Resisting the Temptation: Combating Burnout and Quiet Quitting

In today's fast-paced and demanding professional world, burnout and quiet quitting have become prevalent challenges. "Resisting the Temptation: Combating Burnout and Quiet Quitting" delves into the strategies and insights necessary to confront these obstacles head-on. This abstract explores the importance of building resilience and resisting the allure of quietly disengaging from one's work. By understanding the underlying causes and recognizing the signs of burnout and quiet quitting, individuals can develop effective coping mechanisms and reclaim their professional enthusiasm. Through proactive measures, such as setting boundaries, fostering work-life balance, and prioritizing self-care, professionals can navigate the complexities of burnout and quiet quitting, ultimately finding renewed purpose and fulfillment in their careers. This abstract offers guidance and practical advice for those seeking to overcome these challenges and build a resilient and thriving professional life.

This abstract explores the challenges of burnout and quiet quitting in the workplace and provides strategies to combat them. By focusing on building resilience, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care, individuals can rediscover their professional purpose and thrive in their careers. The abstract offers practical guidance for navigating these obstacles and reigniting enthusiasm in the workplace.

Problem-solving with Copilot AI and Power Automate

Struggling with repetitive tasks or complex processes? Copilot AI in Power Automate makes problem-solving easier than ever. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll show you how Copilot can guide you through creating flows that address real business challenges—without the guesswork. You’ll learn how to describe your problem in natural language and let Copilot suggest automation steps, generate actions, and even integrate AI capabilities for smarter decision-making. Together, we’ll build a flow that solves a common pain point and explore tips for customizing it to fit your needs. By the end, you’ll understand how to turn everyday problems into automated solutions with the help of AI Copilot. Join us and see how simple intelligent automation can be.

Practical AI Everyday applications for IT life

In this session, we dive into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in Information Technology roles. As AI technology evolves, its applications permeate our daily tasks, offering unprecedented efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities. We will explore how tools like ChatGPT-4 are revolutionizing traditional IT roles, from automating routine tasks to enhancing complex problem-solving. Attend this session to gain insights into AI’s practical uses from programming assistance and data analysis to personal assistance and content generation. The session will highlight AI's role in creative processes within tasks, such as algorithmic design, user experience enhancements, and innovative solution development. Through real-world examples (like assisting in this session description) and interactive demonstrations, this presentation aims to showcase its potential to optimize, innovate, and streamline everyday operations. Whether you're an IT professional, a developer, or simply looking for help with everyday tasks, this session will equip you with an understanding of how to integrate AI into your daily practice, paving the way for smarter, more efficient work environments.

Power Automate Made Simple: Your First Flow in Minutes

Power Automate can seem intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be. This beginner-friendly session is designed to break down the barriers and show you just how easy automation can be. We’ll start by introducing the core concepts that make Power Automate such a powerful tool for streamlining everyday tasks. Then, you’ll follow along step-by-step to create your very first flow—no prior experience required. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how triggers, actions, and connectors work together and leave with a working automation you can use immediately. Join us and discover how simple it is to save time and boost productivity with Power Automate.

Microsoft 365 Admin Center A to Z

Having problems figuring out what all the Admin Centers available do and impact they have to your M365 tenant? Join the crowd as there is so much and only so much time in our very busy lives. In this session we will go through each Admin Panel A to Z in depth and discuss what they do, how and when to utilize them and best of all best practices and recommendations.

It's going to be a long day, but you will leave with a whole new understanding of how the platform is put together and best of all ensure it is secure and easy to use for your colleagues.

Inclusion in Action: Leverage AI to Create a Culture of Diversity in Tech

As with any technology, AI can be used for good or evil, and it can be used well or poorly. As a trainer, AI strengthens trainers' pedagogy to ensure their material is accessible to all. We begin by exploring the critical definitions of diversity, inclusion, and equity, emphasizing their continued importance in the tech industry. The current state of diversity in IT will be examined, highlighting prevalent trends and barriers.

