Starting a User Group: What You Need to Know
I first got involved with the Microsoft Community in 2021 when I was fortunate to be a speaker at the very first South Coast Summit. I got ‘the bug,’ as some people say. I knew I wanted to help others in the community more. I wanted to share what I could to contribute to it and help it grow. I had moved to Reading the same year and wanted to meet and network with others involved in the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform space where I lived. However, I found there was no user group at the time local to me so I reached out to the UK Dynamics 365 and Power Platform User Groups and asked to set up a local user group in Reading with the Group’s help. Finding Your Team Since starting the Reading user group in 2023, we have hosted 4 events a year. We had to change venue 3 times and faced several challenges (did you know vegan pizza comes uncut?). We learned a lot about hosting user group events in the process. I say ‘we’ as running a user group is not a one-person undertaking. It needs a community to get going and keep going. As soon as word got out I was looking to start a Reading User Group, those in the community that knew people local to me (even if they didn’t know me personally) did what they could to help me find some willing supporters. This is one of many examples why this community and the people in it are so wonderful and I am still very grateful for this. I was lucky enough to meet Fraser Dear and Tim Leung who were as excited about starting the Reading User Group as I was and we became the organisers of the Reading User Group. Since then the team has expanded to include Ban Hasan! With the support of the UK Dynamics 365 and Power Platform User Groups we managed to secure a room at the Microsoft offices at Thames Valley Park. Local MVPs Chris Huntingford and Carl Cookson offered to be our first speakers and get the word out to promote our event – what a first speaker line up! Not Everyone will Turn Up As user groups are community events and often free to attendees (and the ones within the UK Dynamics 365 and Power Platform User Groups always are as we have annual sponsors), our Reading user group events were also completely free. We had over 50 people sign up for our first event and I was looking forward to meeting them all! I got to meet about 20 of them. As I found out, with free events there is often a 40-50% drop out as people lose nothing by not showing up. I can’t tell you why people don’t update their RSVP status (don't get me started). All I can tell you is that they don’t. Be prepared for this. Don’t be disheartened if you have a low number of sign-ups and/or a low number of attendees for your first event. It takes time for the word to get out, no user group is a success overnight. What You Need to Know Here I share what you need to know and consider in the areas of: Venue Date and Time Speakers Attendees Promotion Communications On the Day If you remember one thing, make it this: This is supposed to be fun. Running a user group is not supposed to be a second unpaid job you have. If it starts feeling like that, ask for help! Venue When looking for a venue, consider: Capacity – how big do you need your venue to be? Will you have an attendee limit? Sponsor offices – if you have a sponsor(s), do they have a space that can be used free of charge? Business Parks – Is there a local business park that can attract more attendees from the businesses hosted there? Suitability – Does the venue have everything required for a user group (e.g. projector, chairs, tables for food) Availability – does the venue have availability for the date(s) you are expecting to host the user group? (see tips for date/time below) Cost – if the venue is not free of charge, is the cost within your cost limits? Insurance – does the venue need the UG to have it’s own insurance? Transport – Is the venue easy to get to using a variety of transport options? It will limit attendee numbers if not. Parking – Does the venue have parking options/free parking nearby? Accessibility – Is the venue easy to access for those with a disability? Easy to find – Is the venue and room where the UG will be taking place easy to find? If not can you put signs/banners up? Date and Time When choosing the date and time of your user group, consider: Local User Groups – do any of the other local user groups have an event close to that date or on that date? This will reduce attendees and available speakers. Holidays – does the date fall on any important holiday dates that will make attendance lower – e.g. half term/school holidays for parents? Religious Festivals – does the date fall during or close to a religious festival? Consider all faiths here. UG Team – can everyone in your organizing team make the date and be there to support? Timing – is the time of the event going to be convenient for attendees? E.g. Starting at 18:00 so people can get there after work or not finish too late for those that need to get back. Duration – is the duration of the event enough to cover what is planned but not too long of a commitment for attendees? We usually have evening events last between 2-3 hours max. Speakers When looking for and engaging with speakers, consider: Finding Speakers The Community Network – The people you know in the community are part of a vast network of people and MVPs within the community that can be potential speakers – ask for help! Sessionize also has a speaker directory you can utilise. Speaker Form – Make sure you set up a form that potential speakers can fill in to express their interest and promote it to your attendees through a QR code – they could be future speakers! Session Details – Make sure you have a clear title and session description from potential speakers before selecting a session to verify the session is appropriate for the event. Discourage sessions that are to be product sales pitches unless they are an event sponsor. Before the Event Expenses – If you are not covering any speaker expenses make sure your speakers are clear on this before committing. Slide Deck Template – if you have a slide deck template, encourage speakers to use it and at least have the sponsor slide in their presentations (if you have sponsors). Event Details – Make sure speakers are clear on the exact location and timing of the event, particularly if the event is in person. Accessibility - Make sure speakers have checked their slide deck for accessibility and have considered attendee requirements (e.g. having live captions for hearing-impaired attendees). Speakers Sync Call – consider having a planning call with your speakers before the event to answer any questions they have and offer any support they need. Promotion - Ask your speakers to post on their socials about the event. If they feel up to it maybe also to post a short video introducing themselves and their session. Extra points if they include a link to the speaker form and event registration to spread the word! After the Event Appreciation – Speakers spend a lot of time preparing their session, consider giving them a gift (e.g. box of chocolates) at the end as a token of appreciation for their efforts and for their involvement in the event. Photos – Take photos of the speakers as they are presenting and share them with them afterwards. Ask them to post on their socials about the experience and promote the