From ESPN to the Spreadsheet Arena: How Excel MVPs Powered the Microsoft Excel World Championship
If you’ve ever watched someone do serious data work in Excel - building a model that feels like magic or using a perfectly crafted LAMBDA to do in one line what used to take a page of helper columns - you already understand the spirit of Excel esports. The Microsoft Excel World Championship (MEWC) turns that spirit into a live competition: timed “cases,” real-time leaderboards, and a crowd that cheers for spreadsheet moves the way sports fans cheer for a buzzer-beater. At the 2025 MEWC Finals (held December 1–3, 2025 at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas), Microsoft MVPs showed up everywhere - on the broadcast desk, behind the scenes writing cases, and throughout the community sharing training tips and “inside tricks.” And in the biggest MVP moment of all, Excel MVP Diarmuid Early took home the world championship title. “The Excel World Championship is a high-stakes, fast-paced competition where top Excel users from around the world solve complex, timed challenges using advanced formulas and strategies.” – MVP Oz du Soleil Meet the Champion: MVP Diarmuid Early Winning the Microsoft Excel World Championship isn’t about memorizing a few formulas - it’s about staying calm under pressure, translating messy scenarios into clean models, and finding the fastest path from question to answer. In 2025, that combination belonged to Diarmuid Early, who battled through a field of elite competitors and emerged as the Microsoft Excel World Champion. One of the most MVP things about this win is what happened after the confetti: Diarmuid has been sharing how he thinks about cases and how he trains. If you want to learn by watching a world-class workflow end-to-end, start with his Road to Las Vegas 2025 video playlist, then check out his behind-the-scenes breakdown video, I won the Excel World Championship by folding Origami in a spreadsheet. It’s part engineering, part creativity - and 100% Excel. Diarmuid’s story also illustrates the bigger point: Excel esports is community-powered. The same people who teach, write, and answer questions every day are the ones shaping the competition - whether they’re designing challenges, explaining strategies on-air, or helping new players level up. Here’s a look at how MVPs helped make MEWC 2025 happen. (left) and MVP Oz du Soleil (right) in the commentary booth, breaking down the action at the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Championship (MECC) 2025. Photo credit: Giles Male On the mic: MVPs bringing Excel esports to the world “I was leaning over the commentators balcony looking out at hundreds of Excel fanatics who had travelled to Vegas to watch other people battle it out on spreadsheets… I just remember looking at Oz, and Oz looking at me, and he said '... we get to do this for a living?? I love my life'.” - MVP Giles Male For many viewers, the first “wait… Excel has a world championship?” moment happens because MEWC is genuinely fun to watch - especially with experts translating the action in real time. MVPs have been front and center on the broadcast, providing commentary that balanced entertainment with the kind of technical clarity only seasoned Excel educators can deliver. Oz du Soleil (Excel on Fire) is a long-time Excel educator known for making advanced concepts approachable - and for bringing serious storyteller energy. As an Excel esports commentator, Oz helps viewers understand not just what competitors are doing, but why their approach works (and when it doesn’t). Giles Male (Full Stack Modeller) brings deep modeling credibility to the desk - and, as he’s shared, sometimes gets the call with almost no notice. That combination of expertise and adaptability is exactly what makes live Excel commentary work. Jon Acampora (Excel Campus) is a familiar voice to many in the community, and his teaching-first mindset shows up perfectly in esports commentary: quick explanations, smart shortcuts, and a constant focus on helping viewers learn while they watch. Tim Heng (Sum Product) adds both technical sharpness and audience-friendly pacing - calling out the “tiny” decisions that separate good solutions from great ones (keyboard efficiency, formula structure, and when to stop polishing and submit). (left) and MVP Tim Heng (right) adding their commentary at the Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025. Photo credit: MVP Celia Alves What makes MEWC