European Collaboration and Cloud Summit 2024: A Community Reporter’s Journey

Being recognized as this year’s community reporter for the European Collaboration and Cloud Summit was an incredible honor. The summit, held in Wiesbaden at the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) and attended by over 3000 professionals from around the world, provided an enriching experience to dive deep into the latest happenings in the Microsoft ecosystem. I had the unique opportunity to interview Microsoft “superstars,” MVPs, vendors, and attendees, gaining insights from diverse perspectives on what’s happening in the world of Microsoft. The beautiful city of Wiesbaden, with its historic charm and modern conference facilities at RMCC, provided the perfect backdrop for this significant event.

European Collaboration / AI and Cloud Summits in numbers:

• 3000+ attendees
• 212 speakers overall – 121 MVPs, 11 RDs, 42 from Microsoft
• 241 sessions | 12 tutorials (workshops)
• 70 sponsors

Highlights of the Event

This year’s European Collaboration Summit featured a wide array of sessions and panels focusing on the latest advancements in Microsoft 365, Copilot, Microsoft Viva, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams. Attendees had the opportunity to dive deep into these topics through various learning tracks and expert-led discussions. The agenda included sessions on effective collaboration strategies, leveraging AI and automation in the workplace, enhancing employee experience with Microsoft Viva, and best practices for managing and securing cloud environments. The summit also highlighted real-world case studies and success stories, providing valuable insights into how organizations are successfully implementing Microsoft technologies to drive productivity and innovation.

Meeting the Microsoft Superstars

Throughout the summit, I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing some of the brightest minds in the Microsoft ecosystem. I interacted with Microsoft leaders such as Dona Sarkar, Vesa Juvonen, Mark Kashman, Laurie Pottmeyer, Heather Cook, Liz Sundet, and many more. Their insights and enthusiasm for Microsoft technologies were truly inspiring.

Connecting with Friends from the MVP Community

The summit was a fantastic opportunity to connect with some of the most knowledgeable MVPs in the community. I am very lucky to have known a lot of them by now and we meet on many occasions, but as always, I had very insightful conversations with, for example: Luise Freese, Thomas Vochten, Sara Fennah, Edyta Gorzon (my wonderful best friend), Paolo Pialorsi, Elio Struyf, Isidora Katanic, Seb Matthews, Joao Mendes, Frane Borozan, Simon Daly, and many, many others. Their passion for sharing knowledge and driving community engagement was evident in every interaction and I am in awe of their level of expertise while staying incredibly community-centric and open for networking and sharing their knowledge. Being part of the MVP community is a privilege I hold dear even if I do not hold the MVP title myself. I have been welcomed to the community “organically” and it’s the biggest recognition I could’ve ever asked for. It’s a space where we share a deep passion for Microsoft solutions and the entire ecosystem. The European Collaboration and Cloud Summit was a testament to this shared enthusiasm, bringing together like-minded individuals to learn, share, and grow.

Brandplane’s Big Win

One of the most thrilling moments of the summit was witnessing the startup I co-led with Emanuele Bartolesi and Marta Basso, Brandplane, winning first place in the Cloud AI Startup competition sponsored by Microsoft Founders Hub! This victory earned us a golden ticket to the We Make Future expo in Bologna that happened mid-June, a mentoring session with Marco Casalaina, VP of Microsoft Open AI, and many other incredible benefits. Congratulations are also in order for Fabio Franzini and Joao Mendes for their second-place win with Apvee ☺

Writing for ECSMagazine

Another highlight was being selected as one of the six writers for ECSMagazine. I was featured alongside amazing writers like Sandy Ussia, Kevin McDonnell, Magnus Mårtensson, Jonah Andersson, and Sasha Kranjac. It’s an honor to be part of such a talented group contributing to a publication that supports and uplifts our community.

Reflecting on an Unforgettable Experience

This year’s European Collaboration and Cloud Summit was more than just an event; it was a celebration of community, innovation, and shared passion. Meeting industry leaders, connecting with fellow MVPs, and celebrating our community’s achievements were experiences I will cherish forever.

I’m incredibly grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to serve as a community reporter. The stories, insights, and connections made during the summit have not only enriched my understanding of the Microsoft world but also strengthened my commitment to this vibrant community.

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to the entire ECS team for making this event possible. Special thanks to Adis Jugo, Mustafa Toroman, Margit Jugo, Elena Kovacevic, and the rest of the team for their hard work and dedication. I also want to express my gratitude to the wonderful Kira Cromford, who was the videophotographer and my pair for community reporting, and to Edyta Gorzon for leading the community reporting efforts. Your support and efforts made this experience truly unforgettable. See you next year!

Check out some of my photos from ECS below, featuring some of wonderful Community leaders and friends: Edyta Gorzon, Emanuele Bartolesi, Vesa Juvonen, Mark Kashmann, Dona Sarkar, Dan Holme, Laurie Pottmeyer, Heather Cook, Liz Sundet, Luise Freese, Marten Eekels, Thomas Vochten, Paolo Pialrosi, Rodrigo Pinto, Paul Hunt

Please click on any photo to view in a lightbox. Use arrow keys or swipe to navigate.

Ciao,
Kas