Building an AI-Powered Personal Companion App with .NET MAUI
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way we build applications. From intelligent assistants and conversational experiences to personalized recommendations and context-aware interactions, developers now have the tools to create applications that understand, assist, and engage users in entirely new ways. In this session, we'll explore how to build an AI-Powered Personal Companion App using .NET MAUI and modern AI services. You'll learn how to combine the power of cross-platform development with cutting-edge AI capabilities to create intelligent applications that run seamlessly across Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. Through practical demonstrations and real-world examples, we'll cover the architecture, design patterns, and development techniques needed to build conversational experiences, integrate Large Language Models (LLMs), manage context and memory, and deliver personalized user experiences. You'll also discover best practices for building scalable, secure, and maintainable AI-powered applications using the .NET ecosystem. Whether you are a .NET developer, mobile developer, software architect, cloud developer, AI enthusiast, or technical leader, this session will help you understand how to bring AI into your applications and deliver smarter experiences to your users. đ Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to stay notified about upcoming Microsoft Zero to Hero sessions, expert talks, and hands-on learning content. What you'll learn: â How to build cross-platform applications with .NET MAUI â How to integrate AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into your applications â How to create conversational and assistant-style user experiences â How to implement memory and context-aware interactions â Best practices for architecting AI-powered applications â Security, privacy, and scalability considerations for AI solutions â Real-world scenarios for personal companion applications How to connect: đ Microsoft Zero to Hero Website: https://microsofthero.com đź Follow Microsoft Zero to Hero on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsofthero đ Continue learning with Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com đş Subscribe for more Microsoft, Azure, AI, Cloud, .NET, Developer Tools, and Microsoft Learn sessions..NET July 2026!
Once again, itâs time for another .NET July in the Microsoft Zero To Hero community! đ Summer is here, and what better way to make it more exciting than by learning from amazing speakers and exploring hot topics from the world of .NET? Get ready for a month full of energy, inspiration, and practical knowledge. Whether you are just starting your journey or already building with .NET, this is a great opportunity to fill your learning backpack with new ideas, real-world insights, and fresh motivation. đ đŞ Join us for another .NET July, where our fantastic speakers will share their experience, knowledge, and passion with the community. Register for the sessions, bring your curiosity, and letâs learn together, the Microsoft Learn way. đ đ˘ Gerald Versluis đ 4th July - 18:00 CETS đ Building an AI-Powered Personal Companion App with .NET MAUI đď¸ https://streamyard.com/watch/SwTyVhW3xAap?wt.mc_id=MVP_350258 đ˘ Rodney Littles, II đ 11th July - 18:00 CEST đ C# Abstractions, the lies they tell us, and the fact your likely still doing it wrong https://streamyard.com/watch/tCnAWpQdNXEw?wt.mc_id=MVP_350258 đ˘ Shaun Lawrence đ 17th July - 18:00 CEST đ Building accessible applications in .NET MAUI đď¸ https://streamyard.com/watch/4wGfGcgZ4BjF?wt.mc_id=MVP_350258 đ˘ Mo Pazooki đ 25th July - 18:00 CEST đ Integrating Microsoft Entra ID with .NET Aspire đď¸ https://streamyard.com/watch/TCFpAjMay7x6?wt.mc_id=MVP_350258 đ˘ Einar Ingebrigtsen đ 31st July - 18:00 CEST đ Event Sourcing - AIs best friend đď¸ https://streamyard.com/watch/i2eSNTjpyvxA?wt.mc_id=MVP_350258Tech, Community, and a Movie: MVPs Help Bring Stir Trek to Life
What happens when you combine a full day of technical learning with a movie theater full of developers, designers, and tech leaders - and a shared commitment to giving back? You get Stir Trek: Tech & a Flick, a one-day community conference in Columbus, Ohio, that ends not with closing slides, but with popcorn and a blockbuster movie. Since its first event in 2009, Stir Trek has built a reputation for being practical, welcoming, and unmistakably different. The format is simple: 50+ sessions of technical content, conversations with regional and national speakers, breakfast, lunch, movie refreshments, and a shared movie screening experience. But the impact goes beyond the agenda. Stir Trek also organizes a MEGA FOOD DRIVE to support local food banks and supports the Stir Scholarship, which provides support for women in Computer Science programs. For Microsoft MVPs, that combination of technical learning, community connection, and service makes Stir Trek a natural place to show up, share knowledge, and help others take their next step. Why MVPs Show Up This year, MVP speakers including Steve Smith, Barret Blake, Robert Fornal, Brian Gorman, Brian McKeiver, Cory House, Ed Charbeneau, Jay Harris, Joseph Guadagno, Matthew-Hope Eland, Sam Basu, and Samuel Gomez brought their expertise to the Stir Trek stage. Their sessions reflected what the MVP community does best: translate real-world experience into practical guidance that helps others learn, build, and grow. For MVP Brian McKeiver, the chance to speak at Stir Trek was also a chance to meet technologists where they are right now. âWhat stood out to me at Stir Trek was the sheer curiosity that almost every person had this year about AI tooling like GitHub Copilot CLI and Microsoft Foundry because everyone is on the same learning curve,â he shared. âWe are all trying to learn tips and tricks, best practices, and what not to do when building AI solutions.â âEveryone is on the same learning curve.â - MVP Brian McKeiver That focus on usefulness is part of what makes the event stand out. Stir Trekâs audience includes people across disciplines and experience levels, from software developers and engineers to designers, IT pros, tech leaders, and aspiring community contributors. For speakers, that means designing sessions that are approachable, relevant, and grounded in what practitioners can apply immediately. MVP Robert Fornal brought that practical focus into his TypeScript session. âThe session I brought to Stir Trek focused on TypeScript, which can be used right now, because I want developers to walk away with tangible improvements to their systems and processes,â he shared. That curiosity reinforced the value of practical, community-led learning. It also showed why MVPs continue to invest their time in events where the audience is ready to engage deeply and learn together - even when showing up requires a significant personal commitment. For MVP Joseph Guadagno, traveling from Arizona to Ohio to speak at Stir Trek was worth it because of the chance to connect with technologists from a different part of the country. âI get to meet technology people from a different part of the country which generally means different viewpoints and problems that need to be solved,â he shared. âThe community impact I hoped to make was to further grow people. I hoped to at least meet and connect to one new person, which I did.