Throughout my life, every region I’ve lived in has been composed of a number of communities. These communities come in all shapes and sizes, and together they combine to impart a unique sense of identity on the entire area. Similarly, when you become our partner, it opens a world of connections and opportunities with the broader Microsoft ecosystem—an ecosystem that is also comprised of hundreds of communities. 

The Microsoft Partner Network is overflowing with opportunities for partners. In fact, for every $1 of revenue Microsoft generated in 2020 our partners produced an estimated $9.58, according to IDC. However, it’s important to know where to look to ensure you’re not leaving any opportunities on the table—and pursuing all of them on your own can often be challenging. 

Building meaningful connections is key to tapping the full power of the partner network. As I said in a previous post, “One of the greatest benefits of belonging to the Microsoft Partner Network is the opportunity to connect with other organizations within the network and form symbiotic partnerships to help you take advantage of new opportunities.” By consistently engaging with the various communities within our network, you open the potential for referrals, co-sell opportunities, and mutually beneficial partnerships with Microsoft and other partners. Fostering partner-to-partner relationships can be a powerful way to access new pools of customers and utilize efficiencies to help your organization scale more rapidly.

Microsoft partner communities include digital and partner-led groups that are designed to support partner-to-partner engagement and business conversations with partners and Microsoft. These communities strengthen our relationship with you and the rest of the network by streamlining access to key content, subject matter experts, events, and networking opportunities as you progress on your partner journey. Communities exist around a variety of topics and geographies—from local groups to worldwide organizations—allowing you to engage with other partners and Microsoft experts around topics spanning from regional opportunities to product-specific issues and global business trends. They can also provide an effective way to elevate the voices and interests of under-represented communities.

Digital partner communities 

Digital partner communities are online groups that are organized by geography and/or topic that host tens of thousands of members worldwide. They provide a space for partners to engage with each other—as well as Microsoft experts and influencers—to ask questions, share tips, and problem solve together. Digital communities can also be a valuable resource to learn more about the partner ecosystem, discover new tools and resources, and build relationships with other partners in your region or industry. You can easily log in with your Partner Center credentials to browse communities, groups, forums and users to quickly find answers to your questions and identify opportunities to build your global business network. 

You can see a list of digital partner communities here. 

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Partner-led communities 

Partner-led communities collectively reach more than 20,000 members—both locally and globally—representing our partners across geographies and roles. They offer engagement opportunities between Microsoft leaders and SMEs and our communities, align strategy and priorities, and gather feedback on how we can better serve our partner-led communities—including communities for under-represented groups.

Organized and represented by partners at the community level, these groups are beyond any individual company’s perspective. They are sponsored by Microsoft towards broader goals that align to our priorities with partner digital experiences and programs, as well as our inclusion objectives and key results.

These communities provide additional value by helping partners with:  

• Recruiting, reaching new customers and scaling

• Technical skills training

• Cloud solution accelerators

• Community activation aligned with Microsoft priorities

• Access for under-represented groups

• Advocacy

Current partner-led communities include: 

• Black Channel Partner Alliance: The BCPA is a community-led organization focused on black founders and entrepreneurs. The organization is dedicated to building high performance, community-focused, sustainable, next generation channel partners working with Microsoft technologies. Their goal is to assist and support 100 black partners over three years to add $1 Million in cloud revenue per partner.

• IAMCP: A preeminent global networking venue for Microsoft partners, with 38 chapters in the U.S. and over 100 chapters globally with 2,000+ members. 

• Male Champions of Change (MCC) Microsoft Partner Group is one of 15 groups of the Australian MCC coalition focused on achieving gender equality, advancing women in leadership and building respectful and inclusive workplaces. 

• Voices for Innovation: With over 700 members in the U.S., this Microsoft-supported community works together to foster positive public policies for our 21st-century digital economy and society.  

• The WIT Network: A global community of professional women and men with 5,000+ members, 50 local communities in more than 53 countries, and 300 unique corporations represented. 

• Women in Cloud: This global community of 100 million professionals addresses issues such as economic inclusion and the gender gap by providing women entrepreneurs in cloud with the tools, knowledge, and networks to reach their potential.  

As a Microsoft partner, you are part of a powerful ecosystem that can help your organization build innovative solutions, go-to-market, co-sell with Microsoft and other partners, and build new partnerships. We’re committed to providing the right resources and tools to set you up for success, empowering you to take the reins and maximize your partner experience. By participating in partner communities, you’ll have more chances to elevate your partnership and unlock new opportunities for your organization—and your success feeds into the overall success of the entire network. I’m excited to see the impact you’ll have as you broaden your connections in our partner ecosystem, and I encourage you to get started today.