DataDay 2025 Bogotá: Connecting Ideas, Creating Opportunities
A Year-Long Journey Culminating in Bogotá Bogotá became the epicenter of data innovation during DataDay 2025, a hybrid event that brought together professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders from across Latin America. Organized by Comunidad de Datos and supported by Microsoft, this third edition reaffirmed its mission: “Conectando ideas, creando nuevas oportunidades”. Throughout the year, virtual sessions covered topics such as KPI design, intelligent Excel functions, and automation with AI—setting the stage for the grand finale: a three-day in-person experience at Microsoft’s Bogotá offices on November 20, 21, and 24. The event was free, featuring 9–10 expert-led talks per day, networking sessions, and interactive breaks for meaningful conversations. Highlights & Key Themes This edition showcased speakers from 17 countries, contributing through virtual sessions and in-person talks in Bogotá such as MVPs Sergio Alejandro Campos, John Vergara, Miguel Angel Ramirez Munoz, Victor Roman Castro, Oscar Perez Arauz, Juan Jose Luna Aleixos among many other well-know community speakers addressed topics related to Data Analytics & Visualization using Power BI, Excel Automation & AI for business processes, Microsoft Power Platform tools: Power Apps & Power Automate and even to Geospatial Data and its transformative impact on communities. Event organizers Cristhian Cabra, Angely Andrade, Ana María Guerrero H., Álvaro Rodríguez Lasso and John Alejandro Buitrago. Community and Collaboration The atmosphere was energizing and collaborative, offering opportunities to learn, share, and grow together. This year’s edition was even more special as Microsoft Colombia’s office in Bogotá opened its doors for the event for the first time. Organizers deeply appreciated the support from Microsoft employees and the local facility management team, whose strong commitment ensured an exceptional experience for all attendees. Why DataDay Matters Events like DataDay empower professionals to harness data for strategic decisions, foster innovation, and build networks across borders. With participation from 17 countries, DataDay 2025 showcased the power of collective knowledge and collaboration. In the words of participants: Erika Beltran – “Thank you for opening conversational spaces like DataDay to address important topics and meet amazing Data experts”. Alvaro Rodriguez Laso - Events like this confirm that when we come together with a common purpose, we not only learn more, but also build relationships that strengthen our professional journey. Thank you for being part of this community that believes in the power of collaborative knowledge. Because data isn’t just analyzed—it’s experienced and shared! To join future editions visit the DataDay Official Page for details and stay connected with the community on LinkedIn using #DataDay2025.AI Genius Season 2: MVP Speakers Power Asia’s AI Tour—Build Smarter, Faster, and Hands-On
Introduction The Microsoft AI Genius Season 2 is here, bringing together the Asia Pacific’s top MVP speakers and developer leaders for a technical deep dive into the future of AI. Inspired by the success of last year’s series, the new season of videos on-demand is designed for developers and dev managers eager to master the tools behind GitHub Copilot, AI Foundry, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure Databricks. With a focus on hands-on learning and real-world impact, AI Genius Season 2 is your gateway to building smarter, faster, and with greater confidence than ever before. The program features three in-depth episodes designed to empower participants. Season 2 Highlights Episode 1: Elevate Your Agents with Model Context Protocol (MCP) Episode 2: Unified Data & AI Workflows with Fabric, Databricks & AI Foundry Episode 3: Supercharge Your DevOps with Copilot in Azure & GitHub Copilot Registration & On-Demand Access: AI Genius English (India, ANZ, ASEAN, HK) AI Genius Season 2 (China) Japan Korea Youngwook Kim, Jaeseok Lee, Mi Jeong Jeon from Korea, Jingun Jung, Tomohiro Suzuki, Maki Nagase from Japan, Kasam Shaikh from India, Qi Li from China The sessions are more than just presentations—they’re interactive experiences. Developers get hands-on with the exact tools and architecture featured in the AI Tour workshops, learning directly from MVPs who have implemented these solutions in real-world scenarios. The impact is clear: in Q1 alone, 87,500 developers engaged with the series, with 20,000 joining through a gated experience and 55% of the Managed Account List reached. China saw a 200% increase in views, while Japan and Korea also