â A Conference That Feels Different The movie-theater setting gives Stir Trek a character all its own. Instead of moving through a traditional conference center, attendees spend the day learning in theaters, connecting in shared spaces, and ending the experience together with a film. It creates a rhythm that feels both focused and fun. Brian also pointed to the eventâs unique rhythm. âThe mix of technical sessions, hallway conversations, and a shared movie experience creates a community experience that really is unmatched,â he said. âStir Trek is and always has been a pretty unique conference. The sense of overall community is very strong there.â âThe blend of technical sessions, hallway conversations, and a movie screening creates a community experience that really is unmatched.â - MVP Brian McKeiver That difference matters. The event is memorable not only because of the sessions, but because the structure invites people to stay, talk, laugh, learn, and participate in something shared. It lowers barriers, makes room for connection, and reminds attendees that community can be both purposeful and playful. For Robert Fornal, the format helps keep the focus on learning. âStir Trek feels different from other technical conferences because of its unique theater environment and focused selection of high-quality presentations,â he said. âThe movie-theater format changes the energy of the day by focusing the time on the presentation.â âThe movie theater snack that best captures the spirit of Stir Trek is trail mix, because it has a little bit of everything.â - MVP Kevin Griffin The Community Work Behind the Curtain Stir Trek is also a reminder that great community events do not happen by accident. MVP organizers and community leaders help create the conditions that make the day work - from program planning and speaker coordination to attendee experience and the details that make the event feel welcoming. For organizers like MVP Kevin Griffin and MVP Carey Payette, the work reflects the same community-first mindset that defines the MVP Program. As Carey shared, one lesson from organizing Stir Trek is that accessibility goes beyond ticket price or session variety. âIt is about creating a relaxed, friendly environment where people feel comfortable learning, connecting, and participating at whatever stage of their career they are in,â she said. âStir Trek aims to keep prices low (budget cuts are very real in the tech industry) and offers scholarship tickets for students and the unemployed.â The giving component is central to that mission. Through its annual MEGA FOOD DRIVE and the Stir Scholarship, Stir Trek connects technical learning with tangible community impact. In 2023, attendees donated more than 1,400 pounds of food, and the scholarship program has awarded more than $87,000 to support women in Computer Science programs. Stir Trek - including MVPs Matthew-Hope Eland (second from left, front row), Samuel Gomez (third from left, front row), Carey Payette (right side, front row), Kevin Griffin (second from right, back row), and Steve Smith (right side, back row) Carey also described the impact organizers hope to create beyond the day itself: âA moment from organizing Stir Trek that reminded me why this work matters was hearing that attendees went back to work excited about what they learned. It is even better when those stories include people making professional connections, finding jobs, volunteering year after year, or giving their first tech talk at Stir Trek. That kind of impact makes all the planning worthwhile and proves that you can, in fact, build community inside a movie theater.â âYou can, in fact, build community inside a movie theater.â â MVP Carey Payette Advice for Future Speakers, Organizers, and Community Builders For anyone hoping to get more involved - whether as a future speaker, volunteer, organizer, or attendee - the MVPs emphasized starting with contribution. Attend with curiosity. Ask questions. Share what you are learning. Look for gaps you can help fill. Community impact often begins with one practical step. For organizers, the advice is similar: start with the people you want to serve. âIf a community wanted to create its own tech or shared experience event, I would encourage them to invite the people they would like to see in that environment,â said Kevin Griffin. âA lot of the success of Stir Trek was from us personally reaching out to people that we knew would make Stir Trek an amazing experience.â What They Took Home Like the best community events, Stir Trek sends people home with more than notes from a session. It gives attendees new ideas, new connections, and a reminder that technical communities thrive when people keep showing up for one another. Brian McKeiver said one moment he will remember is the curiosity attendees brought to conversations about AI tooling like GitHub Copilot CLI and Microsoft Foundry. That shared sense of learning reinforced one of Stir Trekâs strengths: people were not just attending sessions; they were comparing experiences, asking practical questions, and learning alongside one another. That mix of practical learning, community care, and shared fun is what makes Stir Trek memorable - and what makes MVP participation so meaningful. Whether they are speaking, organizing, mentoring, or simply making room for someone new to join the conversation, MVPs help events like Stir Trek become more than a day on the calendar. They become a place where community grows. Want to learn more about the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit the MVP Communities website and follow our updates on LinkedIn. Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes â with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.From the Classroom to Community Impact: Lindsay Sheltonâs MVP Journey
Where Curiosity Met Community Lindsay Sheltonâs path to becoming a Microsoft MVP did not begin with a traditional tech resume. It began in the classroom, where she spent a decade teaching middle school English Language Arts before being selected to train as a technology and pre-engineering teacher. What carried her forward was not only technical curiosity, but also a deep belief in sharing knowledge, helping others grow, and building community. Today, that same mindset shapes her work as an Application Programmer, consultant, speaker, and community leader. âIt was through sharing knowledge that I had learned with other teachers that even led me down this pathway and got me to where I am today.â From Teacher to Technologist Technology had always been part of Lindsayâs life. She grew up in a home where her father, a self-taught career switcher, explored HTML, CSS, graphic design, and web design long before career pivots became common conversation. Later, while teaching eighth-grade writing, Lindsay built a paperless classroom so she would not have to carry stacks of essays home. That practical problem-solving mindset led colleagues to seek her out, and soon she was sharing what she had learned while teaching STEM-focused courses. When burnout pushed her to imagine something different, she began looking for a new direction. An unexpected conversation at a community gathering opened the door to a role at a tech consultancy, growing from a lunch meeting into a part-time position and then a full-time opportunity in 2020. As Lindsay found her footing in tech, she also found her people - organizing events, speaking at user groups, and channeling the energy she once brought to teaching into community, collaboration, and helping other technologists solve real-world problems. âItâs not about the size of the crowd, itâs just about the impact really.