different: cases, clocks, and commentary prep “We get the cases a few days early so we can solve them ourselves - and then we map out how to explain the key moves, because the competition moves incredibly fast.” - MVP Oz du Soleil MEWC challenges competitors with timed Excel “cases” - scenario-based problem sets where accuracy, speed, and strategy all matter. The Finals are streamed on YouTube (and have also appeared on ESPN’s The Ocho), which means the broadcast must serve two audiences at once: hardcore Excel nerds who want to see the formula choices, and curious newcomers who just want to understand why the leaderboard is moving so fast. That’s where MVP commentary shines. As MVPs like Oz and Giles have shared, the commentary team typically receives cases in advance, works through solutions, and plans how to explain the key decision points - because once the clock starts, competitors can be done before you’ve even finished reading the question. “I was asked to step in 48 hours before the finals commenced. Which meant I had to try to learn all 9 battle cases in two days… this was all very intense, nerve-wracking, but just an amazing experience and opportunity overall.” - MVP Giles Male Behind the scenes: MVPs designing the puzzles (and sharing the playbook) Great esports needs great “maps.” In MEWC, that means cases that are tricky, fair, and fun - designed to reward strong spreadsheet fundamentals and creative approaches. Several MVPs contribute to the ecosystem that makes those cases possible, including MVPs David Brown, David Fortin Giles Male, Klinsmann Langhanz, Renier Wessels, and Tim Heng who create Excel challenge cases for the competition and for practice. And then there’s the part you can’t put on a scoreboard: the ongoing sharing culture. Around every battle, MVPs and community experts swap approaches, publish walkthroughs, break down solutions on YouTube, and teach the mental models that help competitors get faster. That might look like a new keyboard shortcut habit, a reusable “personal LAMBDA collection,” or a clever way to structure a model so you can answer six questions without rebuilding your logic six times. Why it matters (beyond bragging rights) Excel is one of the most widely used technology platforms on the planet - and yet many people still underestimate what it can do (or what great Excel users can do with it). MEWC puts advanced spreadsheet skills on a public stage and makes them legible: you can see the tradeoffs, the patterns, the creativity, and the discipline. When MVPs are involved at multiple levels - broadcasting, designing, teaching, competing - it sends a clear signal: this is a real craft, and the community around it is generous with knowledge. “Excel [is] the one tool that almost everyone has had to use at some stage in their career… 95% of the conversations I have with people who don’t know about it start with ‘No way… that exists??’ And then you start watching, and it’s just fascinating to see what a top Excel esport player can actually do.” - MVP Giles Male MVP Giles Male Watch it, learn from it, then try it Want to watch before you try it yourself? You’ve got two great options: a quick recap, or the full multi-hour deep dive. Highlights: Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025 Finals Highlights (12:43) Full competition: Microsoft Excel World Championship 2025 – Finals (4:00:54) And, if you’re thinking “My Excel skills aren’t enough,” that’s actually the perfect place to start - because you improve by doing cases, reviewing solutions, and iterating. You can jump in through Excel Esports Online, and explore practice material with sample cases (free) and case studies (fee). Many competitors (including MVPs) also share solution walkthroughs - often complete with explanations and reusable formulas. The pipeline is real: MECC and the next generation of Excel athletes One of the most exciting parts of the Excel esports story is how quickly it’s building a next-gen talent pipeline. Alongside MEWC is the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC), a global competition for college students created by Excel MVP David Brown. It’s an on-ramp for students who want to test their skills, meet the community, and learn in public. If you haven’t read it yet, here’s a great starting point: From the Classroom to Las Vegas: MVP David Brown and the Excel Esports Revolution. Together, MECC and MEWC show how Excel learning can be both rigorous and genuinely fun - whether you’re a