achieved significant growth. MVP speakers, Youngwook Kim, Jaeseok Lee, Mi Jeong Jeon from Korea, Jingun Jung, Tomohiro Suzuki, Maki Nagase from Japan, Kasam Shaikh from India, Qi Li from China, shared their expertise, delivering live demos, answering questions, and inspiring the next generation of AI innovators. Their dedication and passion have helped shape a vibrant, inclusive community where learning and collaboration thrive. Season 3: What’s Next for AI Genius? Building on the momentum of Season 2, AI Genius Season 3 is set to take developer skilling to the next level. This new season will feature advanced topics and hands-on workshops designed to help you: Prototype multimodal AI agents with Microsoft Foundry and the AI Toolkit in Visual Studio Code Orchestrate advanced multi-agent systems using SWE Agents and the Microsoft Agent Framework Bring Model Context Protocol (MCP) tools into production with Azure Functions and enterprise-ready AI patterns Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or explore the latest in agentic AI, Season 3 offers practical guidance and real-world demos from MVPs and Microsoft experts. Sessions are available in English, Korean, and Japanese, ensuring accessibility for all developers across Asia. Explore and register for Season 3: https://msft.it/6045sLrND Impact and Insights The AI Genius Series has become a catalyst for developer growth and innovation across Asia. By delivering localized content in English, Korean, and Japanese, the program ensures accessibility and relevance for all participants. The MVP speakers’ real-world insights and hands-on guidance have empowered thousands to move beyond experimentation and into enterprise-grade AI development. Key outcomes include: Over 87,000 developers engaged across Asia Significant growth in on-demand participation, especially in China and Japan High demand for immersive, digital hands-on experiences—driving new solutions for future events The ripple effect of MVP leadership is evident: as more developers gain confidence and skills, they, in turn, inspire others to join the journey. The AI Genius Expert Group continues to grow, welcoming new members who are passionate about advancing AI in their communities. Ready to become an AI Genius? Join the movement—register now for the latest episodes, available in English, Korean, and Japanese. Get hands-on with the tools, connect with experts, and earn your AI Genius badge. Whether you’re a developer, manager, or community advocate, there’s a place for you in this vibrant network. Let’s build the future of AI together! 👉 https://msft.it/6045sLrND Resources Season 2 Highlights Episode 1: Elevate Your Agents with Model Context Protocol (MCP) Episode 2: Unified Data & AI Workflows with Fabric, Databricks & AI Foundry Episode 3: Supercharge Your DevOps with Copilot in Azure & GitHub Copilot Registration & On-Demand Access: AI Genius English (India, ANZ, ASEAN, HK) AI Genius Season 2 (China) Japan KoreaFrom the Classroom to Las Vegas: MVP David Brown and the Excel Esports Revolution
What if crunching numbers could land you on a championship stage in Las Vegas? Welcome to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) - where spreadsheets meet esports, and students battle for the championship in Las Vegas! Meet the Visionary: MVP David Brown When the ModelOff competition closed, David Brown, Microsoft MVP and professor, saw a gap for his students. “ModelOff closed and left a void for my students – I had been using it for years as extra credit and enhancement for honors students,” David shares. So, he rallied the Excel community and built MECC to make Excel fun, competitive, and accessible for everyone David’s advice for anyone starting out? “Change expectations – it’s tough to get students involved when they are so busy. And starting at an easier level – simpler, short challenges – getting more people involved that way. Also, letting myself know how much work it was going to be. Although, I am not sure I would have done it if I knew that, and I am glad I did do it.” own (left) with the 2024 MECC individual champion, Benjamin Weber (center) MECC by the Numbers 8,000+ students from 800 schools across 110+ countries participated in MECC 2024 - talk about a global spreadsheet showdown! The Las Vegas Finals welcomed 100+ students from 13 countries for the in-person championship. In 2022, MECC featured 2,730 students from 93 countries and 596 universities/colleges. For 2025, the total prize fund for MECC is $34,050 USD! Finals events include individual and team battles - recently, 64 individuals and 21 teams competed in semi-finals, with 12 individuals and 4 teams advancing to the grand finals. MECC