â Building an Inclusive, Pay-It-Forward Community For Lindsay, the MVP Award represented more than recognition. It affirmed that she was contributing in meaningful ways and gave her more opportunities to advocate for the people she serves. She values how the MVP community helps members connect with product groups, share practical feedback, and influence better outcomes. Just as important, she believes community should be inclusive by design. Lindsay speaks openly about making space for people with different identities, backgrounds, and experiences - and about the responsibility allies have to listen, learn, and support without taking over. That perspective shapes the spaces she helps build and the way she encourages others entering tech from nontraditional paths. Her message is clear: community is strongest when people feel welcome, respected, and encouraged to contribute in their own way. âPeople want to help other people, especially MVPs. If you ask for help and you are given help, then remember to pay it forward.â Finding Her Voice on Stage As Lindsay became more involved in the community, she discovered that speaking was not just a professional skill - it was a way to connect. Her earliest contributions included helping organize SharePoint Saturday in Kansas City and speaking at local user groups, experiences that helped her explore what community leadership could look like outside the classroom. Over time, those smaller moments led to bigger opportunities, including her first international conference appearance at Scottish Summit. What stayed with her was not the size of the audience, but the relationships formed in those rooms. Whether she is presenting to a packed session or a handful of peers, Lindsay approaches every talk as a chance to make someoneâs work a little easier, share a practical lesson, or help another person feel more confident showing up in tech spaces. âIt was more like a jam session than a concert.â Advice for Career Changers and Future MVPs One of the most encouraging parts of Lindsayâs story is how directly it speaks to people who may not see a traditional path into tech. Her advice is practical: say yes to opportunities, even when they seem small or uncertain. Attend the local user group. Go to the networking event. Introduce yourself. Ask questions. Lindsay knows firsthand that career changes can feel intimidating, especially when confidence has not yet caught up with curiosity. But she also believes community can bridge that gap. For those interested in becoming an MVP one day, her example is a reminder that contributions take many formsâspeaking, writing, organizing, mentoring, advocating, and simply helping others solve problems. The common thread is generosity: show up, share what you know, and when someone helps you, pay it forward. âSay yes to networking events, say yes to local user groups... you never know who you're going to meet.â Why This Matters Lindsay Sheltonâs story matters because it challenges a common myth in tech: that there is only one right way to get here. Her journey shows that skills built in other careers - teaching, communication, adaptability, empathy, and problem-solving - can become powerful assets in technical spaces. It also highlights something equally important: community can be a catalyst. For aspiring MVPs, developers, IT Pros, and technologists, Lindsayâs example is a reminder that meaningful contributions do not begin with having all the answers. They begin with curiosity, generosity, and a willingness to participate. In a field that changes quickly, communities grow stronger when people with different experiences feel welcome to learn, share, and lead. Explore Lindsayâs Story - and Your Own Next Step If Lindsay Sheltonâs story resonates with you, let it be a reminder that there is no single path into tech - or into community leadership. Whether you are early in your journey, changing careers, or looking for ways to contribute more deeply, there is value in showing up, learning in public, and helping others along the way. To learn more, visit Lindsayâs existing MVP Profile and LinkedIn, and explore the Microsoft MVP Program to see how community contributions can grow into meaningful impact. Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit theâŻMVP CommunitiesâŻwebsite and follow our updates onâŻLinkedInâŻorâŻ#mvpbuzz. Join us for a future live session throughâŻtheâŻMicrosoft ReactorâŻwhere we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.âŻFrom Showing Up to Lifting Others: Diego Domingos da Silva's MVP Journey
For MVP Diego Domingos da Silva, the journey to becoming a Microsoft MVP was never about collecting credentials. It was about showing up, learning in public, and finding people who made the tech world feel more human. A newer MVP in the program, Diego has built his reputation by helping others make sense of Microsoft 365 with honesty, humor, and heart. Along the way, the community became more than a professional network. It became a place of growth, connection, and supportâand ultimately helped shape both his career and his life. The spark that started it all Diegoâs path into the community started with a challenge from a manager: build a personal brand. At the time, he was working in Washington, D.C. and began experimenting with a blog that would eventually grow into his recognizable voice in the Microsoft 365 space. He attended his first Microsoft 365 Community Conference in Las Vegas shortly after the pandemic, where one session about making community part of your career shifted his perspective. Instead of watching from the back, he moved to the front of the room - curious, observant, and determined to understand how people built careers through sharing what they knew. âI had zero of the knowledge, but I had the curiosity. I went to the front of the room because I wanted to see how it was done.â That curiosity turned into action. After encouragement from community leaders, Diego submitted sessions, spoke at events, and kept returning - not because he was chasing a title, but because he loved the energy of helping others and learning alongside them. He discovered that community work is not only what happens on stage. It is also the invisible work: moving chairs, carrying pizza boxes, welcoming newcomers, and creating spaces where people feel they belong. Over time, mentors encouraged him to keep going, build meaningful contributions, and trust that impact matters more than perfection. Behind the scenes, Diego was also navigating profound personal loss. In that season, the M365 community became far more than a place to talk about technology. It gave him a sense of safety, connection, and stability when he needed it most. That experience shaped the way he shows up today: candid, welcoming, and committed to making space for other peopleâs stories as well as their technical growth. âCommunity wasnât just my escape. Community was my lifeline. It was my safe space.