Business Analytics

**Can’t make it to Barcelona?** A GrafanaCON Local meetup is coming to your city! This event will feature a recap of the [GrafanaCON](https://grafana.com/events/grafanacon/) keynote, combined with fresh voices from your own community. Grafana team members walk through Grafana 13 and the most impactful improvements across the platform. Learn about how Grafana is becoming easier and safer to operate as production infrastructure, with updates that improve configuration management, recovery, and long-term maintainability. The session showcases significant advances in core user workflows, including more flexible and powerful dashboards, with improved performance. Whether you’re building dashboards, scaling Kubernetes, contributing to open source, or just getting started - this meetup is for you! Speakers: * **Dee Kitchen, VP of Engineering at Grafana Labs** * **Thanos Karachalios, Group Product Manager at Grafana Labs** A big thank you to our host, BNY! **🎟 Free to attend** 🍕 Pizza + soft drinks provided 🤝 Built for connection 💡 Real talks from real practitioners **6:00 - 6:30:** Arrivals and pizza 🍕 **6:30 - 7:15:** GrafanaCON recap presentation – TBC **7:15 - 7:30:** Q & A **7:30 - 7:45:** Break ☕ **7:45 - 8:15:** Community lightning talks - TBC **8:15 - 8:30:** Wrap up ### 📸 Important Information * **Building Access (ID Required)**: Please bring a valid form of ID on the day, as it may be required for entry to the venue. * **Photography & Media**: Photos and videos may be taken during the event. By registering and attending, you consent to being photographed/recorded. These materials may be used by Grafana Labs and the event host (BNY) for social media, marketing, and internal communications. * **GDPR & Data Usage**: By signing up, you agree that your registration details (such as name and email) may be shared with the event host (BNY) strictly for event logistics, including building access and attendee management. Your data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection regulations. * **Dietary Requirements**: If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please inform us in advance so we can accommodate you. Note that by registering for this event you consent to related event & product communications from Grafana Labs and agree to our [code of conduct](https://grafana.com/events/events-code-of-conduct/).

**Join ambitious entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals at a dynamic networking event hosted at the heart of London’s transport hub, Euston Station meet at the Signal Box Pub which is on the Upper Level of Euston Station. We will be at a table by the bar. This event provides an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from a wide range of industries, exchange ideas, build valuable relationships, and explore new business opportunities.** **Conveniently located with excellent rail and underground connections, the venue offers a professional yet relaxed environment designed to encourage meaningful conversations and collaboration. Whether you are looking to expand your client base, find strategic partners, promote your services, or simply grow your professional network, this event is ideal for start-ups, SMEs, consultants, and established businesses alike.** **Guests will enjoy informal networking, business discussions, refreshments, and the chance to engage with professionals from across London and the North West corridor. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and be prepared to introduce their business and services in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.** **This event is perfect for anyone seeking to raise their profile, generate referrals, and strengthen business connections in one of London’s busiest commercial locations.**

dbt Meetups are networking events open to all folks working with data! Talks predominantly focus on community members' experience with dbt, however, you'll catch presentations on broader topics such as analytics engineering, data stacks, data ops, modeling, testing, and team structures. Organizer: Ed Hayter, Nathan Purvis & James Charnley Venue Host: The Information Lab (25 Watling St, London EC4M 9BR) Catering: Pizza & Refreshments **To attend, please read the Health and Safety Policy and Terms of Participation:** [https://www.getdbt.com/legal/health-and-safety-policy](https://www.getdbt.com/legal/health-and-safety-policy) Agenda * 17:45 \- 18:45 \| Check in/Registration\, Food and Refreshments \(1 Hour\) * 18:45 \- 18:50 \| Welcome Remarks by Meetup Host \(5 min\) * 18:50 \- 19:10 \| Presentation \(20 min\) * 19:10 \- 19:15 \| Presentation 1 Q&A \(15 min\) * 19:15 \- 19:20 \| Closing Remarks by Meetup Host \(5 min\) * 19:20 \- 20:00 \| Networking \(20 min\) ️Presentation #1: Description: Details to follow in future Speaker: Joshua Walker (Talan) EVENT DETAILS: The doors open at 5:45pm. Presentations begin at 6:40pm. Food and refreshments will be provided. Our venue has capacity limits, so please only RSVP if you intend to come. If you need to cancel at the last minute, please change your RSVP status on this page to "Not Going." Message the organizer if you need help doing this. Check in at the office reception and proceed to floor 1. ➡️ Join the dbt Slack community: https://www.getdbt.com/community/ Join the #local-\ channel in dbt Slack ([https://slack.getdbt.com/](https://slack.getdbt.com/)). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Since 2016, dbt Labs has been on a mission to help data practitioners create and disseminate organizational knowledge. dbt is the standard for AI-ready structured data. Powered by the dbt Fusion engine, it unlocks the performance, context, and trust that organizations need to scale analytics in the era of AI. Globally, more than 60,000 data teams use dbt, including those at Siemens, Roche and Condé Nast. Learn more at getdbt.com, and follow dbt Labs on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dbtlabs/mycompany/), [X](https://x.com/dbt_labs), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dbt_labs/), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/dbt-labs).

