I recently returned from Microsoft Ignite 2025 in San Francisco. It was the push I needed to finally start writing publicly.
I’ve been talking about M365 licensing for years — with engineers, project managers, account teams, and customers. What functionality is part of a license. Which products best achieve a particular goal. How to move from Microsoft Direct licensing to CSP. How to consolidate a mess of products and vendors into the integrated ecosystem of Microsoft 365. This blog is about sharing what I already know with a broader audience.
I’ve worked in M365 for over eight years, with the last five focused heavily on licensing. Earlier this year I started speaking at events, and I’ve set a goal: submit my first MVP application before Ignite 2026. The work I do for my employer matters, but it doesn’t count toward MVP. To get there, I need to help people beyond my immediate customers. This blog is part of that effort.
Here’s what you can expect from me: practical guidance on M365 licensing, written for people who make decisions but don’t live in Partner Center every day. Honest perspective — Microsoft makes things hard sometimes, but they also listen and improve. No fluff, no sales pitch.
Everyone I’ve met on this journey — at events, online, in the M365 community — has been kind, encouraging, and willing to share what they know. That generosity is part of why I’m doing this. I want to contribute back.
Let’s see where this goes.
Microsoft Ignite will be in San Francisco again November 17-20, 2026. If you’re thinking about attending, here’s the link. And here are a few pics I took of the city.
