ESPC25 – Dublin | Microsoft event guide
ESPC25 | Come curious. Leave inspired. European SharePoint Conference 2025 | Dublin, Ireland | December 1–4, 2025 | SharePointEurope.com. Your guide to ESPC25 Dublin, Ireland, is one of the most dynamic and innovative tech cities in Europe, making it the perfect place for in-person, in-depth learning at the European SharePoint Conference—now simply branded as ESPC25—December 1–4, 2025. As the celebrated Irish writer Edna O’Brien once said, “Hospitality is the cornerstone of the Irish heart.” This spirit of warmth and welcome is sure to be felt throughout your stay in Dublin during ESPC25. You will have the opportunity to learn from experts, network with peers, and discover new technologies that can help you achieve your goals. The event and city have something for everyone: inspiring keynotes, in-depth sessions and workshops, community, art and culture, and many festive moments. Explore powerful new AI capabilities for every role and function: Diving into Microsoft 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power Platform, and more, you’ll discover how Microsoft is transforming the way we work today—and get a firsthand look at the future of work itself. You’ll find content delivered by the world’s best Microsoft 365 and Copilot Studio experts, including many Microsoft leaders and employees from the product teams. In this pre-event guide, we list all the Microsoft-led sessions below so you can prepare for what awaits you alongside community and MVP expert sessions. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to learn, share, and engage: Evening gatherings, the attendee party, and our Innovation Hub with Microsoft product demo stations, a Promptathon, Vibe Coding, a place to network with your peers, a dedicated community space, the Inspire Stage, and 1:1 meeting spaces are all within the Expo Hall alongside all the wonderful event sponsors. The 101 on ESPC25 What: ESPC25 Where: The Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 D01 T1W6, Ireland When: December 1-4, 2025 (keynotes, sessions, tutorials, workshops, and more) Presenters: 120+ sessions (35+ Microsoft-led), 115+ speakers (MVPs, RDs, Microsoft and community members); check out Microsoft-led keynotes, tutorials, and sessions Cost: From €695 + VAT (one day) to €1645 + VAT (four day) Enjoy an additional €200 discount with our exclusive community discount code: ESPC25COMM Primary social: Join in and follow @ESPC_Community (Twitter) and ESPC (LinkedIn); use hashtag #ESPC25 About ESPC ESPC25 offers you affordable, world-class learning and networking at your fingertips. Join in 120+ sessions covering: Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, AI and agents, SharePoint, Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 adoption, governance, admin, intranets, and more. Over the years, ESPC has visited some of the most incredible cities: from the charming streets of Copenhagen and the historic beauty of Berlin to the vibrant culture of Prague, and the dynamic atmosphere of Amsterdam. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPC kept the excitement alive with engaging online events! The European SharePoint Conference (ESPC), now known simply as ESPC, is one of the largest and most prominent events in Europe dedicated to Microsoft technologies, particularly Microsoft 365 and Azure. It began in 2011 in Berlin, Germany, as a platform for discussing SharePoint and related Microsoft technologies. Over the years, ESPC expanded its scope to include other tools in the Microsoft ecosystem, reflecting the industry's trend toward digital transformation and cloud adoption. ESPC has grown to become the largest independent European event for Microsoft technology users, serving as a crucial knowledge hub and networking space. It continues to play a vital role in educating the tech community on best practices for using SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Azure to enhance productivity, collaboration, and security in the modern workplace. Review past ESPC events: 2025: Dublin, Ireland 2024: Stockholm, Sweden 2023: Amsterdam, Netherlands 2022: Copenhagen, Denmark 2021: Online (due to COVID-19) 2020: Online (due to COVID-19) 2019: Prague, Czech Republic 2018: Copenhagen, Denmark 2017: Dublin, Ireland 2016: Vienna, Austria 2015: Stockholm, Sweden Review all Microsoft keynotes and sessions below: Start building your schedule today! Microsoft keynotes (All times represented in local Dublin time) Opening keynote: The New Frontier of Work: Copilot, AI, and the Future of Microsoft 365 Jeff Teper, President of Collaborative Apps and Platforms , Microsoft with Miceile Barrett, Zach Rosenfield, Alex Weingard, and Michel Bouman Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9:00–10:00 AM Day one PM keynote: From One to Many: The future of AI is Collaborative Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow, Microsoft Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2:00–3:00 PM Day three keynote: Beyond the Prompt: Building an AI-Resilient Career with Power Skills Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience PM, Microsoft Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy, Microsoft 365, AI and Agents Thursday, Dec. 4, 9:00–10:00 AM Community keynotes Will AI Become Intelligent? Rafal Lukawiecki, Data Scientist at Tecflix, Ireland Wednesday, Dec. 3, 9:00–10:00 AM Hacker’s Perspective