Layla is a Microsoft MVP, Progress Champion, 3 times GitHub Star, and former director on the board at the .NET Foundation.
She is the co-founder of November North, a micro-game studio, developing and producing a first-person stealth game titled "The Third Tourist" - go and wishlist it on Steam!

Layla lives in the UK with her husband Jim and dogs, Cookie and Summer.

Layla is a Microsoft MVP, Progress Champion, 3 times GitHub Star, and former director on the board at the .NET Foundation. She is the co-founder of November North, a micro-game studio, developing and producing a first-person stealth game titled "The... Show more

I’m part of the expert team at Proximo 3, a specialist Microsoft consulting firm. We offer consultancy and advice on Dynamics 365 CRM and Power Platform projects. I’m passionate about applying change management to CRM projects and hold a certified Prosci practitioner qualification.

Since 2017, I’ve been a Microsoft Business Applications MVP specialising in Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Copilot Studio.

I’m part of the expert team at Proximo 3, a specialist Microsoft consulting firm. We offer consultancy and advice on Dynamics 365 CRM and Power Platform projects. I’m passionate about applying change management to CRM projects and hold a certified ... Show more

Security consultant with a focus on Microsoft Security either on-prem or in the cloud, and a blueteamer at heart. Viktor has worked within IT for the past 10 years always within Cyber Security. Working for public sector in Sweden for years but now as a specialist at Truesec AB focusing on proactive security measures, DFIR and advises on all things cyber.

Security consultant with a focus on Microsoft Security either on-prem or in the cloud, and a blueteamer at heart. Viktor has worked within IT for the past 10 years always within Cyber Security. Working for public sector in Sweden for years but now as... Show more

Prashant G Bhoyar is an Enterprise AI Architect and AI strategy, engineering, and adoption leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering enterprise technology solutions across artificial intelligence, cloud, automation, and the Microsoft ecosystem.

As an AI Architect in the Office of the CTO at Applied Information Sciences, Prashant serves as a trusted advisor to executives, technology leaders, architects, and delivery teams. He helps organizations move AI initiatives from business vision and technical discovery through architecture, rapid prototyping, governance, implementation planning, production readiness, and enterprise adoption.

Prashant specializes in agentic AI, multi-agent systems, retrieval-augmented generation, AI assistants, model evaluation, Responsible AI, and enterprise integration using Microsoft Foundry, Microsoft Agent Framework, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI, LangChain, Python, C#, Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Microsoft Graph, Dataverse, and Power Platform.

His approach combines enterprise architecture with forward-deployed AI engineering. He works closely with customer and delivery teams to understand complex business processes, validate solutions rapidly, remove technical blockers, translate field insights into reusable architectures, and accelerate the journey from prototype to secure, scalable production implementation.

Prashant founded the Northern Virginia AI/ML User Group and leads monthly community programs focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning, AI agents, advanced prompt engineering, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, and Microsoft Fabric. He has designed and delivered executive briefings, conference sessions, technical demonstrations, hands-on labs, and workshops for more than 400 developers, architects, technology leaders, and business users.

He is a Microsoft Artificial Intelligence and Business Applications MVP for 10 consecutive years, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, co-author of “PowerShell for Office 365,” and a recipient of the Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America. He has presented at Microsoft Build, Microsoft AI Tour, Global AI Bootcamp, and major technology conferences around the world.

Prashant is available for keynote presentations, conference sessions, executive briefings, enterprise AI architecture workshops, forward-deployed AI engineering advisory, and hands-on training on Microsoft AI technologies.

Prashant G Bhoyar is an Enterprise AI Architect and AI strategy, engineering, and adoption leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering enterprise technology solutions across artificial intelligence, cloud, automation, and the Microsoft ec... Show more

I am a Senior Platform Engineer and AI Leader dedicated to evolving the way we build software.

With over a decade of experience in Kubernetes and CI/CD, I now focus on Context Engineering, forming the needed connections between raw infrastructure and agentic workflows.

Beyond engineering, I’m a keynote and public speaker at global conferences including Devoxx London, KubeCon North America, and DevOpsDays NYC—speaking about developer experience, AI, and Star Wars.
May the Force be with you.

