Get to know the ESPC25 Community Reporters: Your front-row pass to the pulse of the conference!
If you're heading to ESPC25 in Dublin this December, you’re in for enlightening sessions, networking opportunities—and access to the heart of the event through this year’s Community Reporters. These passionate tech leaders will be capturing the energy of ESPC25, conducting interviews, sharing insights—and amplifying the voices of attendees, speakers, and sponsors. Whether you're attending in person or following along remotely, they’ll help you stay connected to the moments that matter most. Meet the incredible team of Community Reporters who will bring ESPC25 to life: 🎤 Jonah Andersson | Jonah is a developer, lead cloud dev-ops engineer, and Microsoft MVP who champions diversity in tech. She's passionate about highlighting the voices of underrepresented communities and the transformative power of Azure and AI. 🎤 Christian Buckley | A veteran of ESPC and a powerhouse in the Microsoft ecosystem, Christian is a Microsoft Regional Director and MVP. He’s known for dynamic interviews and thought-provoking panels. If you want deep insights and lively debates, follow Christian’s coverage. 🎤 Emily Mancini | Emily brings a sharp eye for design and a deep love for collaboration. As a Microsoft MVP and UX champion, she’s passionate about making tech accessible and intuitive. Expect her interviews to spotlight the human side of innovation and the power of inclusive design. 🎤 Jasper Oosterveld | Jasper is a Microsoft MVP and a data security and Microsoft 365 expert with a knack for making complex topics approachable. His coverage will focus on practical takeaways, especially around Microsoft 365 and Teams, helping attendees turn inspiration into action. 🎤 Eric Overfield | Eric is an author, Microsoft MVP and Regional Director, and a recognized authority in AI, Microsoft 365, data insights, and Azure. He’s passionate about bridging the gap between business needs and technical solutions. 🎤 Chirag Patel | Known for his infectious enthusiasm and community-first mindset, Chirag is a Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer who thrives on connecting people and ideas. He’ll be diving into conversations about real-world solutions, modern workplace trends, and the stories behind the tech. 🎤 Zoe Wilson | Zoe is a Microsoft MVP and Regional Director who helps clients leverage the full range of modern work technologies to drive innovation around business problems. Her interviews will explore best practices, security, and how organizations can empower users while staying compliant. Whether you're attending ESPC25 to level up your skills, connect with peers, or explore the future of Microsoft technologies, this year's Community Reporters will be your guide to the conference’s most impactful moments. Stay tuned for updates, follow the coverage, join the conversation, and be part of a community that’s driving innovation forward. We can’t wait to see you in Dublin—and if you’re still deciding, let this be your sign: #ESPC25 is where the Microsoft tech community comes alive. Subscribe to the ESPC YouTube channel https://aka.ms/ESPCYouTubeChannel and we'll have a playlist on our Microsoft Community Learning YouTube channel - https://aka.ms/Community/LearningChannel Register now! - Community discount code: ESPC25COMM (€200 off) Cheers all! HeatherMicrosoft 365 Champion community call | October 2025 | AM
Join our next community call on October 28, 2025, to learn more about how to collaborate within Microsoft Teams channels using Loop Pages. Host: Tiffany Lee Guest: Alice Zhang, Diana Hsu, Constance Gervais, Greg Howard, Alen Delic Moderator: Jessie Hwang 📢 NOTE: our community call format has changed to using Teams webinars to enable more dynamic discussions! Join link is still the same but you must register to be able to join the call when it starts: https://aka.ms/M365ChampionCallAM ⏰ 🗨️ Each call includes an open Q&A discussion section, where you'll have a chance to ask your questions about Microsoft 365. 👋 Join the Microsoft 365 Champion program today! Champions combine technical acumen with people skills to drive meaningful change. Our community calls are open to everyone but only Champions have access to the presentation resources (access link in the initial welcome email and in the monthly newsletters). Join now: https://aka.ms/M365Champions.Recognizing Microsoft MVPs at ESPC25