on New Risks: Revising the Cybersecurity Priorities for 2025 Paula Januszkiewicz, Founder and CEO, CQURE Inc. and CQURE Academy Tuesday, Dec. 2, 4:45–5:45 PM Microsoft sessions (All times represented in local Dublin time) Breakout sessions: (60 min, in-person) Latest Innovations in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Speaker: Connie Welsh, Bryan Wofford Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 10:15 AM | Session Code T8 What’s new in Copilot Studio Speaker: Antonio Rodriques Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM | Session Code T9 SharePoint as the Intelligence Backbone of Copilot Speaker: Zach Rosenfield Tuesday, December 2, 11:45 AM | Session Code T18 IT Excellence in the AI era: Managing Copilot and Agents for Impact and Control Speaker: Ben Summers Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T26 AI in Action: Microsoft's Approach to Internal Communications Speakers: Adam Barzel, Anna Pope, Darina Sexton Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T27 Woman in Tech & Allies Panel Speaker: Heather Cook, Danielle Moon and Karuana Gatimu Tuesday, December 2, 3:15 PM | Session Code T28 Microsoft Teams: What's New and What's Next Speaker: Alex Weingart Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W8 MCP (Model Context Protocol) in action in Microsoft 365 Copilot Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W9 Microsoft Teams as Your AI-Driven Work Hub Speaker: Kartik Datwani Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM | Session Code W18 Building Intelligent Content Apps for the Copilot Era Speakers: Steve Pucelik, Shreyas Saravanan Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W27 OneDrive Updates: Smarter Storage, Seamless Sharing Speakers: Miceile Barrett, Lincoln DeMaris, and Jason Moore Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W28 AI Intranet: Creating and Managing High Quality Content on the Intranet of Tomorrow Speaker: Katelyn Helms Wednesday, December 3, 2:00 PM | Session Code W30 AI-Enhanced Planning: Innovations in Planner & Project Manager Agents Speaker: Howard Crow Wednesday, December 3, 3:15 PM | Session Code W38 AI Risk Management: From Oversharing to Strategic Oversight Speakers: Gabriel Tiberiu Damaschin, Nishan DeSilva Wednesday, December 3, 4:45 PM | Session Code W45 Streamlining Core Operations with AI Automation Speaker: Antonio Rodriques Wednesday, December 3, 4:45 PM | Session Code W44 Understanding Copilot Extensibility: a practical guide Speakers: Vesa Juvonen and Paolo Pialorsi Thursday, December 4 ,10:15 AM | Session Code TH8 Agents Among Us – Governance for the Agentic Era Speaker: Sesha Mani Thursday, December 4 ,10:15 AM | Session Code TH 9 Creating AI Agents for People and Platforms Speaker: Nandakishor Basavanthappa Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code TH14 Windows AI: Powering Progress Across the Globe Speaker: Vikas Malekar Thursday, December 4 ,11:45 AM | Session Code TH15 Accelerating Copilot Adoption Across Your Organization Speakers: Karuana Gatimu, Bryan Wofford Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code TH16 True Stories of Copilot in Action Speakers: Connie Welsh, Danielle Moon Thursday, December 4, 2:00 PM | Session Code TH 28 Fireside Insights: Driving Value and Business Growth with AI Speaker: TBA Thursday December 4 15:15 | Session Code TH37 Lightning talks (20 minutes, in person) - Innovation Hub Supercharge Your Projects with Microsoft 365 Community Tools Speaker: Vesa Juvonen Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM Building Copilot with community-led engagement Speaker: Anna Pope Tuesday, December 2, 10:40 AM Managing your brand for career management Speaker: Karuana Gatimu (MCAG) Tuesday, December 2, 11:45 AM Empowering Community Builders: MGCI & Communitydays.org Speaker: Heather Cook Tuesday, December 2, 12:05 PM Your Day, Your Way: Personalized AI with OneDrive Speaker: Miceile Barrett Tuesday, December 2, 12:30 PM Security First Powering AI Transformation Speaker: Sesha Mani Tuesday, December 2, 4:45 PM Unlocking SharePoint Advanced Management for Copilot Success Speaker: Michael Holste Tuesday, December 2, 5:10 PM Fast-Tracking Value with the Copilot Success Kit & Scenario Library Speaker: Bryan Wofford Wednesday, December 3, 10:15 AM How to find learning Opportunities Everywhere Speaker: Adam Harmetz Wednesday, December 3, 10:40 AM Copilot readiness & resiliency with Microsoft 365 Backup & Archive Speaker: Kaustubh Chaudhary, Michael Holste Wednesday, December 3, 12:05 PM Unlock SharePoint Embedded integration with Power Platform Connectors Speaker: Steve Pucelik Thursday, December 4, 10:15 AM Microsoft Teams: Day-to-Day AI Speaker: Alex Weingart Thursday, December 4, 10:40 AM Driving Business Value with Copilot Analytics and ROI Measurement Speaker: Manas Kumar Biswas Thursday, December 4,11:45 AM Understanding Copilot APIs Speaker: Paolo Pialori Thursday, December 4, 12:05 PM Migration in Motion: Simplify, Secure, and Scale with Microsoft 365 Speaker: Manas Vishal Lodha Thursday, December 4, 12:30 PM Inspire Track (60 minutes, in person) - Inspire Stage Good Thing We Like Our Copilots CANCELLED: How Your Job Will Evolve in 2026 into AGENTBOSS! Speaker: Dona Sarkar Tuesday, December 2, 10:15 AM | Session Code: Inspire 2 How To Thrive in Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom Speaker: Adam Harmetz Wednesday, December 