next event (and to include a link to the speaker form!). Attendees Help attendees enjoy the experience! Name Tags – As the organizers, consider wearing the same polos and name tags so you are easy to identify. Also offer attendees name tags (sticky labels always an easy option) to make networking easier. Access/Dietary Requirements – It is worth using the functionality within MeetUp (or other platform of your choice) to ask attendees when registering whether they have any access or dietary requirements. This will allow you to consider these in advance and cater for what is needed. Ice Breaker –Consider having something to act as an ice breaker/help people network while people arrive (e.g. a round of Genius Square anyone?). Swag – Official UG/Microsoft swag for your event (e.g. stickers!) can help promote the UG. This will also give your attendees something to take away with them. Pizza Cutter – Only relevant if you are ordering pizza and someone has an allergy/dietary requirement. Consider having a pizza cutter specifically for this (e.g. gluten free/vegan pizzas) as they often come uncut. Feedback – Consider creating a short feedback form and having a slide at the end with the feedback form QR code. This will help you understand how the event went and what you can do better next time. Promotion Spreading the word is vital. Meetup – If you are using a platform like meetup for your event registrations, make sure you create and announce the event. Microsoft Community – Set up your User Group within the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform community sites to drive awareness and list your events on there (with a link to meetup in the description if you are using that). Socials – Consider setting up a Linkedin page for your user group and add your event on Linkedin as well. As people within the community to share/comment/repost to share the word! You can also set up a Whatsapp Community (or just a chat) to allow instant comms to those interested. Communications Before the event 1 to 2 Weeks Before –The date/time, venue, speakers may have changed since the event was announced so it’s worth sending a message with key information to those already registered for the event one or two weeks before it and asking them to update their RSVP if they can no longer attend. Day Before – Final reminder for the event, asking them again to update their RSVP if they can no longer attend and providing any last-minute information, guidance, contact details for ‘on the day’. After the event Thank You Message – Message sent to all attendees that RSVPed (regardless of whether they attended or not) to thank those that managed to attend for joining and to encourage those that didn’t to join next time! Give a link to the speakers’ LinkedIn profiles and promote the next event for them to sign up. On the Day The big day is here – all the excitement! But don’t forget…. Banners – If you have them, place them strategically so they help people find you. Music – Consider bringing a Bluetooth speaker. Having music on as people come in creates a nice atmosphere! We have even had people from the community play a few songs live. You will be surprised at people's hidden skills. ‘Stuff’ – Refreshments/Ice breakers/Swag, make sure it’s all out there. Slides Reel – Consider having a timed slide show that provides key info to attendees as they wait for the event to start (e.g. today’s agenda/timings, sponsor slide, next event registration QR code, info on the UG team, speaker form QR code). Speakers – Make sure they have everything they need/happy with the set up, big them up if its their first time presenting! Spread the Love – Consider having a closing slide at the end promoting other local UG events or community events your members might be interested in. Have Fun – Take the time to enjoy it all, and if something doesn’t go to plan, there’s always next time. Just keep going! So remember... As you can see, there is a ton of things to consider when looking to put a user group event together. This is why it is a team effort and why you shouldn’t try to do this alone. It is a lot of work. I promise you it’s worth it. You will see the difference it makes to the attendees, to the speakers and to you. Good luck and keep me posted how you get on! I am cheering you on! Author Bio Areti Iles - With over 15 years in the technology sector, I am Head of Professional Services at Telefonica Tech's UK AI Business Solutions division. Over my career as a Dynamics 365 & Power Platform solution architect, I have delivered a wide range of complex projects for FTSE 250/500 companies across several sectors. Outside my job role I am part of Microsoft’s Global UGs Committee representing Europe and Advisory Board member for the UK D365 and Power Platform UGs. I also lead both the Reading D365 and Power Platform UG and London All Day UG and I am on the organizing committee for the Scottish Summit. I host the Power Delivery podcast with two other Microsoft MVPs providing project delivery guidance and am a mentor as part of the Women in Power Platform group. I am also an annual participant of the United Nations UK delegation for the Commission on the Status of Women and speak internationally on AI tools, legislation and their adoption. Resources Reading UG on Dynamics 365 Community Reading UG on Power Platform Community Meetup Events PageWomen For Technical Talks: Building Visibility, Confidence, and Impact
Technical Content and Tracks The agenda reflected a broad and diverse technical scope, structured into four main tracks: Track 1: AI, Cybersecurity, and Economy Track 2: Motivation and Power Platform Track 3: Power BI Track 4: Data and Development with Power Platform The distribution of accepted sessions highlighted strong interest in artificial intelligence and motivation focused topics, alongside core technical areas. Topics such as AI (6 sessions) and Motivation (6 sessions) led the agenda, followed by Data (3), Development (3), Power Platform (2), and Power BI (1). In total, 21 thematic sessions were delivered within this structure. Community Engagement and Live Streaming Reach Attendance and engagement metrics further demonstrated the event’s success. The conference welcomed 291 registered attendees, with a notably high female participation rate of 79.04%, while male participation accounted for 20.96%. This balance illustrates the inclusive nature of the event while remaining open to the broader community. Participants joined from a wide range of countries, with Spain representing 68.04% of attendance, followed by Argentina (5.84%) and Colombia (4.12%). Additional participation came from countries across Europe, Latin America, and North America, including the United States, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Portugal, and others, reflecting the global resonance of the initiative. Live streaming played a key role in amplifying the event’s impact. Chat interactions and real‑time engagement during sessions confirmed strong participation and interest across both days. Presence in Major Technical Events Beyond its own events, Women For Technical Talks (W4TT) has maintained an active presence in major conferences such as Bizz Summit, Power BI Days, .NET events, Global AI events, and other international conferences. In many of these, the community is given a dedicated 10‑minute space to present its mission and