Monday Evening

Monday evening, we will be in Center Hall B (where you had breakfast and lunch) for our re-imagined Community Happy Hour.

The Monday schedule features our keynot and kickoff, followed by awesome sessions for you to choose from — check out the mobile app for more details on what’s being offered. These workshops are intense sessions that go deep into the weeds, so come prepared. And don’t worry, they’re being recorded too.

Bring that energy to our Monday night reception. We’ve invited not only all our Summiteers (that’s you!) but also everyone from Microsoft working on PowerShell technologies. It’s a great time to make new acquaintances, renew old friendships, and shake hands with the folks who literally make PowerShell a thing — take a minute to geek out about that! Talk about what you’re excited about, what you’re looking forward to.

Or talk about actual food. We’ll serve plenty of filling appetizers and snacks, but the reception is also a great place to grab a few friends and plan for dinner later — Bellevue has a ton of great spots just a short walk away with a huge variety of cuisines to choose from.

Beverages will be available throughout the evening — check the reception area for what’s on offer.

And we’ll have some light background music — nothing that’ll kill the conversation.

We know Summit brings a really diverse set of personalities from a lot of different backgrounds and cultures, and our reception is designed to accommodate as many of them as possible. In the past, we’ve experimented with separate “lower key” events, but the fact is that Monday evening isn’t some kind of fraternity bash to begin with — we want to focus on bringing our community together, not dividing it up. So we’re planning a selection of experiences for a blended audience. Whether you prefer to sit or mingle, there’s something here for you.

Here’s a quick look at some of what’s planned:

Meet & mingle with Summiteers and Microsoft product team members. This is a great time to throw off that introversion we all have, shake a few hands, and introduce yourself. Trust us — we’ve been running this event for 13 years and it’s how we finally broke out of our shells and started meeting colleagues we now can’t imagine not knowing.

Board and card games. We’re bringing a selection of board games, from classic favorites to newer hits, along with a few you may never have heard of. Grab a couple of folks, read the directions, and dive in. It’s a perfect way to have a “smaller” reception experience and focus on meeting just three or four new people at once. Have a favorite board or card game? You’re welcome to bring it — just keep it G-rated. We love Cards Against Humanity too, but this isn’t the place for it.

Sit ‘n’ chat. We’re keeping plenty of seating available for those who just want to sit, chill out, and enjoy a good conversation. Grab some snacks and a beverage and have a great night.

Meet our sponsors. Many of our sponsors will join us in their own small-scale, casual areas where you can have a real conversation with them. Vendors clear a high bar to be at Summit — they want to be here, and not just to hand out swag. They want to meet you. They want to hear what you’re dealing with at work. Maybe you’ll discover a solution to a problem you’ve been sitting with; at the very least, you’ll come away with a better sense of what’s out there. That’s the “keeping up with technology” part that’s genuinely great for your career.

The reception is a great way to set yourself up for an amazing Summit. Remember — Summit is more about the people than the technology, and the reception is where we hope you’ll make at least a few connections that stick.