At ESPC25 in Dublin, Microsoft MVPs will be easy to spot. They will lead tutorials, power “Ask the Experts,” mentor emerging voices, and support hands-on demos across the Innovation Hub. The Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) program recognizes exceptional community leaders for their technical expertise, leadership, public speaking and writing, online influence, and a strong focus on solving real world problems. MVPs also receive early access to Microsoft products and direct communication channels with our product teams, which helps them bring timely, practical guidance back to the community. Why MVPs matter to our community MVPs are a catalyst for learning and connection. They grow technical communities by organizing meetups, welcoming new participants, and championing diversity and inclusion. They amplify expertise through talks, demos, posts, and guides that turn complex topics into repeatable paths to success. They also share product insight from the field, turning customer feedback into opportunities for improvement by telling engineering what works and what needs attention. The outcome is better products, faster adoption, and stronger communities. How to become an MVP You do not apply for the MVP Award directly. You are nominated by a current MVP or by a full time Microsoft employee. If you are active in the community, someone may notice your contributions. You can also be proactive: connect with MVPs in your domain, ask for mentorship and feedback on your portfolio, and participate in MVPled events to contribute and learn. After nomination, you will submit your community work for review. The MVP program team and the relevant product groups evaluate your impact, consistency, and alignment with the program’s values. Learn more: What is a Microsoft MVP? MVP presence at ESPC25 We’re excited to welcome 88 MVPs onsite at ESPC25. You will find MVPs throughout the event experience. Visit the “Ask the Experts” tables for practical Q&A on Microsoft Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Viva, and more. Join MVP meetups to reconnect across regions, share ideas, and celebrate community milestones. Stop by the Innovation Hub for Lightning Talks, Tech Demos, Ideation Lab activities, and the Feedback Lounge. These are hands-on spaces where attendees can experiment, share feedback, and turn ideas into action. MVP sessions at a glance Below is the full set of tutorials and breakouts. Use the conference app for rooms and live updates. Monday — Tutorials (9:00 AM–5:00 PM) Building Custom Agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot — Andrew Connell (MVP, Voitanos, USA), Mark Rackley (MVP, Protiviti, USA) Building effective intranets: The Information Architecture (IA) Blueprint for AI Integration — Susan Hanley (MVP, Susan Hanley LLC, USA) Build Your Own Agent: Copilot Studio in a Day — Joe Griffin (MVP, proMX UK Limited, United Kingdom) Mastering SharePoint Premium from Content AI to Advanced Administration — Vlad Catrinescu (MVP, MCT, Syskit, Canada) Agentageddon and How to Prevent It — Kevin McDonnell (MVP, Avanade, United Kingdom), Zoe Wilson (Microsoft RD, MVP, Kyndryl, United Kingdom) Everything you Wanted to Know About Microsoft Fabric and Power BI, But Were Afraid to Ask — John White (MVP, AvePoint, Canada) Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals Bootcamp — Mike Maadarani (MVP, Taiga AI, Canada), Habib Mankal (MVP, WaveCore IT Inc., Canada) Getting Started with Power Platform & AI on SharePoint — Luise Freese (MVP, M365Princess, Germany) Hacking and Securing Windows Infrastructure — Paula Januszkiewicz (Microsoft RD, MVP, CQURE, Poland) Tuesday 10:15–11:15 AM Building smart agents with Azure AI Foundry — Luise Freese (MVP, Germany) Smarter Contract Management in M365: AI, eSignature & Knowledge Agent — Leon Armston (MVP, United Kingdom) Generative AI: Shaping the future of LowCode and Pro Code Development — Jussi Roine (MVP, Finland) The Oversharing Solution Blueprint — Sara Fennah (MVP, United Kingdom) The Anatomy of an Agent — Kevin McDonnell (MVP, United Kingdom) Cracking the Code of Microsoft 365 Copilot’s ROI — Pieter Op De Beeck (MVP, Belgium) Technical changes in M365 compliance — Tony Redmond (MVP, Ireland) Fireside Chat with Two Recovering Consultants — Karoliina Kettukari (MVP, Finland), Sari Soinoja (MVP, Finland) 11:45 AM–12:45 PM Scaling new heights: Mastering AI with Enterprise Scale AI Factory — Kim Berg (MVP, Sweden) Case Study: 2 years with M365 Copilot — how did we succeed — Karoliina Kettukari (MVP, Finland) Securing Generative AI: A Zero Trust Approach to Deploying Copilot in your Company — Seyfallah Tagrerout (Microsoft RD, MVP, Switzerland) Unleashing the Power of RAG in Copilot Studio: Applications and Best Practices — Rick Van Rousselt (MVP, Belgium) Model Context Protocol vs. Connectors: Rethinking Integration in the Power Platform — Mats Necker (MVP, Germany) You’re Holding it Wrong — Best practices in Power BI Reporting — John White (MVP, Canada) 2:00–3:00 PM How to work like a Brainiac with M365 Copilot — a nobrainer — Caroline Kallin (MVP, Sweden) 3:15–4:15 PM Navigating the AI Agent Landscape: Strategy, Selection, and Use Cases — Foyin OlajideBello (Microsoft RD, MVP, Ireland) From Assessment to Action: Strengthening Microsoft 365 Governance — Christian Buckley (Microsoft RD, MVP, USA) Mastering