Microsoft Global Community Initiative Newsletter (April)
Hi MGCI Members! As April moves forward, we hope you’re feeling inspired by the communities you’re part of and the ones growing all around you. From celebrating Women in Tech across the ecosystem to building excitement for the Microsoft 365 Community Conference in Orlando, shared energy and collaboration are fueling MGCI’s global momentum. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up next 🚀 💗 SharePoint Turned 25 Last month a digital event and many in person events around the world celebrated the 25th birthday of SharePoint, to view the digital event check out the link here - https://aka.ms/SPat25 Learn about the SharePoint Hackathon that so many of you participated in and get ready to view the upcoming "More than Code" short film. The cover photo is from an on-campus event with the SharePoint product team. 🌎 MGCI Regional Leader Update Applications for our 2026 MGCI Regional Leaders are under review. Stay tuned - this next wave of leadership is going to help shape how Community Days grows around the world. 🗣️ MGCI Monthly General Sessions Our March MGCI General Session showcased the power of Women in Tech & Allies communities across the Microsoft ecosystem 💜 featuring seven standout organizations creating real pathways for growth, mentorship, and leadership. What showed up wasn’t just representation. It was momentum 🚀 Across these communities, we’re seeing: ✅ Confidence being built 🔓 Access being created 🤝 Collective action taking shape From mentorship‑driven programs to global networking and leadership pathways, these groups are turning connection into opportunity, proving that community isn’t just support. It’s a launchpad for participation and advancement✨ If you want to explore how this momentum is turning into real‑world access and opportunity: 📖 Read the blog: https://aka.ms/MGCI-WomeninTechandAlliesBlog-March2026 🎥 Watch the session recording: https://aka.ms/MGCI-WomenInTechandAlliesRecording Ready to move from reflection to action? Discover Women in Tech speakers on Sessionize and help build inclusive, well‑rounded events: 🎤 https://aka.ms/MSWomenInTechSessionize 📅 General Sessions: On Deck Don't miss out on our monthly general sessions hosted in two different time slots (AM and PM). We share the latest news and updates on what's happening behind the scenes at MGCI, as well as what's coming next. Community Members from all around the world get the opportunity to share insights on their upcoming events, current topics, community news, and interactive talks with other members. Mark your calendars now and join us every 3rd Tuesday of the month! Apr 21 Microsoft Student Ambassadors - Guest Speaker: Tracey Salem, Senior Learning Manager, Global Skilling, Microsoft May 19 Community Spotlight: M365 Community Days DC Jun 16 Community Spotlight (to be announced) Jul 21 Community Spotlight (to be announced) 📅 April 21 | ⏰ 8:10 AM PT | 👉 https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM 📅 April 21 | ⏰ 5:10 AM PT | 👉 https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM Join Tracey Salem for an engaging look at the Microsoft Student Ambassadors program and the vibrant global community of students who are learning, building, and leading with Microsoft cloud and AI technologies. This session spotlights how Student Ambassadors bring fresh perspectives, energy, and new ways of engaging communities - both on campus and beyond. Attendees will come away inspired by what today’s students are doing, and better connected to a broader ecosystem of learners, leaders, and community builders shaping the future together. 👩🏫 2026 Event Trainings Join our monthly Event Production Training & Office Hours with our Board Members Wes Preston and Sharon Weaver and learn from different leaders, with different perspectives how to run your next event. These are interactive sessions, giving you great insights into organizing community events around the globe. Check out all upcoming and past calls and events Apr 23 Run of Show – Day of Event Lessons Learned May 28 Event & Committee Planning Jun 25 How to Find and Select Speakers Jul 30 FOOD! Meals, Snacks, and Beverages Aug 27 No Meeting – Summer Break Sep 24 Event Branding – Graphics & Image Tips Oct 29 Filling Seats! How to Market Your Event Nov 26 No Meeting – Holiday Break Dec 24 No Meeting – Holiday Break In case you have any ideas, feedback, or would like to join us as a Guest Speaker to share your event tips & tricks, complete the form here👉 https://aka.ms/MGCI-EventOrganizerFeedback 🌎 Community Days: check out upcoming events The community never sleeps! And this impressive list of events proves exactly that our community is active more than ever before. New events keep getting included on https://aka.ms/CommunityDays.Org and you can get your upcoming events listed too! Use this community initiative for all your event needs, like scouting active Call for Speakers, or submitting your own event to get spotted by potential sponsors. 