3, 11:45 AM | Session Code: Inspire 6 Managing your brand for career management Speaker: Karuana Gatimu Thursday, December 4, 11:45 AM | Session Code: Inspire 10 Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence through Mentorship and Leadership Speaker: Heather Cook Thursday, December 4, 2:00 PM | Session Code: Inspire 11 Innovation Hub and Lightning Talk Theater The Microsoft Innovation Hub at ESPC is a vibrant, multi-zone environment crafted to ignite new ideas, showcase cutting-edge prototypes, and shape the future of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Here, creativity and technology intersect, providing a dedicated space for developers, architects, consultants, and strategists to explore the forefront of innovation. The Innovation Hub is designed to foster collaboration, highlight emerging technologies, and collect real-time insights from the wider Microsoft 365 community. You can meet with Microsoft Product Team members and Microsoft MVPs! You’ll find the Microsoft Innovation Hub in the ESPC Expo Tuesday through Thursday. Each day on the Innovation Stage in Zone 1 you will find Lightning Talks for live demonstrations and peer learning in a compact format. And don't miss the SharePoint 25th Birthday Celebration and the Innovation Awards, Tuesday evening at 5:45 PM. Within Zone 2, you will find Future Tech Demos daily during breaks and lunches. The Microsoft team and MVPs will be on hand to walk you through dynamic demos: Agents/Copilot Studio, Developer, Microsoft 365 Copilot and SharePoint and One Drive. Get connected in the Zone 3 Feedback Loop Lounge and leave your thoughts on our survey for a chance to win daily prizes. And finally, meet in the Zone 4 Ideation Lounge each afternoon for guided workshops including a Promptathon and Vibe Coding activities in an environment specifically designed to encourage creativity and collaborative thinking. This event guide will continue to update as we finalize more of our activations. Stay tuned! Shout out to event leads and community members Sarah McNamara, Kevin Monahan, Ella Murphy, Bridgette Robertson, John, and Sarah G, and the #ESPC25 team for putting together ESPC25, corralling all speakers and content, and for supporting and promoting the knowledge and expertise to promote the world-class Microsoft 365 tech community around the world. Cheers, Heather Last, a glimpse of the ESPC event experience:YellowHat 2025: A Global Stage for Deep Microsoft Security Insights
YellowHat 2025, held on March 6th, was a landmark event focused on Microsoft Security, drawing together a global audience of professionals and enthusiasts. Hosted at Microsoft's Amsterdam headquarters, the event featured over 150 in-person attendees and 1500+ online participants, all eager to delve into advanced security topics. MVP Myron Helgering and the organizing team shared their insights YellowHat's ideas, motivations and future prospects for the event What inspired you to organize YellowHat 2025? We felt there was a need for something new: an event organized by and for the community, focused solely on Microsoft Security content. One thing was also clear: We wanted it to be a deeply technical event, so level 400+. Our goal was to be visible worldwide, so we chose a hybrid event and focused on delivering a high-quality online and in-person experience. As it was our first edition, we aimed to create an exciting and easily recognizable event. How did you ensure that the content was relevant and immediately applicable to current security challenges? The most important thing was getting the right speakers on board for our event; they had to be top-notch. We selected our speakers based on their expertise, experience, and their ability to deliver engaging and relevant content. Luckily, we could attract visionary leaders and security experts like Raviv Tamir, Roberto Rodriguez, Dirk-Jan Mollema, Mattias Borg, Stefan Schörling, Thomas Naunheim, Ran Marom, and Eyal Haik. In addition to selecting the right speakers, we aimed to tell a cohesive story throughout the day. By interconnecting our deep-dive sessions and zooming out when necessary, we could highlight different security challenges and make the content applicable to a broad audience. How did you manage to attract such a large global audience, both in-person and online? Most of the YellowHat organizers (not all of them) are also organizers for the Dutch Microsoft Security Meetup, which has 2000+ members. We used the power of our community to our advantage, attracting our local in-person attendees and promoting our event globally. To reach the large global audience, we had the help of our international speakers and Microsoft Security MVPs who could promote the event, as well as Microsoft's very own Raviv Tamir and Dan Michelson (YellowHat's founder). Lastly, our very own Ninja Cat with a yellow hard hat mascot was all over the socials for weeks to do our marketing for us. How did the hybrid format (in-person and online) impact the overall experience for attendees? When organizing a hybrid event, organizing suddenly becomes a lot more complex because you have to provide an excellent experience to both online and in-person attendees simultaneously. We engaged our online attendees during breaks by providing them with live interviews and sponsor commercials, while our in-person attendees had time for food, drinks, and networking opportunities. Ultimately, I hope we made the people feel like they were part of that YellowHat experience we were going for by providing them with the same deep technical content, but not prioritizing one experience over the other. