Special Topics Track
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM · Room 340-342
AI Literacy Workshop for those new to AI
Drive real results in your organization by mastering AI basics.
"...those who are trained to use AI are up to 19 times as likely to report that AI is improving their productivity." Workforce Index Study 2024, Slack.
BUSINESS FOCUSED This session is tailored for mid-level managers, decision-makers from Marketing, HR, Operations, IT, and other business leaders.
Many are struggling with AI A recent study from Slack showed that core AI literacy is a blocker for many AI projects. This webinar prepares you for the AI journey ahead, addressing topics like:
Lack of Clarity on AI's Practical Impact. Many organizations still struggle to understand impactful AI use cases beyond initial experiments.
Concerns Around Bias and Privacy. Issues related to biases and data security are major barriers for broader AI adoption.
Integration Into Existing Processes. Difficulty in smoothly
Integrating AI into current workflows without major disruptions.
Skepticism and Resistance. Employees and leaders often have mixed feelings, ranging from fear of job loss to skepticism about AI's capabilities.
YOU'LL LEARN AI Fundamentals. Understand the core concepts and language of AI in an easy, accessible way. No technical jargon needed.
Types of AI and how are they used
- Old habit of search vs new habit of conversation with AI
- Prompting and the 8 different forms
- Understanding the difference between training, fine tuning, and grounding and why you should care AI Planning Basics. Find out the six areas in which you should review before proceeding with an AI project. No one wants to have an AI disaster.
Real-World Applications. Learn practical AI use cases that can be applied to your role or business right away.
Live Q&A. Get direct access to the instructor to answer your specific questions during the live session.
WHAT OTHERS SAID ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP "Treb was very knowledgeable and provided great insight on the past and future of AI"
"Great guidance on best practices as we are looking at launching Copilot"
Wednesday 2:00 PM - 3:10 PM · Room 433-434
Integrating Forms with Teams for Real-time Responses
Do you ever wonder what your Microsoft Team members are thinking or what their thoughts are on a specific topic or initiative? Microsoft Forms is a powerful and versatile tool that allows you to create surveys, quizzes, and polls that can be responded to by your Team members which allows you to view real-time responses from your participants. These results can then be exported to an Excel spreadsheet for additional analysis, and to generate some neat visual charts or graphs using Power BI.
In this session we are going to introduce and discuss the different types of uses for Forms, how to create a form on a Microsoft Teams channel, explore the configuration options for these forms, as well as how to export the results for use in other Microsoft products, like Power BI.
Wednesday 2:00 PM - 3:10 PM · Room 443-444
Transforming Public Sector with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform: Lessons from the City of Seattle
Public sector organizations face unique challenges when modernizing IT services, from navigating complex governance requirements to ensuring scalability for diverse teams. In this session, explore how the City of Seattle leveraged Microsoft 365 and Power Platform to transform collaboration, streamline processes, and enhance operations for a workforce of over 10,000 employees.
Whether you work directly in the public sector or support public sector clients, this session will provide practical strategies and actionable tools to drive meaningful change. Learn how to address public sector-specific obstacles—such as compliance, governance, and accessibility—while achieving scalability, user adoption, and operational excellence.
In this presentation, you will learn:
- How the City of Seattle modernized collaboration and automation services using Microsoft 365 and Power Platform to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
- Strategies to tackle unique public sector transformation challenges, including governance, compliance, and accessibility.
- Scalable best practices for driving user adoption and operational success with Microsoft 365 and Power Platform in government and large organizations.
Thursday 2:00 PM - 3:10 PM · Room 445-446
Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace
In this session, we will explore the pivotal role of respect, empathy, and kindness in fostering trust among team members within the workplace. Delving into practical strategies, we will address methods for cultivating a robust knowledge foundation in your domain, empowering team autonomy, fostering genuine communication, and exemplifying compassionate leadership. These nuanced approaches collectively serve as instrumental tools for aspiring toward excellence in leadership.
Thursday 4:00 PM - 5:10 PM · Room 437-439
Get Real Time User Behavior Analytics of Your Microsoft 365 Users
Curious about what's really going on with your Microsoft 365 users? Skip the unreliable surveys and dive into real-time behavioral analytics with the free Microsoft Clarity.
This session will reveal how to harness the power of Clarity's free tools to boost digital adoption. You'll learn to identify popular pages, dead clicks, rage clicks, and more, transforming these insights into actionable improvements for user training and support. By the end, you'll be equipped to use heat maps, session recordings, and dashboard insights to pinpoint where users struggle, ensuring your governance and compliance measures are both effective and user-friendly.
Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your user support strategy.
