Inclusive Events: Best Practices from Korea Influencer Day

On a beautiful day in Korea, we gathered together various groups from Microsoft. Most Valuable Professional (MVP), Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador (MLSA), Regional Director (RD)Microsoft employees and guests from Japan created Korea Influencer Day a truly inclusive and inspiring event. The group aimed to build cross-border connections and foster collaboration, while empowering the community by sharing knowledge and technology trends. Through a carefully crafted agenda, we succeeded in sparking meaningful conversations among college students, community leaders, and experts.

In this post, we’ll walk through event highlights and share best practices on how to organize an inclusive offline community event. We will also reflect on the valuable feedback we receive to help inspire others to create impactful community gatherings.

Memorable Moments and Reminiscences

1. Promote intercultural exchange

The biggest feature of this event was the meaningful collaboration between Korean and Japanese MVPs.. Kazuyuki MiyakeMicrosoft Azure MVP and RD, Japan; Ryota Nakamuraa Japanese business application MVP, introduced local community trends to Korean community leaders.

Kazuyuki said, “Participating in Influencer Day in Korea was groundbreaking. Sharing Japanese Insights AOAI Dev Day It was a big step forward for me to successfully organize and propose the next meeting in Seoul. I believe collaboration between Microsoft MVPs and RDs can spark a powerful movement. I was especially impressed by the active Korean Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors who promise a bright future with passion and curiosity.”

2. Networking through speed dating: surprising success

Although I was hesitant at first, speed dating became a highlight. This encouraged dialogue between individuals from diverse backgrounds, leading to insights and connections that might not have emerged otherwise. MVP, participating MLSAs, and attendees shared cultural perspectives from Korea and Japan, sparking discussions about future collaboration.

Jinseok Kima Korean developer technology MVP, who also played a key role as an interpreter between Korean and Japanese attendees, provided valuable feedback for future events. Make it easier for shy participants to engage in meaningful discussions.”

Yokohama AtsushiJapan’s AI Platform MVP visited Seoul for the first time to communicate with Korean community leaders. He said about his experience at this event, saying, “It was my first time interacting with Korean Microsoft MVPs, and I was grateful to be able to have friendly technical discussions with all of them.” He added, “This experience definitely boosted my motivation.” . Now I am motivated to help strengthen community interactions across Asia.”

3. Strengthening the capabilities of next-generation leaders

This event provided valuable exposure to Korean MLSA students whose energy and curiosity left a lasting impression. Many people expressed ambitions to grow within the community, including one MLSA student. Minseok SongAfter attending the event, a new goal was set: to achieve GOLD MLSA status this year.

He continued to reflect and said this.I spoke with the MVPs at the event and asked them many questions, and everyone kindly provided explanations, making it a productive and rewarding experience. These conversations have inspired me to become someone who can help others like you and MVPs.” This reflection shows how inclusive events can inspire future leaders by connecting them with role models and mentors.

4. Expanding female tech influencers and community influence

One of the most impactful sessions featured speeches by female tech influencers emphasizing the importance of diversity and gender inclusion in tech. Representation matters, and hearing from these leaders not only inspired attendees, but also promoted the idea that diverse voices are key to creating a thriving tech ecosystem.

A panel discussion on increasing community impact through collaboration highlighted the potential of generative AI to transform communities across Korea and Japan, opening the door to future joint initiatives.

Seongho YooMicrosoft technical trainer and Justin YuA Microsoft Cloud Advocate who participated in the event said, “Korea Influencer Day was a very important event for the Korean developer community. In particular, we worked with the Japanese MVP to bring together diverse community leaders by fostering moments of meaningful interaction, empathy, and joy. “I especially appreciate how our efforts to promote gender diversity within the Microsoft technology community have been positively impacted by the collaboration between Microsoft and the SA team.”

Best Practices for Organizing Inclusive In-Person Events

Building on the success of Korea Influencer Day, here are some key practices to consider when planning a comprehensive event:

1. Various agenda management

• Make sure your schedule reflects a variety of topics and speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including professionals, students, and community leaders.
• Highlight underrepresented voices, such as female technology leaders or community members from different regions or fields.

• Incorporate speed networking sessions or icebreaker activities to encourage interaction between attendees from diverse backgrounds.
• Encourage knowledge sharing using creative formats such as Show & Tell or small group discussions.

• Help participants break the ice during networking sessions by providing topic cards or discussion boards that can spark conversation.
• Create personalized introductions to connect individuals based on common interests.

• If attendees come from different regions or countries, include sessions that promote cultural understanding, such as cultural exchange talks or panels to discuss shared challenges and solutions.

• Connect with students and newcomers and provide mentoring opportunities to help them grow within the community.
• Recognize and celebrate their achievements to encourage continued participation.

• A structured agenda is important, but allow time for unstructured networking to allow for organic connections and deeper conversations.

• Ask attendees for feedback to understand what worked well and where improvements can be made.
• Implement these learnings in future events to enhance inclusion and participation.

Korea Influencer Day sparked creativity and inspired students to become future leaders through stories of personal technology projects, demonstrating the value of bringing people together across cultures, backgrounds and interests.

By designing events that celebrate diversity, foster interaction, and empower individuals, we can create meaningful experiences that have a lasting impact on our communities. Whether it’s a small community gathering or a large-scale event, the lessons of Korea Influencer Day can help you create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, and inspired to contribute.

What’s next? As one participant from Japan said, we are looking forward to hosting it in Seoul. Until then, let us continue to build bridges and share knowledge to shape the future together.