the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK — Tony Redmond (MVP, Ireland) Navigating Communication Channels in Microsoft 365 for Meaningful Engagement — Emily Mancini (MVP, USA) Testing smarter: Bringing AI into your E2E testing workflows — Elio Struyf (MVP, Belgium) 4:45–5:45 PM Keynote: Hacker’s Perspective on New Risks: Revisiting the Cybersecurity Priorities for 2025 — Paula Januszkiewicz (Microsoft RD, MVP, Poland) Copilot Customization: Choosing Between Copilot Studio & Teams Toolkit — Andrew Connell (MVP, USA), Mark Rackley (MVP, USA) Intune 2025: The Latest Features in Action — Florian Salzmann (MVP, Switzerland) Scaling Azure Applications: From Small Projects to Global Infrastructure — Tiago Costa (MVP, MCT, Portugal) Power Platform Governance: Taming the Wild West! — Agnius Bartninkas (MVP, Lithuania) Wednesday 10:15–11:15 AM Voice AI Agents with OpenAI and Microsoft Teams — Renato Romao (MVP, Ireland) Developing Hybrid Cloud with Azure Local: A Synergy of Bridging OnPremises and Cloud — Jonah Andersson (MVP, Sweden) Beyond the Black Box: Creating Transparent and Ethical Reporting for Microsoft Copilot — Thomas Golles (MVP, Austria), Stephan Bisser (MVP, Austria) From Code Villain to SPFx Hero: SPFx Best Practices for Sustainable Solutions — Dan Toft (MVP, Denmark) Deep dive into Microsoft Security Exposure Management — Jussi Roine (MVP, Finland) Implementing SCIM for MultiTenant Identity Management in M365 and Azure — Rodrigo Pinto (MVP, Portugal) ErrorFree Solutions — Error Handling in Power Apps and Power Automate — Tomasz Poszytek (MVP, Poland), Krzysztof Kania (MVP, Poland) Voices of Change: Real Stories of Mentoring in Action — Keith Atherton (MVP, United Kingdom) 11:45 AM–12:45 PM Elevate Your Intranet: Practical PresentDay Tips for a FutureReady Platform — Susan Hanley (MVP, USA) Use Agents Toolkit to Build Solutions on Microsoft 365 — Bill Ayers (MVP, MCM, MCT, United Kingdom) Accelerate Agent Building with Copilot Studio — AlbertJan Schot (MVP, Netherlands) Microsoft 365 tenant setup & configuration. Been there, done that? — Thomas Vochten (MVP, MCT, Belgium) Defence Against the Dark Arts — Building Rock Solid Entra ID Security Solutions — Andy Malone (MVP, MCT, United Kingdom) Microsoft 365 Copilot Extensibility: Navigating the Possibilities and Pitfalls — Thomas Golles (MVP, Austria), Stephan Bisser (MVP, Austria) 2:00–3:00 PM Automating 2500 RFPs per year with Azure AI Foundry and Azure AI Search — Chris O’Brien (MVP, United Kingdom) Developer challenges in GenAI projects — Stas Lebedenko (MVP, Ukraine) Automating Microsoft 365 Governance — Best Practices to Ensure Compliance — Tobias Maestrini (MVP, Switzerland), Daniel Kordes (MVP, Switzerland) The adventures of a Microsoft 365 Platform Owner — Jasper Oosterveld (MVP, Netherlands) Canvas Apps Mastery: Create Reusable Code — Krzysztof Kania (MVP, Poland) IntuneDriven Approaches to Minimize Local Admin Risks — Simon Skotheimsvik (MVP, Norway) Ask Me Anything: Life at Microsoft & the MVP Journey — Susan Hanley (MVP, USA), Jonah Andersson (MVP, Sweden) 3:15–4:15 PM Taming the Wild West of Generative AI with Purview and Defender — Tatu Seppala (MVP, Finland) Demystifying Agent Types within the Semantic Kernel Framework — Arin Roy (MVP, Netherlands) How to deal with 2.8 million files? — Sari Soinoja (MVP, Finland) Deep Dive on Power BI, Teams and SharePoint — John White (MVP, Canada) Prepare for GenAI and Copilot: Step up your Data Security and Information Governance game! — Bram de Jager (MVP, MCM, Netherlands) Entra ID App registrations — The good, bad and the ugly — Andy Malone (MVP, MCT, United Kingdom) 4:45–5:45 PM Zero Trust — Dope or Nope? — Sami Laiho (MVP, Finland) Utilize a Local LLM to Chat with Your M365 and onpremises Data — Peter Paul Kirschner (MVP, Austria), Guido Zambarda (MVP, Italy) Assess Power Platform Governance, from Results to Action — Edit Kapcari (MVP, Deutschland) AIPowered Content Management Transformation with SharePoint Premium — Eric Overfield (Microsoft RD, MVP, MCT, USA) Securing Your Copilot Agents: Implementing Robust Security Controls — Reshmee Auckloo (MVP, United Kingdom) Looking back: ESPC24 photos and highlights ESPC24 offered a vivid snapshot of community in motion. MVP meetups felt like a reunion of peers who build together. “Ask the Experts” tables turned complex questions into practical next steps. The Microsoft booth was a high energy hub where conversations led to collaboration. The D&I luncheon brought a full room together around inclusion and belonging. Connect with MVPs at ESPC25 Visit the Innovation Hub for Lightning Talks, Tech Demos, Ideation Lab activities, and the Feedback Lounge. Introduce yourself at MVP meetups. Make time for the “Ask the Experts” tables to get tailored guidance for your scenarios. If you are exploring the MVP journey, these touchpoints are ideal for learning more, sharing your portfolio, and asking for mentorship.Microsoft 365 Champion community call | November 2025 | AM