💖 #CommunityLuv: in the spotlights Himanshu Goil (Empowering Local Governments and Businesses to Scale through AI Agents, Automation, and Digital Transformation | TechForGov | IGNA™ | Ignatiuz) traveled from USA to Dubai for the event https://aka.ms/AIMaitri Where AI Meets Community. This beautiful shot was taken during his trip - read the full post here on LinkedIn: https://aka.ms/AIMaitriLIPost #CommunityLuv 🌴🎉 MGCI Is Bringing the Community to Orlando at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is where community comes together in person. This year inside the Microsoft Innovation Hub, organizers, speakers, MVPs, and community leaders will turn hallway conversations into global collaborations through: 🤝 Informal community meetups 🗣️ Product roundtables with Microsoft teams and community voices ⚡ Lightning talks from community experts 🧭 Guided demo stations 💻 Hands-on experiences with Copilot+ PCs 🎙️ Live podcast recordings 🎂 A SharePoint 25th birthday celebration 🧱 Build-your-own LEGO figurine stations 💄 Red Lip experiential moments inside the Hub (because sometimes showing up boldly is the point) MGCI will be onsite all week connecting grassroots organizers from around the world: 📍 MGCI Community Meetup Tuesday @ 4:15 PM 📍 MGCI Roundtable Wednesday @ 4:15 PM ⚡ MGCI Lightning Talk on the Power of Community Expect roundtable conversations that go beyond slides - bringing together Microsoft teams and real‑world community perspectives to share ideas, challenges, and what’s actually working across the ecosystem. And don’t miss: 💬 The Women in Tech & Allies Lunch Discussion - April 22! With an executive panel and special guests from across our community, one of the most anticipated gatherings at M365 Conf - designed to spark connection, share experiences, and champion what’s next for women in tech. 📸 MVP Photo Opportunity 🎬 More Than Code - SharePoint 25 Documentary Premiere Because sometimes the most important thing you take home from a conference… is the people you met along the way. 🎟️ Helping More Communities Join Us in Orlando To support nonprofits and small businesses in our ecosystem, we’re offering a grant program for free or discounted tickets to the Microsoft 365 Community Conference in Orlando (April 21–23). This program is designed for: 🤝 Nonprofits 🏢 Small businesses 💜 Members of Women in Tech & Allies community organizations ✈️ Travel and workshop expenses are not included and supply is limited. Know an organization that could benefit from building skills in: 🤖 Copilot 💬 Microsoft Teams ☁️ OneDrive 🧩 SharePoint Encourage them to apply: Learn more and apply 👉 https://aka.ms/M365CommunityGrant 🌉 Microsoft Build: now shipping! Find out what Microsoft is building next in Satya Nadella's keynote during Microsoft Build. Hosted in-person and online on June 2-3, 2026 in San Francisco, USA. Connect with the developers community, join interactive meetups and workshops to debug problems with engineers who’ve already solved them. Plus, get direct access to Microsoft and GitHub technical leaders for strategic guidance. 👩💻AI Agent Con: chapters around the world Is Microsoft Build not around the corner for you, or simply impossible to attend due to other reasons? Thankfully, the Global AI Community tours with local events around the world, organized by the community for the community. Check out the list featuring local chapters across the globe. 💫 What Happens Next MGCI isn’t powered by programming. It’s powered by participation. The connections made in Orlando and around the globe. The lessons shared through training. The roundtable conversations. First-time speakers stepping forward. That’s how this ecosystem grows. Community doesn’t scale through announcements. It scales through action. Across MGCI and https://aka.ms/CommunityDays.Org, we’re seeing organizers connect across regions, share what’s working, and build events that reflect the communities they serve — supported by the tools, training, and resources that make grassroots impact possible. When you bring someone new into the room, you expand what’s possible. When you share what you learned, you strengthen someone else’s event. When you collaborate across communities, you turn local effort into global impact. And that’s how momentum becomes movement. Sincerely, Your Board Officers Microsoft Global Community InitiativeCelebrating 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.Women’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 NetworkEvent Recap - Experts Live US - New York City