â and the Microsoft sign in Redmond, Washington at MVP Summit What impact really looks like One of Diegoâs biggest lessons is that community impact is rarely about knowing everything. It is about listening well, staying humble, and helping people connect to the knowledge they need. That mindset has shaped how he contributes today as a Microsoft MVP in the M365 category, with a focus on SharePoint and M365 Copilot. On his Microsoft MVP profile, Diego describes his work as âflipping the script in M365 with SharePoint, Copilot, and the power of community,â a phrase that reflects both his technical focus and his people-first approach. He also believes belonging grows when people bring their full selves into the room. That is part of what motivates his work to foster visibility and connection for underrepresented groups in tech spaces. Whether he is mentoring, speaking, blogging, or simply starting conversations that help people feel less intimidated, Diego keeps coming back to the same idea: meaningful community is built one generous interaction at a time. âI do not know everything, but I know everyone who knows somethingâand I can help you get the information you need.â Alongside his work in mentorship and storytelling, Diego is also actively creating new spaces for connection. Inspired by an LGBTQIA+ meetup at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference - organized with very little notice but still drawing a meaningful group - he recognized a deeper need within the ecosystem. That moment sparked the creation of Pride in M365, a community for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies across Microsoft 365, Power Platform, AI, and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. The group focuses on building connection, visibility, mentorship, and support through shared experiences and community conversations - with a clear message that everyone is welcome. For Diego, the goal is simple but powerful: carry the energy of those in-person moments forward so that connection doesnât start from scratch at every event. By creating a consistent space between conferences, Pride in M365 helps people show up already knowing they belong - and already recognizing a few familiar faces. âIf we can keep those conversations going between events, then by the time we show up at the next conference, we already know each other. Thatâs the goal - to make the community easier to find, easier to join, and a little more welcoming for everyone.â LGBTQIA+ meetup at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference. Keep showing up If you are thinking about becoming a Microsoft MVP, Diegoâs advice is refreshingly practical: pick something you genuinely enjoy, stay curious, and keep showing up. Expertise grows over time, but authenticity, empathy, and consistency are what help build trust. To learn more about Diegoâs work, visit his Microsoft MVP profile and LinkedIn page, and explore the Microsoft MVP Program to see how community contributions can open doors - not just professionally, but personally too. Connect with the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform Community and Microsoft 365 Community Hub. âEvery day will be happier than the day before.â (Left to right) MVPs Jeremy Sinclair,Diego Domingos da Silva,Sucheta Gawade, andAgnieszka Maria Mietz-Blijleven on a Mentoring Ring panel at MVP Summit Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit theâŻMVP CommunitiesâŻwebsite and follow our updates onâŻLinkedInâŻorâŻ#mvpbuzz. Join us for a future live session throughâŻtheâŻMicrosoft ReactorâŻwhere we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.âŻMVP Mentoring Rings: Where Community Becomes a Catalyst
What if mentoring did not start with matching one expert to one learner, but with bringing a small circle of community leaders together to learn out loud? That is the idea behind MVP Mentoring Rings: small, community-led groups where Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) share experience, ask honest questions, and help one another grow. Unlike traditional one-to-one mentoring, Mentoring Rings are built around collective learning. The result is a model that feels both practical and deeply human - especially in a global community where connection across regions, languages, and experiences matters. Across the MVP community, Mentoring Rings have created space for something powerful: technologists showing up not just to teach, but to listen, encourage, and lead alongside one another. In a fast-moving industry, that kind of peer support can make all the difference. More than mentoring: a circle of shared momentum MVP Mentoring Rings were created to address a real need: even in a vibrant technical community, people can still feel isolated. The ring model offers a different path forward. Each group is intentionally small, guided by MVP Mentor Leads, and designed for recurring conversations rather than one-off advice. MVPs learn from one another through shared experiences, practical problem-solving, and accountability that grows over time. Why did MVPs participate? For many, it was about finding community as much as guidance. Some joined to better understand how to contribute in ways that felt authentic. Others wanted a space to navigate visibility, leadership, or the challenge of translating deep technical expertise into content, talks, demos, and impact for others. MVP Mentor Leads participated for another reason too: to give back in a way that scales generosity and multiplies belonging. When MVPs show up, others rise The most inspiring part of Mentoring Rings is how MVPs showed up for each other. They did not arrive as polished experts with all the answers. They came ready to be open, practical, and encouraging. MVP Christine Flora, who led a Women in the MVP Program Ring, described the experience this way: âLeading a Women in the MVP Program Ring reinforced how important representation, examples of someone like yourself, and showing up as your authentic self is for confidence and connection - especially when battling imposter syndrome.â That theme surfaced again and again: confidence grows when people feel seen. In Christineâs ring, one meaningful shift was helping participants move beyond the idea that they had to contribute exactly like someone else. As she shared, a major win was watching members realize âthere are many, many ways to contribute and give to the community that fit their styles and personality types.â That is a powerful message for aspiring contributors and current MVPs alike: community leadership is not about copying a formula. It is about discovering your own voice and using it to help others. Confidence grows in spaces built for trust For MVP Sucheta Gawade, the value of the ring was rooted in psychological safety and clarity. She reflected that leading a ring reinforced the importance of âa psychologically safe, technical peer spaceâ where MVPs from different domains could turn uncertainty into action. In her experience, mentoring became more than encouragement; it became a structured way to help people transform expertise into community-ready contributions such as talks, blogs, demos, and frameworks. That same sense of safety came through in MVP Agnieszka Mietz-Blijlevenâs experience as a mentee. What surprised her most was how quickly trust and openness formed, even among people who had never met before. In that environment, she said, âreal experience mattered more than titlesâ and honest reflection began to feel natural. Sucheta also saw quiet hesitation turn into confident engagement. One of her proudest wins as a Mentoring Ring Lead was helping her group move from âI am not sure what counts as technical contributionsâ to a clear, trackable plan for how they could participate. That kind of progress matters because it changes how people see themselves - not just