Microsoft Learn is available at any time. With just a few clicks, we can meet on Teams calls, exchange knowledge, and work together on documents. So – do we really still need physical gatherings?

Yes. And more urgently than it might seem at first glance.

Because what happens at an MCT Summit can’t be packed into a recording. It isn’t “content” you can catch up on later. It’s an experience that exists only in the moment – and that’s exactly where its impact unfolds.

Encounters that last

At these summits, I’ve forged connections with international MCTs. Some I see only once a year at the MCT Summit Europe. With others, I’m in regular contact, exchanging ideas, seeking or offering advice. And then there are the encounters that happen spontaneously – over coffee, during a break, on the way to the next session. Conversations that weren’t planned but provided exactly the impulse I needed at that moment.

This year in Manchester was my second summit, after the one in the Netherlands in 2024. I met people in person whose work and contributions I had long followed – people who inspired and motivated me on my journey toward self-employment. I was especially pleased to meet Thomas this year, with whom I now bring the MCT Germany Blog to life. There were encounters with individuals whose openness and enthusiasm were contagious – and who, consciously or not, encouraged me to take new steps. And there are people I absolutely want to stay in touch with, because they enrich me both professionally and personally.

This community is more than just a network for me. It’s a circle of people I can rely on – on my path to TSP, in self-employment, and in daily learning. It supports, challenges, and encourages. And I love that!

Learning with all senses

An in-person workshop is different from an online call. You feel the energy in the room, see other participants’ reactions, hear the quiet “aha” in the second row. You can immediately follow up if something is unclear and experience how discussions develop that would never arise online in the same way.

It’s these moments when knowledge is not only conveyed but truly anchored.

Visibility and influence

Those who are present on-site get noticed. Not just by other MCTs, but also by Microsoft, by program managers, by people who influence the program, like the community leads. That can open doors – to projects, to speaking opportunities, to possibilities you never even had on your radar before.

Inspiration that lasts

After a summit, I never go home the same as I arrived. I take away ideas that reshape my approach to training. Contacts that inspire me even months later. And an energy that carries me through everyday life.

Fun fact: Our Microsoft Program Manager waited 25 years before attending their first MCT Summit – and still says that not joining sooner is one of their deepest regrets.

More than just a date in the calendar

An MCT Summit isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s a place where we as trainers develop – professionally, methodologically, personally. It’s a space where we share not just knowledge, but attitude, experience, and courage.

And it’s a reminder that our work isn’t just about slides and modules, but about people whom we accompany, inspire, and empower.

Check out the MCT Lounge for the planned MCT Summits for 2026.
Keep checking in – there will be more to come 🙂