student, a seasoned analyst, or someone who loves discovering a cleaner way to write the same logic. Join the Excel community (and learn from the MVPs) Whether you watched MEWC on ESPN, caught a highlights clip on YouTube, or you’re quietly building a practice workbook at 1 a.m., the best part of Excel esports is that it’s welcoming. You don’t need to be “ready.” You just need to be curious - then practice, learn, and repeat. “To future competitors: just start. Don’t wait… You get better by competing. So just get stuck in, and learn from the early experiences which we all have to work through!” - MVP Giles Male If you want to sharpen your skills, trade ideas with other spreadsheet nerds, and learn directly from the people who teach the world’s best Excel techniques, join the Excel community and connect with our Excel MVPs. Start by exploring the championship home base at the Microsoft Excel World Championship website, try a few cases, and then share what you learned - because the fastest way to level up is to learn together.Introducing 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!Building an Agentic, AI-Powered Helpdesk with Agents Framework, Azure, and Microsoft 365
The article describes how to build an agentic, AI-powered helpdesk using Azure, Microsoft 365, and the Microsoft Agent Framework. The goal is to automate ticket handling, enrich requests with AI, and integrate seamlessly with M365 tools like Teams, Planner, and Power Automate.Securing Productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Join the Greek MVP Community hosting Joanna Vathis for an insightful live session about Copilot in M365, Data Protection, Privacy, and Responsible AI Agenda What is Microsoft 365 Copilot? Data Protection Architecture Privacy & Compliance Commitments Responsible AI Practices Security Features & Risk Mitigation Deployment Best Practices Q&A Join for free !Microsoft at TechCon 365, PWRCON, and DATACON– Seattle, WA | June 2025 | Microsoft Event Guide
Having people speak who are actually using the tools in their day-to-day work is invaluable. This is the event to go to if you are really ready to find value in Microsoft. -Conference Attendee Microsoft is happy to be the title sponsor of this great set of events coming up soon in Seattle, Washington. 101 on the TechCon Seattle What: TechCon 365 & PWRCON & DATACON - Seattle o Register today! o Cost | $795-$2695 (Learn more about ticket pricing options) Use the MSCMTY discount code to save $200 USD off registration Content: 150 Speakers (57 from Microsoft) | 49 Workshops | 226 Sessions - with about 15 more expected o Review all sessions + agenda view, workshops, and their full speaker lineup. When & where: June 23- 27, 2025 o In-person: Seattle WA- Seattle Convention Center Twitter & hashtag: @TechCon365 | #TechCon365 Three Conferences. One Unmatched Experience. Welcome to the ultimate Microsoft technology event, where three specialized conferences converge to deliver a powerhouse of learning, inspiration, and innovation. Whether you're a Microsoft 365 champion, a Power Platform enthusiast, or a data-driven decision-maker, TechCon365, PWRCON, and DATACON offer something for everyone — all under one roof. TechCon is dedicated to Microsoft 365 technologies, empowering attendees to maximize workplace productivity and collaboration. Dive into tools like Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Loop, OneNote, Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric and Copilot to master modern digital workplaces. Learn to foster seamless communication, collaboration, and employee engagement. Whether you're looking to optimize your current tools, build apps without code, or analyze data like a pro, this event is built to meet you where you are — and take you further. With cross-conference access, you're not boxed into one track — you create the learning experience that aligns with your goals. A big thank you to David Wilhelm and Sharon Toler and their wonderful production team for putting on such great community focused technical skilling events and for over a decade. Across all three conferences, attendees can: Mix and match sessions to tailor their experience 💡 Learn directly from Microsoft MVPs, product teams, and industry experts Attend in-depth technical sessions and hands-on workshops 🛠 Discover real-world solutions and best practices 📚 Network with like-minded professionals from diverse industries 🌐 Explore the ever-evolving Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power