as community members, but as future speakers, writers, mentors, and leaders. Agnieszka described a similar shift from the mentee side. The ring helped her recognize that she could support others not only through empathy, but through the strength of her own experience and skills. As she put it, the experience moved her mindset from wondering whether she was doing enough to recognizing that she already brought value - and could build on it with intention. Belonging sounds different in every language One of the strongest lessons from Mentoring Rings is that accessibility is not only about time zones or format. It is also about language, representation, and whether people feel safe enough to participate fully. MVP Ivana Tilca, who led a New to the MVP Program ring and a Women in Tech ring in Spanish, saw how quickly those layers intersected. She shared that one of the most powerful themes in her conversations was the hesitation some women felt about asking questions or speaking up because they were often among the few women in the room - and in some cases were also navigating events and meetings in a language that was not their own. That experience, she said, changed how she thinks about community events: inclusivity cannot be an afterthought; it has to be meaningfully designed in from the start. Ivana also reflected on what changed when conversations happened in Spanish. Having grown up bilingual, she said she had not always seen language as a barrier. But through the ring, she realized how much harder technical instructions, outreach, and even simple follow-up could feel for others. As she put it, âNot everyone speaks or understands English,â and for some MVPs, the language gap made âsending a simple inquiry or email feel nearly impossibleâ - especially when reaching out to Microsoft employees already felt intimidating. That perspective sits alongside what MVP Walter E Calcagno Lucares described in the Spanish-language ring: âNot having to translate my thoughts in real time allowed me to express myself with greater clarity and depth, which led to more strategic and meaningful conversations.â Together, their experiences make the case clearly: language-inclusive mentoring does more than remove friction. It creates trust, confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging. From the ring to the stage: Mentoring Rings at MVP Summit The momentum behind Mentoring Rings was also visible at MVP Summit in the session MVP Mentoring Rings: Learn, Grow, Connect. The session brought the spirit of the rings to a wider audience by centering real stories from mentors and mentees - what worked, what surprised them, and how mentoring helped both sides grow. It reinforced an important truth: mentoring in the MVP community is not one-directional. It is a shared experience that builds confidence, connection, and practical wisdom for everyone involved. Agnieszka Mietz-Blijleven captured that spirit by describing a meaningful moment from her ring: realizing how much wisdom can come from âa simple, honest conversation shared at exactly the right time.â For her, mentoring also brought perspective - showing how differently people can respond to the same situation and how often the hardest work is learning to stop criticizing yourself. Diego Domingos da Silva, Agnieszka Mietz-Blijleven, Sucheta Gawade (left to right) Designed to leave attendees with practical tips they could use right away, the session explored how to be a thoughtful mentor, how to get more from the mentee experience, and how to build meaningful, supportive relationships in the community. MVP Diego Domingos da Silva helped bring that message to life by reframing mentoring as something far more human than a formal exchange of answers. As he shared, he joined as a mentee expecting guidance but instead found âsomething closer to a support group of like-minded people in the community, sharing real experiences without the pressure of a work setting.â His reflection captures what made the MVP Summit panel resonate: mentoring was not presented as hierarchy, but as honest connection. Diego also spoke to the kind of growth that happens in these spaces. Rather than coming only from a perfectly mapped plan, he described growth as something that often takes shape through shared stories - hearing how others handled uncertainty, setbacks, and opportunity, and realizing you are not the only one figuring it out as you go. That perspective reinforced one of the panelâs strongest themes: mentoring creates momentum not because it removes uncertainty, but because it helps people move through it together. MVP Jeremy Sinclair added another important dimension to the panel: the idea that mentoring becomes most powerful when it is reciprocal. For him, the experience was not only about guiding others, but also about paying close attention to the ways mentees were already learning, contributing, and growing in their day-to-day work. His reflection underscored one of the sessionâs most resonant takeaways - that the best mentoring spaces create room for everyone to teach and everyone to learn. Agnieszka also connected mentoring to a very practical kind of growth: confidence in public speaking. She reflected that mentoring strengthened her on-stage presence by helping her stay steady in front of a live audience, navigate real-time reactions, and move through troubleshooting moments with diligence and calm. That kind of growth shows how mentoring does not stay inside the ring - it carries into talks, demos, and the visible moments where community leaders share what they know. The invitation: learn, lead, and lift someone else up MVP Mentoring Rings show what is possible when community leadership is shared. They help technologists grow their confidence, expand their networks, and see new possibilities for how they can contribute. They remind current MVPs that mentorship is not a side activity - it is part of how strong communities sustain themselves. As Agnieszka Mietz-Blijleven reflected, the rings create âcontinuity, confidence, and a culture of giving back.â And for aspiring MVPs, they offer a glimpse of what this community is really about: generosity, curiosity, and the willingness to help others thrive. If you are inspired by these stories, take the next step. Learn from the MVPs who are investing in others through Mentoring Rings. Look for ways to actively support and uplift people in your own tech community. Reflect on how you can be an ally - especially for those who may need representation, encouragement, or a clearer runway to be seen. And if you have been wondering whether you are ready to contribute more, start now. Share what you know, help someone take their next step, and keep building the kind of community that future MVPs will be proud to join. Want to learn more about the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit the MVP Communities website and follow our updates on LinkedIn. Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.FabCon and SQLCon: MVP voices on community, connection, and showing up
