I love September!  It is the month of so many beginnings and possible adventures.  My two boys went back to school and I, like many of you who are parents, saw them off and loved to see the excitement, and slight trepidation, in their faces as they followed their teacher into the school and off for another year of adventures, learning, new friends, and the wonder of what is possible.  I remember what it was like to be in their shoes, oh so many years ago, but realize that September also brings many new beginnings and adventures to what I and the rest of the team do.

September is when we kick off our activities for the next year.  Our business year at Microsoft, in my mind, starts in September and ends in June, with the summer largely devoted to relaxation, planning, and family.  Come September we are ready and raring to go and execute on the many exciting things we want to do to help you manage change, be more successful in your career, and connect with each other and us here at Microsoft.  We have a number of activities (both in-person and online) planned, but the one that I am really excited about is the AlignIT Tour kicking off October 1 at our office in Mississauga.

IT is more than just technology.  IT is about the people that use and support the technology, the processes in place to ensure the technology is the right fit and doing the right things within an organization, and also about ensuring the right technology is in place to drive the business goals forward and help to move the organization efficiently and seamlessly.  This is what the Microsoft Align IT Tour is all about.

With workshops and case studies showcasing IT Optimization, top Microsoft consultants and experts will demonstrate how you can start moving towards a more optimized IT environment, and also share lessons learned through their engagements with organizations across the country.  Focusing on Virtualization, you’ll learn how you can manage change more efficiently, help reduce costs and make the most of your existing infrastructure—all in one morning. Running October 1 to November 13, the tour is stopping in cities across Canada. Seating is limited, so register now.

I will be handling the Western Canadian portion of the tour and my colleague Rick Claus will take Ottawa and all points East.  We will also be joined by the our teammates from the developer side of the house - John Bristowe (Western Canada) and Christian Beauclair (Eastern Canada) - to ensure the conversation covers all facets of IT leadership from the Help Desk to the Development Lab, to Systems Management and all points in-between. 

Can't wait to connect with you!!!

Damir