On October 10 2025, Microsoft’s Times Square office hosted Experts Live US in New York City, bringing together IT pros, developers, and community leaders for a full day of insights on Microsoft technologies, AI, and modern workplace strategies. Registered: 178 In attendance: 126 A great start for a brand-new event, first time in the US! Adam Harmetz’s Keynote: The Future of Content Management with AI Adam Harmetz, VP of PM for Collaborative Apps & Platforms at Microsoft, opened the event with a visionary keynote on modernizing SharePoint and driving the next decade of content management innovation through AI and agents. His session highlighted how Copilot and intelligent automation will transform collaboration, making enterprise content smarter and more adaptive to user needs. Adam summarized Microsoft 365 & Copilot's major AI news from the past 60 days - 6 major things you need to know that Microsoft announced and made available in preview or GA. "We are moving faster than ever in the AI build out, partnering with frontier firms to show what's possible as we help orgs of all sizes stay on the forefront of AI. And as I talked about in the keynote, our research shows employees at these frontier firms are significantly more likely to say their orgs are thriving (71% to 31%). I know the pace of change is intimidating - but the payoff is worth it and we are here to help. So try out our latest innovations in Copilot, create an agent or use one of our new ones - and give us feedback. We're listening." – Adam on LinkedIN Panel Discussion: Rising Together—Allyship, Acceleration & Women Who Lead Tech Forward In a time where AI and cybersecurity evolve at breakneck speed, we cannot afford to leave talent behind. This panel explored the critical role of allyship and inclusive leadership in shaping the future of tech. Led by inspiring women in AI and security, the conversation went beyond technical frontiers to examine the structures and support systems that helped them thrive. The data tells the story: women now make up around 28% of the tech workforce, but representation in AI (22%) and cybersecurity (24%) remains far from equal. The stakes are high—studies show diverse teams detect threats 30% faster and build more ethical AI models. This wasn’t just a diversity talk; it was a strategy session. Attendees learned how allies in leadership, policy, and peer networks are accelerating change, and walked away with actionable steps to amplify underrepresented voices and redesign hiring and mentoring structures for the future we want to build. Celebrating three years of CommunityDays.org This year also marked the three-year anniversary of CommunityDays.org, a global platform born from the SharePoint Saturday movement. CommunityDays.org empowers volunteer organizers to host free technical training events worldwide, spanning Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Azure, and more. Its growth reflects the enduring spirit of community-driven learning and collaboration in the Microsoft ecosystem. We posted a longer for article on the Microsoft Tech Community to celebrate. The local volunteer event producers A huge thank you to the incredible team who made Experts Live NYC possible: Anna Bordioug, Dr. Booma Poolan Marikannan, Femke Cornelissen, Jason Rivera, Justine Wolters, Manpreet Singh, Melissa Ballesteros, Micah Heaton, Morten Knudsen, Raae Wolfram, Samir Makwana, Thomas Daly. Gratitude to sponsors Many Microsoft partners are the local, national and worldwide sponsors that help these events year after year - they pay for the food and fun prizes at many of these community events. Join the best community in tech Our CommunityDays events are always looking for speakers, and they’re a fantastic way to hone your speaking skills, get feedback directly from customers, partners, and Microsoft MVPs—and connect into The Best Community in Tech. Find upcoming events at: Community Days | Homepage About Experts Live USA Each year, Experts Live USA organizes a one-day event attended by IT Pros and Developers who come to deepen their knowledge of Microsoft technologies. National and international community experts bring attendees fully up to speed on the latest Microsoft technologies—all in a single day. Over the years, well-known speakers and MVPs have become closely associated with Experts Live. Held on four continents, more than 12 international Experts Live events take place annually, reaching over 5,000 people. Thousands more benefit from our knowledge through Experts Live Café, TV, Radio, and social media. Driven by a vision to empower the IT community worldwide, we continuously expand our reach by adding new Microsoft tech conferences in different continents, countries, and regions. And soon, the Experts Live experience will be spreading across the USA too. Experts Live US supports STEM Kids NYC, helping them bring technical classes, materials, and support to kids in the New York City area. The volunteer team gave the non-profit a check for $2000.00. WOOTWOOT!