FabCon and SQLCon bring together technical learning, product insight, and something just as important: community. Microsoft MVPs describe what stayed with them most - from hallway conversations and first-time introductions to practical sessions and friendships that keep growing long after the event ends. Their reflections show why these events matter: they create space to learn in public, share generously, and help more people find their place in the Fabric and SQL community. Community that starts between sessions Again and again, MVPs described FabCon and SQLCon as more than a place to attend sessions. MVP Jason Romans captured that perfectly: âThose unplanned conversations ended up being just as valuable as anything I learned on a stage.â For him, community showed up in the in-between moments - a shuttle ride, a coffee line, a badge that made it easier to start talking. That same feeling of connection came through in his reflection on finally meeting the Saturday Morning Learning (SML) crew in person after gathering virtually every week to talk Fabric, Power BI, and life. As Jason put it, âThe community grows stronger every time someone decides their perspective is worth sharing,â a reminder that contribution often starts with simply showing up and sharing what you know. âThe community grows stronger every time someone decides their perspective is worth sharing.â - MVP Jason Romans Connections that last beyond the event That generosity was a recurring theme. MVP Treb Gatte remembered a hallway conversation at a prior FabCon that turned into an impromptu troubleshooting session for a Caribbean teamâs real-time election dashboard in Power BI- and learned a year later that it had been the breakthrough they needed. âThe connections you make here outlast the event,â he said. His advice for newer community members was equally practical: âStay curious, stay humble, and let other people teach you.â MVP Heidi Hasting said that one of the most meaningful parts of FabCon and SQLCon is âthe feeling that you're not alone in this,â especially when you can connect with data professionals from around the world and turn those introductions into lifelong friendships. She also pointed to the live energy of major announcements and the surprise of seeing how many people are still discovering Microsoft Fabric for the first time. MVP Ginger Grant added another dimension to that experience, describing FabCon and SQLCon as her favorite conference because she gets to âengage with so many different people and learn a lot,â including reconnecting with friends from Australia and New Zealand and meeting new people from Finland, the Netherlands and around the world. She also shared how meaningful it was to be recognized in person by someone who only knew her from an online event. MVP Denny Cherry brought it down to basics with the kind of advice only a longtime community member can give: do not eat dinner alone in your hotel room, meet people, get to know them, and take advantage of being surrounded by thousands of peers from all over the world in one place. âIn under a week you can go from feeling like you're working in isolation to realising you're part of a global community of people who care about the same things you do.â - MVP Heidi Hasting bring Power Platform and SQL Server 2025 together in a session focused on building secure, scalable next-generation apps. Learning in public and sharing what works The speaker experience was just as central to the story. MVP Gaston Cruz said he and MVP Alex Rostan designed their session to help people connect business applications, data, and AI without adding complexity - sharing patterns attendees could apply right away with Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform, and real-time data experiences. For Gaston, that practical value is what makes these events worth the trip: direct access to product teams, real customer stories, deep technical conversations, and packed rooms full of people genuinely excited to learn and build the future of data and AI together. MVP Paul Stork focused on helping people extend Power BI through the Power Platform, especially for teams trying to act on insights without needing third-party tools. He also described one of his contributions beyond the session itself as talking with attendees and helping them choose sessions that matched their interests. MVP Greg Nash called FabCon âthe biggest and best conference on Fabric and SQL in the worldâ and highlighted Rui Romanoâs session on modern Power BI development using AI and GitHub Copilot as a standout moment that made him even more excited about AI-powered DevOps and DataOps patterns. MVP Pragati Jain added that growth often starts with simple, consistent participation - answering questions in forums or community channels, giving proper credit, volunteering for community initiatives, and making space for introverted or first-time attendees through small, welcoming circles. âThe connections you make here outlast the event.â - MVP Treb Gatte Arun Ulag. President, Azure Data, Microsoft Why more people should join in Together, these reflections point to what makes FabCon and SQLCon distinctive. Yes, the events offer deep technical content, hands-on learning, and direct access to product teams across Microsoft Fabric and SQL. But the lasting impact comes from what MVPs model so well: learn publicly, share what you know, ask better questions, and invite someone new into the conversation. Whether that looks like submitting your first session, answering a question in a community channel, helping another attendee choose where to spend an hour, or simply starting a conversation in the Community Lounge, the momentum of this community is built one generous interaction at a time. More than anything, these MVP stories show that you do not need to know everything to belong here. You just need curiosity, a willingness to connect, and the confidence to believe your perspective can help someone else. âFabCon and SQLCon are worth the time and energy for me because they offer long-term friendships and a community that is hard to find anywhere else.â - MVP Denny Cherry Why your voice belongs here If these MVP stories sparked an idea for you, follow it. Join a local Fabric or Data Platform user group, engage in the Fabric and Data Platformcommunity online, volunteer, answer a question, or submit a session even if it feels a little early. If you attend FabCon and SQLCon in the future, take Denny Cherryâs advice and talk to people who are not from your home area. Spend time in the Community Lounge or Ask the Experts area, as Pragati Jain suggested. And if you have ever wondered whether you could speak at an event like this, Greg Nash offers the right mindset: "just go and try it." His first presentation on real-time data at the Microsoft Fabric & Power BI Melbourne meetup did not go the way he hoped and "failed miserably,â, but it still inspired others to pick up Power BI. That is the point: your perspective is valuable, community audiences are incredibly forgiving, and FabCon and SQLCon may be exactly the place to find your voice. Want to learn more about the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit the MVP Communities website and follow our updates on LinkedIn. Join us for a future live session through the Microsoft Reactor where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.How Sharon Weaver and Christian Buckley Help Future MVPs Find Their Path