Hi new friends and old! We're baaack! As a smaller group, we make meaningful connections with like-minded data professionals. Lifelong friendships are forged along the way! Whether you're new in town, want to expand your social circle, get into the data and AI space, or see a friend you know, this is the place to be! No guest speakers nor rigid agenda, just a casual meetup and lots of fun conversation! 🥳 See you soon! NOTE: Please remember to bring your ID with you, as all guests must be of legal age to enter the venue. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **🤝 Code of Conduct:** The Friendly Data Meetup welcomes all genders, nationalities, ethnicities, backgrounds, identities etc. There is a strict no discrimination policy in adherence to our code of conduct and our guiding principles. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for hateful or antisocial behaviour. In short, be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Behave professionally, don't make others feel uncomfortable. Remember that harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for The Friendly Data Meetup. **🌱 Donations, Volunteers and Patrons Welcome:** The Friendly Data Meetup is completely volunteer run and not for profit. Donations and ideas are very welcome to fund some more exciting activities as summer is coming up! Buy us a coffee or come and chat with us. Support us: [https://bit.ly/support-friendly-data-meetup](https://bit.ly/support-friendly-data-meetup) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **About Us** 🤗 Welcome data professionals and friends! Sometimes, it can be difficult to make friends within the field, and that's what we're all about! We're a group of like minded individuals who understand the highs and lows of working in data and tech. ✅ Our primary goal is to have **higher quality conversations** that are more meaningful, with smaller groups so that we get to spend more attention on each individual. 💯 If you're already reading this, you're definitely welcome! **We welcome everyone**, whether you're already in the data field, looking to get started or just curious! 🗨️ **Bring your friends**, bring your plus ones, we're all just here to have a good laugh and a good chat about the world, even if it isn't always about our work. **Our values:** 📖 **Openness** \- We welcome everyone 🤝 **Trust** \- Build long\-lasting friendships together 💝 **Care** \- Be kind to others and help each other out **Who it's for** \- Data Scientists \- Data Engineers \- Data Analysts \- AI Engineers \- ML Engineers \- Software Engineers \- Data Product Managers \- Financial and Quantitative Modellers \- Entrepreneurs\, Contractors \- Anyone who works with Data \- Anyone looking to get into the space \- Friends **How to Make the Most of the Meetup** The Friendly Data Meetup has one simple purpose - meaningful connections. We're not just a community of people, **we're friends** who get invested in each others lives. We check in on our friends regularly, and personally. So come and join us, **more than just once or twice!**