activities. These moments have proven especially impactful, as they consistently attract new women who approach the team afterwards to ask how they can participate as future speakers. Learning Moments and Community Anecdotes Like any live event, the journey included learning moments. There were last‑minute track changes and the occasional loss of a speaker, all handled through collaboration and community support. One particularly memorable moment came from reading the live chat, where attendees openly encouraged new speakers. Several first‑time presenters shared how they paused, breathed deeply, and realized—often mid‑session—that they were successfully delivering their talk to a supportive audience. These moments reinforce the emotional and human value behind the numbers. In the words of attendees: - Alba Catoira – “It has been an honor to share this space with so many inspiring professionals, to hear their stories, learn from their journeys, and feel the energy of a community that champions female talent in technology. Heartfelt thanks to the organizers for their dedication and hard work in making this event a success, to the speakers and participants for their generosity in sharing knowledge and experiences, and to the sponsors for supporting initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. I leave feeling inspired and having learned so much.” - Yesarelly Salazar – “What a wonderful experience!!! What once was just an idea has now become a reality. Thank you to Women For Technical Talks (W4TT) for creating these spaces full of learning, to the sponsors for supporting this kind of initiative, and to everyone who dedicated their time to take part.” Looking Ahead: What’s Next for W4TT Women For Technical Talks is already preparing the next steps. The community plans to strengthen its monthly activity, creating a consistent rhythm of engagement and learning. A new in-person conference is planned for June, with a clear goal of increasing the number of participating countries and further reinforcing its international identity. Future priorities also include increasing visibility on social networks, improving the community website, and identifying new needs and formats for monthly activities. Each decision continues to be guided by the same principle that started W4TT: ensuring that more women feel confident, visible, and supported when sharing their technical knowledge.MVP Dominick Raimato Showcases Real-Time Intelligence with Microsoft Fabric & IoT
What Happens When Real‑Time Data Gets Hands‑On? MVP Dominick Raimato Shows Us When you walk into a conference session and someone immediately pulls out a Raspberry Pi, you know you’re in for something fun. And when that someone is Microsoft MVP Dominick Raimato, you’re definitely about to learn something unforgettable. At the PASS Data Community Summit, Dominick showcased in his session how real‑time intelligence becomes real‑world magic - powered by Microsoft Fabric, a few pocket‑sized devices, and a whole lot of creativity. His goal? Make real‑time data feel tangible, interactive, and exciting for everyone - no technical background required. ‑on real‑time intelligence demo with Microsoft Fabric Why Raspberry Pi? Because Seeing Is Believing Dominick didn’t choose Raspberry Pi because it’s trendy. He used it because people learn best when they can touch what they’re learning. Years ago, at The Hershey Company, he and a colleague built a portable IoT‑to‑ML solution that streamed predictions in real time so stakeholders could literally watch data come alive. That same idea - “let people touch the data” - is what inspired him to bring Raspberry Pi into the Microsoft Fabric world. With Fabric, he rebuilt the experience so anyone in the room could influence the data themselves. Tap the device. Trigger events. Watch predictions stream instantly. It’s hands‑on learning meets high‑energy show‑and‑tell. The Demo Challenge No One Sees Coming Conference sessions move fast. Like - really fast. Dominick had just minutes between sessions to set up a network for six devices and connect to a projector. Re‑creating his old Ubuntu‑powered portable network didn’t go smoothly (RIP to the stability issues), but a recommendation for the perfect travel router saved the day. Because of course: behind every great demo is a great piece of travel gear. Explaining Real‑Time Intelligence… Without the Jargon If you’re new to the topic, Dominick has a way of making it all click immediately. Take this example he uses: You get alerts on your phone all day - messages, news, reminders. Now imagine getting a proactive heads‑up that you need an umbrella before stepping outside. That’s real‑time intelligence: constant, instant insights that help you decide what to do right now. Why Real‑Time Data Matters More Than Ever Businesses aren’t waiting for dashboards anymore - they need information as it happens. In healthcare, fraud detection, retail, and manufacturing, a 15‑minute delay isn’t acceptable. In some cases, it’s life‑or‑death. Real‑Time Intelligence enables immediate action: the moment something changes, your system knows - and responds. How Fabric Makes It All Easier Traditionally, real‑time architecture requires stitching together Event Hubs, Stream Analytics, storage containers, ML models, and more. With Microsoft Fabric? You can run the whole pipeline in one place, without spinning up any Azure resources. It’s simpler, faster, and far more accessible - perfect for demos, teaching, and prototyping bold ideas. Real‑World Impact: From Weather Sensors to… Twizzlers? One of Dominick’s favorite examples is a project from his time at Hershey. Using concepts like his demo, their team created a solution to predict Twizzlers product weights during extrusion - helping operators avoid underweights (rework) and overweights (giving away product). The goal wasn’t to replace workers; it was to empower them with real-time insights for better control. You can read more how Hershey used IoT for improved efficiency in making Twizzlers. Want to Try It Yourself? Dominick points newcomers to a few easy, approachable ways to start experimenting: A no‑cost Microsoft Fabric Real-Time Intelligence exercise using Santander Cycles data. His own Raspberry Pi series (in progress!) where you can replicate his demo step by step. No engineering background required - just curiosity. The Future: Data That Moves People Dominick sees a world where event‑driven systems are core to modern analytics. Real‑time dashboards shouldn’t be “hotel art”—interesting to look at but driving no action. The future belongs to insights that trigger immediate decisions, escalating eventually into full automation as organizations mature their data strategy. The Most Underrated Skills for This Work Here’s the part that surprises many aspiring data pros: Dominick says the most important skills aren’t technical at all. Communication, project management, building business cases, and cross‑team collaboration often matter more than coding. Real‑time projects touch many parts of an organization, and success requires navigating that complexity with people skills. One Last Piece of Advice If you’re thinking of taking on a similar project: expect things to go wrong. Dominick’s demo has broken – spectacularly - mid‑presentation three times. But failures are part of innovation. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture and the long-term value your idea can bring. About MVP Dominick Raimato Dominick is a Microsoft MVP recognized for expertise in data analytics and cloud technologies. He’s passionate about making complex topics feel simple, approachable, and - most of all - fun. Through hands‑on demos, real‑world stories, and community contributions, he inspires data professionals to explore the future of real-time intelligence and IoT. Photo credit of Dominick Raimato at Pittsburgh SQL Saturday: MVP Eugene MeidingerRefactoring a Career Through Consistency: TodayCode’s Joeun Park’s MVP Story