For many technologists, the Microsoft MVP Award feels inspiring - but also a little mysterious. That is exactly why MVPs Sharon Weaver and Christian Buckley host a monthly AMA (Ask Me Anything) call for aspiring MVPs. Their goal is simple: create a welcoming space where people can ask honest questions, better understand what meaningful community contribution looks like, and feel less alone on the journey. What started as a way to answer the same questions more efficiently has grown into a supportive cohort that helps future MVPs build confidence and momentum. From Curiosity to Community Sharon knows firsthand how often people ask, âHow do I become an MVP?â After hearing that question again and again, she realized aspiring MVPs did not just need information - they needed community. âI kept getting lots of people asking me, and I was giving the same answers out over and over and over,â Sharon said. So she and Christian decided to create one place where people could learn together, ask questions openly, and hear practical advice from people who understood the process. Sharon believes that people do not need to become someone else to be recognized as an MVP. âYou donât need to be anything other than who you are. You just need to understand that what you do has value, how to show that value, and then be really good at that and make that visible.â That message resonates because it replaces pressure with purpose. Instead of chasing a checklist or trying to become an influencer overnight, attendees are encouraged to focus on contributions they genuinely enjoy and can sustain over time. âYou donât need to be anything other than who you are. You just need to understand that what you do has value.â - MVP Sharon Weaver The monthly AMA also helps make a big goal feel more attainable. Sharon shared, âHaving other people who are not there yet to support you through that journey makes as big a difference as having people who have already been awarded.â Over the past two years, that support has mattered: Sharon said the cohort has helped around 15 people who attended the calls go on to receive the MVP Award. For Sharon, the joy is not in doing the work for anyone else; it is in opening the door, answering questions, and helping others see that their efforts already have value. âOne piece of advice from the AMA calls that stayed with me was to make sure your contributions are things you enjoy doing and would do regardless of the MVP title.â - MVP Rachel Sullivan Turning Insight Into Impact One of the biggest myths Sharon hears is that aspiring MVPs need a huge platform to be considered. âEverybody thinks you need to be a speaker or an influencer,â she said. âPick the things you do, do them well, and be visible.â That advice has helped attendees reframe the process around authentic contribution instead of comparison. MVP Rachel Sullivan reflected, âOne piece of advice from the AMA calls that stayed with me was to make sure your contributions are things you enjoy doing and would do regardless of the MVP title.â MVP Karinne Bessette shared a similar takeaway: âThe AMA calls made the MVP process feel more approachable because it gave real perspectives from other MVPs and people on the MVP path, which helped fight imposter syndrome.â The monthly calls also help people understand that visibility matters. Sharon encourages attendees to connect with product groups, communicate their impact clearly, and advocate for their work in ways that feel genuine. The path is rarely instant - Sharon estimates many people spend two to three years on the journey - but the combination of clarity, encouragement, and community makes a real difference. Just as importantly, the calls remind people that not receiving the award the first time is not the end of the story. It is simply part of a longer journey of growth, contribution, and persistence. âThe AMA calls made the MVP process feel more approachable because it gave real perspectives from other MVPs and people on the MVP path, which helped fight the imposter syndrome.â - MVP Karinne Bessette Why This Matters The value of these AMA calls goes far beyond helping one person earn an award. They remind people that they are not alone, that their voice matters, and that there is space for them in this community exactly as they are. For someone who feels uncertain, overwhelmed, or unsure whether what they do is enough, that kind of encouragement can be transformative. It can spark confidence, create connection, and turn self-doubt into action. When people feel seen, supported, and inspired to keep going, the impact reaches far beyond a single moment - it deepens the sense of belonging that makes this community so special. âIf these chats help people realize one thing, I hope itâs that there is no specific checklist of tasks to complete to become an MVP. It can be a very different path for each MVP, because there are countless ways to give back to the community. You donât need to follow someone elseâs formulaâyou need to find a contribution path thatâs authentic and sustainable for you." â MVP Christian Buckley Keep the Momentum Going If you are curious about becoming a Microsoft MVP, consider joining Sharon and Christianâs monthly AMA calls and taking the next step alongside others who are asking the same questions. And if you are already an MVP, think about how you might create a similar space in your own region or community. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is make the path feel more visible for someone else. Learn more from Sharonâs blog post, Navigating the Microsoft MVP Nomination Process: Tips and Insights, and meet these community leaders: Sharon Weaver, Christian Buckley, Rachel Sullivan, and Karinne Bessette. Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit theâŻMVP CommunitiesâŻwebsite and follow our updates onâŻLinkedInâŻorâŻ#mvpbuzz. Join us for a future live session throughâŻtheâŻMicrosoft Reactor⯠where we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.âŻFrom Late Nights to Global Impact: Ariane Djeupangâs Microsoft MVP Journey
DjangoCon Africa Some journeys begin with a plan. Others begin with a brave choiceâand the determination to keep showing up. For Ariane Djeupang, becoming a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) wasnât a trophy hunt. It was the next chapter in a much longer story: years of mentoring, organizing, writing, and building community - often with limited resources, but unlimited heart. Meet Ariane: a builder of communities Ariane is a project manager and machine learning engineer based in Cameroon - and a leader across multiple open-source communities. âIâm currently chairing PyCon Africa,â she shared, describing a conference that rotates host countries across the continent. In addition, she volunteers and organizes across the Python and Django ecosystem, mentoring beginners, coaching Django Girls workshops, and helping events run smoothly behind the scenes. âI also mentor people - newcomers and beginners in tech - and those who would like to start their Python or Django journey.â Choosing her own path into tech Growing up, Ariane felt the familiar pressure many young people experience: someone else had already decided what her future âshouldâ be. âMy dad wanted me to become a doctor,â she said. But after high school, she made a bold pivot: âI instantly chose to register in computer science.â From there, her world expanded beyond textbooks. A senior student introduced her to a local developer community, and Ariane started asking big questions: âWhat is a community? ⌠What is that impact?