Platform, Azure, and AI ecosystem by connecting with technical experts from the local Microsoft team and a wide range of partners across the Microsoft Partner Network — all in our dynamic exhibit hall. Thank you to Microsoft Community leads Rie Merritt and Stephanie Lawson always for their partnership when we work on events cross-division to support The Best Community in Tech! Microsoft keynotes, sessions, and workshops: Copilot/AI, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Viva, Power Platform, Diversity & Inclusion, and related technology Microsoft keynotes and AMA Listen to Microsoft leadership as they present the latest advancements that are defining the flexible, innovative, and secure business environments of the future. [All times are listed in PDT] Microsoft 365 keynote: “Being a Productivity Changemaker in the Era of AI” Presenters: Karuana Gatimu (Director), Dan Parish (Partner Director of PM), Melissa Torres (Principal PM Manager), and Kendra Springer (Principal GPM). Wednesday, June 25 th , 8:20am – 9:40am PDT | Room: Ballroom 2 Power Platform keynote: “The Future of the Power Platform: Intelligent Apps” Presenter: Evan Lew (Principal GPM), Srihari Srinivasa, (Principal Product Manager, Microsoft Power Apps) Thursday, June 26 th , 8:30am – 9:40am PDT | Room: Ballroom 2 Data Keynote: "Transform Your Data into a Competitive Edge with Azure" Presenters: Shireesh Thota and Bob Ward Wednesday, June 25 th , 12:40pm – 1:40pm PDT | Room: Ballroom 2 Microsoft AMA: Thursday, June 26, 5:20pm – 6:30pm PDT | Room: Ballroom 1 Host: Heather Cook Biz Apps: Reza Assadi, Sigita Cepaitiene, Manpreet Singh, and Navid Azimi Data: Bob Ward, Patrick LeBlanc and Wilson Lee M365: Dan Parrish, Melissa Torres and Karuana Gatimu Register today | Note: Use the MSCMTY discount code to save $200 USD off registration. Local Microsoft Employees are cordially invited On Thursday, June 26th, all Microsoft FTEs are invited to attend the following activities in Ballroom 1 and the Expo Hall. Microsoft AMA Date: Thursday, June 26th | Time: 5:20 PM – 6:30 PM | Location: Ballroom 1 Host: Heather Cook Speakers: Karuana Gatimu, Heather Cook, Dan Parish, Melissa Torres, Bob Ward, Patrick LeBlanc, Wilson Lee, Reza Assadi, Sigita Cepaiti, Manpreet Singh, Navid Azimi The Expo Party Date: Thursday, June 26th | Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm | Location: Expo Hall A casual networking with food and beverages. It's common to have 400-500 attendees present, and they love facetime with Microsoft product makers - YOU. 😁 Any Microsoft FTE 💙 is welcome to attend these two functions - at no cost. Please forward the below unique registration link to your team members who would like to attend: ✅ Click here to register! for the Thursday events - (Note: Ignore the “Promo Code” field) With so many expert-led sessions across TechCon365, PWRCON, and DATACON, there's something for every interest and skill level. Browse the full agenda and start building your personalized schedule today to make the most of your conference experience! TechCon 365 (Microsoft 365) | Microsoft-led breakout sessions Unlock the full potential of Copilot for Microsoft 365 by making sure your organization is technically prepared to lead the AI transformation. These high-impact sessions are packed with up-to-the-minute insights, expert strategies, and real-world best practices to help you get Copilot deployed, adopted, and delivering results. Learn how to harness AI effectively and turn it into a true productivity accelerator for your teams. All times are in Pacific Time Zone PDT "Keynote: Being a Productivity Changemaker in the Era of AI" will be presented by Karuana Gatimu, Melissa Torres, Kendra Springer, Dan Parish on June 25, 2025 at 8:20 AM in Ballroom 2. "Getting Started with M365 Copilot" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 25, 2025 at 10:20 AM in Room 447-448. "Driving Successful Adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs" will be presented by Jessie Hwang on June 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM in Room 445-446. "What’s New in Microsoft Education: Powering the Future of Learning with AI" will be presented by Jethro Seghers on June 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 442. "Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) 🤖 with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26, 2025 at 11:40 AM in Room 435-436. “Inside the Agent DB: Powering Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Unified Data” with Sigita Cepaitiene and Reza Assadi | June 26th 11:40am | Room 447-448 "Getting the most out of Copilot Pages and Notebooks: Introduction and Management Discussion" will be presented by Cora Chen, Sammy Chiu on June 26, 2025 at 10:20 AM in Room 445-446. "AI-Powered Productivity with Surface + Copilot" will be presented by Frank Buchholz on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 421-422. "The Intranet of Tomorrow: Beautiful, Flexible, and AI Ready" will be presented by Melissa Torres, Wende Copfer, Judith Yaaqoubi on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 447-448. "Top 10 Best Practices Every Admin Should Be Doing in M365!" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 435-436. "Your Magical Microsoft Map of Community, Learning and Training" will be presented by Heather Cook, Jessie Hwang on June 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM in Room 445-446. "Build Your Custom Agent for 320M+ Users in Microsoft Teams" will be presented by Carter Gilliam on June 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM in Room 432. "Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace" will be presented by Heather Cook, Joel Frauenheim on June 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 445-446. "Understanding Where AI Is At and Where It Is Going" will be presented by Aria Hanson on June 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM in Room 447-449. "Revolutionizing Content Management Using the Power of AI with Copilot and SharePoint Premium" will be presented by Marco Rocca on June 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM in Room 421-422. PWRCON (Power Platform) | Microsoft-led sessions Explore groundbreaking advancements in AI and learn how vital tools like Power Platform and Fabric can revolutionize your business operations. PWRCON is your gateway to mastering digital transformation, showcasing how Copilot integrates enterprise data and processes for impactful solutions. Engage in keynotes, breakout sessions, and workshops designed to elevate your expertise in real-world application and deployment. With insights from leading experts, you’ll gain the knowledge to drive innovation and achieve measurable success. PWRCON breakout sessions "Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) 🤖 with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26th at 11:40 AM in Room 435-436. "Accelerate your data and app development using Copilot in Dataverse and Power Apps" will be presented by Travis Shu and Prithvi Khosla on June 26th at 2:00 PM in Room 423-424. "Collections with Finance Agents – Extensibility to any ERP" will be presented by Akshay Bhatnagar on June 27th at 10:20 AM in Room 447-448. "Enhancing Employee Experience with Microsoft Viva: A Comprehensive Overview" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 27th at 10:20 AM in Room 431. "Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Copilot Studio and Power Platform" will be presented by Gaurav Sisodia and Muhammad Arrabi on June 27th at 12:30 PM in Room 431. "Secure, Compliant, and Connected: How Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales Manages Your Data and Insights" will be presented by Gaurav Babbar and Manpreet Singh on June 27th at 12:30 PM in Room 340-341. DATACON (Fabric)| Microsoft-led sessions Discover how Microsoft's expert-led sessions will empower data professionals and analysts to unlock the full potential of innovative Azure data solutions. Attendees can expect in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics such as Azure SQL, data warehousing, Microsoft Fabric, and advanced analytics. These sessions will provide practical applications designed to transform raw data into actionable insights, enabling participants to drive smarter decision-making and achieve measurable impact in their organizations. “A Comprehensive Guide to Direct Lake for the Pro Data Modeller with Philip Seamark, Patrick LeBlanc | June 23, 2025 09:00 AM | Room 343 “ETL, KQL, and RTI: Harnessing Data in Motion with Microsoft Fabric” with Matt Gordon, Christopher Schmidt | June 24, 2025 09:00 AM | Room 342 “Query Store and Azure SQL Copilot, who is the fairest in the land?” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 24, 2025 01:30 PM | Room 347 “Maximize efficiency in your data-driven projects by leveraging AI and Copilot technologies.” with Prashant Atri, Tammiraju Prasanth, Prabhjot Kaur | June 24, 2025 01:30 PM | Room 340-341 “Real-Time Intelligence: Turning Streaming Data into Smart Decisions” with Ajeta Singhal, Mou Rakshit | June 25, 2025 08:30 AM | Room 345-346 “Microsoft Fabric: Ultimate Data Security for Robust Data Warehousing” with Jean Joseph | June 25, 2025 08:30 AM | Room 340-341 “Fabric Data Factory: What's New and Roadmap” with Miguel Llopis, Mark Kromer | June 25, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 320-321 “Deep dive into Direct Lake” with Philip Seamark, Patrick LeBlanc | June 25, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 344 “Getting started with SQL database in Fabric” with Bob Ward | June 25, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 348 “Introduction to SQL Server Essential Concepts” with Bradley Ball | June 25, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 343 “Generate self-service governance dashboard using Microsoft Fabric and Purview” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 25, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 340-341 “Innovate without limits with Azure Data” with Bob Ward, Shireesh Thota | June 25, 2025 12:40 PM | Ballroom 2 “PowerBI, DirectQuery and SQL Server. It is a good choice?” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 344 “Learn how to troubleshoot SQL Server like a Microsoft engineer would” with Arvind Shyamsundar | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 347 “Deployments aren’t enough – databases deserve a development process” with Drew Skwiers-Koballa | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 345-346 “Transform your business with integrated solutions using SQL database in Microsoft Fabric” with Pam Lahoud | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 348 “Build an end-to-end data solution with Microsoft Fabric” with Patrick LeBlanc | June 25, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 342 “Everything you need to know about Data Virtualization in Azure SQL Database” with Hugo Queiroz | June 25, 2025 04:00 PM | Room 320-321 “SQL Server 2025: The Enterprise AI ready database” with Bob Ward | June 25, 2025 04:00 PM | Room 343 “SSMS 21 Spotlight: What's new and why it matters” with Makena Barickman | June 25, 2025 04:00 PM | Room 344 “Harness the Power of Microsoft Fabric and Notebooks” with Bradley Ball | June 26, 2025 08:30 AM | Room 345-346 “Real Time Monitoring with Real-life Use Cases using Database Watcher” with Matt Gordon, Daniel Taylor | June 26, 2025 08:30 AM | Room 340-341 “Oracle/SQL to Fabric Migration accelerator” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 26, 2025 08:30 AM | Room 342 “10 Free SQL Databases: Your Playground for AI, Advanced Analytics, and Next-Gen Applications!” with Amar Digamber Patil, Muazma Zahid | June 26, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 348 "Getting the most out of Copilot Pages and Notebooks: Introduction and Management Discussion" will be presented by Cora Chen, Sammy Chiu on June 26, 2025 at 10:20 AM in Room 445-446. Build Your Own Copilot (Jarvis) 🤖 with Copilot Studio" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 26th at 11:40 AM in Room 435-436. “Azure SQL DB Hyperscale: The Definitive Modern Database Choice ” with Aditya Badramraju, Arvind Shyamsundar | June 26, 2025 12:40 PM | Room 348 “Unleash the Power of SQL Database in Fabric: Innovate Without Limits Using the Free Trial” with Amar Digamber Patil, Muazma Zahid, Madhuri Yethirajam | June 26, 2025 12:40 PM | Room 347 “Power BI Storage Modes: The Ultimate Showdown” with Philip Seamark | June 26, 2025 12:40 PM | Room 344 "AI-Powered Productivity with Surface + Copilot" will be presented by Frank Buchholz on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 421-422. "The Intranet of Tomorrow: Beautiful, Flexible, and AI Ready" will be presented by Melissa Torres, Wende Copfer, Judith Yaaqoubi on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 447-448. “Migration Mystery Solved: Moving SSRS and SSAS to Power BI” with Daniel Taylor, Raju Kumar | June 26, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 343 "Top 10 Best Practices Every Admin Should Be Doing in M365!" will be presented by Michelle Gilbert on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 435-436. "Your Magical Microsoft Map of Community, Learning and Training" will be presented by Heather Cook, Jessie Hwang on June 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM in Room 445-446. “Unified DevOps for Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL, and