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our in-person and online attendees, which reassures us that we are on the right track and motivates us to continue improving the YellowHat experience. What are your plans for future iterations of YellowHat, and how do you envision the event evolving? Even though YellowHat 2025 was already a global event, the in-person attendees mostly visited from the Netherlands. We would love to grow and evolve YellowHat into something that can attract an international audience, which will be a focus of our plans. We haven't officially decided on anything yet, but YellowHat 2026 will definitely happen, and it will be bigger, bolder, and more exciting. How can interested community members get involved in organizing or participating in future YellowHat conferences? If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to get involved, please feel free to contact us using our contact form. If you want to be the first to receive sneak peeks, early announcements, and exclusive insider information then please go ahead and subscribe to our mailing list so you won't miss anything about YellowHat! Why YellowHat? Yellow (Hard) Hats are used by construction workers for "protection and security", which a reference to our work as Microsoft Security Defenders / Protectors. The content at the conference was aligned with that; we're focused on the defensive / preventive side of (Microsoft) security. One of our unofficial sayings at the conference was; wear your yellow hat to prevent cyber threats.Celebrating 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.Let’s talk about event amplification! 🎉 | MGCI General Session AM Call
Learning how to amplify an event online involves leveraging social media, email campaigns, and digital partnerships to maximize reach. Understanding audience engagement strategies and utilizing trending content can significantly boost visibility and participation. Join Pat McGown and 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: Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: Event Amplification Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speaker: Pat McGown, Microsoft MVP, CEO at Cloudwell, Regional Leader for MGCI 📅 March 18 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM Bring your own ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Learn more about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI
Event Training: Sponsors and Sponsorships - Jan 2026
Join MGCI Board Members Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver who host our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) Event Production Training & Office Hours – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Hosts: Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver This month's topic: Sponsors and Sponsorship - everything you need to know Dive into the dynamic world of sponsorship and discover how the right partnerships can supercharge your community’s impact. This training pulls back the curtain on finding the perfect sponsors, crafting irresistible value propositions, and turning one‑time supporters into long‑term champions. You’ll learn battle‑tested strategies for maximizing every sponsorship dollar and building relationships that fuel sustainable growth. Come ready to elevate your approach and walk away with the confidence and tools to win big. 📅 January 29 ⏰ 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/learningEvent Recap - Midwestern Community Events and AI Tour Chicago
This September, I had the opportunity to connect with three incredible Microsoft communities across the Midwest. From leadership development in Minnesota to AI-powered innovation in Chicago, each stop offered a unique perspective on how our customers and community leaders are embracing Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Copilot. Here's a recap of the journey: Stop 1: M365 Twin Cities – Brooklyn Park, MN (Sept 19) The trip began at M365 Twin Cities, a free, community-led event hosted at Hennepin Technical College. This event continues a legacy that began with SharePoint Saturday Twin Cities, running twice a year for over a decade. It’s one of the longest-running Microsoft community events in the U.S., thanks to the dedication of organizers like Wes Preston, Sarah Haase, and Tamara Bredemus, along with a strong network of Microsoft MVPs and volunteers. Highlights: ~400 attendees from across the region, over 700 registered 29 sessions across 8 tracks, led by 32 speakers Strong community energy, with support from 7 sponsors and giveaways (including LEGO sets!) The welcoming speaker dinner—featuring a standout Midwest walleye dish—was a highlight, setting the tone for a day full of energy, learning, and community building A warm, welcoming atmosphere fueled by donuts, pizza, and shared purpose I presented a session titled “Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace.” The session sparked meaningful conversations about emotional intelligence as a leadership cornerstone. We explored how respect, empathy, and kindness help build trust within teams, and I shared practical strategies for: Deepening domain knowledge Empowering autonomy Encouraging