MVPs Global Student Innovation: Sprint to Imagine Cup 2026
Introduction Microsoft MVPs played a pivotal role in igniting student creativity through Sprint to Imagine Cup 2026 engagements. These community-driven sessions brought Agentic AI, Azure AI, and Copilot Studio directly to universities and developer communities across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. In many regions with limited access to advanced AI technologies, MVPs bridged the gap through mentorship, hands-on learning, and inspiring demonstrations. What began as local sprints evolved into a global movement democratizing innovation and empowering thousands of students to build their first AI-powered solutions. Story This year’s Sprint to Imagine Cup journey reached diverse countries and communities—including India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark, Spain, Peru, and participants from around the world joining virtually. Every location brought forward inspiring stories of resilience, curiosity, and transformation. In India, MVP Augustine Correa led a 1,000 km tour from Mumbai to Mangaluru. Remote colleges without air conditioning, long travel distances, and high heat did not stop students from attending. Live coding errors became teachable moments as Augustine used AI Agents to collaborate with students, debug code, and accelerate project velocity. Many students left with working prototypes and their first GitHub pull requests. During the Mumbai session at the Microsoft office, student Ajinkya Furange reflected: “Thrilled to share that I successfully took on the first big challenge of my AI journey… This hands‑on workshop boosted my confidence to build impactful AI-driven solutions.” Another participant, Mitansh Jadhav, added: “One of the most eye‑opening concepts was seeing the AI Agent’s decision-making loop in action… We were challenged to solve five labs using Copilot, perfectly simulating real-world problem solving.” In Bangalore and Chennai, MVP Mohamed Azarudeen hosted two Sprint sessions with 250 and 120 participants. Students refined ideas, clarified Imagine Cup pathways, and built early-stage AI projects. Students frequently shared how the sprint turned “I have an idea” into “I know how to move forward.” Across Pakistan and Nepal, MVPs delivered AI workshops on Azure AI, Foundry, Copilot Studio, and Responsible AI—often serving as students’ first exposure to advanced AI technologies. MVP Gulnaz Mushtaq in Pakistan hosted ten Sprint events across major university hubs including Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Nepal’s innovation culture continued as MVP Pradeep Kandel led the Kathmandu Ideathon, engaging 150–200 students from 70 universities. The event strengthened idea development, mentorship pairing, and preparation for Imagine Cup 2026. Also, MVPs Heo Soek, Inhee Lee and Jaeseok Lee in Korea led a successful Sprint at Microsoft Office Seoul allowing students to explore AI startup concepts. A student participant from Korea shared: “In this fast-changing AI era, I was unsure about my direction… but this event helped me understand what kind of talent I should become and find clarity.” Another female student team from a regional Korean university said: “We will prepare for Imagine Cup together—thank you for giving us this opportunity.” A Korean attendee added: “Even though the workshop lasted more than six hours, it was never boring—well‑timed hands‑on labs and activities kept it both fun and meaningful.” In Europe, MVP Thomas Martinsen (Denmark) and MVP Roberto Corella (Spain) expanded the movement with sessions on Copilot extensibility and AI for Business Central. Latin American MVPs Jorge Castaneda, Meerali Naseet and Juan Rafael delivered cybersecurity and Spanish-language AI workshops supporting students across Peru and Costa Rica. Impact Insights Global impact from Sprint to Imagine Cup 2026 has been broad and profound. A total of 70 worldwide events reached an estimated 4,200–5,000 students globally. More than 3,300–4,000 learners engaged directly with Microsoft AI tools such as Azure AI Services, Copilot Studio, and Foundry Agents. Across all regions, 65% of participants attended in-person while 35% joined through online or hybrid formats, including Spanish-language virtual events in Latin America. Social media amplified momentum as students shared prototypes, learnings, and excitement on LinkedIn and X using hashtags such as #SprintToImagineCup, #ImagineCup, #MumTechUp, and #HMNOV25. Many students shared sentiments similar to: “The meeting was very informative and inspiring. I learned a lot about the competition and technologies involved, and I’m excited to begin this journey.” and “Thank you so much… your explanation made everything easier to understand. Looking forward to attending more sessions!” Call to Action / Closing The global Sprint to Imagine Cup movement demonstrates that innovation thrives when community leaders uplift new creators. MVPs are equipping students with the skills, confidence, and AI fluency needed to build solutions for the future. As the Imagine Cup 2026 season continues, now is the perfect time for MVPs and community leaders to host sessions, mentor teams, and amplify student stories—helping shape the next generation of AI innovators. Resources Microsoft Learn – Azure AI: https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/ai Microsoft Copilot Studio: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-copilot-studio GitHub Agentic AI Samples: https://github.com/microsoft Imagine Cup Official Site: https://imaginecup.microsoft.comFrom 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.Tech for Good in Action: Accessibility, AI, and Expanding Our Community Impact
