I can’t exactly explain why or how, but I’ve been going through a bit of a transformation lately. It all started when I went to the M365 Community Conference, which I once again raved about, and it culminated this week with the European Collaboration Summit—my first conference in Europe (or abroad, for that matter).

Sure, I’ve already spoken at Community Days events in three different countries (and will continue to do so). But I haven’t yet presented at a large, multi-day paid conference. Nonetheless, each time I get to speak at smaller community events, I feel more and more ready—and that day is actually coming soon (Live! 360 Orlando, here I come!). But this post isn’t about me as a speaker. It’s yet another one of my post-conference reviews—European edition!

Fast forward to this week in Düsseldorf, and I found myself at the European Collaboration Summit, unsure of what to expect but ready to soak it all in. When I first booked this event, I had no idea what I was really getting into. Part of me just wanted an excuse to visit my friend Luise, and with super early bird pricing (more on that later), it felt like an impulse buy—pretty much how I buy music festival tickets: buy first, think later. Also, Monday was a holiday in the US, so the short week made it the perfect excuse to keep this journey going. After a weekend in Berlin, I was off to Düsseldorf to meet Luise.

Upon arrival, the first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the convention center. The AC wasn’t blasting arctic temperatures, and there was no musty old carpet smell. My lungs thanked me, though the combo of jet lag and warmer temps was a bit of a struggle 😴. Pro tip: if you’re coming from the States, arrive a couple of days early to adjust to the time and climate.

Another thing I really loved? The expo hall wasn’t a boring grid of square booths. Instead, it felt like a maze—unevenly spaced and full of surprises—which made it easier (and more fun) to stumble onto vendors I wouldn’t normally notice. There were tons of exhibitors, including many companies I’d never even heard of. I was genuinely impressed by how much variety there was in that space.

Once again—so many sessions, so little time. It wouldn’t be fair to judge the whole event based on the handful I managed to catch, but every single one I attended was top notch. I also loved that there were so many speakers I’d never seen or heard of before—many of whom may not make it to US-based events. The diversity, in every sense of the word, was a huge win.

I’ve also got to give credit to the run.events platform. I’ll be honest—the first time I used it, I thought it was OK but also wasn’t the biggest fan. But it has come a long way, and it’s quickly becoming a seriously solid tool for discovering, applying to, and managing events.

One thing I found a bit confusing was the ‘multiple events in one’ format. For example, I was attending the European Collaboration Summit, while Luise was speaking at the European BizApps Summit. Since I only had visibility into the ECS schedule, I completely missed her session. It was a frustrating moment, especially since I was really looking forward to seeing her present. Later I came to find out that there was a different price point to attend all three events—and I had only signed up for ECS.

If you think these events end with the workshops, you’re missing the best part—because the magic really happens in the conversations that follow. The chats I had? Incredible. The inspiration I got from the sessions? Next level. Seeing old friends, making new ones, solidifying connections—I walked away so glad I made the trip.

To all the organizers, staff, volunteers, and speakers—thank you. The event was truly excellent.

And yes, just like I do with music festivals, I’ve already snagged my ticket for ECS 2026. Here’s a huge pro tip: if you grab your ticket before May 31st, you get 65% off with the code COMMUNITYROCKS. No, I’m not sponsored—I just really think you should join me in Cologne next year.

Last thing—massive thanks to Luise for being such a splendid host and opening up her home to me. You’ve always been an inspiration, and being able to call you one of my dearest friends is truly one of the greatest joys in my life.