I am a Senior Platform Engineer and AI Leader dedicated to evolving the way we build software. With over a decade of experience in Kubernetes and CI/CD, I now focus on Context Engineering, forming the needed connections between raw infrastructure... Show more

Alan has been an IT Professional for over 25 years. Specialising in infrastructure, he has a strong focus on cloud services and in particular with Microsoft Azure which he has been using since 2015. Alan is a current Microsoft MVP and a Microsoft Certified Trainer alumnus. He likes to write blogs on Microsoft Azure and participate in community events.

Alan has been an IT Professional for over 25 years. Specialising in infrastructure, he has a strong focus on cloud services and in particular with Microsoft Azure which he has been using since 2015. Alan is a current Microsoft MVP and a Microsoft Cer... Show more

Sander is a SQL Server DBA with over 20 years of experience in IT. He has worked with SQL Server since version 2000 and is a Microsoft MVP.
He is a huge PowerShell enthusiast and will try to automate processes as much as possible.

Sander is a SQL Server DBA with over 20 years of experience in IT. He has worked with SQL Server since version 2000 and is a Microsoft MVP. He is a huge PowerShell enthusiast and will try to automate processes as much as possible. Show more

Scott McAllister is a software development speaker and educator. He has been building web applications in several industries for over a decade. Now he's helping others learn about a wide range of web and infrastructure technologies. When he's not coding, writing or speaking he enjoys long walks with his wife, skipping rocks with his kids, and is happy whenever Seattle Sounders FC, Manchester City, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Bulls, Seattle Storm, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Reign FC, St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken, Barcelona, Fiorentina, Borussia Dortmund or Mainz 05 can manage a win.

Scott McAllister is a software development speaker and educator. He has been building web applications in several industries for over a decade. Now he's helping others learn about a wide range of web and infrastructure technologies. When he's not cod... Show more

Annie Talvasto is an award-winning international technology speaker and leader who has spoken at 100+ events worldwide, including KubeCon + CloudNativeCon and Microsoft Build & Ignite. She has been recognized as a CNCF Ambassador and with Azure & AI Platform MVP awards. She co-founded Kubernetes & CNCF Finland in 2017 and has served as a KubeCon + CloudNativeCon track chair, Secure AI Summit Program Chair, and host of CNCF’s Cloud Native Live.

Annie Talvasto is an award-winning international technology speaker and leader who has spoken at 100+ events worldwide, including KubeCon + CloudNativeCon and Microsoft Build & Ignite. She has been recognized as a CNCF Ambassador and with Azure & AI ... Show more

Joseph is a leading voice in AI and cyber, developing software and content that shape how millions of developers build. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain AI and security skills. His videos, with 4.3M+ views, simplify complex technical topics and deliver actionable tips to a global audience. As a speaker, Joseph has delivered 80 technical sessions in 25 countries in 5 years, averaging 300 engineers per session, captivating audiences with his insights and energetic stage presence.

Joseph is a leading voice in AI and cyber, developing software and content that shape how millions of developers build. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain AI and security skills. His videos, with 4.3M+ views, simplify comp... Show more

Thorsten Pickhan works at Microsoft and has been focused on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Teams Phone, and Copilot for many years. As a speaker, blogger, YouTuber, and community advocate, he regularly shares his knowledge at conferences, user groups, and through his blog and YouTube channel.

From 2021 to 2025, he was honored as a Microsoft MVP in recognition of his contributions to the Microsoft community, particularly in the areas of Microsoft Teams and Copilot. After joining Microsoft, he retired the MVP title in accordance with the program requirements.

His areas of expertise include modern collaboration, communication solutions, and the productive use of AI within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Thorsten Pickhan works at Microsoft and has been focused on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Teams Phone, and Copilot for many years. As a speaker, blogger, YouTuber, and community advocate, he regularly shares his knowledge at conferences, user group... Show more

Nicole Enders, aka “Die Agentin”, is a software architect, consultant, developer, and Microsoft MVP. Her mission is to make complex technology accessible and share knowledge. She focuses on Agentic AI, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, Azure, and Microsoft 365, combining technical depth with practical experience, curiosity, and enthusiasm.

Nicole Enders, aka “Die Agentin”, is a software architect, consultant, developer, and Microsoft MVP. Her mission is to make complex technology accessible and share knowledge. She focuses on Agentic AI, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, Azure, and Mi... Show more

My passion is to make technical information easy to understand and accessible to everyone.