**Leeds Power BI, Data & Analytics User Group — We’re Back!** After a short break, we’re excited to return with another fantastic evening of learning, networking, and community — hosted by **Hippo Digital** at **The Brew Society, Leeds**. Join us on **Wednesday 27th May 2026** for a high-quality, hybrid event featuring two brilliant speakers covering both **governance** and **design in Power BI** — two topics that every data professional needs to master. *** ## 🎤 **Speaker Line-Up** ### **Lazaros Viastikopoulos \| [metisbi.co.uk](metisbi.co.uk)** **Power BI Governance: The Foundations Matter More Than Ever** Practical lessons for governing Power BI at scale. A practical look at the Power BI governance foundations that still matter - even as the platform has evolved into being one workload of many within MS Fabric, surrounded by AI hype. Laz first delivered this talk in 2019. Before ChatGPT. Before Copilot. Before Fabric. He's giving it again in 2026 because the framework hasn't needed to change and because AI doesn't fix bad governance, it accelerates the consequences of it. The talk walks the practical journey between the different Power BI Deployment Approaches and covers the factors to set up between them. In short: the factors have not changed. The cost of skipping them has. *** ### **Shubhangi Goyal** **Wireframe to Report: A Practical Power BI Design Workflow** Learn a practical end to end workflow for designing Power BI reports, from requirements gathering and wireframing to final delivery and iteration. This session walks through a practical, end-to-end workflow for designing Power BI reports, from initial wireframing to a polished, production-ready dashboard. Attendees will learn how to translate business questions into clear layouts, choose the right visuals for the right insights, and apply design principles that improve usability and decision-making. *** ## 🎯 **What to Expect** * Insightful, practical sessions from experienced speakers * Real-world techniques you can apply immediately * A chance to connect with the Leeds data community * A relaxed, welcoming environment — whether you’re new or experienced *** ## 📍 **Event Details** **Location:** Hippo Digital, The Brew Society, Leeds LS1 4HT **Arrival:** 5:30 PM **Start:** 6:00 PM **Finish:** \~8:30 PM 🎥 **Hybrid Event:** Attend in person or join via YouTube livestream 🍕 **Food & Refreshments** Provided 🤝 **Networking** before and after talks *** ## 🙌 **Special Thanks** A big thank you to **Hippo Digital** for sponsoring and hosting this event. *** ## ⚠️ **RSVP Reminder** Spaces are limited for in-person attendance, so please RSVP early. If your plans change, kindly update your RSVP so someone else can attend. *** We’re excited to be back — and we can’t wait to see you there!

We’re excited to announce our next breakfast networking event! After the bank holiday weekend, what better way to ease back into the work week than with coffee, breakfast, and great conversation? Join us for a relaxed and informal morning with fellow Women in Product - London members! 😊 There’s no presentations or agenda - just a chance to make connections, share experiences, and start the day feeling energised. Free to attend. Any food or drinks you order will need to be paid for individually. Children 👶 welcome. Spaces are limited, so make sure you book your spot early! 📅 Wednesday 27 May 📍 Scarlett Green (4 Noel St, London W1F 8GB) - look out for familiar faces as you arrive or ask for the Women in Product group!

In-person and online - this is the **May 2026 London Webflow Meetup**! New to Webflow, experienced, freelance, in-house, or just curious, everyone is welcome. Curious what it’s like? [Watch the one-minute teaser](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_eZDWFEuDU). ️🕰️ **SCHEDULE** **6.15pm:** drinks + mingle **6.30pm**: welcome and announcements. **6.45pm:** presentations Session 1 **Beyond Blue Links: AEO + Optimize and Future-Proofing Your Clients for the AI Era** with **[Karleigh Dowell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/karleighdowell/)** Search is changing faster than most agencies are ready for. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google's AI Overviews — your clients' customers are increasingly getting their answers before they ever click a link. The old SEO playbook isn't broken, but it's no longer enough. In this session we'll unpack what Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) actually means in practice, and how to prep client sites to show up — and convert — in an answer-first world. Expect a practical look at how AI is reshaping discovery, how Webflow Optimize fits into smarter personalisation and stronger conversion outcomes, and what agencies should be telling clients today to stay ahead of the shift. *Karleigh Dowell is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Webflow, where she works closely with enterprise customers and agency partners to help teams build, optimise, and scale high-performing digital experiences.* Session 2 **From Pixels to People: Lead Tracking and Attribution for Webflow Sites** with **[Ben Power](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpowerr/)** Front-end web design is getting easier, but figuring out who is actually converting on your site is getting harder. Whether you're generating leads, signups, or sales, browser pixels are quietly breaking - and the dashboards built on top of them are lying to you. In this session we'll move past vanity metrics to look at how you build a modern tracking stack that actually proves ROI. Expect a plain-English breakdown of server-side tracking, a live look at a custom AI-powered User Journey Tool I've built for clients, and an honest take on where Webflow fits when you're optimising for outcomes, not just aesthetics. *Ben Power is the co-founder of Pacing Agency, a London-based external marketing team that builds the engine room behind profitable Webflow sites.* **8.00pm**: social at a local pub **🌍 LOCATION** Beyond, Level 2, **The Bower Building**, 207 Old St, London EC1V 9NR Main building entrance closes at 7pm! 1 minute walk from Old Street tube station. Take the MAIN tube station exit. Entrance to The Bower building is down a side street next to the Wagamama restaurant. **📺 LIVE STREAM** Can't make it in person? Then tune into our new live stream. [https://youtube.com/live/PV2pKJtErms](https://youtube.com/live/PV2pKJtErms) and make sure you hit the **Notify Me** bell! **✍️ MEDIA RELEASE** ​By attending, you understand and accept that portions of the event may have audio/photo/video-recorded and/or live-streamed and may be used by the organisers. You agree that the organisers have the right and permission to use and publish such media for any purpose in any format, including online and offline, now and ever after, without further compensation, permission, or notification. You understand that all official recordings from the event are the exclusive property of the organisers, available under the Creative Commons Attribution­ShareAlike license for general use, and you do not ask for nor expect compensation or notification of the use of official recordings or photographs in which you appear or speak. Please inform an organisational team member at the event's start if you do not wish to appear in photos or videos. ✊ **CODE OF CONDUCT** Finally, in attending this event you are agreeing to the [Webflow Community Code of Conduct](https://webflow.com/community/code-of-conduct).

