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Category: Community and Events

Community! Events! These are two of my favorite things 🤩 I love my #SQLFamily as much as I love teaching and sharing knowledge. And what better way to combine the two than staying involved in the community while participating in as many events as I can?

In this category, I write about upcoming events I’m SUPER EXCITED about and announce where I will be speaking next. I also link to resources like slide decks and videos from sessions I have presented, write recaps and post pictures from events I have attended, and share tips and advice for others who want to get involved by volunteering or speaking.

Participating in the Microsoft Fabric AMA (Ask Me Anything) hosted by MDPUG Norway

On Wednesday, June 21st, 2023, I will be participating in the Microsoft Fabric AMA (Ask Me Anything) hosted by Microsoft Data Platform User Group Norway.

Speaker card showing Cathrine Wilhelmsen and the other MVPs participating in the Microsoft Fabric AMA.

Microsoft Fabric was launched in public preview in May. It was called the greatest invention since SQL Server and promises to simplify analytics for everyone. Microsoft used Build, one of its flagship events, to launch Microsoft Fabric to much fanfare - and surrounded by lots of hype. But is the hype real?

Register for the event on Meetup 🤓

Microsoft Fabric AMA (Ask Me Anything) with ALL the Norwegian MVPs!

For the first time ever, all the Microsoft Data Platform MVPs from Norway will be on stage together. I’m so excited! 🤩 We have all kinds of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and opinions, and this is your chance to ask all your difficult questions. Or all your basic questions, there are no “dumb” questions!

You’re also welcome to join us for a little summer gathering after the event. We’ll enjoy something cold to drink, chat, network, and have fun! Hope to see you there 🥳

Speaking at Data Platform WIT/DEI Mental Health and Wellness Day 2023

On Friday, May 5th, 2023, I will be speaking at the Data Platform WIT/DEI Mental Health and Wellness Day. This is a free, virtual, all-day event for anyone working in technology. Topics range from dealing with stress, burnout, depression or chronic pain, to working in tech as a queer or neurodiverse person.

I will be presenting a session called Stressed, Depressed, or Burned Out? The Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore. This is a deeply personal session based on my own experiences from the past decade, and it’s one of the few sessions I can’t and don’t want to rehearse. It won’t be an hour of incoherent rambling (don’t worry! 😉) but it will be fairly raw and unfiltered.

Speaker card showing Cathrine Wilhelmsen presenting at Data Platform WIT/DEI Mental Health and Wellness Day 2023.

You can find the schedule and full agenda on the Data Platform Women in Tech website.

Your event needs a Code of Conduct. You need a plan and process for enforcing it. Here's why.

Imagine that you are organizing an event. You have been working for months to make it the best possible experience for everyone, the big day is finally here, speakers are ready to deliver their sessions, and attendees are starting to walk through the doors. Everything is finally coming together! Then you hear that one of your attendees has a history of stalking and harassing someone who is already at your event.

What do you do?

How would you handle a sensitive and difficult situation at your event?

I want you to think about this for a minute. Be completely honest with yourself.

Would you immediately take action? Would you know exactly how to handle the situation, what to do, who to talk to? Would you approach the offender? What would you say? Would you hear them out? Ask them to leave? How would you respond if they deny everything? If they tell you that the victim is lying and trying to ruin their life? If they tell you that they are the real victim? What if they cause a scene? Do you have on-site security to ask for assistance? Would you notify the victim? What would you tell them? Where would you go for privacy? What support would you offer? How would you follow up during and after the event if they are visibly scared or upset? How would you ensure their safety inside and outside the venue? Who would be taking care of your tasks while you are handling the situation?

Would you be handling the situation at all?

Training Day at SQLBits 2022: Data Integration using Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Analytics

Are you new to Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Analytics? Maybe you’re an expert SSIS developer wondering how to take that first step into Azure? Do you feel a little overwhelmed by all the possible ways you can move and transform data these days? Join me at the ExCeL London on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022! I will be delivering a training day at SQLBits 2022 called Beginner’s Guide to Data Integration using Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Analytics 🥳

Person announcing the Beginner’s Guide to Data Integration using Azure Data Factory or Azure Synapse Analytics training day at SQLBits 2022.

My goal is to help kickstart your journey as an Azure Data Engineer, and for all of us to have a great and safe day of learning and networking. SQLBits are taking covid safety seriously by requiring proof of vaccination / tests, wearing masks, and ensuring proper spacing between seats. I will be there in-person and hope you will be able to join us too!

(Oh, and if you want to get the most out of your week at SQLBits? Check out Paul Andrew’s training day on Wednesday called Azure Data Integration Pipelines - Advanced Design and Delivery 🤓)

Speaking (in Norwegian!) at MVP Dagen 2021

On Wednesday, November 17th, 2021, I will be speaking at MVP Dagen 2021! This is a free event where attendees can learn tips and tricks and get updates about Microsoft technologies from Norwegian MVPs.

There are several reasons why this is a very special event to me. It will be my first in-person event since February 2020, and I’m really looking forward to seeing and hanging out with fellow speakers and attendees again! It covers a wide variety of topics so I get to learn about cool things outside my regular data bubble. And… I will be delivering a session in Norwegian… about PowerPoint… Whaaat!? 🤯😁

Speaker card showing Cathrine Wilhelmsen presenting at MVP Dagen 2021..

I will be presenting a brand new session called Bli en PowerPoint (Slide Master)-mester på 1-2-3! (It roughly translates to something like Becoming a PowerPoint (Slide Master) Master in 3 Simple Steps!) It’s a 40-minute mostly demo-based session on how to make PowerPoint work for you instead of against you.

Why am I presenting a session on PowerPoint, though? Excellent question! Johan Ludvig Brattås (@intoleranse) had already submitted a great session called Azure Synapse + Power BI + Purview = True that I want to attend, and I reeeaaally didn’t want to compete with him for a speaking slot. Since attendees will have wildly different backgrounds and expertises, I decided to submit a session on a topic that most are familiar with. So! I chose something I feel like a know a thing or two about: creating slide decks with minimal effort.