events are streamed live, with tens of thousands watching online and millions of views after the event What Makes MECC Special? Epic team battles are a game-changer. “The team competition is a game changer. It’s so much more than just splitting up a case and solving separate parts. The best teams work together to build a solution together, help each other better understand the problem, and mitigate risks that come up in individual modeling. I think the team competition is the future of Excel Esports,” says David. And the puzzles? “Anything with recursive formulas - maps, capacity estimations (more financial modeling), how important Lambdas. There’s also a famous ‘Lana Banana’ case that may at first seem impossible to solve, until you realize there’s a backwards recursion method to solve it, which is so elegant and beautiful. That was a really great case (but at the pro level),” David recalls. Real-World Impact MECC isn’t just fun - it’s a launchpad for careers. “Yes, multiple students who have secured internships and jobs through our sponsors and many more who use MECC as talking point in interviews,” David notes. Professors are integrating MECC into coursework, and badges earned in competition help students stand out in interviews. MVPs Powering the Community David Brown and other MVPs (plus non-MVPs!) jump in to coach, judge, and energize the Excel community. Their support makes MECC special and helps students reach new heights. As David says:“There is an amazing Excel community – MVPs (and non-MVPs) so willing to help and get involved.” Coaching & Mentoring: MVPs like David Brown, Diarmuid Early and Jon Acampora coach student teams, share strategies, and help competitors level up their skills. Their mentorship and expert advice are invaluable for preparation and competition. Judging & Event Leadership: MVPs serve as judges at MECC finals, using their deep Excel expertise to evaluate solutions and provide feedback. Their involvement elevates the finals and reinforces the MVP program’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports. For example, Oz du Soleil and Giles Male’s presence as commentators elevates the finals by increasing visibility for Excel as a career skill and reinforcing the MVP’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports. Community Engagement: MVPs energize the Excel community by organizing panels, Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, and onboarding initiatives, creating a vibrant, supportive learning environment. Advocacy & Visibility: MVPs bring attention to MECC and Excel esports, inspiring new participants and building awareness of the power of Excel in modern careers. Shaping the Future: MVPs are at the forefront of new trends, integrating AI and Copilot into competitions, and their feedback helps shape the direction of MECC for future generations. Excel Esports: What’s Next? AI and Copilot are entering the mix. “Right now, just can use AI to ask general questions, kind of like advanced googling. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops,” David predicts. “I think it would be really neat for competitors to have to be knowledgeable enough about the AI and what it does well to know what parts of problems to give it and what parts to handle themselves.” David predicts dedicated AI-assisted and AI-free brackets, where knowing how to leverage AI becomes a skill in itself. Want to Feel Like an Excel Pro? Even if you never step on the MECC stage, David’s top tip is to master keyboard shortcuts in Excel! “Keyboarding – navigating the grid with the keyboard (and your desktop – Alt-Tab is a huge tool that still shocks students) and use shortcuts – you’ll speed up your workflow and you’ll start to feel like an Excel Esports athlete while you work – who doesn’t want to feel like a pro?” Ready to Join the Fun? Visit the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge website for details, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. Check out highlights and tutorials on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge YouTube Channel for jaw-dropping moments and expert walkthroughs. Follow the MECC Championships on their Livestream: December 02, 2026 - MECC Semi-Finals on YouTube December 03, 2026 - MECC Finals on YouTube While only students can compete in MECC, professors and Excel enthusiasts can get involved as coaches, judges, or mentors to support the event and its participants. Ready to get involved? Start your MECC journey - Students can sign up today to complete assignments for certificates, practice extra challenges, and compete online, while educators can join as College Ambassadors to help innovate student learning.