Accessibility is not a niche topic. It is a fundamental aspect of inclusive technology, and a shared responsibility for everyone who builds, teaches, and communicates about tech. This message was at the heart of a recent Global Skills session that brought together Microsoft MVPs and community leaders to explore how technology, AI, and communication can be used as powerful tools for social good. The meeting featured three complementary perspectives: hands-on grassroots initiatives making technology accessible to vulnerable groups, the role of AI in building inclusive systems by design, and the importance of communicating technical knowledge beyond traditional expert audiences. Making Technology Accessible Where It Matters Most Microsoft MVP Navika Chhauda opened the session by sharing her work on making technology and technical education accessible to vulnerable communities in India, focusing on visually impaired students and acid attack survivors. Her community initiatives demonstrated how empathy, persistence, and creativity can bridge gaps that technology alone cannot solve. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Navika began teaching Microsoft Office 365 tools to visually impaired students at a blind school in Delhi through virtual classes. This work came with significant challenges, particularly the limitations of screen readers such as JAWS and the difficulty of conveying visual interfaces in an online environment. To address this, Navika adapted her teaching approach by reading screen content aloud, offering highly personalized guidance, and encouraging peer support among students with partial vision who could assist others during sessions. Beyond foundational digital skills, Navika also mentored visually impaired students in preparing for the Azure AZ-900 certification. Through dedicated guidance and accommodations, two students successfully achieved the certification, becoming among the first visually impaired candidates in India to do so. Her support did not end with certification. Navika continues to mentor these students through ongoing sessions and community events, including visits to Microsoft offices and participation in discussions around AI and disability. Her work also extends to empowering acid attack survivors through various NGOs in India. Recognizing both the lack of resources and the need for practical, job-relevant skills, Navika arranged access to computers and tailored Office 365 training to real-world use cases such as Excel-based billing. She also facilitated interactions between participants and Microsoft professionals, helping to build confidence, exposure, and a sense of belonging within the broader tech ecosystem. Navika openly addressed the challenges of working with vulnerable groups, including limited access to devices, low levels of basic computer literacy, language barriers, and difficulties in outreach. She shared practical strategies to overcome these obstacles, such as collaborating with NGOs, teaching foundational digital skills before moving to advanced tools, and applying for special accommodations for certification exams. Her call to action was clear: more technologists can get involved by volunteering, mentoring, and partnering with organizations that already work closely with underrepresented communities. Building Inclusive Systems with AI Following this grassroots perspective, MVP Abdulrafiu Izuafa shifted the focus to the systemic level, discussing the importance of designing accessible AI systems for persons with disabilities. He emphasized that accessibility is not an edge case, noting that more than 1.3 billion people globally live with disabilities. Exclusion, he explained, is often unintentional, but its impact is profound when accessibility is not considered from the outset. Abdulrafiu highlighted how AI-powered solutions are already transforming accessibility across multiple domains. In visual accessibility, technologies such as image recognition and screen readers enable people with visual impairments to interact more independently with digital content. In hearing accessibility, tools like live captions, sign language avatars, and sound recognition open access to information for people with hearing impairments. In the area of mobility, voice control and eye-tracking technologies provide alternative ways to interact with devices. He shared examples of real-world applications, including his own News Accessibility Platform and Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, to illustrate how AI can translate innovation into tangible impact. Abdulrafiu also outlined Microsoft’s broader investments in accessibility, referencing initiatives such as the AI for Accessibility program, built-in accessibility features across Microsoft 365, and community-focused events like the Ability Summit. The central theme of his talk was advocacy. Abdulrafiu encouraged Microsoft MVPs and technologists to advocate for accessibility as a default requirement, not an afterthought. This includes involving people with disabilities directly in the design process, mentoring others to build inclusive solutions, and normalizing conversations about accessibility within technical communities. The conversation concluded highlighting that inclusive design benefits everyone, not only those with disabilities. Reaching Beyond the Technical Echo Chamber The final part of the session focused on communication and community growth. Micah Heaton explored how Microsoft MVPs can make their technical content more accessible to broader audiences, including non-technical stakeholders such as sellers, customer success managers, and decision-makers who play a critical role in product adoption. Micah observed that MVPs as well as technical experts often create content primarily for other experts, unintentionally excluding what he described as the “forgotten majority.” He argued that improving clarity does not dilute technical expertise. On the contrary, using clear language, reducing jargon, and explaining acronyms can significantly increase the reach and influence of technical content. He also emphasized the importance of supporting real-world adoption by addressing practical questions and trade-offs. This includes being honest about product limitations, discussing