Thursday 4:00 PM - 5:10 PM · Room 425
Roundtable Discussion - How do I fit? A Discussion on Neurodiversity in the Technology Workspace
Join us for an engaging and informal gathering where participants delve into topics that matter to them. Roundtable Discussions are a space for sharing ideas, perspectives, and experiences with other attendees. Pull up a chair, and let’s exchange insights!
Friday 9:00 AM - 10:10 AM · Room 437-439
Knowledge Management Strategies in the era of Copilot: Beyond the Basics
Microsoft 365 offers a robust suite of tools to support your Knowledge Management goals. This session will explore comprehensive strategies to leverage the full spectrum of Microsoft 365 tools and organizational strategies, from manual and automatic metadata classification in SharePoint to enhance explicit knowledge, to AI-assisted tacit knowledge and expertise location experiences with Viva Engage and Answers in Viva, and Copilot-assisted knowledge experiences grounded in your organizational content. You will gain practical strategies for achieving your Knowledge Management goals and a deeper understanding of how Microsoft 365 and Copilot can support your journey. You will take away practical strategies for achieving your KM goals and a deeper understanding of how Microsoft 365 and Copilot can help you in your journey.
Friday 10:20 AM - 11:30 AM · Room 440-441
Introduction to JSON to master customizing SharePoint
JSON is EVERYWHERE in SharePoint Online and your ability to take your SharePoint deployments to the next level depend on your ability to understand and create complicated JSON objects. In this densely demo-packed session, attendees will learn:
- What is JSON and how to understand the structure
- Tips for creating JSON objects and starting with community content as a starting point
Attendees will also learn how to use JSON Objects in SharePoint Online to:
- Customize list columns and list views
- Create Site Designs for creating custom site templates
- Create stunning Quick Views for Viva Connections ACE's
- Post messages in teams as Adaptive Cards
- Process SharePoint REST queries in Power Automate
- and more!!
Friday 10:20 AM - 11:30 AM · Room 442
Protecting users from themselves: How to engage your employees and drive effective data protection
Many organizations feel they must choose between protecting their data or enabling strong collaboration. David and Sarah ask: “Why not do both?”
Sarah Haase (renowned user adoption specialist) and David Drever (data protection expert) join forces to demonstrate you can collaborate, share files, and protect your data at the same time! Join them as they demonstrate how to configure your Microsoft 365 environment to collaborate internally and externally while ensuring your data is protected. Sarah and David will outline methods for planning your security, configuring Microsoft Purview, and driving effective employee engagement and adoption. By the end of the session, you’ll understand how to build a highly collaborative environment that lets your users share and protect your data.
Friday 1:50 PM - 3:00 PM · Room 442
The Art of AI-Assisted Writing: Blending Technology with Human Creativity

Christian Buckley
RD+MVP | Award-Winning Product Marketer & Tech Evangelist | Host of the #CollabTalk Podcast, #ProjectFailureFiles, #GoM365gov & #M365AMA series
In an era where artificial intelligence tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and the Project Sophia research tool (in preview) are redefining content creation, the challenge for information workers and communication professionals lies not in generating content, but in ensuring it remains compelling, accurate, and authentic.
This session targets managers, executives, and content creators, aiming to bridge the gap between AI capabilities and the nuanced touch of human interaction. We will delve into best practices for authoring outstanding content that leverages AI tools without losing the personal touch that connects with audiences. Attendees will learn how to use these AI technologies to produce strong, SEO-optimized (when needed) content while also exploring the unique strengths of Copilot in utilizing M365 content, with a special focus on integrating OneNote as a dynamic data source. Through practical advice and strategic insights, this session promises to equip professionals with the skills to navigate the AI content landscape effectively, blending technology with human creativity to craft messages that resonate deeply with their intended audiences.
Benefits of Attending This Session: • Strategic AI Utilization: Understand how to strategically leverage AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, Project Sophia, and ChatGPT in your content creation process, maximizing efficiency without compromising quality. • Enhanced Content Quality: Learn best practices for creating compelling, accurate, and engaging content that stands out, even in an AI-assisted world. • SEO Optimization Techniques: Acquire techniques for ensuring your content is not only reader-friendly but also optimized for search engines, increasing visibility and reach for external publications. • Leveraging M365 for Content Creation: Discover the advantages of using Microsoft 365 tools, particularly Copilot's integration with OneNote, to enrich your content with relevant, data-driven insights. • Human-AI Collaboration: Explore how to maintain the essential human touch in content authored with AI assistance, ensuring that your communications retain authenticity and emotional connection.
This session is designed for those looking to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-assisted content creation, offering insights into making the most of these powerful tools while keeping the content genuine and impactful. Whether you're drafting internal communications or creating content for the wider world, this talk will provide valuable strategies for elevating your writing in the AI-centric future.