LIVE from ESPC 2025 - Microsoft 365 & AI Conference | Mondays at Microsoft (Episode 63)
Join Karuana Gatimu and Heather Cook, LIVE from ESPC 2025 - Microsoft 365 & AI Conference in Dublin as they take you through the latest in AI news, Microsoft 365 product updates, and community news & events. 🎥 Episode 63 of "Mondays at Microsoft" goes live on Monday, December 1st at 8:00 AM PT! #MondaysAtMicrosoft #ESPC2025 #MicrosoftEventsMicrosoft MVPs Shine at GitHub Universe 2025
Rob Bos at GitHub Universe 2025 MVPs: Leading, Inspiring, and Innovating at GitHub Universe The GitHub Universe 2025 conference brought together developers, innovators, and community leaders from around the world to explore the future of software development. Microsoft MVPs truly stood out—not only as experts in their fields, but as passionate mentors, trailblazers, and advocates for the power of open source and AI-driven development. From leading high-impact sessions and launching game-changing resources to inspiring the next generation of tech leaders, MVPs played a pivotal role in shaping the conversations and experiences that defined the event. Their energy, expertise, and commitment to sharing knowledge made GitHub Universe 2025 an unforgettable celebration of what’s possible when community comes together to drive the future of software development. Jesse Houwing (left) was featured on a panel of Microsoft MVPs and GitHub Stars Inspiring the Next Generation: MVPs & GitHub Campus Experts Before the main event, MVPs joined the GitHub Campus Experts - university students passionate about community building and open source - for a special pre-day at the GitHub office. MVPs engaged with GitHub Campus Experts - university students passionate about community building and open source - during a special pre-day event at the GitHub office. This gathering was designed to inspire young leaders, recognize their contributions, and encourage them to continue making an impact. MVPs shared stories of their own journeys, emphasizing that community involvement is not just a career milestone but a lifelong commitment to learning, sharing, and growing together. MVP Jesse Houwing shared: “The preday was a way to inspire these young folks. Many people who enter the workforce are scooped up in the torrents of work. This day was part of giving them thanks for their services in the past years and a way to inspire them to continue community building and open-source contributions.” Jesse also emphasized the value of MVPs engaging with student communities: “MVPs and Stars have all contributed to community in one way or form. Public speaking, blogging, open source, community organizing. Many of us have been doing this all throughout our professional careers and were awarded at some point. The award isn't the start, it's a token of appreciation along the way. The Campus Experts are at the start of their career. And our possible future stars and MVPs.” Reflecting on the experience, Houwing added: “I spent a couple of hours on the day one with them, and kept seeing them during the conference days. And later connected over LinkedIn. Many have shared their story and how they were inspired. At the same time, they inspired me. Inspired me to keep sharing, to connect to the younger generations and to learn from their enthusiasm.” Rob Bos (left) andRandy Pagels (right) leading a session, “From prompts to productivity: Lessons learned with GitHub Copilot and agentic AI”. Lessons Learned: From Prompts to Productivity MVPs Randy Pagels and Rob Bos led a dynamic session, “From prompts to productivity: Lessons learned with GitHub Copilot and agentic AI.” The energy in the room was electric, with attendees eager to learn tips for maximizing Copilot’s capabilities. The session emphasized the importance of collaboration - sharing tips and tricks, building internal communities, and supporting each other’s growth. Rob Bos shared about the energy in the room during his session, “It was amazing, lots of people leaning in to learn some of our tips on how we get the most out of Copilot. We got quite some questions afterwards as well, showing the interest on the topic!” When asked how the audience might apply what they learned in their day-to-day development work, Bos added, “I think the message about collaborating on the way you use Copilot and sharing tips and tricks really resonated with the audience. A lot of folks were agreeing and felt supported with our focus on that. They will take that back home and start an internal community of sharing their knowledge.” Randy Pagels, Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub April Yoho (who wrote the foreword in The GitHub Copilot Handbook) and MVP Rob Bos Launching “The GitHub Copilot Handbook” At GitHub Universe 2025, Microsoft MVPs Randy Pagels and Rob Bos unveiled their new book The GitHub Copilot Handbook - a comprehensive guide designed to help developers harness the full potential of AI-assisted coding. This book goes beyond basic code completion, offering practical strategies to apply GitHub Copilot across the entire software development lifecycle. From writing smarter prompts and automating tests to streamlining code reviews