Join our next community call on November 25, 2025, for a recap of what was announced at Microsoft Ignite 2025. Host: Tiffany Lee Moderator: Jessie Hwang 📢 NOTE: our community call format is a Teams webinar so you must register to be able to join the call when it starts: https://aka.ms/M365ChampionCallAM ⏰ As a reminder, the recording will be published on the Driving Adoption community on the Tech Community in about 48 hours after this call. However, only Champion program members have access to the presentation (see the link in your welcome email or the latest newsletter). If you're not a member yet, join here: https://aka.ms/BecomeAChampion. 🗨️ Each call includes an open Q&A discussion section, where you'll have a chance to ask your questions about Microsoft 365. 👋 Was this forwarded to you? Join the Microsoft 365 Champion program today! Champions combine technical acumen with people skills to drive meaningful change. Our community calls are open to everyone but only Champion program members have access to the presentation resources (access link in the initial welcome email and in the monthly newsletters). Join now: https://aka.ms/M365Champions.Microsoft 365 Champion community call | November 2025 | PM
Join our next community call on November 25, 2025, for a recap of what was announced at Microsoft Ignite 2025. Host: Tiffany Lee Moderator: Jessie Hwang 📢 NOTE: our community call format is a Teams webinar so you must register to be able to join the call when it starts: https://aka.ms/M365ChampionCallPM ⏰ 🗨️ Each call includes an open Q&A discussion section, where you'll have a chance to ask your questions about Microsoft 365. 👋 Was this forwarded to you? Join the Microsoft 365 Champion program today! Champions combine technical acumen with people skills to drive meaningful change. Our community calls are open to everyone but only Champion program members have access to the presentation resources (access link in the initial welcome email and in the monthly newsletters). Join now: https://aka.ms/M365Champions.See new Microsoft 365 Copilot insights in Partner Center
Now you can view deeper Copilot data insights that provide a more complete picture of opportunities with customers—all within Partner Center. The latest reporting updates make it easier to explore SMB customer targeting scenarios, analyze whitespace, track agent usage, and uncover where AI-driven growth is gaining traction. Navigate to your enhanced data on Copilot opportunity targeting and agent performance via the Growth Opportunities link or through the Insights workspace in Partner Center. These new views can help you: Discover where customers are adopting Copilot solutions. Spot emerging opportunities across your portfolio. Strengthen sales and service motions with actionable data. Visit our latest blog to learn more, and explore what’s new in our comprehensive documentation in the Copilot section of Growth Opportunities. Get startedAIOps Engineer Blueprint Survey Opportunity
Greetings! Microsoft is considering a certification for AIOps Engineer, and we need your input through our exam blueprinting survey. The blueprint determines how many questions each skill in the exam will be assigned. Please complete the online survey by December 1, 2025. Please also feel free to forward the survey to any colleagues you consider subject matter experts for this certification. If you have any questions, feel free to contact John Sowles at josowles@microsoft.com or Don Tanedo at dtanedo@microsoft.com. AIOps Engineer blueprint survey link: https://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cM8VmV1IeGxxCMm
Microsoft Bookings Incorrect Time Slot Increments
Hello, I am currently trying to set up microsoft bookings as an onboarding scheduler. However it appears that I have run into an issue. I am trying to set up 2-hour increments for each weekday starting at 6 AM and ending at 4PM (the only times that should be available for selection are 6 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM) however after setting time increments/availability in the service details it shows random times that should not be included (i.e, 1 PM, 3:30 PM, 11:30 AM). Is there something within the configuration that I am missing? I would also like to see if there is a way to designate a single calendar for appointments while the second one is only used to check availability. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks.Transitioning from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Business Basic: What Nonprofits Need to Know
