<h4 data-ux="FeaturedHeading" data-aid="CONTENT_WELCOME_TITLE_RENDERED" data-typography="HeadingDelta">Welcome to North America MCT Summit</h4>
<div data-ux="FeaturedText" data-aid="CONTENT_WELCOME_DESCRIPTION_RENDERED" data-typography="BodyAlpha"><p>Join us in Redmond, WA at the Aloft|Element hotels on 21-23 March 2025 for the North America MCT Summit. This is your opportunity to learn and to network with MCTs from all over the world.&nbsp;</p><p>We are returning to the 3-day format for 2025. Take advantage of the $400 early registration price when you register before 18 January 2025. After that date, a $450 registration price applies.</p><p>The summit will include content that is covered under the MCT non-disclosure agreements. For this reason, the event is limited to MCTs, Microsoft full-time employees, and sponsors.</p><p>Keep checking back for announcements about the summit!</p></div>

<div><p><span data-contrast="auto">The </span><b>North America MCT Summit</b><span data-contrast="auto"> is a </span><b>Microsoft Certified Trainer</b><span data-contrast="auto"> event held annually near Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, WA. The 2025 Summit will be held March 21-23 at the Aloft Element hotels in Redmond, WA.&nbsp;</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><p><span data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><p><span data-contrast="auto">The objectives for the Summit are to enable the MCT community to learn about emerging technologies; get the latest information about upcoming changes to training, certification, and the MCT program; discuss the training business; and improve presentation and instructional skills.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p><div><p><span data-contrast="auto">This year's agenda includes:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><ul><li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;•&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="0" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Keynotes and breakout sessions on the use of emerging technologies in organizations external to the MCT/Microsoft Learn community.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></li></ul></div>
<div><ul><li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;•&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Briefings on the latest training and certification developments from Microsoft Learn.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></li></ul></div>
<div><ul><li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;•&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Interactive sessions facilitated by MCTs and other experts on the training industry and other topics relevant to successful trainers.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></li></ul></div>
<div><ul><li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335551671&quot;:0,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;•&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Social and networking events</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></li></ul></div>
<div><p><span data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><p><span data-contrast="auto">As a sponsor, you will be recognized, and your representative(s) can attend non-confidential conference sessions and meet with MCTs and representatives of Microsoft Learning during the summit.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><p><span data-contrast="auto"></span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}">&nbsp;</span></p></div>
<div><p><b>Once again, </b>the North America MCT Summit is being organized entirely by MCTs.<span data-contrast="auto">&nbsp; Although the Microsoft Certified Trainer program is partnering with us, their commitment only covers a portion of event expenses. Thus, your sponsorship would be greatly appreciated.&nbsp;</span></p></div></div>

2025 North America MCT Summit

Exchange 3 - 45

In an era where technology evolves faster than most organizations can adapt, designing dynamic AI architectures isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. In this session, Samantha will walk you through building intelligent, scalable AI ecosystems on Azure, combining services like Azure AI, Cognitive Services, and Microsoft Copilot to address complex, real-world challenges across sectors, including healthcare and business innovation.

You’ll discover Samantha’s unique framework for integrating cloud-first principles into AI strategy, balancing performance, cost, and adaptability to future-proof any organization.

Key Takeaways:
Understand the principles of dynamic AI architecture design in Azure.
Learn how to balance scalability, cost efficiency, and adaptability in cloud-based AI systems.
Explore real-world examples of healthcare AI workflows, including decision trees and automated diagnostics.
Gain actionable insights to apply AI-first design principles to your next project or client engagement.

Dynamic AI Architectures: Building Scalable, Real-World Solutions in the Cloud

LinkedIn

Sessionize

Are you ready to explore the freelancer/independent galaxy? Armed with your proverbial towel and an insatiable sense of adventure, this session will guide Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) through the highs, lows, and the exciting opportunities of freelancing. Inspired by the interstellar wisdom of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, we’ll chart a course through the infinite improbabilities of running your own show. Discover how becoming a Microsoft Partner opens doors to selling courses and labs, and learn how to wield tools like AI and Copilot to supercharge your productivity and creativity. Whether you’re already navigating the galaxy or preparing for your first hyperspace jump, this talk will leave you with practical advice, memorable metaphors, and a fresh perspective on freelancing life. So long, and thanks for all the contracts!

The Independent MCT’s Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything

X (Twitter)

All too often, we can get into a cycle of explain, demo, labs. It is a proven formula, but there are many other possibilities for an interactive training session to go beyond this. 

With tools discussed ranging from Whiteboard, Loop, Microsoft Learn and even PowerPoint handouts- this session aims to highlight some new approaches to interactivity in training, while also motivating you to try them out in a future delivery.

Interactivity: Recharged!

Thanks to Azure AI Studio, developers, data scientists and cloud teams can all use the same single interface to manage AI solution development. Starting from the creation of a Hub and Project, you learn how to compose a custom Copilot using PromptFlow, and calling this prompt from your .NET application. 