and integrating Copilot into IDEs, the handbook equips teams with actionable insights to boost productivity. It also addresses onboarding strategies, building a knowledge-sharing culture, and fostering collaboration through Copilot’s chat and agentic AI features. Why does this matter? As AI becomes central to modern development, this resource empowers developers and organizations to adopt Copilot effectively, reduce friction, and unlock innovation at scale. By launching the book at GitHub Universe—a hub for cutting-edge developer tools - MVPs signal a clear message: AI-driven development isn’t the future; it’s here, and it’s transforming how we build software today. When asked about launching the book at the event, Rob Bos said: “We timed the release with GitHub Universe as that is THE GitHub event of the year. We visit San Francisco every year to be at this event and meet up with the community and our friends at GitHub, and both learn and share more knowledge on the platform. Of course, we shared the new book with the people that have supported us in writing it: April Yoho and Martin Woodward!” Rob also shared what inspired the book and its broader impact: “Over the years we have learned so much from the thousands of engineers we trained on GitHub Copilot and seen a lot of the common pitfalls as well, that we had to share this knowledge for everyone to learn from. What better way to make one cohesive overview that takes engineers from just getting started to an experienced user? And we did not stop there, we also included the basics of Generative AI, as well as how to learn together within a local community of people sharing their lessons learned.” If there’s one key takeaway from the book, Bos continued “You can use GitHub Copilot for more than just coding! We show use cases for everyone in your team that is not an engineer, and share how they can also leverage the tools, just like you, for requirements engineering, writing better user stories, test cases, and much more!” Asked why building a knowledge-sharing culture around Copilot matters for organizations, Bos explained, “The best way to learn Copilot is from sharing, as we all use it in different ways. To prevent being stuck in the way you always have worked, getting some inspiration from other people is key. As trainers, we have learned the most from other trainers and Copilot users in how they think and work with this tool.” Microsoft MVPs continue to set the standard for technical excellence and community leadership. MVPs didn’t just show up – they took the lead, inspired, and elevated the entire GitHub Universe conference experience. Their contributions at GitHub Universe 2025 exemplify the spirit of innovation, mentorship, and collaboration that defines our program and makes our community so special. Thank you to all MVPs for driving excellence, inspiring the next generation of tech leaders and driving the future of software development! Want to learn more about MVP impact? Visit the Microsoft MVP Program Blog and join the conversation!Get to know the ESPC25 Community Reporters: Your front-row pass to the pulse of the conference!
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 Register now! - Community discount code: ESPC25COMM (€200 off) Cheers all! HeatherRecognizing Microsoft MVPs at ESPC25
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.Power Platform Community Conference: MVPs, Community, Insights & Inspiration
At the Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC), Microsoft senior leaders, product engineers, and Microsoft MVPs from around the world came together to teach, demo, and answer hundreds of real‑world questions - showcasing how vibrant and hands‑on this community truly is. More than 35 MVPs took the stage across keynotes, breakouts, and the Community Theater - demonstrating the vibrancy, generosity, and hands-on spirit of this community. Why PPCC matters to our community Events like PPCC are where learning becomes momentum. MVPs don’t just present slides - they share production‑tested practices, spark new connections, and lift others up. This year’s conversations ranged from governance on a budget to app performance tuning and the accelerating role of AI‑powered copilots. The result? Attendees left with practical checklists, patterns to adopt on Monday, and a bigger network to call on when they’re stuck. MVP voices from the week MVP Lindsay Shelton presenting a session: From Zero to Governance: One Organization's Journey to Implementing Power Platform Governance At PPCC25, MVP Lindsay Shelton shared what draws her to this conference year after year—and how it continues to shape her work and community impact. “Some of it comes from this being the first big conference I ever attended, back in Orlando the first year, and the amazing time I had and the way it just expanded my horizons about what was possible so vastly. That was actually the message of one of the sessions I delivered this year - a case study about what happened when I came back from the first PP Conf and realized that I wanted to do all of the Power Platform things, but realized that by default, there was no governance in place, so how did I implement