MGCI General Session AM - Feb 2026
Learn along with your community peers! Join Host Heather Cook for our Monthly Microsoft Global Community Initiative (#MGCI) General session – and we'd love for you to join the conversation! All are welcome! Agenda: MGCI Program updates Subcommittee updates from MGCI Board Members Guest Speaker Topic: CommunityDays.org Backstage Pass: How to Publish Your Event Like a Pro Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speakers: Tom Daly, Creator CommunityDays.org Want your community event to be easy to find, easy to understand, and ready for sponsors and attendees? Join the Feb 2026 MGCI General Session for a live, behind-the-scenes walkthrough with Tom Daly, who leads administration of CommunityDays.org and regularly shares updates in MGCI General Sessions. In this practical demo + “how‑to” session, you’ll learn what to prep before you publish, how to add your event with confidence, and how to structure key details so your listing is clear, complete, and compelling. We’ll also cover how to set up the sponsor section (including the site’s call for sponsorship area) and share best practices for promoting community participation (like speakers, volunteers, and partners). Bonus: hear how CommunityDays.org connects with tools like Sessionize and Run.events to help keep event info current, plus bring your questions for Q&A. 📅 Feb 17 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM Bring your ideas too! Let’s share, learn, and capture best practices for producing events. Sign up to receive our newsletter and reminders for our meetings: https://aka.ms/MGCISignUP Learn about the Microsoft Global Community Initiative: https://aka.ms/MGCI Post-event all meetings are available on demand. Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel: https://aka.ms/community/learningIntroducing the Viva Engage Track at the 2026 Microsoft 365 Conference
Internal communications has never been more complex — or more essential. Whether you’re trying to cut through the noise, connect leaders with employees, or bring clarity to AI-driven change, the role of the modern communicator is evolving fast. At this year’s M365 Community Conference, we’re excited to bring you the Viva Engage Track — a focused learning path designed to help communicators, HR leaders, IT partners, and community champions build connected, informed, and high‑performing workplaces. You’ll get access to Microsoft’s own communications experts, Viva Engage product leaders, and practitioners who run global‑scale comms — all ready to share the patterns, storylines, frameworks, and real‑world playbooks that drive impact. You’ll learn how to inform, inspire, and activate employees in ways that actually work at scale. The sessions are stacked with can’t‑miss moments Across three days, this track walks you through the full modern comms lifecycle — strategy, storytelling, measurement, deployment, AI readiness, and community activation. Whether you’re focused on executive comms, knowledge sharing, community management, or engagement strategy, this is built for you. Today’s communicators are expected to: Navigate more channels than ever Reduce noise while increasing clarity Build trust in an era shaped by AI Move leaders closer to employees Create belonging in hybrid, dispersed organizations Support rapid change and transformation Here’s a closer look at what you’ll learn in the Viva Engage & Communications track: Modern Communications & Strategy How Microsoft Manages Global Employee and Executive Communications Learn from John Cirone, Sr. Director of Communications, how Microsoft orchestrates communications for 200,000+ employees, drives leadership connection, and uses Engage, SharePoint, and Copilot to scale impact. Breaking Through in a World of Information Overload and AI Amy Morris, Director of Communications, will help you reimagine channels and delivery across Engage and SharePoint to reach the right people at the right time—without adding noise. Use data, insights, and employee listening to build your comms strategy How do you measure and define success, and leverage signals from employee engagement