🎉 Event #24 – The Analytics Engineering Meet-up 🎉 The London Analytics Engineering Meet-up - Hosted by Google! Last year this was the meet-up with our highest attendance. Sign up early for this one. 🎤 Talks: [David Cox](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-ryan-cox/)[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cox-2948384/)– Business Intelligence Lead Engineer, Lloyds Banking Group Talk: *The journey to self-service through conversational (AI) analytics.* [James Sean Dickson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesseandickson/) – Senior Analytics Engineer, Voy Talk: *Project Zen Garden - A philosophical approach to maintaining a reliable, scalable and maintainable data platform.* 📅 RSVP is Open This event will be over-subscribed, so set reminder — you won’t want to miss it! 📍 Agenda 6pm – Doors open, networking, food & drinks 7pm – Talks kick off 8:30pm – More drinks & networking @ local pub This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with some of the UK’s top data professionals, share challenges, and exchange learnings. The Analytics Engineering Meet-up is a community for data professionals working with the modern data stack, machine learning or AI. We host regular meet-ups featuring talks from data leaders building and scaling analytics, data platforms, and AI in forward-thinking teams. The community is ideal for Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, Analysts, and those working in Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI. The meet-up is organised by [Cognify](https://cognifysearch.com/), the recruitment partner for modern data and AI teams. Our event sponsor is [Meltano](https://meltano.com/), an ETL platform built on open-source foundations, engineered by experts for cloud scale, efficiency, and reliability. We’re always on the lookout for venues to host and guest speakers to inspire. If you’d like to get involved, feel free to chat with one of the Cognify team at any event. If you’re eager to dive deeper into industry insights, check out The Stacked Data Podcast for conversations with industry leaders. Listen on: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/24fIpekn8WfRDZsVHNcf7Q) **No-Show Policy:** If you miss 2 consecutive events or 2 out of 3 events, you won’t be able to attend the next event. We hope you understand this is to keep things fair for venues and other attendees.

**Let's talk 'AI & BUSINESS'...** Join us for an informal evening of **networking**, **expert talks on** **AI Governance, Data Sovereignty** & a **panel discussion on "How we use AI in our business today"**. **BOOK YOUR PLACE:** [https://aiprofessionals.network/london28may](https://aiprofessionals.network/london28may) **\- Your place must be booked in advance\.** We’re bringing together our AI Professionals & Business communities in/around London to meet, connect and **explore how AI is being built and used in business today.** Whether you’re a founder, investor, professional or simply curious about the AI revolution in business, this is your chance to learn, connect and be inspired. Make real connections, share experiences, be inspired and to inspire others whilst chatting about AI in Business in a relaxed, friendly setting. No formal pitches. Just great conversations! **For more information and to reserve your place visit: [https://aiprofessionals.network/london28may](https://aiprofessionals.network/london28may)** **Venue: Civo Tech Junction, London, EC2A** Pizza & drinks provided courtesy of our Sponsor, Civo.com. **Event Sponsor:** We are proud to be sponsored by **Civo.com** \- Civo is the Sovereign Cloud and AI platform that frees you to build without limits\. Trusted by ambitious startups and major enterprises around the world to deliver scalable\, sustainable infrastructure without the hidden costs or headaches\. We hope you will join us for an inspiring, enjoyable evening. **[Register now to secure your place.](https://aiprofessionals.network/aipb-registration-page1)** NOTE: This event is also being promoted by many other groups and some photos/ videos may be taken for future promotional purposes.