basic governance on a budget all by myself.” “Another reason is that I love sharing knowledge forward, and every person who takes the time to say thank you after a workshop or session or ask a question makes all the hard work worth it. Lastly, it's such an amazing group who put on the conference, and they are always a pleasure to work with, so it's my pleasure to submit to speak each year, hope for the best, and get to see so many friends, make new friends, and make new connections!” MVP Keith Atherton presenting his session Full Power! Power App Optimisation The future of Power Platform was a hot topic at PPCC25, and the main keynote didn’t disappoint. MVP Keith Atherton reflected on a pivotal moment when Charles Lamanna, President of Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft, challenged the audience with a bold statement about the evolution of low-code. Keith shares how this announcement—and Microsoft’s investment in generative AI—signals a new era for makers and developers alike: “During the main keynote, Charles Lamanna, President, Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft made a bold statement that "low-code (as we know it) is dead." While some may have found this shocking - especially when people are expecting a low-code themed conference - it showed how Microsoft is following current trends and investing in generative AI. The Power Platform utilises generative AI to build solutions in a variety of ways as well as provide the hugely popular Copilot Studio product which has the ability to create custom agents. Using features such as Plan Designer, Power Apps Generative Pages and Copilot Studio can accelerate development of solutions like never before, so the future looks bright!” When it comes to optimizing Power Apps, few are as passionate as Keith. We asked Keith what inspired him to return to PPCC as a speaker and what he hoped attendees would take away from his sessions. Here’s how he described his experience and the message behind Full Power! Power App Optimisation, “I was proud to return to PPCC25 as a speaker, this time with two main sessions as well as two sessions at the Community Theater! My main solo session, Full Power! Power App Optimisation, was about how user experience (UX) can make or break adoption of a solution, and a large part of that experience can be the performance of our apps. In my session, I demonstrated various ways to optimise Power Apps to get optimal performance to improve that experience. Hopefully, everyone left my session with knowledge on how to make our apps perform as fast as possible, happier customers, and less support tickets!” Nick Doelman presenting “Creating an App? Start with the Plan Designer, Build with Copilot!” MVP Nick Doelman shared what resonated with him about Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps inspiring keynote on success, failure and mental health. “Microsoft Vice President Sangya Singh’s interview with Michael Phelps really resonated—his discipline, visualization, and adaptability translate directly into how we build. And yes, Plan Designer’s evolution is exciting. Big picture: AI is removing walls between makers and pro devs. Fusion teams can now work tighter and ship faster.” MVP Diego Domingos da Silva and MVP Cat Schneider share about their journey to the MVP Award. Connections were the heartbeat of PPCC - here’s how MVP Cat Schneider experienced it, “One of my favorite things about this conference is the sense of coming home and seeing family. Many of the people that I see at PPCC every year are those that are near and dear to my heart. I might not get but this one week every year to see some of my most favorite people on this planet, and my heart winds up overflowing in love for this community. And every year I leave with more friendships than I started with, whether it's new connections with Microsoft Product Teams, new community friends that I've adopted and introduced around to people they never dreamed of meeting, or finally connecting with other MVPs and community superstars that I've been aware of but just never had an opportunity to meet in person before. This conference is an absolute blessing and joy to attend, and I highly recommend it for anyone working in the Power Platform!” Curious what motivates MVPs to take the stage and share their expertise? Cat shared what inspired her to speak at PPCC, and what key messages she hoped to deliver to the community. Here’s what she said, “Community, first and foremost, and the power that comes from the ease of getting started with the Power Platform, are both the inspiration and key messages from my sessions. I had two community-based sessions and one technical session, but all of them were driven by fully embracing the community and those around you. One session was about being neurodiverse in this space, and letting AI help to unburden the mental workload that comes from having a neurodiverse brain. We talked about the AI tools and resources that have helped us and how they can be used by others. Another session was purely about finding your voice in this community and pushing boundaries to make space for yourself and others. That the journey is