Joeun Park’s MVP story is not defined by a single breakthrough, but by decades of steady, intentional progress. With more than 20 years of experience as a developer, she began coding long before developer communities and content platforms became mainstream. Over time, she navigated shifting technologies, industries, and life stages, continuously reshaping her role. After many years as a backend engineer, a major life transition prompted her to expand into data science, content creation, education, and community leadership—ultimately leading to her work as the founder of TodayCode and as a Microsoft MVP. Park’s journey into software development began early. She wrote her first programs in elementary school using GW-BASIC, exploring computers out of pure curiosity rather than career ambition. In middle and high school, she became deeply involved in PC communication communities, where people built things together, shared knowledge, and learned collaboratively. Many of the connections she formed during that time remain active today, with peers still working as developers. She studied Information and Communications Engineering at university and later pursued a master’s degree in Information and Computer Education, originally intending to become a teacher. However, abrupt policy changes drastically reduced hiring for computer teachers nationwide. Faced with a closing door, Park pivoted back to industry—a decision that came with significant challenges. At a time when discriminatory interview questions were commonplace, she reportedly submitted nearly 3,000 applications before securing her first role at an IT company in Korea. From there, her career gained momentum. Over the next decade, she worked as a backend developer across diverse domains, including gaming and advertising. Each transition brought new business contexts and new technical stacks—ASP, PHP, Django, Ruby on Rails—often outside what was considered “mainstream.” Park viewed these shifts not as disadvantages, but as training. She believed that once the core principles of software engineering were understood, adapting to new languages and frameworks was possible. Working in smaller teams, she often took on overlapping roles as a backend engineer, data analyst, and data engineer—experience that would later support her transition into data science. Python Korea User Group for over ten years. These long-term community roles strengthened her belief that sustainable growth happens faster when people learn together. Community involvement was another central pillar of her growth. Park has been active in the Python Korea User Group for over ten years, consistently contributing through knowledge sharing and community engagement. She has also participated in PyCon Korea both as a speaker and as an organizer, helping shape the conference from behind the scenes as well as from the stage. These long-term community roles strengthened her belief that sustainable growth happens faster—and more meaningfully—when people learn together. A major turning point came after two years of parental leave. Upon attempting to return to work, Park faced pressure to resign. While formal processes allowed her to return on paper, there was no longer a team or role prepared for her. Eventually, she chose to leave the company. Rather than viewing this period as a pause, she treated it as preparation. She committed to a personal rule: do something every day. Her “one commit a day” practice—sometimes no more than a single line of text or a comment—became a way to maintain continuity, confidence, and momentum. In 2017, she launched a YouTube channel called TodayCode, meaning “share what you learned today” and “write code today.” What started as a personal learning log quickly evolved into a platform. Her early content focused on hands-on, practical topics such as Kaggle, public data analysis, and applied data workflows—addressing a gap she saw in overly theoretical materials. As the audience grew, so did invitations to teach, consult, and collaborate. TodayCode became a company, and Park’s professional identity expanded to include data scientist, creator, educator, mentor, and community organizer. Her sustained contributions were eventually recognized with her selection as a Microsoft MVP. Park’s impact lies in demonstrating that small, consistent actions can fundamentally reshape a career—especially when setbacks occur. Her daily commit habit is not about visibility or metrics; it is about continuity. Even on days when progress feels minimal, continuing to act builds confidence and keeps learning active. Over time, those small actions compound into real skills, tangible outcomes, and new opportunities. She defines a successful developer as someone who helps others grow. Through YouTube, teaching, mentoring, and long-term community involvement, she has worked to create environments where beginners and non-traditional learners can progress sustainably. Her decade-long engagement with the Python Korea User Group and her contributions to PyCon Korea exemplify this philosophy in practice: knowledge grows when shared, and communities accelerate individual growth. By openly sharing her experiences around parental leave and career disruption, she has also contributed to broader conversations about fairness and sustainability in tech. Her work as an MVP reflects not just technical expertise, but long-term community building. Joeun Park’s story is a reminder that careers can be refactored—sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance—but rarely without consistency. If you are questioning your direction or navigating change, start smaller than you think you need to. Make one commit. Write one note. Share one thing you learned. Those actions add up. And if possible, step into a community. Learning and growing together often changes not just the speed of progress, but its meaning. Resources Todaycode YouTube https://www.youtube.com/todaycode Microsoft MVP Profile https://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/MVP/profile/6e97d5d1-396f-ed11-81ab-000d3a5600fa Book (Co-author): Korean Text Analysis with Python github https://github.com/corazzon https://www.linkedin.com/in/todaycode/DataDay 2025 Bogotá: Connecting Ideas, Creating Opportunities