Antares comes from a background in academia, where Generative AI was demonized from the moment it launched. One of her colleagues calls it a "brainless plagiarism machine." But what is missing from the conversation is how AI is making technology more accessible and inclusive for learners.

Karinne comes from more of a technical corporate background and strives to empower IT professionals with essential strategies and insights for cultivating diversity and inclusivity as they provide trainings.

In this session we will explore practical approaches to AI features that promote accessibility and inclusivity -- from meeting captions and summaries to generative AI to Microsoft PowerPoint Accessibility Check and Rehearse with Coach -- and discuss how they can be leveraged to ensure learners and clients have the ability to access the information they need to be successful. MCTs regularly train in different formats – in-person, hybrid, and online, and AI can make each of those formats more accessible. In addition, learn how to leverage AI to create accessible class materials.

Participants will engage in interactive learning through group discussions, allowing them to share experiences and best practices. This engaging session not only provides theoretical knowledge but also focuses on actionable steps and real-world applications, enabling participants to make meaningful changes in their training.

How to prepare, plan, and execute successful adoption with a game

End-user adoption is arguably the hardest part of a deployment process. There is no one operation that applies to every organization or department but with the right tools, mindset, and workflows every company can execute successful adoption of any project or application. In this session, we will explore statistics surrounding adoption, formulating a plan for adoption, and lessons learned from real-world trials. Added bonus, at the end of this workshop we will sit down and play a fun but challenging game (hand crafted by yours truly) with the spirit of adoption plans built in. Come share stories, find solutions to your pain points, and roll dice.

How to prepare, plan, and execute successful adoption

End-user adoption is arguably the hardest part of a deployment process. There is no one operation that applies to every organization or department but with the right tools, mindset, and workflows every company can execute successful adoption of any project or application. In this session, we will explore statistics surrounding adoption, formulating a plan for adoption, and lessons learned from real-world trials.

How to Efficiently Navigate Microsoft Teams Meetings and Applications

Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaborative platform with a web of interconnecting components for everyday work life. To some, the interconnections might be obvious and a part of our daily practice to get the most out of the application suite. But to some of us, the "intuitive" nature of the platform is more elusive. In this session, we will look at how to efficiently navigate Microsoft Teams to get the most out of meetings and daily communication.

Do more in Microsoft Teams with Power Apps and Power Automate

In today's industry, custom settings and applications are not only in high demand but have become standard practice. To achieve this, the administrator must be capable of building new tools, automating processes, and making it easy for end users to access. This used to be a daunting task that generally meant outsourcing projects, hiring development or hanging a "do not disturb" sign on the already overworked admins' door and hoping for the best months... or years later. Luckily this process has gotten much easier with tools that offer "code-less" or what I like to call nearly code-less automation. This empowers admins to develop tools and automation in minutes and hours, which would have previously taken weeks or longer. And there is very little need to understand deep code. In this session, we will take a look at Power Apps, Adaptive Cards, and Power Automate features that can be leveraged in Microsoft Teams with in Minutes. And yes, there will be live demos to show how easy this can be.

In this session, we will take a look at Power Apps, Adaptive Cards, and Power Automate features that can be leveraged in Microsoft Teams with in Minutes. And yes, there will be live demos to show how easy this can be.

Building Interactive Experiences with Adaptive Cards

Adaptive Cards are lightweight, interactive UI snippets that let you display and collect information in apps like Teams or Outlook without needing full custom development. This session will provide a hands on experience for building and deploying adaptive cards. Expect to walk away with with the following skills and knowledge.

-Understand the basic components that go into adaptive cards.
-Where to find resources and template to get started.
-How to create an adaptive card with actionable items.
-Learn how to use power automate to automatically send adaptive card responses.
-Tips and tricks on good design and formatting.