Learn in this session from Peter De Tender, Technical Trainer in the WWL West US team, everything you need to get you warm to start exploring and building custom Copilots yourself. and as typical in Peter's sessions, this will be more live demos, code and only a minimum of slides.

Developing Custom Copilots with Azure AI Studio, PromptFlow and .NET

This session covers the development of Generative AI (GenAI) solutions using Azure AI Studio. The concepts included are model selection, providing guidance on choosing the right model for your project, and benchmarking, which involves establishing performance baselines and comparing them against industry standards. It also focuses on operationalizing AI development, integrating models into workflows, and automating pipelines. Additionally, rapid prototyping is demonstrated, showing how to quickly iterate on GenAI ideas within Azure AI Studio. The session further explores prompt engineering and flow, crafting effective prompts and designing prompt flows for complex interactions. Testing and evaluation strategies are discussed to ensure model reliability and effectiveness. Finally, deployment techniques are demonstrated, including seamless model deployment, solution scaling, and ensuring compliance and security. By the end of this session, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage Azure AI Studio for GenAI operations, from prototype to production

GenAIOps : From Prototype to Production Leveraging Azure AI Studio

Can a video really showcase the true power of Copilot for Microsoft 365, or are they seen as just marketing hype?  Live demo is always preferable but they can be unpredictable and fraught with unexpected issues, leading to the dreaded ‘Demo Gods’ wreaking havoc. Especially with Copilot which needs a live working environment to really showcase the potential. Demo from production is oft cited as a big mistake, yet is what is needed with Copilot. This session will equip you with techniques to confidently demonstrate Microsoft Copilot capabilities even if you are working in your live production environment.

The session will cover:
	• Preparation Strategies: Tips for setting up a safe demo environment.
	• Live Demo Techniques: How to showcase the features without exposing your sensitive content
	• Scenario Building: Crafting scenarios to allow the audience to connect to the demo
Attendees will leave with:
	• Practical knowledge to prepare and execute flawless demos.
	• Strategies to engage the audience and handle live demo challenges.
	• Confidence to showcase technology without the fear of demo disasters.
Products Covered:
	• Microsoft Copilot (Bing)
	• Copilot for Microsoft 365
Join us to master the art of demoing Copilot and become the presenter who always pleases the Demo Gods!


Demo Copilot for Microsoft 365 Without Offending the Demo Gods

Discover how Microsoft Loop can revolutionize your team collaboration with its powerful components, flexible pages, and shared workspaces. This hands-on session will empower you to harness Loop's capabilities, enhancing your productivity and organization. By the end of the training, you'll be equipped with practical skills and inspired to make Microsoft Loop your go-to tool for seamless collaboration. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your teamwork and stay ahead in the digital world!

Get LOOP-ed In: Transform Your Collaboration

Learn from successes -- Dive into the essentials of organizing an AI hack-a-thon or prompt-a-thon. Suggestions to foster innovation, manage logistics, and engage participants. This session covers everything from planning and execution, to judging and post-event follow-up, ensuring a successful and impactful event for your customers.  

Whether run for a user group or as a training session for a company deploying Copilot, promt-a-thons drives innovation and help show the value of generative AI tools like Copilot.

Hackathons Become Prompt-a-Thons - Here's How to Run One!

Join me for an engaging session on Microsoft Copilot, where you'll discover the powerful capabilities of Copilot across Microsoft 365 applications. We'll explore how Copilot can enhance productivity in tools like Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, with a focus on the latest updates and features. Learn through real-world use cases how Copilot can assist with drafting documents, creating dynamic presentations, streamlining your inbox, and facilitating effective meetings. Through real-world use cases, you'll see firsthand how Copilot can boost your efficiency and creativity.

Drinking from the Firehose - A Copilot Short Story

In the world of digital collaboration, high-quality audio is essential for creating engaging content, whether it's for webinars, instructional videos, podcasts, or presentations. TechSmith Audiate offers a groundbreaking solution by transcribing audio into text, making editing as simple as working with a document. This session will introduce collaboration professionals to Audiate’s intuitive features, empowering them to produce polished audio content without the complexities of traditional audio editing software.

Whether you’re working on team presentations, training materials, or cross-functional projects, this session will teach you how to streamline audio production, making it easier to collaborate and share professional-sounding results with your teams.

Cut, Polish, and Perfect: Effortless Audio Editing for Your Video Based-Projects

In this engaging session, participants will explore the fundamental concept of facilitation and learn what it truly means in various contexts. Discover the key attributes of a proficient facilitator and understand the essential skills required to excel in this role. Participants will acquire strategies for running highly productive training and meetings while navigating team dynamics, including effective approaches to handling challenging individuals. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your facilitation skills and make a lasting impact in group settings. 

Objectives:
What does facilitation mean?
How to be a good facilitator
How to plan for engagement
How to run an effective meeting
Team dynamics and difficult people

Effective Facilitation Techniques

This session will concentrate on the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner and Training Services Partner programs and how to navigate them.