**Looking for a business networking event in London focused on business owners and B2B decision makers?** Join us in **Covent Garden** for a quality business networking hosted by digital business card app GMax Card and web/eCom agency **Getshop Today**. **What to Expect** * **Connect with business owners, founders, decision makers, B2B professionals** and property-focused professionals in a relaxed yet purposeful setting. * **Build valuable business relationships**, exchange ideas, spot market trends, and uncover new opportunities. * **A lightly structured event** \- not a formal conference\, nor a random pub mingle\. * An **atmosphere that feels high-quality yet relaxed,** with space for meaningful business conversations. * Hosts are there from the start to **help with introductions**. **Who You'll Meet** * Business owners, founders, entrepreneurs and company leaders growing businesses across different sectors. * B2B professionals, service providers and decision makers looking to build partnerships, referrals and commercial opportunities. * Property professionals, developers, investors. * Business professionals and international visitors in London looking to connect with founders, decision makers and ambitious people building and growing businesses. **How the Evening Flows** 18:30 - Arrival 19:00 - Short introductions 19:30 - Open networking 21:30 - Close Hosts are there from the start to **help with introductions.** **Venue - Sycamore Bar at Middle Eight Hotel** A stylish, design-led bar inside the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel in central London. Located in the Covent Garden/Holborn area, just a short walk from Holborn, Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road stations, it offers a relaxed and refined setting for business networking. **Entry & GMax Cards** * Free RSVP: Event access only * Paid ticket (when available): Includes a contactless GMax Card (ask host to claim; not distributed automatically) **Dress Code** Business / smart **Hosted by:** [GMax Card - a digital business card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/) platform designed for modern networking and professional connections beyond LinkedIn. Share **all** your contact details through one simple link. **Important Info** * 18+ (ID may be required) * Photos/video by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) (inform us if you prefer not to appear) * Attendance is at your own risk. Organisers and the venue are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage. **Limited spots - register early!** Join our [WA Business Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FJdEP809H5U8WQ4y4BLLS5?mode=hqctcli) to stay connected between events, and follow us on [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/gmax-card) for upcoming dates.

**Please note this is an offline event with limited space. RSVP only if you will be able to attend in person. If you want to watch the live streaming, please RSVP to our [Online Event](https://www.meetup.com/producttank-london/events/314766823).** **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-** Product Managers are uniquely positioned to become founders. Years spent living in customer problems, making prioritisation calls under uncertainty, and shipping products across competing constraints is excellent preparation for building a company from scratch. The question remains which skills to activate first and which to actively develop before making the leap. This event convenes a panel of Product Managers who have successfully made the transition into founding — and are building companies today. Drawing on first-hand experience, they will cover what most founder talks omit: the PM skills that translate into a genuine competitive advantage, the capability gaps that require deliberate development, and a grounded, month-by-month account of what the first year of building demands. The result is a practical, unvarnished briefing designed to help you make an informed decision about the leap — and, should you choose to make it, to make it well-prepared. **Our speakers:** [Emma Burrows](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-burrows/) \- Founder @ Rezonant\, Ex\-CTO @ Stripe UK [Sean Jayakrishna](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-jayakrishna/) \- Product Manager @ Checkout\, Former Founder As always we will close our meet-up with a candid discussion and Q&A. This event is sponsored by Rezonant. **Location:** RichMix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA Please, note that this venue is NOT pet-friendly. **Timings:** 6:30 - Doors open 7:00 - Talk starts / streaming starts 8:00 - Q&A 8:30 - Q&A Finish 9:00 - Close Please note that the event will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and images will be taken throughout the evening. To keep up-to-date with our upcoming talks, follow our [LinkedIn page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/producttanklondon) and our [YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/c/MindtheProductTV) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- By attending this event, you agree to give permission for any photos taken during the event to be used for promotional purposes, give permission for your name and surname to be used for registration purposes, and agree to be contacted by email by ProductTank.