â Soon she was volunteering at events - and then helping build new ones. She and peers co-founded Python Cameroon, fueled by a love for the language and its welcoming learning curve. âI used to describe the syntax as elegant,â she laughed, remembering how she encouraged friends to start learning Python. DjangoCon Africa The moment she became a Microsoft MVP Ariane didnât set out to chase an awardâshe didnât even know the program existed until a friend from the Django community pointed it out. âThat was my first time ⌠someone talking about that,â she said. After she was nominated and completed the application, she was welcomed into the Microsoft MVP community - one of only four MVPs in Cameroon, and the first (and currently only) woman MVP in the country. âItâs like a validation of years of dedication for me - because late nights and written tutorials⌠organizing meetups and events, mentoring aspiring technologists⌠all these were done with limited resources.â For Ariane, the recognition wasnât just personal - it was also a statement about what meaningful contribution looks like. âImpact is not just measured by ⌠demography, by geography or privilege,â she said. âItâs measured by consistency.â Professionally, being an MVP opened doors she ânever imagined even possibleâ - including âdirect access to Microsoft product teamsâ and early previews of technology (she mentioned getting access to previews in GitHub Copilot). But she quickly returned to what matters most to her: the people around her. âPerhaps, most importantly, itâs a responsibility,â Ariane said. In a country where digital transformation is still emerging and opportunity can be unevenly distributed, she sees her MVP platform as a way to show others whatâs possible - especially for those whose voices are too often overlooked. Arianeâs advice: inclusion is built (and rebuilt) every day When asked what helps communities become more welcoming - especially in global spaces - Ariane didnât hesitate. She believes experienced community leaders have âa unique responsibility ⌠to set the tone for inclusion.â Here are a few practices she shared that any of us can start using right now. Lead with empathy. âRemember what it felt like to be new,â she said - and also what it felt like âto be uncertain, to be overlooked.â Her takeaway: be patient, approachable, and generous with your time. Lower the barriers to entry. Ariane called out onboarding as a common inclusion failure point: âThe onboarding processes are not really ⌠easy for newcomers.â Her fix: beginner-friendly resources and âsafe spaces for questions,â recognizing that not everyone starts with the same access or confidence. Actively amplify diverse voices. âSeek out and highlight contributions from women ⌠from people with disabilities ⌠and those from rural or marginalized backgrounds,â she urged, emphasizing that representation matters âat every level.â Mentor and sponsor - then advocate. Mentorship is more than advice: âConnect them with opportunities and also advocate for their inclusion in events, projects and also in leadership roles.â Foster collaboration across communities. She encouraged cross-community partnerships, hybrid events, and knowledge exchangeâbecause âthe more we break down silos, the richer our communities become.â âInclusivity is not just a one-time effort, itâs a continuous practice. By modeling openness, humility, and curiosity⌠we can create environments where everyone feels they belong, can contribute - contribute meaningfully.â âNo rushâ: a message to new leaders (and future MVPs) Ariane also offered a refreshingly grounded reminder about growth: it doesnât have to be frantic to be real. She remembers the early days of MVP onboarding clearly. âThere is a lot to know. There is a lot to read,â she said. Her advice: âDonât rush⌠no rush. You will learn gradually.â Most importantly, she encouraged new MVPs (and anyone stepping into leadership) to keep doing what earned trust in the first place: âJust continue to work as you used to work.â Yes, new doors open - talk opportunities, volunteering, collaborations - but sustainability matters. âAt the end of the day, you are not like a robo,â she said. âYou shouldnât overstress yourself ⌠trying to prove âIâm an MVPâ by doing everything at once. âIâm giving 15 talks in one month⌠Iâve written 100 articles in one month⌠thatâs not sustainable.â Inclusion is also logistics: access, travel, and the power of naming In Arianeâs world, âinclusionâ isnât just what happens on stage - itâs whether people can even get into the room. She spoke candidly about the realities many African technologists face when attending global events: flights that can be âalmost 2000â dollars, plus accommodation, ground transportation, and visa fees. Those constraints donât reflect a lack of talent - they reflect a lack of access. And sometimes, inclusion starts with language. Ariane helped change the name of a conference benefit from âfinancial aidâ to âopportunity grant.â Why? âThe main reason we changed it was because of inclusivity reasons,â she explained. Some people avoid applying because they donât want to be seen as âbrokenââwhen the reality is simply: âI cannot afford maybe a ticket or the flight to attend the conference.â Names matter. They can either add stigma - or open a door. Call to action: be the person who makes the room bigger Arianeâs story is a celebration - but itâs also an invitation. In every region, in every user group, in every online forum, we can choose to be the kind of community member who makes someone feel seen. We can lead with empathy. We can simplify onboarding. We can amplify voices that are too often ignored. And we can sponsor - not just with money, but with introductions, speaking invites, leadership opportunities, and public credit. If you want to learn from Arianeâs advice and support underrepresented voices in your tech community, start here: Make your next welcome explicit. Message a newcomer, invite questions, and share a âgetting startedâ path. Share the mic. Recommend a first-time speaker, co-present, or offer a practice run and feedback. Turn mentorship into sponsorship. Introduce someone to organizers, nominate them for opportunities, and advocate for them in rooms theyâre not in yet. Design for access. Offer hybrid options when possible, publish clear event logistics, and be thoughtful about cost and travel barriers. Build partnerships locally. Break down silos by collaborating with neighboring communities, universities, and local meetups to create pathways in your region. Learn more Congratulations again to Ariane - an MVP whose work reminds us that community leadership isnât about a spotlight. Itâs about building ladders, widening doors, and making sure more people get to step into their future. Learn more and connect with Ariane Djeupang through her MVP Profile and on LinkedIn. Want to Learn More About the MVP Program? To find an MVP and learn more about the MVP Program visit theâŻMVP CommunitiesâŻwebsite and follow our updates onâŻLinkedInâŻorâŻ#mvpbuzz. Join us for a future live session throughâŻtheâŻMicrosoft ReactorâŻwhere we walk through what the MVP program is about, what we look for, and how nominations work. These sessions are designed to help you connect the dots between the work youâre already doing and the impact the MVP Program recognizes - with time for questions, examples, and real conversations.âŻStep-by-Step: Deploy the Architecture Review Agent Using AZD AI CLI
Building an AI agent is easy; operating it is an infrastructure trap. Discover how to use the azd ai CLI extension to streamline your workflow. From local testing to deploying a live Microsoft Foundry hosted agent and publishing it to Microsoft Teamsâlearn how to do it all without writing complex deployment scripts or needing admin permissions.