and listening to drive business transformation and performance? Join Microsoft communications and product leaders for a practical look at how to build an effective listening system with tools including Engage, Insights, Glint and Pulse. Learn how to empower leaders and change agents with a comprehensive, 360-degree view of employee sentiment. And explore how insights can inform strategies and tactics to achieve your business objectives. Events, Communities & Knowledge Sharing Company-Wide Events—Scaling Innovation with Engage Learn how organizations run high-impact town halls, all-hands, and campaigns using Events, Q&A, Storyline, and Copilot. Product Group experts Dan Holme and Tricia Lybrook will give you the end-to-end experience for creating events your employees will remember! AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base See how Engage, Copilot, and intelligent agents help surface expertise and solve problems faster, while keeping people in the loop. See demos and learn directly from product group leaders Allison Michels and Ramya Rajasekhar about making this reality in your own organizations. Governance, Deployment & AI Transformation From Governance to Growth: A Practical Playbook for Viva Engage Deployment Turn governance, readiness, and compliance into a launchpad for adoption and engagement. Hear directly from the Product Group Leaders, Venkat Ayyadevara and Spencer Perry. Community in the Age of AI - Humans at the center of Copilot Adoption Elevate your communications and campaigns through the power of community and peer-to-peer lead learning. Communicators can lead the AI transformation at your company. Learn how AI-powered agents support community managers, but humans drive rituals, events, and engagement. Hear product experts Allison Michels and Sarah Lundy as they take you behind the scenes and showcase some Microsoft employee favorites, like the Copilot Adoption Community, campaigns, Camp Copilot and more. The Communicator’s Guide to Viva Engage Learn how to maintain relevance and authenticity in the age of AI through personalization, targeting, and sequencing that respects how people work. Learn from Product Group expert Sarah Lundy, drawing on her experience at Microsoft Digital Comms, and Product Manager Najla Dadmand as they show how technology and communications can work together. Spotlight Session: Engage Everywhere - The Viva Engage Roadmap One of the most anticipated sessions of the entire track, Engage Everywhere: Communities, Events & Storylines in Teams (Roadmap), offers a first look at what’s coming next. Hear directly from our Product Leadership Team, Jason Mayans, VP of Product, Steve Nguyen, Customer Experience, and Murali Sitaram, CVP Viva Engage. You’ll explore: The deeper native integration of Viva Engage inside Microsoft Teams -making communities, events, campaigns, and storylines feel seamless across devices and workstyles. AI-enhanced capabilities that connect employees to knowledge, leaders, and each other more intuitively and efficiently. New ways organizations can unify communications and engagement across Teams, Engage, Email, and SharePoint. What’s next for Events, Storyline, and Communities as Microsoft continues to converge engagement experiences in one place. This session is designed to help you visualize the future employee communications and engagement ecosystem—and understand how to build toward it today. Key Takeaways: Whether you’re modernizing communications, rolling out Copilot, building communities, or shaping culture, you’ll walk away with: Practical templates, patterns, and playbooks Insights from Microsoft’s own communications experts Guidance for integrating AI responsibly and effectively Clear steps to elevate engagement across your organization The Viva Engage Track brings together the people driving community and connection every day, inside Microsoft and across customers to explore what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s possible. If you want to build stronger community, elevate employee connection, or shape the future of workplace storytelling, this track belongs on your agenda. Join us!
