***We are reevaluating our dates - we will reopen CFS once we have a guaranteed date (this update posted May 6, 2023).***

Thank you for your interest in presenting at Microsoft Community Day Nashville (#M365Nashville) scheduled for Friday, July 14 2023. We are planning a half day filled with fun, education, socializing, and a few other surprises that are sure to make M365Nashville an event to remember!

Speaker submissions are due no later than May 17th 2023 12pm Central Time.

What Kind of Sessions Do We Need?  

We are looking for presentations on: Microsoft Teams, Power Platform, SharePoint, security, Microsoft 365 admin, etc. We would also welcome Professional Development sessions and panel or group sessions giving attendees the opportunity to interact with presenters.  

Technical presentations showing code examples and demos are always great, but we’re often asked for sessions targeted at end-users and business decision makers which help them learn how to use Microsoft 365 in creative ways, how things work (and don’t work), and whatever else they need to know to get the most out of Microsoft 365 within their organization. Sessions like “How [My Company] Solved [Something] Using SharePoint” tend to be very popular.  

What is different this year versus previous years?

This event will be a HALF DAY event. The event will run from morning to lunch time. So, this means that we will have roughly one-half the number of sessions as previous years. There are several reasons the organizing committee decided to go this route. Also, there another event being planned for 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

How Much Time Will I Have to Present?

Depending on the session type you select, you will either have approximately 60 minutes (Regular Session) OR 20 minutes (Lightning Talks)

How Can I Improve My Chances Of Being Selected?

First and foremost, think of your audience. You are writing your session titles and abstracts for the event attendees not for the people picking sessions. What you enter on the speaker submission form will be the exact text included on the printed program and schedule.  

Submit more than one session! Even the best speakers might not be selected if they submit only one or two sessions. Between limitations in tracks and schedule, there are many good sessions that we simply cannot accept.   

Do not try to pass off your company product demo as a session. This is something every event takes very seriously. If you feel your session abstract may sound like a product demo, please explain on the submission form why it is not. If your session is a product demo, do not bother submitting it.  

When is the Latest I Can Submit a Session?

#M365Nashville 2023 Call for Speakers will close on Wednesday May 17th 2023 12pm Central Time.

When Will Selected Sessions Be Announced?

Selections will be announced by May 24th 2023 

If Selected, What Time Commitment is Expected of Me?

Speaker dinner/gathering 

We are still planning if the speaker gathering will be on Thursday evening July 13th, or after the event on July 14th. More details will be provided when sessions are selected.

Day of the Event  

You will present your session LIVE in-person to your audience. Please stay and attend other sessions, supporting speakers and attendees.

Are expenses covered?

There will be a nominal fee for attendees to help cover some expenses. Speakers will not pay the fee. We do not know if we will be able to provide any other benefits to speakers, so assume any travel expenses are the responsibility of the speaker.