As Microsoft begins transitioning out the Business Premium grant for nonprofits, many organizations are reassessing their licensing needs therefore this is an opportunity to streamline operations and continue leveraging powerful tools with Microsoft 365 Business Basic. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ What Is Microsoft 365 Business Basic? Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a cloud-first productivity suite designed for organizations that don’t need desktop Office apps but still want access to essential collaboration and communication tools. It includes: ✅Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook ✅Microsoft Teams for meetings, chat, and collaboration ✅Exchange Online with a 50 GB mailbox per user ✅OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of cloud storage ✅SharePoint Online for document management and team sites It’s a cost-effective solution for nonprofits looking to maintain productivity while reducing licensing expenses. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Change Microsoft has announced the retirement of the Business Premium grant, which previously provided eligible nonprofits with free access to premium features like desktop Office apps, Intune, and advanced security tools. As a result, many organizations are now exploring Business Basic as a cost-effective alternative. Note: If your organization decides to continue using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 75% through Microsoft’s nonprofit pricing. This can be a great option if you still need access to advanced features. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ How to Transition from Business Premium to Business Basic Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the switch smoothly: Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Usage Identify users who don’t need desktop apps or advanced security features. Use the Microsoft 365 admin center to review license assignments and usage patterns. Step 2: Purchase Business Basic Licenses Go to Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Purchase services. Select “Details” next to Microsoft 365 Business Basic and buy the number of licenses you need. Important: Although the process says “purchase,” eligible nonprofits receive the first 300 Business Basic licenses for free. You will not be charged for these licenses, even though they are added through the purchase flow. Step 3: Reassign Licenses Navigate to Users > Active users. For each user, go to Licenses and Apps, uncheck Business Premium, and check Business Basic. Save your changes. Step 4: Remove Unused Premium Licenses Once all users are reassigned, reduce or cancel your Business Premium licenses to avoid unnecessary charges. Go to Billing > Your Products Click on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, then click remove licenses Ensure that users have been unassigned licenses or that may cause an error Step 5: Communicate the Transition Let your team know what’s changing and what tools they’ll still have access to. Offer training or resources to help them adapt to web-based tools. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Premium vs Business Basic Comparison Feature Business Premium Business Basic Desktop versions of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) ✅ ❌ Advanced security features (Microsoft Defender for Business, Microsoft Purview) ✅ ❌ Device management (via Microsoft Intune) ✅ ❌ Access and Publisher (PC only) ✅ ❌ Webinar hosting and attendee tools in Teams ✅ ❌ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ What You’ll Still Have with Business Basic Despite the changes, you’ll retain access to essential tools that support collaboration and productivity: Web and mobile versions of Office apps Microsoft Teams (chat, call, meet with up to 300 attendees) Business-class email with Exchange 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage SharePoint Standard security and support ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Making the Most of Microsoft 365 Business Basic Even without desktop apps, Business Basic offers a robust suite of tools to keep your team connected and productive: ✅ Web-Based Office Apps Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook directly in your browser. Collaborate in real-time with colleagues on shared documents. ✅ Microsoft Teams Host virtual meetings, chat, and collaborate on files. Create channels for departments or projects to streamline communication. ✅ OneDrive and SharePoint Store and share files securely in the cloud. Use version history and co-authoring to improve productivity. ✅ Email and Calendar Access professional email with a 50 GB mailbox via Outlook on the web. Manage calendars and schedule meetings with ease. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Final Thoughts While the retirement of the Business Premium grant may require some adjustments, Microsoft 365 Business Basic still provides essential tools to help your nonprofit thrive. With thoughtful planning and a focus on cloud-based collaboration, you can continue to operate efficiently and make a meaningful impact—without breaking your budget.