A Year-Long Journey Culminating in Bogotá Bogotá became the epicenter of data innovation during DataDay 2025, a hybrid event that brought together professionals, enthusiasts, and industry leaders from across Latin America. Organized by Comunidad de Datos and supported by Microsoft, this third edition reaffirmed its mission: “Conectando ideas, creando nuevas oportunidades”. Throughout the year, virtual sessions covered topics such as KPI design, intelligent Excel functions, and automation with AI—setting the stage for the grand finale: a three-day in-person experience at Microsoft’s Bogotá offices on November 20, 21, and 24. The event was free, featuring 9–10 expert-led talks per day, networking sessions, and interactive breaks for meaningful conversations. Highlights & Key Themes This edition showcased speakers from 17 countries, contributing through virtual sessions and in-person talks in Bogotá such as MVPs Sergio Alejandro Campos, John Vergara, Miguel Angel Ramirez Munoz, Victor Roman Castro, Oscar Perez Arauz, Juan Jose Luna Aleixos among many other well-know community speakers addressed topics related to Data Analytics & Visualization using Power BI, Excel Automation & AI for business processes, Microsoft Power Platform tools: Power Apps & Power Automate and even to Geospatial Data and its transformative impact on communities. Event organizers Cristhian Cabra, Angely Andrade, Ana María Guerrero H., Álvaro Rodríguez Lasso and John Alejandro Buitrago. Community and Collaboration The atmosphere was energizing and collaborative, offering opportunities to learn, share, and grow together. This year’s edition was even more special as Microsoft Colombia’s office in Bogotá opened its doors for the event for the first time. Organizers deeply appreciated the support from Microsoft employees and the local facility management team, whose strong commitment ensured an exceptional experience for all attendees. Why DataDay Matters Events like DataDay empower professionals to harness data for strategic decisions, foster innovation, and build networks across borders. With participation from 17 countries, DataDay 2025 showcased the power of collective knowledge and collaboration. In the words of participants: Erika Beltran – “Thank you for opening conversational spaces like DataDay to address important topics and meet amazing Data experts”. Alvaro Rodriguez Laso - Events like this confirm that when we come together with a common purpose, we not only learn more, but also build relationships that strengthen our professional journey. Thank you for being part of this community that believes in the power of collaborative knowledge. Because data isn’t just analyzed—it’s experienced and shared! To join future editions visit the DataDay Official Page for details and stay connected with the community on LinkedIn using #DataDay2025.From the Classroom to Las Vegas: MVP David Brown and the Excel Esports Revolution
What if crunching numbers could land you on a championship stage in Las Vegas? Welcome to the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge (MECC) - where spreadsheets meet esports, and students battle for the championship in Las Vegas! Meet the Visionary: MVP David Brown When the ModelOff competition closed, David Brown, Microsoft MVP and professor, saw a gap for his students. “ModelOff closed and left a void for my students – I had been using it for years as extra credit and enhancement for honors students,” David shares. So, he rallied the Excel community and built MECC to make Excel fun, competitive, and accessible for everyone David’s advice for anyone starting out? “Change expectations – it’s tough to get students involved when they are so busy. And starting at an easier level – simpler, short challenges – getting more people involved that way. Also, letting myself know how much work it was going to be. Although, I am not sure I would have done it if I knew that, and I am glad I did do it.” own (left) with the 2024 MECC individual champion, Benjamin Weber (center) MECC by the Numbers 8,000+ students from 800 schools across 110+ countries participated in MECC 2024 - talk about a global spreadsheet showdown! The Las Vegas Finals welcomed 100+ students from 13 countries for the in-person championship. In 2022, MECC featured 2,730 students from 93 countries and 596 universities/colleges. For 2025, the total prize fund for MECC is $34,050 USD! Finals events include individual and team battles - recently, 64 individuals and 21 teams competed in semi-finals, with 12 individuals and 4 teams advancing to the grand finals. MECC events are streamed live, with tens of thousands watching online and millions of views after the event What Makes MECC Special? Epic team battles are a game-changer. “The team competition is a game changer. It’s so much more than just splitting up a case and solving separate parts. The best teams work together to build a solution together, help each other better understand the problem, and mitigate risks that come up in individual modeling. I think the team competition is the future of Excel Esports,” says David. And the puzzles? “Anything with recursive formulas - maps, capacity estimations (more financial modeling), how important Lambdas. There’s also a famous ‘Lana Banana’ case that may at first seem impossible to solve, until you realize there’s a backwards recursion method to solve it, which is so elegant and beautiful. That was a really great case (but at the pro level),” David recalls. Real-World Impact MECC isn’t just fun - it’s a launchpad for careers. “Yes, multiple students who have secured internships and jobs through our sponsors and many more who use MECC as talking point in interviews,” David notes. Professors are integrating MECC into coursework, and badges earned in competition help students stand out in interviews. MVPs Powering the Community David Brown and other MVPs (plus non-MVPs!) jump in to coach, judge, and energize the Excel community. Their support makes MECC special and helps students reach new heights. As David says:“There is an amazing Excel community – MVPs (and non-MVPs) so willing to help and get involved.” Coaching & Mentoring: MVPs like David Brown, Diarmuid Early and Jon Acampora coach student teams, share strategies, and help competitors level up their skills. Their mentorship and expert advice are invaluable for preparation and competition. Judging & Event Leadership: MVPs serve as judges at MECC finals, using their deep Excel expertise to evaluate solutions and provide feedback. Their involvement elevates the finals and reinforces the MVP program’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports. For example, Oz du Soleil and Giles Male’s presence as commentators elevates the finals by increasing visibility for Excel as a career skill and reinforcing the MVP’s role in shaping the future of Excel education and esports. Community Engagement: MVPs energize the Excel community by organizing panels, Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions, and onboarding initiatives, creating a vibrant, supportive learning environment. Advocacy & Visibility: MVPs bring attention to MECC and Excel esports, inspiring new participants and building awareness of the power of Excel in modern careers. Shaping the Future: MVPs are at the forefront of new trends, integrating AI and Copilot into competitions, and their feedback helps shape the direction of MECC for future generations. Excel Esports: What’s Next? AI and Copilot are entering the mix. “Right now, just can use AI to ask general questions, kind of like advanced googling. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops,” David predicts. “I think it would be really neat for competitors to have to be knowledgeable enough about the AI and what it does well to know what parts of problems to give it and what parts to handle themselves.” David predicts dedicated AI-assisted and AI-free brackets, where knowing how to leverage AI becomes a skill in itself. Want to Feel Like an Excel Pro? Even if you never step on the MECC stage, David’s top tip is to master keyboard shortcuts in Excel! “Keyboarding – navigating the grid with the keyboard (and your desktop – Alt-Tab is a huge tool that still shocks students) and use shortcuts – you’ll speed up your workflow and you’ll start to feel like an Excel Esports athlete while you work – who doesn’t want to feel like a pro?” Ready to Join the Fun? Visit the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge website for details, upcoming events, and ways to get involved. Check out highlights and tutorials on the Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge YouTube Channel for jaw-dropping moments and expert walkthroughs. Follow the MECC Championships on their Livestream: December 02, 2026 - MECC Semi-Finals on YouTube December 03, 2026 - MECC Finals on YouTube While only students can compete in MECC, professors and Excel enthusiasts can get involved as coaches, judges, or mentors to support the event and its participants. Ready to get involved? Start your MECC journey - Students can sign up today to complete assignments for certificates, practice extra challenges, and compete online, while educators can join as College Ambassadors to help innovate student learning.Microsoft MVPs Shine at GitHub Universe 2025
Rob Bos at GitHub Universe 2025 MVPs: Leading, Inspiring, and Innovating at GitHub Universe The GitHub Universe 2025 conference brought together developers, innovators, and community leaders from around the world to explore the future of software development. Microsoft MVPs truly stood out—not only as experts in their fields, but as passionate mentors, trailblazers, and advocates for the power of open source and AI-driven development. From leading high-impact sessions and launching game-changing resources to inspiring the next generation of tech leaders, MVPs played a pivotal role in shaping the conversations and experiences that defined the event. Their energy, expertise, and commitment to sharing knowledge made GitHub Universe 2025 an unforgettable celebration of what’s possible when community comes together to drive the future of software development. Jesse Houwing (left) was featured on a panel of Microsoft MVPs and GitHub Stars Inspiring the Next Generation: MVPs & GitHub Campus Experts Before the main event, MVPs joined the GitHub Campus Experts - university students passionate about community building and open source - for a special pre-day at the GitHub office. MVPs engaged with GitHub Campus Experts - university students passionate about community building and open source - during a special pre-day event at the GitHub office. This gathering was designed to inspire young leaders, recognize their contributions, and encourage them to continue making an impact. MVPs shared stories of their own journeys, emphasizing that community involvement is not just a career milestone but a lifelong commitment to learning, sharing, and growing together. MVP Jesse Houwing shared: “The preday was a way to inspire these young folks. Many people who enter the workforce are scooped up in the torrents of work. This day was part of giving them thanks for their services in the past years and a way to inspire them to continue community building and open-source contributions.” Jesse also emphasized the value of MVPs engaging with student communities: “MVPs and Stars have all contributed to community in one way or form. Public speaking, blogging, open source, community organizing. Many of us have been doing this all throughout our professional careers and were awarded at some point. The award isn't the start, it's a token of appreciation along the way. The Campus Experts are at the start of their career. And our possible future stars and MVPs.” Reflecting on the experience, Houwing added: “I spent a couple of hours on the day one with them, and kept seeing them during the conference days. And later connected over LinkedIn. Many have shared their story and how they were inspired. At the same time, they inspired me. Inspired me to keep sharing, to connect to the younger generations and to learn from their enthusiasm.” Rob Bos (left) andRandy Pagels (right) leading a session, “From prompts to productivity: Lessons learned with GitHub Copilot and agentic AI”. Lessons Learned: From Prompts to Productivity MVPs Randy Pagels and Rob Bos led a dynamic session, “From prompts to productivity: Lessons learned with GitHub Copilot and agentic AI.” The energy in the room was electric, with attendees eager to learn tips for maximizing Copilot’s capabilities. The session emphasized the importance of collaboration - sharing tips and tricks, building internal communities, and supporting each other’s growth. Rob Bos shared about the energy in the room during his session, “It was amazing, lots of people leaning in to learn some of our tips on how we get the most out of Copilot. We got quite some questions afterwards as well, showing the interest on the topic!” When asked how the audience might apply what they learned in their day-to-day development work, Bos added, “I think the message about collaborating on the way you use Copilot and sharing tips and tricks really resonated with the audience. A lot of folks were agreeing and felt supported with our focus on that. They will take that back home and start an internal community of sharing their knowledge.” Randy Pagels, Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub April Yoho (who wrote the foreword in The GitHub Copilot Handbook) and MVP Rob Bos Launching “The GitHub Copilot Handbook” At GitHub Universe 2025, Microsoft MVPs Randy Pagels and Rob Bos unveiled their new book The GitHub Copilot Handbook - a comprehensive guide designed to help developers harness the full potential of AI-assisted coding. This book goes beyond basic code completion, offering practical strategies to apply GitHub Copilot across the entire software development lifecycle. From writing smarter prompts and automating tests to streamlining code reviews and integrating Copilot into IDEs, the handbook equips teams with actionable insights to boost productivity. It also addresses onboarding strategies, building a knowledge-sharing culture, and fostering collaboration through Copilot’s chat and agentic AI features. Why does this matter? As AI becomes central to modern development, this resource empowers developers and organizations to adopt Copilot effectively, reduce friction, and unlock innovation at scale. By launching the book at GitHub Universe—a hub for cutting-edge developer tools - MVPs signal a clear message: AI-driven development isn’t the future; it’s here, and it’s transforming how we build software today. When asked about launching the book at the event, Rob Bos said: “We timed the release with GitHub Universe as that is THE GitHub event of the year. We visit San Francisco every year to be at this event and meet up with the community and our friends at GitHub, and both learn and share more knowledge on the platform. Of course, we shared the new book with the people that have supported us in writing it: April Yoho and Martin Woodward!” Rob also shared what inspired the book and its broader impact: “Over the years we have learned so much from the thousands of engineers we trained on GitHub Copilot and seen a lot of the common pitfalls