**LLMday: In-Person Event on LLMs, AI & ML in LONDON** Conference focused on Large Language Models (LLMs), Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning, bringing together engineers, researchers, and product teams to share real-world experience building, deploying, and operating AI systems. 🫆[Speakers & Topics](https://llmday.com/2026-london-q2/) 🎟️ **Important:** Meetup RSVPs are for interest only. Still NEED registration, it is handled exclusively through Luma [here](https://luma.com/llmday-2026-london-q2?lm_source=embed) Enjoy 50% OFF with promo code: MEETUP50

Hi Architects, Welcome to our the Fourth AWS London Well-Architected User Group Meetup!!! 🥳🥳🥳 Dragon Hall Trust, 17 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LT The AWS London Well-Architected Meetup is the latest chapter in the most popular AWS Meetup group globally. At each meetup we cover off various pillars of AWS best-practice in detail including insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework. We’ll be updating throughout the month with more speakers and our speakers so far this month include: * **Breached at 3am: How AI is Redefining Security on AWS** \| Oluwasile Adesanya \[Solutions Architect\] from Cadware Limited An overview of how the Well‑Architected Framework is evolving with AI-driven tooling, focusing on how solutions like Kiro transform detection and automated remediation of threats, practical benefits for teams, and recommended implementation patterns and pitfalls to avoid. * **AI-Assisted AWS Well-Architected Assessments with AWS Security Agent** \| Mahendran Selvakumar \[Senior Cloud & DevSecOps Engineer\] from Tata Consultancy Services This talk explores how AWS's new Security Agent can transform the traditionally time-consuming AWS Well-Architected Framework Review (WAFR) process by leveraging AI to automate and accelerate security assessments. So come join us at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start, including drinks, snacks and friendly networking after our talks :-)

**Everyone's talking about graphs now: What does Azure have to offer?** Microsoft Fabric now has a built-in graph database. So do you still need Neo4j? In this session we put Fabric Graph and Neo4j Aura head to head. Not as a marketing exercise, but as a practical decision guide. We’ll cover where Fabric Graph earns its place as a zero-friction, OneLake-native option for connected data, and where Neo4j Aura pulls ahead on query maturity, algorithm depth, and production readiness. We’ll run the same problem through both platforms live, so you can see the real differences rather than just read a feature table. You’ll leave with a clear decision framework: when to use what’s already in your Fabric capacity, when to bring in the specialist, and why the answer is sometimes both. **About the Speaker** Sandy is a Principal Innovation Consultant at Acora (a title all the cool kids aspire to) and Databricks Champion. He’s passionate about technology and finding the best tool for the job. Having recently worked on a project building out a knowledge graph, he’s got the experience with Neo4j to really show the differences between where it wins and where fabric wins.

Free monthly networking for Columbus business owners. Real conversations, real connections, no forced formats. Space is limited. RSVP now. Most owners leave networking events with a stack of business cards and no plan. The best leads quietly slip through the cracks. Networking Night is a monthly meetup for Columbus business owners who want to build real local relationships, not just trade contact info. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no awkward speed-networking. **This month** We are focused on referral relationships. Walk in with a clear idea of who refers people like you. Walk out having met a few owners whose work fits next to yours. **What to expect** Doors open at 6 PM. You get real conversation with other local owners, time to actually connect, and a short marketing lesson woven in. The room is reserved through 7:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants to grow through relationships, not just paid ads. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Last Thursday of every month * 6:00 to 7:30 PM * COhatch Easton * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing, including tracking the referral relationships built in rooms like this one. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275)

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!

Have a small business? Ever wish you could just ask some questions around how to grow your business, get more customers or just know what the freak you are doing with sales? Now is your chance!! Every month we are hosting the "Ask an Expert" at the Columbus Metro Library, Main campus. I will be there to answer your Sales related questions. Drop-in for sales coaching designed to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals sharpen their sales approach. Whether you have questions on how to refine your pitch, are looking to close deals more quickly, or are working on building better client relationships, Smashing Your Sales Goals Coaches are here to help. Drop-in to get expert insights, actionable strategies and real-time solutions to grow your business and generate higher profits. Drop-In Sales Coaching is FREE + OPEN to the public. No appointment needed. First come, first served. EPIC Learning created. Accelerate Columbus supported.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week. You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring. Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell. **This month** Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads. **What to expect** Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Second Monday of every month * 12:00 to 1:30 PM * Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219 * Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)