authentic communication Modeling compassionate leadership Gold Standard for Community Engagement by Donald Donais It was fantastic to connect with Donald Donais, Director - Cloud Solution Architect in Minneapolis, who has been a true champion of the Twin Cities tech community for well over a decade. As an FTE sponsor and advocate, Don has consistently given his time, energy, and expertise to support local user groups and community events—something every region wishes they had from the Microsoft Field. His dedication has helped make the Twin Cities a vibrant hub for learning and collaboration. Huge thanks to Don for setting the gold standard for community engagement! Check out this video on what it means to be a community supporter working in the Microsoft field. https://aka.ms/CommunityDaysTwinCitiesDonaldDonais AND - I couldn’t be more impressed and proud of Harsha Sridharan and Yi Liu for their outstanding session at Community Days M365 Twin Cities! Their talk, “Engineering People Skills: Building for Humans in the Flow of Work,” was a terrific blend of technical depth with human-centered design. They shared how Microsoft 365 is evolving to help individuals and teams surface, manage, and grow their skills—right where work happens. From showcasing how skills appear across tools like Outlook, People Companion, Viva, and Copilot, to explaining how AI can infer and highlight strengths without extra effort, they gave us a behind-the-scenes look at building People Skills in M365. Harsha and Yi didn’t just deliver a session—they sparked confidence and curiosity about the future of skills in the flow of work. Brava! 👏 Stop 2: Chicago Power Platform User Group – Sept 24 (Microsoft Chicago, Aon Center) At the CMPPUG meetup, I delivered “The Next Phase: Research, Creation & Smarter Decisions in the Age of Copilot.” Demonstrated how I used Microsoft Copilot, Researcher, and Create to build the very presentation I was delivering. Introduced three AI-centric leadership frameworks: 10% Rule for continuous improvement 10× Thinking for breakthrough innovation 10-10-10 Rule for responsible decision-making Engaged in a lively Q&A moderated by Craig Jahnke, lead for the Chicago Innovation Hub, and Microsoft MVP Ralph Rivas. and a thank you to Bryan Wofford who went to McCormick to do our tech check for our AI Tour while I was at AON Center. Highlights: 69 attendees in a hybrid format Strong interest in Copilot, AI strategy, and responsible adoption A huge thank you to Craig and Ralph for their leadership and continued commitment to growing the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform community in Chicago Met with David Horstein, the new Director, of the Chicago Innovation Hub in the Aon Center Microsoft Office to talk about Community Days events, user groups and promoting more stories via our MCAG Community News Desk. Stop 3: Microsoft AI Tour – Chicago (Sept 25) At Microsoft AI Tour Chicago, Bryan Wofford and I delivered our workshop twice at McCormick Place, both focused on empowering organizations and community leaders to embrace Microsoft AI. Copilot Ready: Strategy, Data, and Security - Session Code: WRK523-US Co-delivered with Bryan Wofford, who created the deck and demo and the lab. This hands-on workshop focused on preparing organizations for Copilot deployment. We had close to 200 people total for the sessions. We covered: Data readiness and tenant hygiene Agent security and governance Scaling with built-in Microsoft tools Participants brought their own laptops and actively engaged in real-time exercises to assess and improve their Copilot readiness. I also shared a lightning talk - Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays Session Code: LTG171-US This lightning talk introduced the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) and CommunityDays.org, showcasing how these platforms are transforming grassroots tech engagement. We explored: How to list and find events Opportunities for new and experienced speakers Free training and regional leadership connections Highlights: Strong interest and engagement in both sessions Keynotes from Judson Althoff, Karen del Vescovo, Bryan Goode, and Jenny Lay-Flurrie A packed day of learning, strategy, and connection with customers, partners, and Microsoft engineers Was thrilled to see colleague, Anne Krupke, Sr. Product Marketing Manager was on stage to demo with Judson Althoff. Friday afternoon I went to TedxChicago themed “The Future is Human” to see Nisaini Rexach, Lead, Community Engagement @ Microsoft | Copilot Champ give an amazing session on community building along with 8 other wonderful local speakers. Thank you Craig Jahnke for the intro! Final Reflections This trip was a powerful reminder of the strength and momentum within our Microsoft community. From grassroots leadership development in Minnesota to AI transformation in Chicago, I saw firsthand how our tools—and our people—are helping organizations lead with empathy, innovate with confidence, and build for the future. Our CommunityDays events are always looking for speakers and they are a great way to hone your speaking skills, get feedback directly from customers, partners and our Microsoft MVPs. And connect into The Best Community in Tech. Find events to submit for calls for content and speakers at: Community Days | Homepage #CommunityLuv🌍✨ We’re Now Accepting Applications for MGCI Regional Leaders!
The Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) is now accepting applications for our next cohort of Regional Leaders - volunteer community champions who help shape, support, and amplify Microsoft technical communities worldwide. 💡 Why Become a MGCI Regional Leader? Join a Global Network You’ll be part of a worldwide team of leaders, organizers, MVPs, and community builders who support each other, share expertise, and work collectively to help Microsoft communities thrive. A Chance to Step Up and Lead This is more than a volunteer role - it’s an opportunity to: Champion emerging and existing communities Make space for new speakers and creators Help local organizers grow successful events Shape how Microsoft communities operate globally You’ll directly influence the culture of learning, support, and inclusion across the ecosystem. ️Access Tools That Elevate Your Leadership You’ll have access to practical tools and programs designed to help you scale your impact and support your region effectively: MGCI’s global event amplification system Training and enablement programs CommunityDays.org listing + tooling Best‑practice playbooks, templates, and resources Private channels and subcommittees where strategy is shaped Grow Your Platform & Visibility As a Regional Leader, you have a public-facing role representing MGCI in your region. You’ll connect with event producers, help strengthen local user groups, and become a go‑to resource for community leaders seeking guidance, tools, speakers, or Microsoft support. 🧭 What Regional Leaders Do Regional Leaders voluntarily help MGCI empower communities across the globe by: Welcoming & Onboarding Welcome and onboard new members in the region Act as a mentor and sounding board Serve as an onboarding buddy and connector Create space for new voices and emerging leaders Share relevant resources, context, and connections Being the Pulse of Your Region Maintain awareness of nearby events, communities, speakers, and organizers Share insights with MGCI leadership so programming remains relevant and inclusive Help connect leaders to Microsoft resources, speakers, and tools Sharing Knowledge Write 1–2 blogs per year (event recaps, community highlights, insights, or stories) Help amplify diverse voices, regional wins, and local success stories Showing Up & Staying Informed Attend at least 50% of Regional Leader / Board meetings Bring regional perspectives, trends, and challenges to the global conversation Leading Community Programming Contribute to at least one MGCI General Session or Event Training per year (as a speaker, moderator, panelist, facilitator, or content contributor) Contributing Through Subcommittees Every Regional Leader participates in one subcommittee, choosing from: Communications & Amplification Training & Enablement Technology & Tools (CommunityDays.org) Sponsorship Support This is where strategy becomes action - and where your expertise can genuinely accelerate community impact. 🎯 Who Should Apply? You’ll be a great fit if you: Already support or participate in local tech communities Are passionate about helping events and user groups succeed Get energy from mentoring or connecting people Want to elevate your leadership footprint Are excited to collaborate with a global team Believe in the power of community to help people learn, share, and grow 📥 Ready to Lead? Apply Now! Apply here → https://aka.ms/MGCI-RegionalLeaderApplication-2026 This is your opportunity to volunteer and make a global impact while growing your own skills, network, and leadership in meaningful ways. We can’t wait to meet the next group of passionate, community‑driven leaders who will help shape the future of the Microsoft ecosystem. Let’s Learn. Share. Grow - together. 🌱💙 **application deadline is Thursday, February 12thMicrosoft Global Community Initiative Newsletter (Jan/Feb)
Hi MGCI members! We have an exciting year ahead of us with many community initiatives around the world. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up next! MGCI Regional Leader Applications are Now Open! We are now accepting applications to become a Regional Leader for the Microsoft Community! This is a volunteer leadership role where Regional Leaders share best practices, connect with community regionally and globally and elevate their own game - and others. The Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) empowers Global Microsoft communities with the tools, training, and resources to create impactful events and amplify diverse voices. **Applications close on Feb 12 #CommunityLuv on Social Media We’ve been doing a little social‑scrolling lately and loved stumbling across your moments of #CommunityLuv. From personal wins to meetup snapshots to your reflections about 2025, these posts always make us happy. This month, we’re excited to spotlight a fun update from Microsoft MVP Shari L. Oswald, who’s gearing up to lead her first‑ever workshop at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference. She’s bringing some big enthusiasm - and even a special discount code just for you! Check out her announcement on LinkedIn and give her some community cheer. 🎉 From Community to Stage: Women in Microsoft Tech Looking for amazing women speakers in the Microsoft ecosystem? 💜 The Microsoft Solutions Women in Tech speaker directory on Sessionize is a go‑to resource for community leaders and event organizers. It’s a curated list of talented, knowledgeable women who love sharing their expertise and supporting inclusive tech spaces. Even better - you don’t just have to browse it, you can be part of it. If you’re a woman speaking (or ready to start!) on Microsoft technologies, you can create a profile and get yourself listed too. 