Walk away from this session with the practical knowledge and hands on experience to start using Adaptive cards effectively in your organization.

Building Interactive Experiences: A Hands-On Workshop with Adaptive Cards

Adaptive Cards are lightweight, interactive UI snippets that let you display and collect information in apps like Teams or Outlook without needing full custom development. This workshop will provide a hands on experience for building and deploying adaptive cards. Expect to walk away with with the following skills and knowledge.

-Understand the basic components that go into adaptive cards.
-Where to find resources and template to get started.
-How to create an adaptive card with actionable items.
-Learn how to use power automate to automatically send adaptive card responses.
-Understand how to create and manipulate adaptive card Json.
-Tips and tricks on good design and formatting.

Walk away from this workshop with the practical knowledge and hands on experience to start using Adaptive cards effectively in your organization.

Beyond the Surface: Delving into the Subtle Signs and Underlying Causes of Toxic Workplaces

Toxic workplaces can silently erode employee well-being, productivity, and organizational success. This presentation aims to illuminate the subtle signs and underlying causes of toxic work environments from both my personal and learned experience. By examining the often-overlooked indicators of toxicity, such as poor communication, excessive competition, and subtle behavioral patterns, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the detrimental effects these environments can have on individuals and organizations. By exploring leadership styles, organizational factors, and workplace dynamics, this presentation uncovers the root causes of toxicity. Furthermore, the presentation explores the far-reaching impacts of toxic work environments on employee well-being, engagement, and overall productivity. This presentation equips participants with insights and actionable steps to create healthier work environments that foster positive outcomes for employees and organizations.

Toxic workplaces can silently erode employee well-being and productivity.

Practical AI: Everyday applications for IT life

In this session, we dive into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in Information Technology roles. As AI technology evolves, its applications permeate our daily tasks, offering unprecedented efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities. We will explore how tools like ChatGPT-4 are revolutionizing traditional IT roles, from automating routine tasks to enhancing complex problem-solving. Attend this session to gain insights into AI’s practical uses from programming assistance and data analysis to personal assistance and content generation. The session will highlight AI's role in creative processes within tasks, such as algorithmic design, user experience enhancements, and innovative solution development. Through real-world examples (like assisting in this session description) and interactive demonstrations, this presentation aims to showcase its potential to optimize, innovate, and streamline everyday operations. Whether you're an IT professional, a developer, or simply looking for help with everyday tasks, this session will equip you with an understanding of how to integrate AI into your daily practice, paving the way for smarter, more efficient work environments.

Inclusion in Action: Cultivating a Culture of Diversity in Tech

This session aims to empower IT professionals with essential strategies and insights for cultivating diversity and inclusivity within their teams. We begin by exploring the critical definitions of diversity, inclusion, and equity, emphasizing their importance in the tech industry. The current state of diversity in IT will be examined, highlighting prevalent trends and barriers. Participants will learn about the significant benefits diverse teams bring to innovation and productivity, as well as strategies to overcome common challenges and misconceptions, such as implicit bias in hiring and team dynamics.

Join to dive into practical approaches for building inclusive teams, including best practices in inclusive hiring, effective onboarding processes, and diversity training. The role of leadership in fostering an inclusive culture and the importance of employee resource groups and mentorship programs. Participants will engage in interactive learning through group discussions, allowing them to share experiences and best practices. This engaging session not only provides theoretical knowledge but also focuses on actionable steps and real-world applications, enabling participants to make meaningful changes in their workplaces.

Essential Microsoft 365 security features crash course

Security is top of mind for any business moving to the cloud and even more so for those who had to move out of necessity without a clear action plan. Knowing where to start and what is available can be half the battle. This session will cover some of the top concepts when it comes to securing and monitoring your Microsoft 365 environment, the best tools to start with, and which admin center you can find them in. Including but not limited to a look at the Microsoft Purview compliance portal and Microsoft 365 Defender admin center and the osmosis process that has happened since parting ways from what was formally known as the Security and Compliance center. The best part is that some of these are available in your subscription now at no extra charge!

