{"id":16406,"date":"2024-09-05T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T15:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/?p=16406"},"modified":"2024-09-12T09:42:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T16:42:30","slug":"simplifying-nonprofit-volunteering-at-microsoft-with-power-automate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/insidetrack\/blog\/simplifying-nonprofit-volunteering-at-microsoft-with-power-automate\/","title":{"rendered":"Simplifying nonprofit volunteering at Microsoft with Power Automate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Power Automate, part of the suite of tools offered by Microsoft Power Platform<\/a>, is a low-code, cloud-based automation service powered by AI. In the company\u2019s own words, Power Automate enables customers to streamline processes across their organization to save time and focus on what\u2019s important.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While that might sound like corporate jargon, I can personally attest to its effectiveness. Power Automate<\/a> has indeed helped my organization save time and focus on what matters most. By “my organization,” I\u2019m referring to Microsoft itself\u2014specifically, the Microsoft Charlotte Campus and the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Employee Resource Group. Power Automate has been essential in planning, organizing, and running our community service events, thereby amplifying their impact and continued viability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a senior software engineer at Microsoft, I specialize in data engineering, working on the systems that power Microsoft\u2019s financials through big data analytics, revenue reporting, and product insights. Beyond my technical role, I\u2019m also deeply passionate about giving back to the community through volunteerism. At the Charlotte campus, I\u2019ve channeled this passion into organizing outreach and volunteer events, specifically focusing on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power Automate has been a game-changer in helping me maintain what I call work-life-volunteering balance. It allows me to stay focused on my primary work duties, keep a healthy personal life, and actively engage in my passion for service. Burnout, especially in tech, is a very real thing. By automating tasks that would have otherwise been overwhelming, Power Automate has helped me avoid burning out, ensuring I can excel at my actual job while still having an impact in my community. I\u2019d like to share how it can help you do the same, but first, story time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building community through service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I joined Microsoft in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was living in St. Louis, Missouri, but decided to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Microsoft has an office and was looking to expand. (Fun fact: it\u2019s the oldest Microsoft office outside of Redmond, established in 1990!) Relocating during the pandemic presented its own set of challenges. COVID had essentially shut down the city\u2019s social scene and the Charlotte office, making it difficult to meet new people and coworkers. Having spent my first year in Charlotte mostly isolated, I was eager for opportunities to get out and connect with people, both at the office and in the city at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing that volunteering is an effective way to build community, I quickly sought out opportunities to get involved, both through local nonprofits and at Microsoft. It didn\u2019t take long to find calls for volunteers throughout the city. My first step was volunteering with a local nonprofit called the Carolina Youth Coalition<\/a>, which focuses on propelling high-achieving, under-resourced high school students to and through college. As a mentor and writing tutor with the organization, I began looking for ways to connect the students\u2014many of whom were interested in technology\u2014with Microsoft\u2019s presence in Charlotte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover Days: The first big step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Akinyemi
Segun Akinyemi speaks to students at a student event day that he and other members of the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Employee Resources Group hosted at Microsoft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I started by investigating the possibility of bringing the students to the Microsoft Charlotte campus for a field trip. My hope was for a fun and informative day complete with a campus tour, networking opportunities, a hearty meal, and some cool swag for them to take home. When I reached out to Chemere Davis\u2014Charlotte Campus Community Lead and BAM North Carolina Chairperson\u2014to see if such a visit would be possible, I was met with an emphatic yes. At the time, it surprised me, still being new to Microsoft, but now, after four years with the company, I see it as a reflection of Microsoft\u2019s genuine commitment to empowering local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That fall, 50 Carolina Youth Coalition students visited Microsoft Charlotte, sparking an annual tradition and an ongoing series of similar events with other local schools, known as Discover Days. Since then, my involvement in STEAM education events in Charlotte through Microsoft and BAM has only grown.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my volunteer commitments grew, finding a more efficient way to plan, run, and manage events became essential; Power Automate provided the perfect solution. This year, it was crucial in elevating our Discover Days series from isolated single-school visits to something even more impactful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“When we used Power Automate to ping team members directly in Teams and remind them 1:1 to sign up for our recent Charlotte software engineering Day of Learning event, we saw registrations double overnight\u2014even though we had already sent several emails to the members,\u201d says James Bolling, a principal group engineering manager and Microsoft Charlotte campus director. \u201cIt\u2019s clear to me that our team is living and working in Teams Chat and not email these days.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Every year, the many worldwide chapters of the Blacks at Microsoft Employee Resource Group host an event called BAM Minority Student Day. The event provides a 1-day conference-like experience for underrepresented high school students, engaging them in activities that introduce them to STEAM careers. In 2024, I had the privilege of leading the BAM Charlotte edition of this event, which brought together 400 students and 40 educators from 21 high schools across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I was excited to take on the challenge of leading the event, I was concerned about how I\u2019d be able to balance my work responsibilities, personal life, and volunteer efforts in a healthy way. Power Automate became key to making it all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making it happen with Power Automate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some ways that Power Automate enabled us, as the BAM Charlotte chapter, to pull off our incredibly impactful 2024 Minority Student Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n