👉 Check it out, share it with your network, and help our community grow louder, more diverse, and more connected. Missed our Events in January? January 2026 MGCI General Session: Didn't catch our January 2026 General Session with a Community Overview and AMA or care to watch it again? Check out the recording here. January 2026 Event Training: The MGCI Event Training on Sponsorships and Sponsors is a must see. If you weren’t able to make it, check it out here. Congratulations, and welcome new MVPs! Each month, Microsoft welcomes a selected group of newly awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) into the MVP Program. A big congratulations to the newly awarded MVPs in January! Need Help to Amplify Your Community Event? If you’re organizing an event and would like to receive some extra support with your marketing activities – the Microsoft Global Community Initiative offers a Social Amplification Submission for your event. Fill out the form for the opportunity to have your event promoted on our community channels (such as LinkedIn, MTC, Newsletter etc.) Mondays at Microsoft Mondays at Microsoft hosted by Heather Cook (Microsoft) and Karuana Gatimu (Microsoft) is a bi-weekly show that aggregates new product announcements and upcoming community events to drive technical skilling and engagement. With deep love for the Microsoft community and very actively involved worldwide, Heather and Karuana take us along on their community journeys. Learn more at https://aka.ms/MondaysAtMicrosoft In the Spotlights: Global AI Community AgentCon The Global AI Community is traveling around the world with AgentCon events, enabling and connecting developers to learn and build with AI together. This week, Switzerland stands in the spotlights in the pictures below with a Keynote presented by Dona Sarkar (Microsoft Enterprise AI Advocacy). In case you are interested to attend any of the upcoming events, check out all the locations scheduled in 2026! 📸 Dona Sarkar (Microsoft), Isidora Katanic (Experts Inside AG | Microsoft MVP), Jose Luis Latorre (Swiss Life AG | Microsoft MVP), Zaid Zaim (Neo4j | Microsoft MVP) Discover Community Events in February There are tons of active communities around the world who are currently working, volunteering, and supporting upcoming events happening next month. We’ve summed up a few of the February events coming up, which you can all find on https://www.communitydays.org – the place to be to find your favorite events! o M365 MIAMI: February 6 , Miami, FL, USA o AICD D365UGME: February 7, Dubai, UAE o AICD MAHDIA: February 14, Rejiche, Tunisia o Global Power Platform Bootcamp: February 20, virtual from Poland o Exchange Summit: February 24-25, Würzburg, Germany o Knoxville Microsoft Community Days: February 26-27, Maryville, TN, USA Join our next General Session on February 17 th Come join us for engaging, interactive conversations with the Microsoft Global Community Initiative, featuring voices from around the world. Board Members, Microsoft leaders, and guest speakers invite you to participate in open discussions and knowledge sharing this February. 📅 February 17th ⏰ 8:10 AM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM 📅 February 17th ⏰ 5:10 PM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM Join our next Event Training on February 26 th Join MGCI Board Members Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver who host our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) Event Production Training & Office Hours – and we'd love for you to attend! All are welcome! February’s topic: Run of Show: What to do the day of the event 📅 February 26th ⏰ 8:10 AM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCITrainingMTG Celebrate 25 years of SharePoint with us! Join our global digital event on March 2, 2026 as we look back at SharePoint’s most iconic moments - and look ahead to the next chapter powered by AI. Get an exclusive first look at new content AI capabilities and intelligent experiences that will reshape how people create, manage, and collaborate. Register now: https://aka.ms/spat25 Read the full announcement: https://aka.ms/spat25/blog Join the celebration: Share your stories and memories with #SPat25 Find our MGCI Resources We have helpful MGCI resources available for you such as PowerPoint decks from our General Sessions, Event Training Sessions & Office Hours and other resources to help you run community events such as checklists, how to create a sponsor plan and more relevant tips & tricks. Stay connected with MGCI on LinkedIn With nearly 30.000 followers from around the world, we invite you to follow our Microsoft Community on LinkedIn. Here you can find the latest news, frequent updates, and interactive comments on what’s happening in the community. Sincerely, Your Board Officers Microsoft Global Community InitiativeTop 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 CookWomen’s History Millennia in Action: Community, Courage, and Collective Power 💜✨