as well, that we had to share this knowledge for everyone to learn from. What better way to make one cohesive overview that takes engineers from just getting started to an experienced user? And we did not stop there, we also included the basics of Generative AI, as well as how to learn together within a local community of people sharing their lessons learned.” If there’s one key takeaway from the book, Bos continued “You can use GitHub Copilot for more than just coding! We show use cases for everyone in your team that is not an engineer, and share how they can also leverage the tools, just like you, for requirements engineering, writing better user stories, test cases, and much more!” Asked why building a knowledge-sharing culture around Copilot matters for organizations, Bos explained, “The best way to learn Copilot is from sharing, as we all use it in different ways. To prevent being stuck in the way you always have worked, getting some inspiration from other people is key. As trainers, we have learned the most from other trainers and Copilot users in how they think and work with this tool.” Microsoft MVPs continue to set the standard for technical excellence and community leadership. MVPs didn’t just show up – they took the lead, inspired, and elevated the entire GitHub Universe conference experience. Their contributions at GitHub Universe 2025 exemplify the spirit of innovation, mentorship, and collaboration that defines our program and makes our community so special. Thank you to all MVPs for driving excellence, inspiring the next generation of tech leaders and driving the future of software development! Want to learn more about MVP impact? Visit the Microsoft MVP Program Blog and join the conversation!Microsoft MVP Summit
Hello greetings to all members. I have to discuss something very important as you know it's be very good feelings when we became MVP and you guys also know that one of the most important & favorite part that we can attend mvp summit physically & visit Microsoft campus hq at Redmond/ Bellevue it's like our dream come true coz visit Microsoft Redmond campus is everyone wish who love Microsoft. But 2020 to 2022 due to covid it's all become virtual which is heartbreaking coz almost all mvp want to attend mvp summit in real.. It's my request that Microsoft should resume it's MVP summit from next year so we can visit Microsoft campus in Redmond & Bellevue in real & now almost everything become normal, all physical activities resumed so Microsoft also resume the MVP summit & invite those mvp who are vaccinated.. I am very excited for 2023 mvp summit coz I am sure it will be all physical not virtual.Power Platform Community Conference: MVPs, Community, Insights & Inspiration
At the Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC), Microsoft senior leaders, product engineers, and Microsoft MVPs from around the world came together to teach, demo, and answer hundreds of real‑world questions - showcasing how vibrant and hands‑on this community truly is. More than 35 MVPs took the stage across keynotes, breakouts, and the Community Theater - demonstrating the vibrancy, generosity, and hands-on spirit of this community. Why PPCC matters to our community Events like PPCC are where learning becomes momentum. MVPs don’t just present slides - they share production‑tested practices, spark new connections, and lift others up. This year’s conversations ranged from governance on a budget to app performance tuning and the accelerating role of AI‑powered copilots. The result? Attendees left with practical checklists, patterns to adopt on Monday, and a bigger network to call on when they’re stuck. MVP voices from the week MVP Lindsay Shelton presenting a session: From Zero to Governance: One Organization's Journey to Implementing Power Platform Governance At PPCC25, MVP Lindsay Shelton shared what draws her to this conference year after year—and how it continues to shape her work and community impact. “Some of it comes from this being the first big conference I ever attended, back in Orlando the first year, and the amazing time I had and the way it just expanded my horizons about what was possible so vastly. That was actually the message of one of the sessions I delivered this year - a case study about what happened when I came back from the first PP Conf and realized that I wanted to do all of the Power Platform things, but realized that by default, there was no governance in place, so how did I implement basic governance on a budget all by myself.” “Another reason is that I love sharing knowledge forward, and every person who takes the time to say thank you after a workshop or session or ask a question makes all the hard work worth it. Lastly, it's such an amazing group who put on the conference, and they are always a pleasure to work with, so it's my pleasure to submit to speak each year, hope for the best, and get to see so many friends, make new friends, and make new connections!” MVP Keith Atherton presenting his session Full Power! Power App Optimisation The future of Power Platform was a hot topic at PPCC25, and the main keynote didn’t disappoint. MVP Keith Atherton reflected on a pivotal moment when Charles Lamanna, President of Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft, challenged the audience with a bold statement about the evolution of low-code. Keith shares how this announcement—and Microsoft’s investment in generative AI—signals a new era for makers and developers alike: “During the main keynote, Charles Lamanna, President, Business & Industry Copilot at Microsoft made a bold statement that "low-code (as we know it) is dead." While some may have found this shocking - especially when people are expecting a low-code themed conference - it showed how Microsoft is following current trends and investing in generative AI. The Power Platform utilises generative AI to build solutions in a variety of ways as well as provide the hugely popular Copilot Studio product which has the ability to create custom agents. Using features such as Plan Designer, Power Apps Generative Pages and Copilot Studio can accelerate development of solutions like never before, so the future looks bright!” When it comes to optimizing Power Apps, few are as passionate as Keith. We asked Keith what inspired him to return to PPCC as a speaker and what he hoped attendees would take away from his sessions. Here’s how he described his experience and the message behind Full Power! Power App Optimisation, “I was proud to return to PPCC25 as a speaker, this time with two main sessions as well as two sessions at the Community Theater! My main solo session, Full Power! Power App Optimisation, was about how user experience (UX) can make or break adoption of a solution, and a large part of that experience can be the performance of our apps. In my session, I demonstrated various ways to optimise Power Apps to get optimal performance to improve that experience. Hopefully, everyone left my session with knowledge on how to make our apps perform as fast as possible, happier customers, and less support tickets!” Nick Doelman presenting “Creating an App? Start with the Plan Designer, Build with Copilot!” MVP Nick Doelman shared what resonated with him about Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps inspiring keynote on success, failure and mental health. “Microsoft Vice President Sangya