmosphere, making it easy to learn from peers, share ideas, and build meaningful professional relationships. Learn from Microsoft - Hear directly from Microsoft leaders, engineers, product makers, and customer experience experts as they share the latest developments across Microsoft 365, Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, Power Platform, Security, Fabric, Azure, and AI. Explore What's New in AI and Copilot - Discover how organizations are adopting AI, deploying Copilot, building agents, and transforming productivity. Gain practical guidance, real-world insights, and technical knowledge you can take back to your team. Get Hands-On with Innovation - Visit the Microsoft Innovation Hub to experience live demos, engage with product experts, explore new capabilities, and participate in interactive experiences designed to help you learn by doing. Connect with the Community - Meet MVPs, partners, customers, developers, architects, IT professionals, and community leaders from around the world. Whether in a session, the Community Lounge, a meetup, or a networking event, ESPC creates opportunities to build lasting connections. Return with Actionable Ideas - Beyond inspiration, ESPC focuses on practical learning. Attendees leave with new skills, proven approaches, and fresh perspectives they can immediately apply to modernize collaboration, accelerate adoption, strengthen governance, and drive AI-powered transformation within their organizations Microsoft Presence Microsoft will have a significant presence throughout the conference, including: Microsoft keynotes and product announcements Product makers, engineers, and customer experience leaders Microsoft-led breakout sessions Innovation Hub experience on the expo floor Innovation Stage lightning talks Ask the Expert opportunities Executive engagement activities Women in Tech & Allies programming Community meetups and networking experiences Meet the Microsoft Keynote speakers Jeff Teper, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Apps & Agents Karuana Gatimu, Director, Microsoft SCALE Experience Group, AI & Collaboration Vesa Juvonen, Principal Product Manager Keynotes Microsoft Opening Keynote | Tuesday, December 1 | 9:00 AM The AI-Powered Enterprise Speaker: Jeff Teper, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Apps & Agents Microsoft's opening keynote will explore how the biggest AI value gains extend beyond individual applications and personal productivity gains. They emerge when organizations connect people, knowledge, business processes, data, workflows, and agents into a unified operating model. You can expect valuable insights into business transformation trends, product innovation, and demos to show how everyday work is evolving. Whether you're a decision maker, business leader, or technology professional, this session will offer practical perspectives on navigating the next wave of digital transformation. Demonstrations Miceile Barrett, Principal Group Product Manager, Michel Bouman, Senior Program Manager, Kendra Springer, Principal Group PM Manager Microsoft Product Keynote | Wednesday, December 2 | 9:00 AM Leading Through Change: Fireside Conversations on AI, Productivity, and Business Transformation Speaker: Karuana Gatimu, Director of the Microsoft SCALE Experience Group, AI & Collaboration A product-focused keynote highlighting customer adoption, community innovation, and practical approaches for leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents, and modern workplace technologies. Known for translating complex technology into actionable guidance, Karuana will share practical insights, real-world examples, and best practices that you can take back to your teams. From collaboration and productivity to AI-powered innovation, this keynote will provide valuable inspiration for organizations looking to maximize their Microsoft investments. Closing Keynote | Thursday, December 3 | 9:00 AM Crafting the Next Era of Work with AI and Empathy Speaker: Vesa Juvonen, Principal Product Manager, Microsoft As organizations continue to embrace AI, one question becomes increasingly important: how do we balance technological advancement with human connection? In this keynote, Vesa Juvonen will explore how innovation and empathy can work together to shape the future workplace. Through practical examples and relatable insights, Vesa will share ideas for embracing new technologies while keeping people at the center of transformation efforts. Whether you're leading organizational change, building solutions, supporting users, or exploring ways to work smarter, this session will provide actionable ideas to help you navigate the evolving world of work. Microsoft sessions Tuesday: 10:15-11:15 - Frontier transformation with Microsoft Copilot and Work IQ with John Mighell, Microsoft / Shanna Bosmans, Microsoft 10:15-11:15 - Microsoft Teams: Harnessing agents where work gets done with Matt Slomka, Microsoft 11:45-12:45 - Agent 365: Securing, Governing, and Managing the Agentic Enterprise with Sesha Mani, Microsoft / Vinod