As a speaker at various events, I share information on key points in the M365, Loop and AI area.
Within my social networks, I prepare the information in small articles, blog posts or videos

At the beginning of 2024, I received the Microsoft MVP award.
In 2026 i joined Microsoft as a Cloud Solution Architect

My passion is to make technical information easy to understand and accessible to everyone. As a speaker at various events, I share information on key points in the M365, Loop and AI area. Within my social networks, I prepare the information in sm... Show more

Microsoft and AI consultant, trainer and speaker. MVP Alumni in Business Applications, 12 years of experience in Power BI / Fabric. Moved to the AI-augmented side.

Microsoft and AI consultant, trainer and speaker. MVP Alumni in Business Applications, 12 years of experience in Power BI / Fabric. Moved to the AI-augmented side. Show more

Active in the IT industry since 2012, Leo Visser is a Subject Matter Expert for Azure and AI Foundry at BBTG. He advises organizations on AI, automation, and cloud architecture, combining tools like PowerShell, Power Platform, Azure Logic Apps, and native Azure services. His work strongly focuses on security, sustainability, and long-term value. Leo is a Microsoft PowerShell MVP.

Active in the IT industry since 2012, Leo Visser is a Subject Matter Expert for Azure and AI Foundry at BBTG. He advises organizations on AI, automation, and cloud architecture, combining tools like PowerShell, Power Platform, Azure Logic Apps, and n... Show more

Christian is a Microsoft MVP, Oracle ACE in Java and Fullstack engineer with over 15 years of experience as an engineer. He started with Java and since 9 years works also in the frontend with Angular, TypeScript and JavaScript. Besides his daily work he enjoys giving talks, creating YouTube videos for his over 8000 subscribers, works on his open source projects. If there is time left he gives workshops giving trainings regarding the successful usage of AI in software engineering and writes articles.

Christian is a Microsoft MVP, Oracle ACE in Java and Fullstack engineer with over 15 years of experience as an engineer. He started with Java and since 9 years works also in the frontend with Angular, TypeScript and JavaScript. Besides his daily work... Show more

Stas Lebedenko is a full-stack cloud architect and platform engineer at Eficode. He is also a co-organizer of the Odesa Microsoft. NET User Group, a speaker and author, and an active member of the international and Ukraine .NET/Azure/Operations communities. He has been building and designing software for the last twenty years and has been the Microsoft Azure Most Valuable Professional since 2020.

Stas Lebedenko is a full-stack cloud architect and platform engineer at Eficode. He is also a co-organizer of the Odesa Microsoft. NET User Group, a speaker and author, and an active member of the international and Ukraine .NET/Azure/Operations commu... Show more

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP, is a speaker, best-selling author, and senior tech consultant specializing in business systems analysis and project management. With a strong background in systems engineering and experience working with over 100 organizations, Pamela has delivered workshops, webinars, and presentations worldwide and authored 10 books, including two international best-sellers. Pamela has also taught project management for over ten years in Toronto, Canada. In 2023, 2024, and 2025 she stands out as one of the most active speakers on Sessionize. For more details, visit her LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelapaterson/, or contact her at pamelatheba@gmail.com.

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP, is a speaker, best-selling author, and senior tech consultant specializing in business systems analysis and project management. With a strong background in systems engineering and experience working with over 100 organ... Show more

Ronni is working as a Cloud Architect in Denmark. He has been working as a consultant since 1997 with a primary focus on Enterprise Client Management solutions, based on technologies like Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), Microsoft 365, Windows 11 and Windows 365.
Ronni is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft MVP in Enterprise Mobility and an appreciated speaker at events like Microsoft Campus Days, Microsoft Management Summit (MMS), Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Techdays, Nordic Infrastructure Conference, Techorama, Workplace Njina Summit and at local User Group events.