realistic implementation scenarios, and helping others explain complex concepts in simple terms. During the discussion, it became clear that MVPs who enable others to learn and succeed play a vital role in building sustainable, inclusive communities. Micah further suggested that more transparent case studies, including imperfect demos and challenges faced during adoption, would help MVPs and customers better understand real-world scenarios. His message aligned closely with the broader theme of the session: accessibility is not only about technology, but also about how knowledge is shared. Moving Forward Together, these conversations highlighted a powerful truth: building accessible and inclusive technology requires action at every level, from grassroots education and AI-driven innovation to thoughtful communication and community advocacy. By combining technical expertise with empathy and openness, the tech community can create solutions that truly work for everyone. Resources Learn more about Microsoft’s approach to inclusive technology: Accessibility Technology & Tools | Microsoft AccessibilityEngineering Without Borders: MVPs and Experts at CognitionX Egypt
CognitionX is a premier seasonal events series happening worldwide and a global community for people who care about depth and accountability in engineering. It brings together AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and software engineering because production systems do not respect silos. Backed by Microsoft MVPs, researchers, and industry experts, CognitionX focuses on knowledge sharing across borders, drawing experts from 35+ countries for practical, technical editions with real-world impact. CognitionX Events are founded and organized by Hazem Ali, a Microsoft AI MVP, Principal AI & ML Engineer / Architect, and Founder & CEO of Skytells. His work sits at the intersection of deep learning and the disciplines that decide whether AI survives production: software architecture, cloud systems, and security. CognitionX Cairo is one edition in the CognitionX Events series. It was hosted at Microsoft Egypt on December 23, 2025. Public announcements around the Cairo edition highlighted a cross-border lineup of 15 featured speakers from 11 countries, including multiple Microsoft MVPs. The topics reflected what modern delivery actually demands: AI alongside cloud and cybersecurity, with sessions aimed at builders who operate real systems. CognitionX Cairo attendees showed up at 9:00 AM even though Microsoft’s office is far from downtown Cairo, which means they didn’t come for convenience. They came because the content was worth the trip and worth the time. That kind of turnout tells you the event hit a real need: serious, engineering-first knowledge that people don’t easily find elsewhere. The event also carried a clear founder signal: a deep commitment to engineering discipline and real production thinking. Hazem shared, “At the next CognitionX AI Conference, we’ll be announcing a new technology designed to let your system evolve and improve itself.” The point was not the headline. The point was the mindset behind it: observe production, connect decisions to evidence, and treat governance and safety as first-class engineering work. Cairo also brought in recognized contributors from the broader Microsoft and security communities. Jamel Abed, a Microsoft MVP and international speaker, participated and later described the room being full early and staying engaged throughout the day. The edition also included experts like Hammad Atta and Ahmed Hussien cybersecurity and AI security specialist known for work in AI governance and agentic AI security frameworks. Impact and Insights Across CognitionX Events, CognitionX Cairo stood out because it respected the audience. The official recap describes engineers challenging assumptions, sketching diagrams, and debating trade-offs instead of consuming motivational slides. That culture is the product: ideas get pressure-tested, patterns get examined, and people leave with clearer mental models they can apply at work. The impact also traveled beyond the technical circle. The CognitionX recap notes notable TV coverage, which helped carry engineering conversations to a wider audience and reinforced a simple message: meaningful AI progress requires depth, discipline, and informed leadership. When decision makers see real discussions about scaling, security, governance, and failure modes, it changes what gets funded and how systems are evaluated. Hazem Ali delivering a deep enterprise AI session at CognitionX Cairo, walking the audience through production-grade architecture decisions across AI, cloud, and security. CognitionX is not a one-off. It is a series that already spans multiple hubs, including editions hosted at Microsoft locations such as Dubai (July 28, 2025) and Cairo (December 23, 2025). For anyone who wants serious learning, the next step is straightforward. Follow CognitionX Events, join the CognitionX community, and attend an edition when it reaches your region. Come with real questions from real systems. Expect clear explanations, not simplifications. Expect AI discussed in context: cloud constraints, software engineering trade-offs, and cybersecurity realities. Join our Community at : https://www.cognitionx.org/en/community That is what CognitionX is optimizing for, and that focus is why the series keeps earning trust from engineers and attention from leaders. Author Bio / Co-Authors Hazem Aliis a Microsoft AI MVP, Principal AI & ML Engineer / Architect, and Founder & CEO of Skytells, and the organizer behind CognitionX Events. Jamel ABED is a Microsoft MVP and Product Evangelist with a passion for developer advocacy. He brings extensive experience in building and nurturing technical communities, helping developers worldwide leverage cutting-edge technologies. Resources https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7410622433864589312/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.