Kurpad, Microsoft 11:45-12:45 - Extending Microsoft Copilot: Understanding Your Options with Vesa Juvonen, Microsoft / Paolo Pialorsi, Microsoft 11:45-12:45 - OneDrive: Your Hub for Productivity and Collaboration Excellence (Product Team Overview) with Arjun Tomar, Microsoft / Lincoln DeMaris, Microsoft 14:00-15:00 - Harnessing Connectors to Power Intelligent Agents in Microsoft 365 with Manas Biswas, Microsoft 15:15-16:15 - Modernize Legacy Systems for the Copilot Era with SharePoint Embedded with Marc Windle, Microsoft / James Eccles, Microsoft 15:15-16:15 - Copilot Cowork in Action: What It Is, How to Get It & What You Can Do With It with Melissa Hale, Kerv / Daniel Laskewitz, Microsoft 16:45-17:45 - Giving your office eyes, ears and a brain with Michel Bouman, Microsoft / Matt Slomka, Microsoft 16:45-17:45 - Build Once, Ground Everywhere: Developing Agents with the WorkIQ API with Shyam Narayan, Microsoft / Yogesh Ratnaparkhi, Microsoft Wednesday: 10:15-11:15 - SharePoint: The Knowledge Platform for Copilot & Agents (Product Team Overview) with Zach Rosenfield, Microsoft / Miceile Barrett, Microsoft 11:45-12:45 - OneDrive: Your Hub for Productivity and Collaboration Excellence (Product Team Overview) with Arjun Tomar, Microsoft / Lincoln DeMaris, Microsoft 14:00-15:00 - Secure your Copilot Era: 3Rs you should care: Readiness-Relevancy-Resiliency with Brad Gussin, Microsoft / Kartik Pullabhotla, Microsoft 15:15-16:15 - Unlocking Business Value with Copilot, Agents, and Content Automation with Bryan Wofford, Microsoft / Karuana Gatimu, Microsoft 16:45-17:45 - Digital Me: Meet Your Microsoft Scout with TBA, Microsoft 16:45-17:45 - M365 Content Governing Agent powered by SAM. Governing Content at the Speed of AI with Sanjoyan Mustafi, Microsoft / Jill McClenahan, Microsoft Thursday: 11:45-12:45 - How to avoid “(fin)Ooops” in AI: practical tokenomics for Copilot agents with Hanna Engel, Microsoft 11:45-12:45 - MCP in Power Platform: One Year Later – Building Custom MCP Servers with Low Code with Daniel Laskewitz, Microsoft / Mats Necker, MVP, dhino 15:15-16:15 - From Conversation to Action: Building Copilot Apps That Transform Work with Vesa Juvonen, Microsoft / Bert Jansen, Microsoft Community Sessions There are over 100 sessions presented by the Microsoft Community – Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), Regional Directors, Microsoft Global Community Initiative Board Members and Regional Leads, Microsoft Partners and more. ESPC also has a Programme Team that curates all of the content for the event. Thank you Luise Freese, Maarten Eekels, Rik Hepworth, and Chris O’Brien for your curation, partnership and working so hard to architect a fabulous programme for 2026. Learn more about the team here: European SharePoint Conference 2026 | ESPC 2026 Microsoft Innovation Hub The Innovation Hub serves as Microsoft's home on the ESPC expo floor and gives attendees opportunities to interact directly with product teams through demos, conversations, and hands-on experiences. We are excited to announce that Dona Sarkar, Principal CX Program Manager, Microsoft will be leading a learning promptahon workshop in the Ideation Lab. More info and a few other activations with names you know to be announced. Innovation Hub Zones Innovation Stage Lightning talks Live demos Product-maker presentations Demo Stations Microsoft Copilot Copilot Studio and Agents OneDrive & SharePoint AI Adoption Surface + AI Skilling Bar Surface devices with AI integration AI skilling experiences Practical learning scenarios Ideation Lab Interactive workshops Community collaboration Future-of-work discussions Planned Hours Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday: 10:15 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Community Activities Microsoft is partnering closely with the broader Microsoft community to deliver: Community Lounge meetups Ask the Expert activities Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) engagement Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) engagement Innovation Stage presentations Community networking opportunities Community activities are integrated directly into the Innovation Hub and Community Lounge experience, creating opportunities for attendees to engage with Microsoft leaders, MVPs, partners, and community organizers. Women in Tech & Allies Activities WIT Community Lounge Meetup Calling all Women in Tech and Allies! Join us during lunch on the first day of ESPC to say hello, make new connections, and perhaps find an ESPC show buddy. This is a casual meetup with no formal agenda. Simply pick up your lunch and join us at the tables marked with WITA signs. Date: Tuesday, December 1 Time: 12:45 –2:00 PM CET Location: Community Lounge Inspire Stage breakout Leading with Allyship: Building Inclusive Communities in the Age of AI Date: Wednesday, December 2 Time: 10:15–11:15 AM CET Location: Inspire Stage Hosts: Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience Manager, Microsoft and Femke Cornelissen, Chief AI Transformation Officer, Wortell Panelists: Jayshree