A look at the highlights expected from Microsoft Ignite 2020 and our pick of the not-to-be-missed sessions
This week IT and tech professionals all over the world will come together online to network, learn and grow at Microsoft Ignite 2020.
Billed by Microsoft as ‘the digital event experience’, Ignite will feature some 797 sessions delivered online by Microsoft colleagues, partners and customers over the course of three days from September 22-24.
The event kicks off at 4:00 PM BST tomorrow (Tuesday 22 Sept) with a pre-show warm-up before CEO Satya Nadella takes centre “stage” to give a keynote speech on Building Digital Resilience.
With almost 800 sessions over the course of three days, including 124 pre-recorded sessions available on-demand, there is a huge amount of content, discussion and learning to dive into. Expect thought-provoking updates, expert-guided workshops and Q&As, and virtual social activities including yoga, meditation and an online Teams photobooth.
With the industry looking at the evolution of remote and hybrid working, there is a big emphasis on agile IT and the platforms, policies and processes to support this. Not least Microsoft Teams, which will be the focus of 40 sessions.
Many of the sessions run multiple times but we have listed here the UK times only. For details of all the sessions and to view the full agenda, please visit the Microsoft Ignite 2020 website.
Please note that pre-registration as mandatory for all events, so make sure you register to avoid missing out.
Keynote sessions to watch
Several keynote sessions are repeated across Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect inspirational updates from Microsoft’s senior leaders.
Building Digital Resilience, Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft
During this unprecedented time, Satya will speak to Microsoft’s role in the world, innovation, and the opportunities ahead.
Tuesday 22 Sept 4:15 – 5:00 PM
The Future of Work, Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Modern Work
Jared will share the latest research and a framework for success for every IT professional and business leader to empower people for the new world of work, as well as the latest innovation in Microsoft 365 and Teams empowering human ingenuity at scale.
Tuesday 22 Sept 5:00 – 5:25 PM | Wednesday 23 Sept 09:00 – 09:20 AM
Microsoft Power Platform: Fill the App Gap and Supercharge Organisational Agility, James Phillips, President Business Applications Group, Microsoft Corp.
Join James Phillips to learn how the Power Platform gives you a comprehensive, “no cliffs” platform for modern application development that creates a step change in organizational agility.
Tuesday 22 Sept 5:25 – 5:55 PM | Wednesday 23 Sept 09:25– 09:55 AM
Microsoft Dynamics 365: Reimagine How You Can Meet The Needs of Tomorrow, Muhammad Alam, CVP, Dynamics 365, Microsoft | Alysa Taylor, CVP, Business Applications & Global Industry, Microsoft
Join Alysa and Muhammad to learn how Microsoft Dynamics 365 helps you create value faster, break through barriers, and adapt to new opportunities quickly.
Tuesday 22 Sept 5:55 – 6:15 PM | Wednesday 23 Sept 09:55– 10:15 AM
Invent with Purpose on Azure with Julia White and Friends, Led by Julia White, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft
Come see how Azure is redefining hybrid, empowering developers to be more productive than ever before, enabling limitless data and analytics, and democratizing AI.
Tuesday 22 Sept 6:15– 6:45 PM | Wednesday 23 Sept 10:15– 10:45 AM
Achieve resilience with Security, Compliance, and Identity, Vasu Jakkal, CVP, SCI, Microsoft
In this session, Vasu Jakkal will share Microsoft’s strategy and investments in security, compliance, and identity – and how they can help you be more resilient now and in the future.
Tuesday 22 Sept 6:45– 7:05 PM | Wednesday 23 Sept 10:45– 11:05 AM
Are we there yet? App Development in Azure with Scott Hanselman and Friends | Led by Scott Hanselman, Partner Program Manager, Microsoft
Developers at home and at work are resilient and finding ways to adapt and continue to collaborate and be productive remotely, invent at speed and create amazing cloud-powered applications while having fun and helping everyone.