Singh’s interview with Michael Phelps really resonated—his discipline, visualization, and adaptability translate directly into how we build. And yes, Plan Designer’s evolution is exciting. Big picture: AI is removing walls between makers and pro devs. Fusion teams can now work tighter and ship faster.” MVP Diego Domingos da Silva and MVP Cat Schneider share about their journey to the MVP Award. Connections were the heartbeat of PPCC - here’s how MVP Cat Schneider experienced it, “One of my favorite things about this conference is the sense of coming home and seeing family. Many of the people that I see at PPCC every year are those that are near and dear to my heart. I might not get but this one week every year to see some of my most favorite people on this planet, and my heart winds up overflowing in love for this community. And every year I leave with more friendships than I started with, whether it's new connections with Microsoft Product Teams, new community friends that I've adopted and introduced around to people they never dreamed of meeting, or finally connecting with other MVPs and community superstars that I've been aware of but just never had an opportunity to meet in person before. This conference is an absolute blessing and joy to attend, and I highly recommend it for anyone working in the Power Platform!” Curious what motivates MVPs to take the stage and share their expertise? Cat shared what inspired her to speak at PPCC, and what key messages she hoped to deliver to the community. Here’s what she said, “Community, first and foremost, and the power that comes from the ease of getting started with the Power Platform, are both the inspiration and key messages from my sessions. I had two community-based sessions and one technical session, but all of them were driven by fully embracing the community and those around you. One session was about being neurodiverse in this space, and letting AI help to unburden the mental workload that comes from having a neurodiverse brain. We talked about the AI tools and resources that have helped us and how they can be used by others. Another session was purely about finding your voice in this community and pushing boundaries to make space for yourself and others. That the journey is different for everyone; it's all about taking a few scary but small steps forward and embracing the uncomfortableness of it all. And the last session was an audience-led session on how easy it is to get started using the Plan Designer tool, that happened to focus on my wardrobe/costume choices for this conference. MVP Julie Yack and I took suggestions from the audience on what to prompt Plan Designer with, and continued to show the ease of use for building upon the plan with help from the associated agents. By the time we finished, we had a plan with users, data tables, apps, flows, and reports ready to start building out, all surrounding my costume closet.” MVP Dian Taylor and MVP David Warner running the Copilot Studio workshop: Recipes for Success: How to Prepare, Cook, and Serve Custom Agents For MVP Dian Taylor, one keynote crystallized the week’s energy - and the shift it signaled for makers. Here’s how Dian describes its impact, “For me personally, the most impactful session at the 2025 Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas was the keynote by Charles Lamanna. It seemed to hit differently this year. His message was clear: intelligence is now abundant, and low code as we know it is gone! I feel like we are stepping into a new era where curiosity fuels creativity, and our ideas have no limits. The lines between business apps are blurring, and the way people get work done is evolving fast. As makers, we’re no longer just building apps, we’re creating full systems that think, connect, and adapt. The speed of innovation right now is unreal, and this keynote perfectly captured that energy. It wasn’t just inspiring, I also believe it was a wake-up call to start thinking differently!” Looking ahead, AI and Copilot are reshaping how we build on the Power Platform - here’s how Dian sees it, “AI and Copilot is already reshaping how we build on the Power Platform today. The focus when building solutions is shifting from “How do I build this?” to “What do I want this to do?” This is a very different way of doing things as ideas can now flow straight from natural language into working solutions. I see Copilot becoming the maker’s right hand (wo)man, handling the repetitive stuff while we focus on logic, design, and experience. I think it's important to understand that this is not about replacing makers; it’s about amplifying them. I believe in the near future we'll start to see fewer boundaries between apps, data, and automation; everything will feel more connected, more intelligent, and more adaptive. Copilot and AI will help us to build systems that learn and evolve, not just apps that execute. Power Platform will become less about tools and more about co-creation with AI.” MVP Christine Flora and a giant Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC MVP Christine Flora connected with other professionals, community members and MVPs in the Community Lounge. She shared, “Working in the community lounge in the Ask-a-Pro area is always such a joy and so inspiring. I love hearing about all the different and diverse ways people and companies are using these tools to solve real world problems. It always energizes me. And if I can help them even a little bit to push that to the next level or get past a road blocker, even better.” Christine shared her thoughts on how she thinks AI and Copilot will influence Power Platform development going forward, “Over the last three years, I’ve really seen the genesis of how AI can not only help non-traditional business makers get into creating very robust solutions for their departments and organizations but how those tools have really evolved from the creating a simple app from literally a drawing on a napkin to full blown enterprise-ready apps.” Christine had great advice for those who were on the fence about attending the Power Platform Community Conference next year. “Try your best to get there next year! Also I would say try to get involved in your local Power Platform user group.” Keep the Momentum Going: Join the Power Platform Community and Grow Your Network If you couldn’t make it to this year’s Power Platform Community Conference, here’s the one thing you should know: the energy, learning, and connections don’t stop when the conference ends. MVP Christine Flora’s advice rings true - try your best to get there next year, but don’t wait to get involved! The Power Platform Community is always open, welcoming new members and helping everyone grow. By joining your local Power Platform user group, you’ll find answers to real-world challenges, discover practical tips you can use right away, and connect with a network of makers, MVPs, and passionate professionals who genuinely want to help each other succeed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push boundaries, there’s a place for you - and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your circle expands. So take that first step: visit the Power Platform Community, jump into the forums, check out upcoming events, and introduce yourself. You never know who you’ll meet or what inspiration you’ll find. The community is waiting to welcome you.