Mondays at Microsoft | Episode 68
Join Heather Cook as she takes you through the latest in AI news, Microsoft 365 product updates, and community news & events. 🎥 Episode 66 of "Mondays at Microsoft" goes LIVE on Monday, February 9th at 8:00 AM PT! #MondaysAtMicrosoft #MicrosoftCommunity #MicrosoftEvents #AI #Microsoft365 Links from Today's Episode: Big Rocks & Product Updates: Enhancing Teams video quality with Super Resolution — https://aka.ms/Teams/SuperResolution "GitHub Copilot: The agent awakens" by Thomas Dohmke — https://aka.ms/GitHubAwakens "Use Microsoft 365 Copilot to drive growth for businesses of all sizes" by Brenna Robinson — https://aka.ms/Copilot/SMBgrowth "What's new in Power Apps: January 2025 Feature Update" by Clay Wesener — https://aka.ms/PowerApps/Jan2025updates Powerful Devs Conference + Hack Together 2025 — https://aka.ms/PowerfulDevsConference "New Security Features for Desktop flows" by Quentin Sele Barancy & Ken Seong Tan — https://aka.ms/PowerPlatform/NewSecurityFeatures Events: Community Days | Exchange Summit 2025 | Feb 17-19 | Wurzburg, Germany Community Days | Microsoft Fabric Community Conference | March 31 - April 2 | Las Vegas, Nevada Community Days | Microsoft 365 Community Conference | April 21 - 23 | Orlando, Florida Community Days | TechCon365 and PWRCON Seattle 2025 | June 23-27 | Seattle, Washington Our Show Links: 📅 Mondays at Microsoft Links including a download for calendar: https://aka.ms/MondaysAtMicrosoft 📝 Our Microsoft Tech Community News Desk for Monday's recaps, Meet the Makers show and more: https://aka.ms/CommunityNewsDesk 🎙️ Listen to Mondays at Microsoft on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — https://aka.ms/MondaysAtMicrosoft 🌍 Discover the Microsoft Global Community Initiative (MGCI) — https://aka.ms/MGCI Microsoft Community page on Facebook: https://aka.ms/MSCommunityFB 🔔Microsoft Community on LinkedIn: https://aka.ms/MSCommunityLIMM MSFT Adoption on Twitter: https://x.com/MSFTAdoptionMicrosoft 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 InitiativeAnnouncing the Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2026
Your front row seat to the future of intelligent work The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is back April 21–23, 2026, at Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Florida. This year’s theme — a beacon for builders, innovators, and icons of intelligent work — reflects the momentum across Microsoft 365 and Copilot as we enter a new era of AI‑powered productivity. Across three days, attendees will gain access to 200+ sessions, 21 workshops, and 200+ Microsoft experts and engineers, making this one of the largest and most comprehensive Microsoft 365 learning events in the world. Whether you're deploying Copilot, modernizing your intranet, securing your environment, elevating communications, or building next-generation apps and automations, there’s content tailored for every role and organization. Learn From the Product Leaders Expect big announcements, deep dives, and roadmap insights from leaders including Jeff Teper, Vasu Jakkal, Charles Lamanna, Rohan Kumar, and Jaime Teevan along with additional guests. Their keynotes will explore the future of collaboration, AI, security, and the Microsoft 365 platform — and how organizations can turn innovation into impact. Hands-On Experiences Attendees can get up close with the latest product capabilities inside the Innovation Hub — our Microsoft booth experience featuring live demos, Copilot workshops, and a full lineup of Lightning Talks throughout the week. The show floor also hosts community spotlights, podcasts, interviews, and creator activations. We’re also celebrating a major milestone: SharePoint’s 25th anniversary, including a special celebration and premiere moment that brings the community together to honor 25 years of innovation. Community at the Center Onsite programming includes the Women in Tech & Allies Luncheon, MVP meetups, NDA roundtables, community led meet & greets, and one on one opportunities to connect with Microsoft product teams. Plus, don’t miss the attendee party at Universal Islands of Adventure — always a highlight of the conference experience! Deep-Dive Workshops Those looking for hands-on, immersive learning can join pre and post-day workshops on April 19, 20 & 24, covering everything from Copilot rollout to Teams Rooms, SharePoint, Viva, security, governance, development, and more. The workshop program is designed to help organizations accelerate adoption and build real world capability fast. Join Us in Orlando Registration is officially live. Save your seat and be part of the worldwide Microsoft 365 community as we explore what’s new, what’s possible, and what’s next. 👉 Register now: https://aka.ms/M365Con26 💸Customer discount available: $150 off with code SAVE150 📅 April 21–23, 2026 📍 Orlando, Florida🌍✨ 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 12th
