Microsoft Teams Community Update February 2021

It is hard to believe it is just one year since all of us around the world began staying at home due to COVID-19 and though it’s been quite the challenge, it’s taught us how important it is to lean on each other. Through all the bad…the isolation, an overload of work, concern for loved ones, fear of the unknown, and wondering if life will ever get back to normal, there have been some silver linings. I’ve heard great stories of people around the community starting podcasts with one another without ever meeting in person, individuals digging into the Microsoft Technical Community to interact with others during down time, and event organizers opening their virtual doors to the world allowing for global audiences and speakers to interact with one another. Thank you for allowing Microsoft Teams to be a big part of your life the past year. We are looking forward to a brighter year ahead and excited for the innovation yet to come.

We had an exciting Ignite week last week and in case you missed it, some of our MVPs recapped the following Microsoft Teams sessions. Have a read:

1. Microsoft Ignite Live Blog: FS189 – Easy, intuitive webinars with Microsoft Teams
2. Microsoft Ignite Live Blog: FS191 – Secure and Compliant Collaboration with Microsoft Teams
3. Microsoft Ignite Live Blog: FS192, OD380, OD378 – Latest Innovations in Teams Calling and Meetings
4. Microsoft Ignite Live Blog: KEY06 – The Hybrid Workplace

If you are interested in sharing your knowledge, experience, or story with community, we’d love to hear from you. We invite all community members to participate in the Microsoft Teams Community Blog Space aka.ms/teamscommunityblog; submit your blog idea at aka.ms/teamscommunityblogger.

As announced last month, Microsoft Teams Engineering would like to recognize community members who make significant contributions to improving the product and sharing their knowledge with community by presenting the Microsoft Teams Community Star Award; I am excited to share the community member we’d like to recognize for February 2021. It’s not a surprise the Microsoft Teams space in the Tech Community has seen significant growth over the past year given the increase in use. With that increase comes a need for community members to participate by sharing tips and tricks, experiences, and answering questions of others. Every month since May 2020, Christian Jernqvist Bergström, an M365 and Teams specialist in Sweden, has been one of the top 5 contributors to the discussion board (in February 2021 he was number one!) and has replied to a total of 2131 posts since becoming a member in February 2020. With a new baby at home, it’s a miracle Christian had time to tend to others and it’s a true testament to his love for community. Thank you, Christian Bergström, for your commitment to Microsoft Teams, for your passion of the product, but mostly – thank you for your love of helping others. You are a true Community Star! (Anyone can nominate an individual for the Microsoft Teams Community Star Award – MVPs are not eligible).

The thought of getting together is exciting and it seems like there is a light at the end of the tunnel with many community events confirming in-person event dates. I’d like to share a few of the events we’re looking forward to. For a full list, please visit: aka.ms/CommunityEvents. If you have your own user group or community event, be sure your event is listed in the Tech Community.

We celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th and the Women in Teams Community hosted the second monthly gathering on the 9th. All women and allies are invited to participate in monthly gatherings with Microsoft and Community speakers and regular discussions in Microsoft Teams. This month, we welcomed @Sandya Rao, Principal Group Product Manager for Personal and Small Room Devices for Microsoft Teams, and Community Members and allies Peter Rising and David Patrick. To join, please sign-up at aka.ms/WomenInTeams. All are welcome.

On behalf of the Microsoft Teams Engineering Team, we wish you health, happiness, and a Happy March. We love seeing you on camera but we’re very much looking forward to seeing you in person soon.

Stay well,
Laurie

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/microsoft-teams-community-update-february-2021/ba-p/2197171 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/microsoft-teams-community-update-february-2021/ba-p/2197171 2021-03-09 19:35:22Z