Ronni is working as a Cloud Architect in Denmark. He has been working as a consultant since 1997 with a primary focus on Enterprise Client Management solutions, based on technologies like Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Configuration Manager, Enterprise ... Show more

Manpreet leads the Modern Workplace AI Solutions Team at Cognizant, where he designs and scales transformative Microsoft-based solutions for global enterprises. Partnering with leadership across diverse verticals—from Media and Entertainment to Financial Services and Healthcare—Manpreet orchestrates Agentic AI strategies that move beyond simple automation to create truly autonomous, intelligent ecosystems. His mission is to redefine the "Agentic Experience," ensuring that AI doesn't just respond to prompts but proactively solves business friction for global customers. As a Microsoft MVP in M365 and AI, he bridges the gap between complex architectural innovation and real-world business impact.

Beyond his leadership at Cognizant, Manpreet is a titan in the technical community. A revered MVP, his insights have reached a staggering 10 million+ readers through his extensive library of articles and blogs. He is the driving force behind numerous annual boot camps, hackathons, and fundraisers, all aimed at nurturing the next generation of tech talent. Whether he is architecting a unified AI Command Center for a Fortune 500 firm or mentoring the next generation of developers, Manpreet is driven by a relentless "human-first" philosophy. Amidst the rapid evolution of the AI landscape, he remains easily recognizable by his warm smile—a reflection of his genuine passion for empowering organizations to achieve more through the power of Agentic AI.

Manpreet leads the Modern Workplace AI Solutions Team at Cognizant, where he designs and scales transformative Microsoft-based solutions for global enterprises. Partnering with leadership across diverse verticals—from Media and Entertainment to Finan... Show more

A Former Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Brandon is a senior member of the Database team for financial company x functioning as a SQL Server Infrastructure Architect/SME. Having worked in data estates of several petabytes across thousands of servers, he puts a high focus on performance tuning and automation at scale. He is a frequent speaker at events like conferences and user groups.

A Former Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Brandon is a senior member of the Database team for financial company x functioning as a SQL Server Infrastructure Architect/SME. Having worked in data estates of several petabytes across thousands of servers, he... Show more

Data Platform Microsoft MVP
Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that.

Data Platform Microsoft MVP Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that. Show more

A developer, business owner, consultant, cloud architect, Microsoft Azure MVP and an online instructor, Mike Benkovich is an alumni of Microsoft from 2004 to 2012 where he helped build developer communities across the US, thru work on Microsoft Across America, MSDN Events, MSDN Webcasts, DPE and Channel 9. He's helped to create and grow developer conferences and user groups in various cities across the US. While at Microsoft he helped create the Azure Boot Camp events that were run in cities across the US and at PDC and TechEd before it was transferred to the community. In 2009 he started a Toastmaster club for Geeks called TechMasters in Minneapolis where we still grow speakers for Conferences. He's a LinkedIn Learning Instructor for Azure, have developed many online courses. Mike actively works in Azure Cloud Governance, Infrastructure as Code, DevOps, Application Architecture and Software Delivery consulting.

A developer, business owner, consultant, cloud architect, Microsoft Azure MVP and an online instructor, Mike Benkovich is an alumni of Microsoft from 2004 to 2012 where he helped build developer communities across the US, thru work on Microsoft Acros... Show more

Alberto Acerbis is a hands-on software architect with a strong background in distributed systems. Recognized as a Microsoft MVP in .NET technologies, he actively contributes to the tech community.
In his role, Alberto helps customers transform their ideas into robust and scalable solutions. Beyond his professional work, he is a passionate technical speaker, having delivered numerous sessions at conferences over the years.
His dedication to knowledge-sharing extends to the communities he has founded and actively participates in, fostering collaboration and continuous learning in the tech ecosystem.
He is the co-author of Domain-Driven Refactoring (Packt), Cronache di Domain-Driven Design (Avanscoperta), and author of Architetture evolutive, DDD, microservizi (Mokabyte).
Outside of technology, Alberto enjoys mountain activities in all seasons and has a keen interest in philosophy and other disciplines beyond the tech world.

Alberto Acerbis is a hands-on software architect with a strong background in distributed systems. Recognized as a Microsoft MVP in .NET technologies, he actively contributes to the tech community. In his role, Alberto helps customers transform their... Show more

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results.
For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex migrations, and performance optimization, combining deep technical expertise with a calm, collaborative style that keeps teams focused and projects on track.

