Where Microsoft’s community comes alive: the Inspire Stage at ESPC25
At ESPC25 (December 1–4 in Dublin) the Inspire Stage returns as a cornerstone of the conference experience—offering a space where personal development, professional growth, and community connection converge. This isn’t just another track; it’s a celebration of the Microsoft community’s spirit, values, and shared journey. A look back: Inspire Stage at ESPC23 and ESPC24 The Inspire Stage first made waves at ESPC23 in Amsterdam, where it hosted the Inspire Awards. This event spotlighted people who made a lasting impact on the Microsoft 365 community. Held right in the EXPO, the high-energy awards ceremony brought together finalists, speakers, and attendees to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impact. At ESPC24 in Stockholm, the Inspire Stage was a hub for 30-minute lightning talks focused on professional development and wellness. Sessions ranged from career coaching and leadership insights to mental health strategies and inclusive practices. The stage also hosted Ask the Experts, where attendees could get real-time advice from the experts themselves. What’s new in 2025: Inspire Stage at ESPC25 Dublin This year, the Inspire Stage at ESPC25 is all set for another great conference. Located in the Expo at the Convention Centre Dublin, it’s designed to help attendees fuel their potential, expand their mindset, and ignite their well-being. What to expect: Development: Talks like “How To Work Like a Brainiac With M365 Copilot – a No-Brainer” and “Managing Your Brand for Career Management” offer practical strategies to elevate your career and adapt to the evolving tech landscape. Wellness: Sessions such as “How To Thrive in Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom” and “The Importance of Tech Mentorship and Tech Communities” provide insights into managing burnout, staying balanced, and finding your community. Ask the Experts: This is your chance to connect with seasoned professionals about personal and professional development, work-life balance, and more! Who you’ll hear from: Jonah Andersson Christian Buckley Heather Cook Karuana Gatimu Melissa Hale Adam Harmetz Caroline Kallin Karoliina Kettukari & Sari Soinoja Sean Lally Dona Sarkar Marjia Siddik Sharon Smith Why it matters: the Microsoft community in action The Inspire Stage is more than a schedule of talks—it’s a reflection of the Microsoft community’s strength and generosity. It’s where MVPs, first-time attendees, and industry leaders come together to listen, learn, support one another, and grow collectively. It’s where hallway conversations turn into career breakthroughs, and where you realize you’re part of something bigger. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. But it’s the community—your community—that brings that mission to life. ESPC25 is your opportunity to connect, grow, and be inspired by the people who make this ecosystem thrive. Learn more about ESPC25 and register today Use the community discount code for: ESPC25COMM (€200 off) See you in Dublin! Heather CookNewsletter - Microsoft Global Community Initiative - November 2025
Microsoft Global Community Initiative Newsletter November 2025 👋Hello MGCI Members around the world, Welcome to this month’s newsletter sharing insights on what’s happening in communities around you. Microsoft Ignite, Nov 17-21 in San Francisco It’s November! Which means, Microsoft Ignite is right around the corner and behind the scenes we are preparing theater sessions and connections pods for our community. Check out the schedule for all community-focused sessions and make sure you don’t miss out on session such as: Tue, Nov 18: Community Connection Pod: Microsoft Global Community Initiative: Connecting People, Powering Impact Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft) & Isidora Katanic (Experts Inside) This session introduces the Microsoft Global Community Initiative and how it empowers individuals to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive change worldwide. Join us to learn how you can participate, lead, and amplify your voice in this global movement. Wed, Nov 19: Community Theater: Women in Tech & Allies: Turning Allyship into Action Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft), Karuana Gatimu (Microsoft), Danielle Moon (Microsoft), Isidora Katanic (Experts Inside), Femke Cornelissen (Wortell) Allyship isn’t a buzzword—it’s a commitment to creating workplaces where everyone can thrive. Join this interactive Community Forum to explore what authentic allyship looks like and why it matters. We’ll share real-world scenarios, practical strategies, and personal stories that highlight how allies can advocate, amplify, and act. Whether you identify as an ally or want to engage allies in your journey, you’ll leave with actionable steps to foster inclusion, challenge bias, and build a culture of equity in tech. Thu, Nov 20: Community Connection Pod: Engage, Connect, Grow: Your Path in the Microsoft Community Speakers: Heather Cook (Microsoft), Jonathan Jones (Microsoft), Shari L. Oswald (PowerUP!Learning), Eric Overfield The Microsoft community is a powerful network of professionals, advocates, and innovators—but where do you start? This interactive session will show you how to get involved, share your expertise, and build your personal brand. Learn best practices from experienced community leaders and discover opportunities to contribute meaningfully. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned participant, you’ll leave inspired and equipped to take your next step. Next General Session – November 18 th Don’t miss out on the next General Session taking place on November 18th. Mark your calendars and join us LIVE for the AM or PM session broadcasted on the Microsoft Tech Community. With updates directly from Ignite and other cool community topics, we are looking forward to welcoming you in this month’s general session with: Topic: Running Events & Building Community in Tough Environments Host: Heather Cook, Principal PM, Microsoft Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft Guest Speakers: Augustine Correa, Biz Talk Lead at CompuCom and Oluwaseyi Oluwawumiju, Management Executive at Convenant Technologies In this session, we explore strategies for executing impactful events in challenging or resource-constrained environments. Speakers will share insights on fostering community resilience and engagement when external conditions are less than ideal. Attendees will leave with practical tools and inspiration to build meaningful connections through events, regardless of circumstance. 📅 November 18 ⏰ 8:10 AM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgAM 📅 November 18 ⏰ 5:10 PM PT - https://aka.ms/MGCIMtgPM Community Spotlight: #CommunityLuv Celebrating 3 years of communitydays.org we would like to shine a light on one of our Board Members Tom Daly’s LinkedIn post. What started as a small idea, turned out to be THE one-stop-shop featuring hundreds of Microsoft tech community events around the world. You can like, share or comment on the post here on LinkedIn. Congratulations, November MVPs! On November 1 st , Microsoft welcomed a selected group of newly awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) into the MVP Program. We love to see this community growing, which is a proof of the commitment out there to communities worldwide. A big congratulations to the newly awarded MVPs! ESPC, Dec 1-4, Dublin here we come! Our MGCI (Board) Members and Microsoft leaders are heading over to Dublin to attend, speak, or staff their sponsor booths at ESPC in Dublin. The conference covers topics around Microsoft 365 & AI technologies and you can still register to attend. More than 3000+ IT enthusiasts will gather together to learn and achieve more with Microsoft 365 & AI. Come join us! MGCI in December ❄️ Join in with a cup of hot chocolate, as our monthly general session will take place on December 16th, right before the winter break starts. Stay tuned as more details will follow in next month's newsletter. Upcoming Events Upcoming Community Led Events Community Days | Fabric Data Days | Nov 4-11 | Hybrid Community Days | Vancouver Microsoft 365 Summit | November 6 | Vancouver, BC, Canada Community Days | MN M365 15TH BI-ANNUAL FALL WORKSHOP DAY | November 7 | Edina, Minnesota Community Days | AI COMMUNITY DAYS - TUNIS | November 8 | Tunis, Tunisia Community Days | COLLABDAYS GREECE 2025 | November 8 | Virtual Community Days | Experts Live Emirates 2025 | November 10-11 | Dubai, UAE Community Days | Viva Engage Festival - APAC | November 12 | APAC Virtual Community Days | Viva Engage Festival - EMEA | November 12 | EMEA Virtual Community Days | Update Conference Prague 2025 | November 13-14 | Prague, Czechia Community Days | Microsoft Ignite 2025 NYC Community Summit | November 17-18 | New York City, NY Community Days | M365 Community Days DC - Microsoft Ignite 2025 Watch Party + Unconference | November 18 | Washington DC Community Days | SmartCloud 365 - 2025 | November 25 | Germany Virtual Community Days | Shift Enter Summit 2025 | November 26 | Mixát, Budapest Microsoft Global Community Initiative Resources We’ve made it easy for you to find all the MGCI resources you need at your fingertips. This space features the PowerPoint decks from our Monthly General Sessions and Event Training Sessions & Office Hours as well all MGCI Event Producer playbooks, checklists and templates. Check it out! Missed last month's events? In case you missed our October events, you can check out the recordings of the General Sessions here: AM General Session PM General Session And the recording of the Event Organizer training here: MGCI Event Organizer Training Sincerely, Your Board Officers Microsoft Global Community 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 Cook