Wednesday 23 Sept 4:30 – 5:00 PM | Thursday 24 Sept 08:30 – 09:00 AM
Microsoft Azure ‘Unplugged’ with Jason and Billy | Billy Anders, Corporate Vice President, CXP, Microsoft | Jason Zander, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft
Join Jason and Billy to hear the lessons a global pandemic taught the Azure team. Come learn about how organizations are transforming with Azure’s unique hybrid approach, limitless data, unmatched analytics systems, AI capabilities, and more.
Wednesday 23 Sept 5:00 – 5:30 PM | Thursday 24 Sept 09:00 – 09:30 AM
Panos and Brad Unplugged—A Conversation About New Hybrid Workstyles with Windows and Microsoft 365, Brad Anderson, CVP, Commercial Management Experiences, Microsoft | Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer, Microsoft
Join Panos and Brad for a conversation about what we’ve learned over the past six months, the shift to hybrid work, and how organizations are transforming with Windows and Microsoft 365.
Wednesday 23 Sept 5:45 – 6:15 PM | Thursday 24 Sept 09:45 – 10:15 AM
Ask the experts sessions
There are some 146 Ask the Experts sessions on topics ranging from optimising Microsoft Teams to how to leverage company data to improve performance. A few of the sessions to note include:
Creating a resilient, inclusive, and hybrid workplace with Microsoft Teams, Nicole Herskowitz, General Manager, Microsoft Teams Marketing
Tuesday 22 Sept 8:15 – 8:45 PM
Build Agile Business Processes with Power Apps, Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Low Code Application Platform, Microsoft
Tuesday 22 Sept 8:15 – 8:45 PM
Azure Active Directory: our vision and roadmap to help you secure remote access and boost employee
Tuesday 22 Sept 8:15 – 8:45 PM
Deliver insights where decisions are made with Power BI, Arun Ulagarachagan, CVP, Microsoft | Kim Manis, Principal Group Program Manager, Microsoft
Tuesday 22 Sept 9:00 – 09:30 PM
Power modern meeting experiences across the hybrid workplace using Microsoft Teams devices, Greg Baribault, Principal Group Program Manager, Microsoft | Nancy Forero, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft
Wednesday 23 Sept 3:15 – 3:45 PM
Microsoft Teams Calling Made Simple, Eric Truax, Teams Architect, Microsoft
Wednesday 23 Sept 7:15 – 7:45 AM and 7:30 – 8:00 PM
Employee Engagement and Communities in Microsoft 365
Thursday 24 Sept 1:00 – 1:30 PM
Digital Breakouts
There are over 200 digital breakouts designed to educate and inform IT professionals at every level, including:
Build Agile Business Processes with Power Apps, Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Low Code Application Platform, Microsoft
Wednesday 23 Sept 11:30 – 12:00 noon
Enabling collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Project Cortex, and more, Jeff Teper, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365 Collaboration with Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive
Wednesday 23 Sept 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM
Building a resilient organization on Microsoft 365, Catherine Boeger, GM, Office Commercial GTM, Microsoft
Wednesday 23 Sept 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM
Bring harmony to work and life with insights from MyAnalytics and Workplace Analytics, Kamal Janardhan
Thursday 24 Sept 1:45 – 2:15 PM
What else to expect at Microsoft Ignite 2020
There are more interactive sessions taking place as part of Microsoft Ignite LIVE with topics including:
- Accelerate your IT Career
- Azure in Space: Innovation at the final frontier
- Microsoft 365 Improvements for IT Pros
- Community empowering Women in STEM
- Future proofing for diversity in Tech
- Learn about the latest innovations in Azure Stack HCI
- Future of Work: AI-Driven Self-Help Resolutions Using Microsoft Teams
There is also a dedicated Learning Zone and a Connection Zone covering anything from career advice to guided yoga sessions and meditation.
By Katherine Murphy, content enthusiast