My work includes:

- Software development and architecture - building reliable (mission-critical) software
- Technical leadership - leading software teams by example
- Cloud adoption & migration – ensuring smooth transitions with minimal risk
- Cost optimization & performance tuning – making Azure investments more efficient

I’ve been honored with ten consecutive Microsoft MVP awards for my contributions to the global Azure and .NET community. Outside client projects, I speak at international conferences, delivering talks and workshops.
Recent events include VS Live, NDC, Techorama, DevSum Sweden, Future Tech and Update Conf

Now, as founder of LoekD Consultancy BV, I partner with organizations ready to accelerate their Azure or software journey, whether that means starting fresh or unlocking more value from what you already have, accelerated with the power of AI.

Contact me for full projects, workshops or sparring sessions.

Let’s connect:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/loekd
- GitHub: github.com/loekd
- BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/loekd.com

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results. For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex mig... Show more

Brian has worked with data and analytics for more than two decades - varying projects on both size and complexity.

Now, by combining deep experience with a human approach to data and analytics, and a deep understanding of platform implementations, Brian build solutions that deliver actual change for people, for business, for everyone

Brian is a Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Recognized Fasttrack Solution Architect.

Brian loves data and is always trying to glue the business and tech together using his knowledge and experience.
He is always open to meet new people and help them to get better tomorrow.

Brian has worked with data and analytics for more than two decades - varying projects on both size and complexity. Now, by combining deep experience with a human approach to data and analytics, and a deep understanding of platform implementations,... Show more

As a Developer Advocate at Neo4j, I help developers harness the power of graph technology and AI. A Microsoft MVP and global speaker at events like TED, Microsoft Build, and WeAreDevelopers, I focus on making complex tech accessible through content, community, and hands-on support. My mission is to connect, empower, and inspire developers to build impactful solutions.

As a Developer Advocate at Neo4j, I help developers harness the power of graph technology and AI. A Microsoft MVP and global speaker at events like TED, Microsoft Build, and WeAreDevelopers, I focus on making complex tech accessible through content, ... Show more

Andrea Dottor, I am a consultant, developer, and trainer in the .NET field (primarily ASP.NET and Blazor), author of the podcast 📢 '.NET in Pillole,' and a 🏆 Microsoft MVP since 2008.

I am one of the founding members of XE - Development User Group (XeDotNet).

I began my journey in software development in 2002 using the .NET Framework in the industrial automation sector, later transitioning to the web world in 2005, a field that has fascinated me and continues to provide new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Andrea Dottor, I am a consultant, developer, and trainer in the .NET field (primarily ASP.NET and Blazor), author of the podcast 📢 '.NET in Pillole,' and a 🏆 Microsoft MVP since 2008. I am one of the founding members of XE - Development User Gro... Show more

I'm a passionate and customer-focused solutions architect with deep expertise in IoT, Cloud, .NET, and industrial applications. Microsoft has recognized my contributions with the MVP award since 2014 for Azure, and since 2024 specifically for Azure IoT.

With a background as an independent architect and developer, I’ve built a career around designing scalable, real-world solutions that bridge the gap between modern cloud technologies and industrial needs. I’m a frequent speaker at major tech community events across Italy, sharing knowledge on Azure, IoT, and .NET development.
As the community lead of 1NN0VA, a Microsoft-recognized tech community in Pordenone, Italy, I’m passionate about fostering innovation, mentoring developers, and supporting local tech growth. In 2016, I authored a book on Microsoft Azure to help others embrace the platform's potential.
At heart, I’m a missed researcher and a retro computing lover. I enjoy developing retrogames and playing with his Commodore 64, diving into sci-fi and comic books, and relaxing with a good streaming serie.

I'm a passionate and customer-focused solutions architect with deep expertise in IoT, Cloud, .NET, and industrial applications. Microsoft has recognized my contributions with the MVP award since 2014 for Azure, and since 2024 specifically for Azure I... Show more

Niels Tanis has got a background in .NET development, pentesting and security consultancy. He is Microsoft MVP and has been involved in breaking, defending and building secure applications.
Right now he is a software security engineer at Tidalis and before that he was a security researcher at Veracode where he focussed on static analysis of a variant of languages.
He is married, father of two and lives in a small village just outside Amersfoort, The Netherlands.

Niels Tanis has got a background in .NET development, pentesting and security consultancy. He is Microsoft MVP and has been involved in breaking, defending and building secure applications. Right now he is a software security engineer at Tidalis an... Show more