SQL Server with next-gen SQL projects” with Drew Skwiers-Koballa | June 26, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 347 “Data Processing Architecture: Key Design Principles & Considerations” with Jean Joseph | June 26, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 342 “Handling Big Data with Power BI” with Patrick LeBlanc | June 26, 2025 02:00 PM | Room 320-321 "Build Your Custom Agent for 320M+ Users in Microsoft Teams" will be presented by Carter Gilliam on June 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM in Room 432. "Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace" will be presented by Heather Cook, Joel Frauenheim on June 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM in Room 445-446. "Understanding Where AI Is At and Where It Is Going" will be presented by Aria Hanson on June 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM in Room 447-449. “Azure SQL Database Hyperscale elastic pools - a deep-dive” with Arvind Shyamsundar, Aditya Badramraju | June 27, 2025 09:00 AM | Room 320-321 “Supercharge your analytics with Microsoft Fabric Real Time Intelligence” with Christopher Schmidt | June 27, 2025 09:00 AM | Room 344 “AI and SQL ground to cloud to fabric” with Bob Ward, Muazma Zahid | June 27, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 347 “Harnessing the Power of Data Mesh: A Deep Dive into the Four Pillars of Modern Data Architecture” with Jean Joseph | June 27, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 344 “Microsoft Database Docs - Learn about Contributing for your Career” with William Assaf | June 27, 2025 10:20 AM | Room 348 “Collections with Finance Agents – Extensibility to any ERP" will be presented by Akshay Bhatnagar on June 27th at 10:20 AM in Room 447-448. "Enhancing Employee Experience with Microsoft Viva: A Comprehensive Overview" will be presented by Manpreet Singh on June 27th at 10:20 AM in Room 431. "Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales with Copilot Studio and Power Platform" will be presented by Gaurav Sisodia and Muhammad Arrabi on June 27th at 12:30 PM in Room 431. “Build AI Apps Smarter: Optimize SQL Database Costs & Performance in Fabric” with Amar Digamber Patil, Pam Lahoud, Madhuri Yethirajam | June 27, 2025 12:30 PM | Room 347 “Unleashing Modern Data Warehousing: Architecture, Insights & Future Innovations in Fabric Warehouse” with Twinkle Cyril | June 27, 2025 12:30 PM | Room 348 “Mastering Elastic Database Pools: Best Practices and Troubleshooting from Microsoft Support” with Jose Manuel Jurado Diaz, Juan Moreno Romo | June 27, 2025 12:30 PM | Room 348 “Secure, Compliant, and Connected: How Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales Manages Your Data and Insights" will be presented by Gaurav Babbar and Manpreet Singh on June 27th at 12:30 PM in Room 340-341. “Build a Robust App with Fabric SQL Database, GraphQL API, and User Data Functions” with Sunitha Muthukrishna, Ed Lima | June 27, 2025 12:30 PM | Room 344 “Mirroring in Microsoft Fabric - Overview and Roadmap” with Wilson Lee, Maraki Ketema | June 27, 2025 01:50 PM | Room 344 “Indexing Internals for Developers & DBAs” with Bradley Ball | June 27, 2025 01:50 PM | Room 347 “Realtime product review data analysis for Retail using Fabric RTI, Purview and Azure Open AI” with Tammiraju Prasanth, Prashant Atri | June 27, 2025 01:50 PM | Room 340-341 Microsoft Surface Team at TechCon The Microsoft Surface hardware bar at the event will feature hands-on demos of the latest Surface devices, giving attendees a chance to explore their design and performance up close and to meet the Surface product team. Community Activities at TechCon Join us in the Microsoft Zone on the Expo Floor and say hello to speakers and pick up some stickers and learn about our global community programs. Women in Tech and Allies Lunch Moved to Friday: 11:30AM -12:30 PM Room: 447-448 The Women in Tech Allies Lunch is a dedicated space for fostering community, support, and collaboration among women and allies in the tech industry. Attendees can connect over shared experiences, discuss opportunities for advocacy, and build lasting professional relationships. Speakers: Heather Cook, Karuana Gatimu and Rie Merritt Tips for Attendees Introduce Yourself o Your unique insights matter! Engage with others and share your perspective. Participate Fully o Put away your laptops and stay focused. Immerse yourself in sessions for in-depth learning, tips, and tricks. Share