Data & Community: An Amazing Network Of Peers Supporting Innovation & Growth
Proposed session for SQLBits 2026TL; DR
I’ll share my journey as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO, and how an amazing network of peers fuelled innovation, collaboration, and growth. Discover how community can transform your career and inspire breakthroughs.
Session Details
When I look back on my career in data, one thing stands out above all else: the incredible network of peers who have inspired, challenged, and collaborated with me along the way. In this autobiographical session, I’ll share my story as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO of Cloud Formations. Talking about how curiosity led me into the world of data, and how the technology community became the catalyst for every major milestone in my career. From late-night problem-solving with fellow experts to building solutions that push boundaries, sharing knowledge, building open-source code projects and more I’ll explore how community relationships have driven innovation and my personal growth. If you’ve ever wondered how community can transform your career, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Sharing my passion and thanks for the community we have created together.
3 things you'll get out of this session
• Show how building strong peer networks can accelerate innovation and career growth in the data industry.
• Share personal experiences and lessons learned from collaborating with the technology community.
• Inspire attendees to engage with community as a catalyst for learning, sharing, and creating impactful solutions.
Speakers
Paul Andrew's other proposed sessions for 2026
Build a Lakehouse in a Day with Metadata & Open-Source Tools - 2026
Deciphering Data Architectures full-day workshop - 2026
An Evolution of Cloud Data Architectures - Lambda, Kappa, Delta, Mesh & Fabric - 2026
An Introduction to Delta Lake and The Lakehouse - 2026
Building Near Real-time Data Solutions in Microsoft Azure & Fabric - 2026
Data Modelling: The Lost Art of Turning Inputs into Insights - 2026
Designing & Delivering Data Products: From Mesh Principles to Data Fabric Automation - 2026
Fabric Data Activator: Real-Time Data Feeds, Automated Alerts & Stock Intelligence - 2026
Fast-Track Your Lakehouse Build with a Metadata Framework - 2026
Microsoft Fabric Platform Governance - Where To Start - 2026