Last week, I had the incredible honor of speaking at M365 Community Days NYC, and I’m still taking it all in. This wasn’t just another tech talk—it was a personal story. A moment of vulnerability. A leap of faith.

For the first time on a conference stage, I opened up about what it was like to rebuild myself after personal loss and burnout, and how the M365 community gave me a safety net when I needed it most. The session was a continuation of a blog post I published just a few weeks prior: How the M365 Community Saved My Life. I had no idea how people would receive it. I just knew it was a story I needed to tell.

And now, after the incredible warmth and feedback I’ve received, like this post from Sandy Zeng that truly made my day. I’m so, so glad I did: 🔗 See the post on LinkedIn

Sharing that session wasn’t easy. There were moments when I wondered if I was saying too much or being too raw. But then I remembered: this community thrives on authenticity. On connection. On showing up for one another, not just as professionals, but as humans. And the love in that room proved it.

What’s next?

This talk may have started as a one-time thing, but based on the overwhelming response, I think it’s only the beginning. I may continue speaking about community, identity, and the real stories behind our tech journeys. It’s clear there’s space for these conversations and a need for them too.

For the time being, it’s back to talking about SharePoint and spicing it up with some Copilot. Here’s where you can catch me next:

• M365 Twin Cities (Sept 19) – Co-speaking with Pete Simpkins in Minneapolis… on my birthday!
• M365 Ottawa (Oct 3) – Back for the third time.
• Experts Live US (Oct 10) – My third time speaking at Microsoft NYC this year.
• Power Platform Community Conference (Oct 28-30) – Just attending this one, because I need to catch up on some learning too.
• Live! 360 Orlando (Nov 18-20) – Wrapping up my year on a high note, co-speaking with Stacy Deere, on what else but Copilot.

If you missed the NYC session, you can still read the full story in my original Medium post:

👉 How the M365 Community Saved My Life

To everyone who attended my session in NYC: thank you for holding space with me. To the organizers, sponsors, and volunteers: you created something truly special.
And to anyone reading this who might be quietly struggling: you’re not alone. I’m here. This community is here.

Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep sharing.

Diego