your Knowledge o Don’t hesitate to offer your expertise. Sharing what you know can help others and strengthen the community. Ask Questions and Provide Feedback o Your inquiries and suggestions can shape the future of our products. Don’t hold back—your voice matters! Stay Hydrated and Dress Comfortably o Keep your energy up and your mind sharp. Dress for movement to enjoy the full experience. Learn more Visit TechCon365.com/Seattle and follow the action on X/Twitter: @TechCon365, @Microsoft365, @SharePoint, @OneDrive, @MicrosoftTeams, @MSPowerPlat, @Microsoft365Dev, and @MSFTAdoption. We hope to see you in Seattle for an unforgettable experience! This is your chance to dive into the latest innovations, connect with brilliant minds, and gain insights that could reshape your perspective. With inspiring sessions, hands-on learning opportunities, and a vibrant community of tech enthusiasts, this event promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. Don’t just hear about it—be part of it! Mark your calendar and ensure you don’t miss the magic waiting to unfold in the heart of Seattle! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity – register today and take advantage of the exclusive MSCMTY discount to save $200 USD off! Last, take a look at the event experience: See you in Seattle! 🤩 Cheers, Heather Cook
OV Subscription and M365
Hi Microsoft Community, at the Moment we the following situation with one of our Customers from Germany. The customer has two differrent types of contracts at the Moment, one is a M365 contract and the other one is an Open Value Supscription contract. As an attachment to this E-Mail i share the actual licenses of the Customer with you. The customer has the follwing licenses: M365: 1x Dynamics 365 Customer Voice for Teachers 200x Microsoft 365 A3 for Teachers 5600x Microsoft 365 A3 for Students 5x Microsoft 365 A5 for Teachers 100x Microsoft Teams Telefon Standard for Teachers 25x Microsoft Viva-Suite for Teachers 5x Planner for Project Plan 3 for Teachers 3x Planner for Project Plan 5 for Teachers OV- Subscription: 200 FTE; MS Core CAL Client Access License Suite, incl. Software Assurance. 2x MS Exchange Server Standard, incl. Software Assurance. 200 FTE; MS Project Professional incl. Software Assurance 200 FTE; MS Visio Professional Enterprise Device, incl. Software Assurance 25x MS Windows Remote Desktop Services User CAL 1x MS SQL Server Standard Edition, incl. Software Assurance 2x MS SQL Server Standard Core, incl. Software Assurance, 2 Licenses 320 Cores; MS Windows Server Standard, incl. Software Assurance 48 Cores; MS Windows Server Datacenter Core incl. Software Assurance The customer is a school and can participate at the Microsoft Education programm. Since the last partner of the customerdidnt do a good consulting job and wasnt able to answer the questions of the customer properly, he is now very sensitive about some questions he has. Maybe you can help us with those questions too: With the Microsoft 365 A3 License for Teachers or Students there also comes a Windows 10/11 Desktop Operation System Upgrade to Windows 10/11 Education/Enterprise. Is there a proper Operations system like Windows 11 Pro OEM needed to install the Windows 11 Education Edition on the PCs or can the customer also buy Systems without any Microsoft Operation Systems and install the Windows 11 Education license directly on the Device? To open up a Open Value Subscription Contract there are qualified Products needed. In this case its the Microsoft Core CALs. Are they always needed or is it possible to open a Contract without them? Cause the CALs would already been licensed about the Microsoft 365 A3 Licenses. Is it still true, that when you License all FTEs in a Open Value Subscription contract that you can Provide all those Licenese for the Students too, for example: Visio, Project, Windows Server? If yes, how can the Students get those licenses? Is there still a Microsoft Portal where they can sign up with their school account and can Download those Licenses? Thanks for your help. Best regards ChristophClipchamp for Microsoft Education is here: enhancing learning through video creation
We’re excited to announce the launch of Clipchamp for education. In today’s digital landscape, effective communication is paramount. Clipchamp for education equips educators and students with the ability to convey ideas visually, developing essential skills for success that range from the classroom into future careers.
