Find Your Next Speaker

Quick note: A short, personalized invite goes a long way. Reference a recent talk or project, and keep your ask flexible (month + format + session length).

This guide helps user group leaders quickly and confidently find, invite, and schedule speakers for upcoming meetings. It is designed for leaders running free, community-led events and offers practical, repeatable options.

Start with your network and social channels

When to use this

• You're new to running a user group
• You want trusted or known speakers
• You need a quick confirmation

How to approach this

• Post a speaker request on LinkedIn
• Share the ask in relevant Teams, Slack, or community channels
• Ask past speakers or attendees for recommendations
• Clearly include: topic/technology focus, audience level, month/date range, and virtual vs. in-person

Why this works

• Leverages existing trust and relationships
• Encourages community members to step up
• Often surfaces first-time speakers

Use Sessionize to find speakers by topic

Sessionize is both a Call for Speakers platform and a speaker discovery tool.

When to use this

• You have a specific topic or technology in mind
• You want to review prior talks before outreach
• You're open to direct speaker invitations

How it works

1. Create a free Sessionize account
2. Search for sessions by topic, product, or technology
3. Review speaker profiles, abstracts, and speaking history
4. Reach out to speakers whose content aligns with your group

Curated directories:

• Microsoft Fabric speakers
• Azure Data & SQL speakers
• Real-Time Intelligence speakers

Open Sessionize

Reach out to Microsoft MVPs

When to use this

• You want deep expertise in a Microsoft technology
• You're targeting experienced, community-focused speakers

How to approach this

• Identify MVPs aligned to your technology area
• Send a concise message that includes: user group name, format (virtual/in-person), audience level, and month/date range

Best practices

• Personalize outreach and reference their work or prior talks
• Clearly state the event is free and community-run
• Be flexible on timing and format

Find Microsoft MVPs

Create a Call for Speakers in Sessionize

When to use this

• You want a continuous pipeline of speakers
• You run meetings monthly or quarterly

How it works

1. Create a free Sessionize account
2. Set up a Call for Speakers for your user group
3. Specify topics of interest, audience level, and a scheduling window (for example, upcoming months)
4. Share the Call for Speakers link publicly (Meetup, LinkedIn, your group site)

Licensing and cost

• Sessionize supports free use for qualifying community events
• During setup, select Activate / Buy and request a Community License or community discount

Getting started

• Sessionize organizer overview
• Example walkthrough (community blog)

Ask the user group leader community

How to use this

• Post in the User Group Leader Teams channel
• Share the topic, month, and format you're trying to fill
• Ask for introductions or speaker recommendations

Why this works

• Leaders often share speakers across groups
• Helps avoid duplicate outreach
• Strengthens cross-group collaboration

Recommended approach for new leaders

For most user groups:

1. Start with your network and social channels
2. Use Sessionize discovery and curated directories
3. Reach out to MVPs when deeper expertise is needed
4. Maintain an always-open Call for Speakers in Sessionize
5. Use the leader community as a backup and amplifier

Keep speaker requirements simple to encourage first-time speakers.

Keep your own profile updated

We also encourage you to keep your own Sessionize profile updated. It helps others find and invite you, and keeps your group visible in the broader community.