Our recent MGCI General Session was one of those moments that reminds you exactly why community matters. What began as a panel quickly became something bigger - a shared experience filled with stories, hard‑earned wisdom, laughter, and the kind of encouragement that stays with you. The energy was high, the chat was buzzing, and the sense of connection was unmistakable. This wasn’t just a conversation about women in tech. It was about visibility, access, allyship, and building something better - together. ❤️Stories That Connected (and Advice That Truly Landed) Throughout the session, our panelists spoke candidly about their journeys - the wins, the doubts, the pivots, and the moments that shaped them. A consistent theme emerged: growth doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready. Sravani Seethi captured this perfectly when she reminded the community that confidence isn’t something you magically wake up with one day. It’s built through action. Confidence, she shared, comes after you take the leap, after you say yes to the opportunity that stretches you. That message resonated deeply, especially with early‑career technologists and new speakers listening in. Christine Bongard built on that idea by encouraging attendees to be visible and intentional about their goals. Rather than waiting to be discovered, she emphasized the importance of advocating for yourself; making your work known and clearly communicating where you want to go. It was a powerful reminder that self‑advocacy isn’t about ego; it’s about clarity. One of the most grounding moments came from Olajumoke Toriola, who spoke directly to the experience many women have had of walking into rooms where they feel outnumbered or unsure. Being a woman, she reminded us, is simply a definition of gender. It does not define strength, capability, or impact. You are at the table because you belong there. Community Energy You Could Feel 💬💥 If the panel was the heartbeat of the session, the chat was the pulse. Community members joined from around the world, sharing encouragement, LinkedIn profiles, mentorship opportunities, calls for speakers, and thoughtful reflections. The conversation unfolded in real time, reinforcing what the panelists were saying and adding even more perspective. Attendees reminded one another that you don’t need to have all the answers to add value, that imposter syndrome often means you care deeply about your work, and that sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is simply show up. That spirit of intentional community building was echoed by Sharon Weaver, who captured the purpose behind moments like this, “Our community isn’t here just for women, it’s here to elevate women. To give them opportunities to speak, present, connect, and be visible.” Then came a moment that seemed to stop everyone in their tracks: “My daughter is listening along.” That single comment captured the heart of the entire session. This work matters, not just for today’s careers, but for the next generation watching, learning, and imagining what’s possible. 🤝Allyship, Practiced Not Preached Another strong thread throughout the discussion was allyship - what it looks like beyond buzzwords. Chaitra Vedullapalli spoke about shifting the focus from chasing opportunities to building systems and value so strong that opportunities naturally follow. Allyship, in this context, is about creating infrastructure, access, and pathways, not just offering encouragement. That idea showed up again and again in the chat, where attendees talked about amplifying voices, recommending people for opportunities when they aren’t in the room, and building communities that collaborate instead of compete. Melissa Ballesteros reinforced that collective success matters more than individual wins. Rather than navigating growth alone, she encouraged people to look outward and intentionally build community around shared goals,“If you’re not finding what you’re looking for, look outside. Find your tribe. Real success only happens when you bring your community with you.” As one attendee summed it up simply: everyone needs an ally. The Advice We’re Still Carrying With Us ✨ As the session unfolded, certain ideas stayed with people long after the call ended. Sharon Smith shared how a single conversation or connection can completely change someone’s trajectory, a reminder of the quiet but powerful impact mentorship can have. Rachel Sullivan brought the conversation back to growth and resilience, reminding everyone that mistakes aren’t something to fear. They’re how we learn. If you never take the action, she noted, you never get the chance to grow. And throughout it all, Femke Cornelissen reinforced something the community clearly values: you don’t have to do this alone. Growth happens faster and more meaningfully when we ask for help, learn from each other, and lift others as we move forward. For Nihinlola Adeyemi of TechStylers, it’s a belief that guides both her leadership and her work, “Being a woman is just a definition of gender. It doesn’t define your ability to make impact. You’re at the table because you belong there.” This moment resonated deeply, especially for those early in their careers or stepping into new spaces and a reminder that confidence and impact aren’t granted, they’re built. 🌱 More Than a Month - A Movement We said it together, and it’s worth repeating: This isn’t just Women’s History Month. It’s Women’s History Millennia. The work shared in this session: mentorship programs, speaker pipelines, learning communities, and economic access initiatives doesn’t fit neatly into a single month. It’s ongoing, evolving, and powered by people who care deeply about making tech more inclusive, more human, and more connected. Until Next Time 💜 To our panelists: thank you for your honesty, generosity, and leadership. To our community: thank you for showing up, engaging, and lifting one another up. To the next generation listening in: we see you and we’re building this future with you in mind. We can’t wait to do this again. Because community like this deserves to keep growing. 🚀✨ 🎥Watch the conversation here: https://aka.ms/MGCI-WomenInTechandAlliesRecording Connect with these wonderful organizations Women in Cloud Women in M365 Women in Power Rockstar Women in AI and Security TechStylers The Mentoring Hub The WIT Network