different for everyone; it's all about taking a few scary but small steps forward and embracing the uncomfortableness of it all. And the last session was an audience-led session on how easy it is to get started using the Plan Designer tool, that happened to focus on my wardrobe/costume choices for this conference. MVP Julie Yack and I took suggestions from the audience on what to prompt Plan Designer with, and continued to show the ease of use for building upon the plan with help from the associated agents. By the time we finished, we had a plan with users, data tables, apps, flows, and reports ready to start building out, all surrounding my costume closet.” MVP Dian Taylor and MVP David Warner running the Copilot Studio workshop: Recipes for Success: How to Prepare, Cook, and Serve Custom Agents For MVP Dian Taylor, one keynote crystallized the week’s energy - and the shift it signaled for makers. Here’s how Dian describes its impact, “For me personally, the most impactful session at the 2025 Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas was the keynote by Charles Lamanna. It seemed to hit differently this year. His message was clear: intelligence is now abundant, and low code as we know it is gone! I feel like we are stepping into a new era where curiosity fuels creativity, and our ideas have no limits. The lines between business apps are blurring, and the way people get work done is evolving fast. As makers, we’re no longer just building apps, we’re creating full systems that think, connect, and adapt. The speed of innovation right now is unreal, and this keynote perfectly captured that energy. It wasn’t just inspiring, I also believe it was a wake-up call to start thinking differently!” Looking ahead, AI and Copilot are reshaping how we build on the Power Platform - here’s how Dian sees it, “AI and Copilot is already reshaping how we build on the Power Platform today. The focus when building solutions is shifting from “How do I build this?” to “What do I want this to do?” This is a very different way of doing things as ideas can now flow straight from natural language into working solutions. I see Copilot becoming the maker’s right hand (wo)man, handling the repetitive stuff while we focus on logic, design, and experience. I think it's important to understand that this is not about replacing makers; it’s about amplifying them. I believe in the near future we'll start to see fewer boundaries between apps, data, and automation; everything will feel more connected, more intelligent, and more adaptive. Copilot and AI will help us to build systems that learn and evolve, not just apps that execute. Power Platform will become less about tools and more about co-creation with AI.” MVP Christine Flora and a giant Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC MVP Christine Flora connected with other professionals, community members and MVPs in the Community Lounge. She shared, “Working in the community lounge in the Ask-a-Pro area is always such a joy and so inspiring. I love hearing about all the different and diverse ways people and companies are using these tools to solve real world problems. It always energizes me. And if I can help them even a little bit to push that to the next level or get past a road blocker, even better.” Christine shared her thoughts on how she thinks AI and Copilot will influence Power Platform development going forward, “Over the last three years, I’ve really seen the genesis of how AI can not only help non-traditional business makers get into creating very robust solutions for their departments and organizations but how those tools have really evolved from the creating a simple app from literally a drawing on a napkin to full blown enterprise-ready apps.” Christine had great advice for those who were on the fence about attending the Power Platform Community Conference next year. “Try your best to get there next year! Also I would say try to get involved in your local Power Platform user group.” Keep the Momentum Going: Join the Power Platform Community and Grow Your Network If you couldn’t make it to this year’s Power Platform Community Conference, here’s the one thing you should know: the energy, learning, and connections don’t stop when the conference ends. MVP Christine Flora’s advice rings true - try your best to get there next year, but don’t wait to get involved! The Power Platform Community is always open, welcoming new members and helping everyone grow. By joining your local Power Platform user group, you’ll find answers to real-world challenges, discover practical tips you can use right away, and connect with a network of makers, MVPs, and passionate professionals who genuinely want to help each other succeed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push boundaries, there’s a place for you - and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your circle expands. So take that first step: visit the Power Platform Community, jump into the forums, check out upcoming events, and introduce yourself. You never know who you’ll meet or what inspiration you’ll find. The community is waiting to welcome you.
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