Introduction

With the European Power Platform Conference just around the corner, many attendees will be packing their suitcases, planning their schedules and deciding what they want to get from the week.

Whether you’re joining us this year for EPPC, ESPC, FabCon + SQLCon, or attending another Microsoft conference, a little preparation can make a huge difference.

After organising Microsoft conferences for many years, we’ve noticed something interesting. The people who get the most value from a conference aren’t necessarily the ones who attend the most sessions. They’re the ones who arrive with a plan, stay curious and make the most of every opportunity.

Here are a few tips we’ve picked up along the way.

Don't try to attend every session

It’s tempting to fill every gap in your schedule, but conference fatigue is real.

Choose the sessions that are most relevant to your role and leave yourself time to explore the exhibition, speak to sponsors and have conversations with other attendees.

Sometimes the most valuable thing you learn all day won’t come from a presentation.

Set yourself one or two learning goals

Before you arrive, ask yourself:

• What’s the biggest challenge I’m facing at work right now?
• What do I want to learn this week?
• Which Microsoft technologies do I want to understand better?

Having clear goals makes it much easier to decide which sessions, workshops and discussions will be most valuable.

Speak to the speakers

One of the biggest advantages of attending an in-person conference is access to experts.

If a session raises questions about Power Platform governance, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Fabric or AI adoption, don’t be afraid to ask.

Most speakers are happy to continue the conversation after their session.

Meet people

For many attendees, the best conversations happen outside the session rooms.

Introduce yourself to someone over coffee. Join a table at lunch. Visit the exhibition. Attend the networking events and meetups.

The Microsoft community is incredibly welcoming, and you’ll probably discover that other organisations are working through the same challenges you are.

Take fewer notes and more actions

Rather than trying to write down everything you hear, make a note of the ideas you actually want to take back to work.

Ask yourself:

• What could we implement next month?
• Which speaker should I follow?
• What do I need to learn more about?

Those actions are far more valuable than pages of notes you’ll never read again.

Give yourself time to reflect

After the conference, don’t jump straight back into your inbox. Spend half an hour reviewing your notes while everything is still fresh. Identify the three or four ideas that will have the biggest impact and share them with your team.

That’s often where the real return on attending a conference begins.

Conferences are about more than content

The sessions are important, but they’re only one part of the experience.

The conversations, the unexpected ideas and the people you meet are often what you remember long after the conference has finished.

Whether you’re joining us at EPPC, ESPC, FabCon + SQLCon Europe or another Microsoft conference this year, we hope these tips help you make the most of every opportunity.

Conference Checklist

✔ Plan your sessions

✔ Download the event app

✔ Book networking events

✔ Prepare questions

✔ Connect with speakers on LinkedIn

✔ Bring business cards (or have your LinkedIn QR code ready!)

✔ Review your notes before you leave

✔ Share your learning with your team afterwards