Ostwal, MVP, Manager, AI Solution Architect, Avanade, Lindsay Shelton, MVP, Digital Workplace Advisor, Epiq, Merethe Stave, MVP, Chief Customer Officer and Senior Cloud Architect, CloudWay, Onyinye Madubuko,MVP, Senior M365 Consultant, Ergo, Reshmee Auckloo, MVP, Modern Workplace Associate Manager, Avanade Women in Tech & Allies Lunch Shaping the Future Together: Women in Tech and Allies Driving Change Date: Wednesday, December 2 Time: 12:45-2:00 PM CET Location: Elicium 1 Host: Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience Manager, Microsoft Panelists: Danielle Moon, Sr. Specialist – AI Business Process, Women in Power Platform, Microsoft, Karuana Gatimu, Director of the Microsoft SCALE Experience Group, AI & Collaboration, Microsoft, Jessie Hwang, Customer Experience Product Manager, Microsoft, Hanna Engel, Cloud Solution Architect | Azure & AI, Microsoft, Dona Sarkar, Chief Troublemaker | Enterprise AI Advocacy, Microsoft, Ioana-Cristina Sbiera, Field Integrated Marketing Manager, Microsoft Microsoft Event Team Executive Producer - Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience Manager, Microsoft Content Narrative Lead – Bryan Wofford, Principal Customer Experience Manager, Microsoft Community & Innovation Hub Lead – Jonathan Jones, Customer Experience Program Manager, Microsoft ESPC Organizers Thank you to our event producers: Bridgette Robertson, Partnership Development & Programme Executive, Ella Murphy, Marketing Manager, Joanne Mangan, Product & Partner Manager, John Carroll, Business Development Lead, Katie Boland, Events Administrator, Kevin Monahan, General Manager, Sarah Grech, Events Coordinator, Sean Colleran, Marketing Executive Links and Social Event Resources - ESPC Website Social Media Hashtag – #ESPC26 X/Twitter – ESPC Community LinkedIn – ESPC LinkedIn Instagram – ESPC_Community See you there! ESPC 2026 represents an important opportunity to connect product makers, customers, partners, MVPs, and the broader Microsoft community in one of the most engaged Microsoft ecosystems in the world. Across four days of learning, networking, hands-on experiences, and community-led conversations, Microsoft will showcase the latest innovations in Microsoft 365, Copilot, AI, Teams, SharePoint, Power Platform, Fabric, Security, and Azure while creating meaningful opportunities for attendees to learn, connect, and share what’s next. We look forward to welcoming the community to Amsterdam and making ESPC 2026 a memorable, inclusive, and impactful experience for everyone involved. See you at ESPC 2026. #ESPC26
Still Studying with a 2024 Microsoft GH-200 Exam Questions Guide?
If your GH-200 prep material is from 2024, I have some important news: that exam doesn't exist anymore. In January 2026, Microsoft made major changes to the GH-200 objectives topics were added, some were removed, and others were reworded. Most guides and pass reports online still describe the old version, which can seriously mislead anyone preparing right now. I took the exam recently under the current format and passed with 75% (passing score is 700/1000). Here's what caught me off guard: the new exam leans heavily into enterprise and security-focused scenarios. Areas like reusable workflows and passing inputs/secrets between them, workflow dispatch input validation, service containers, runner management (self-hosted vs GitHub-hosted, runner groups), and security topics like OIDC authentication and GITHUB_TOKEN permission scoping are now central to the exam. For preparation, I combined Microsoft Learn for building solid fundamentals with Certboosters' question bank for real exam-style practice timed tests and understanding why wrong answers are wrong. If you're prepping right now, double-check that your material reflects the January 2026 changes. It might be the difference between passing and failing. I've written a more detailed write-up of my full exam experience (environment, tips, exact topics). I'm happy to share it in the comments if anyone's interested and if that's allowed here. Has anyone else been caught off guard by the January 2026 GH-200 changes? What resources are you all using to prepare for the updated version?
Windows 11 lock screen bug
We are having an issue where some users cannot log back into windows 11 after going to a lock screen. Windows will tell you the password or username is incorrect even though the credentials are defiantly correct. The only solution I've found so far is to reboot the machine. What could be causing this? Our users are loosing unsaved work from having to reboot through out the day.Moving teams chat history to a new tenant
Hi, My organisation has recently moved our domain to a new 365 tenant and are telling me that my teams chat and channel history cannot be moved in the same way the email exchange has been. Is this correct? Surely there is a way to migrate the teams data across aswell? [you can tell from my desciption that im not an IT expert. I do have a really important project group chat history with a customer team that i really cant afford to lose]