Step into Azure Storage on secure footing

Get familiar with Azure Storage terminology. Set yourself up for success with the right tools, best practices, and mindset. This session will help those taking their first steps into Azure Storage learn how to use the built-in monitoring and reports to make their environment more secure. For those who have already deployed, this session will provide the latest look at the features available in Azure storage and showcase how to overcome some real-world headaches. In addition to touching on the finer points of security, this session will look at some of the management interfaces and life cycles of storage.

Microsoft 365 common user to guru

Microsoft 365 is a powerful collaborative platform with a web of interconnecting components for everyday work life. To some, the interconnections might be obvious and a part of our daily practice to get the most out of the application suite. But to some of us, the "intuitive" nature of the platform is more allusive. This session will look at the top applications used every day, such as Outlook, Teams, OneDrive for Business, and Kiosk Access, and how to go from just using the applications to using the platform.

Basic knowledge of using Microsoft 365 applications who want to make full use of the platform.

Administratively Customize Microsoft Teams to our Environment

Microsoft Teams is a powerful tool and collaborative platform for interconnecting applications. These connections span beyond just Microsoft data connection points to 100s of other applications that your ecosystem might leverage. Making these applications easy to access, making data exchange efficient for your uses, and encouraging adoption. In this session, you will learn some of the helpful frontend platforms your users can leverage and how to modify the default configurations in Teams so that each department has its tools upfront. In this session, we will examine Microsoft Teams' structure and how you can change the front-end experience for users through the Microsoft Teams Admin center.

Learn how you can change the front-end Microsoft Teams experience for users through the Microsoft Teams Admin center.

How to Efficiently Navigate Microsoft Teams Meetings and Applications

Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaborative platform with a web of interconnecting components for everyday work life. To some, the interconnections might be obvious and a part of our daily practice to get the most out of the application suite. But to some of us, the "intuitive" nature of the platform is more elusive. In this session, we will look at how to efficiently navigate Microsoft Teams to get the most out of meetings and daily communication.

In this session, we will look at how to efficiently navigate Microsoft Teams to get the most out of meetings and daily communication.

Planner and Power Platform: Boosting collaboration and visibility

With remote work and an excess of meetings to join every day, it can be hard to find time to sync every task you are working on with your entire team. This can lead to redundant tasks being performed and uneven distribution of work in a team. Finding the right solution to this problem can be time-consuming and fail adoption. The answer is to make it easy and accessible. In this session, we will take a deeper look at how to automate Microsoft Planner with Power Automate, view and modify reporting data with PowerBI, and make this easily accessible in Microsoft Teams.

In this session, we will take a deeper look at how to automate Microsoft Planner with Power Automate, view and modify reporting data with PowerBI, and make this easily accessible in Microsoft Teams.

Hype or Trend: Frontier Agents You Can Use Today

Eight months after Microsoft Ignite 2025, the promise of Frontier Agents was bold: a new era of intelligent assistants that could anticipate needs and transform work. But did they deliver? In this session, we’ll peel back the layers and reveal whether Frontier Agents became a game-changing trend or fizzled as hype. You’ll see live demos of what’s possible today—document creation, data analysis, and presentation building—alongside real adoption stories and lessons learned. Join us to find out if Frontier Agents are the future of work or just yesterday’s buzz—and leave with practical guidance for deciding what role they should play in your organization.

Microsoft Ignite 2025 Microsoft announced Frontier Agents the new era of Agents that will not only help us work but predict our needs. Was it all hype or did it trend.

Understand whether Frontier Agents lived up to their promise or fell short—and what that means for your organization.

Experience live demos of real-world capabilities like document creation, data analysis, and presentation building.

Gain practical guidance and lessons learned to decide if and how Frontier Agents should fit into your workflow.