Each year at the Worldwide Partner Conference, the U.S. Partner Team delivers a track of content that aligns to the key themes of the conference and articulates how U.S. partners can engage with us in the coming year. Previously, the sessions have been held on the last day of WPC, in a U.S. “track day.” This year, based on partner feedback, and taking advantage of some changes to the overall conference agenda, we’re refreshing our approach to the U.S. Subsidiary track.
What’s new this year on the WPC agenda
This year, Vision Keynotes at the Houston Toyota Center will open WPC on Monday and close the day on Wednesday, just before the Partner Celebration. Vision Keynotes are where you’ll hear about the Microsoft strategy and vision—the big bets we’re making with our products and our partners. Past Vision Keynotes have been delivered by Steve Ballmer, Jon Roskill, Tami Reller, and Kevin Turner, among others. Value Keynotes, which provide you with more specific product and program strategy, and are presented by leaders from our worldwide Business Groups, will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Review the Agenda at a Glance for more details about the Vision and Value Keynotes schedule.
Get a taste of the WPC 2012 Vision and Value Keynotes on video (expand “Browse All 2012” to select).
U.S. Subsidiary sessions offered throughout your week in Houston
Another difference in this year’s schedule is a shorter last day. We’ll end the conference at 12:30pm on Thursday. On the Agenda at a Glance, you’ll notice that Thursday has a local focus. As a U.S. partner, though, you’ll have an opportunity to attend U.S.-specific sessions throughout the week, not just on Thursday. Titles and descriptions for most of our sessions are now published in the online Session Catalog (on the right side of the page, expand Track, and select U.S. Subsidiary). You won’t find dates and times yet—that information will be available to registered WPC attendees in WPC Connect closer to the conference. When selecting the sessions to offer you this year, we looked for content that will help you build your practice, increase your sales and revenues, monetize new opportunities, and that aligns to the core themes of this year’s conference: Big Data, Cloud, Mobility, and Social. Check back for updates as we finalize the last few titles and descriptions.
U.S. sessions list
- A new era—accelerating partner growth in the U.S. SMB market
- A new era—U.S. SMB partner practice development and profitability
- Accelerate your U.S. customers to Microsoft Office 365
- Best practices for U.S. enterprise partnering
- Delivering solutions and driving revenue with enterprise social in the U.S.
- Drive revenue, create new opportunities, and increase customer satisfaction with the U.S. MEC program
- Game changers in the U.S. application ecosystem
- How U.S. partners can monetize Windows Azure IaaS
- New perspectives on U.S. enterprise mobility with Windows Phone 8
- Office 365 Education: tens of millions of U.S. students connecting with partner apps and services
- Secrets of a successful U.S. Windows Azure partner
- The evolution of the Microsoft U.S. learning partner and U.S. FY14 priorities
- U.S. Central Region: prepare for success in FY14
- U.S. East Region: prepare for success in FY14
- U.S. West Region: prepare for success in FY14
- U.S. overview of FY14 worldwide Azure Circle program and new Microsoft Partner Network competency
- Winning with Windows 8 in the U.S.
More U.S. activities at WPC
The U.S. Subsidiary track is just one of the activities for U.S. partners at this year’s Worldwide Partner Conference. You are also invited to the U.S. Celebration the evening of Tuesday, July 9 at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the U.S. Lounge will be open throughout the conference. There are other activities still in planning right now, and I’ll share more details about your opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate with the U.S. team over the next few weeks.