After two days of networking and information the first Microsoft Partner Connectionz conference finished with a triumphant black tie awards ceremony at the Auckland Museum last night.
After years of coat tailing on the Australian partner conference, hopes were high within Microsoft that local partners would take the opportunity to attend and they did (360 in total).
This was the first big IT event I had attended and I was impressed with the organisation and attention to detail at the Skycity convention centre. The media room was a nice touch as it gave me a chance to grab a seat, a glass of water and write a few notes in between sessions. Incidentally, the partners I talked to were impressed with the speakers and sessions as well.
But of course this being Reseller News, the social networking is nearly as important as the stories. Here’s a small list of signs that you’re at a Microsoft NZ awards ceremony:
1. Even though the awards invite said `black tie’ one fellow decided to turn up in a bright yellow suit - pleasing the Australians in the audience who thought he was wearing the Wallabies colours
2. The MC, TV game show host and comedian Jeremy Corbett revealed he used to work in IT, but is feeling better now
3. Unlike TechED, stylish women were in abundance. The men still looked geeky though.
4. The awards ceremony is like an IT Oscars - spot lights, different music for every category, etc, but thankfully no tearful acceptance speeches.
5. Jeremy Corbett got away with repeating the infamous quote made by Microsoft’s Carlos Martinez at the end of the conference’s opening address - and this time Helen Robinson laughed instead of blushing. We promised not to publish the quote, as it's just too risqué
