Business Architecture

**Chasing Unicorns**: When Job Ads Demand Superhuman Skills, with Gaurav K In this talk, Gaurav will reveal why the “perfect candidate” is a myth and how both employers and job seekers can benefit from a more realistic approach to tech stack and domain knowledge demands in hiring instead of searching for a “unicorn” who fits every requirement. We will also be having a panel discussion after Gaurav's talk **Venue:** Hosted at Inspire9 Coworking Space Richmond https://www.inspire9.com/ **Gaurav Kathuria** is the Founder and Principal Trainer at **Business Analysis Upskill.** Gaurav offers professional training and coaching in Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Business Intelligence, Business Analysis certifications (ECBA, CCBA, CBAP), BABOK, Agile, Scrum, Process Automation, and Product Management. **Jade Bennett** is the Founder of **Middleton Executive**, an embedded hiring and executive search partner to product and technology companies. Jade is also the creator and host of The Product Edge podcast and a career strategist, known for her HIRED framework. **Jodie Marron** is a Senior Principal Consultant at **Frazer Tremble**, specialising in recruiting high-performing PMO, project, transformation, and tech teams across Australia in financial services, professional services, and utilities. She loves bringing people together through industry events and panels. **Andy Kelk** is a Fractional CTO and strategic advisor with over 25 years guiding scale-ups through technical growing pains. In senior roles at REA Group, Marketplacer, Australia Post, Wesfarmers, and others, he has architected platforms handling billions in transactions, scaled engineering teams from 15 to 100+. **John Parshotamdas** is a Lead Business Analyst at the **University of Melbourne**, where he oversees a team of more than 20 Business Analysts within the Digital Products Portfolio. +++ If you would like to volunteer to lead one or several sessions in 2026, please get in touch.

The Pet Store Agent Quest is an introductory AWS GameDay challenge focused on Agentic AI development using Amazon Bedrock AgentCore and the Strands framework. This Quest is designed to give attendees hands-on experience building and working with AI agents, utilizing prompt engineering and Amazon Q Developer Pro to assist in solving a series of challenges. Participants will build AI agents for a new Virtual Pet Store, creating specialized agents for pet recommendations, care advice, and customer service while implementing appropriate guardrails for responsible AI responses. AWS GameDay is an interactive, team-based learning opportunity where participants use and expand their AWS skills in a realistic, gamified, risk-free environment. Participants are given an AWS account to share with pre-provisioned infrastructure that they will evolve in response to realistic business and technical requirements designed to challenge them. Teams will be given 1.5 hours to play through the GameDay and there will be an awards ceremony at the end of the event. **A laptop is required to participate.**

️ \*\***TICKETS ARE REQUIRED FOR EVENT --** **[CLICK HERE FOR THE TICKETS](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/founder-connect-tickets-1975905696127?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl)**[ ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/founder-connect-tickets-1975905696127?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl)\*\*️ Join us on **Tuesday, 10th March 2026, at 6:00 PM at The Commons QV, Melbourne** for Founder Connect: March Edition presented by The Startup Network. 🚀✨ In this edition, we'll be hearing from our friends [Paul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-grimes/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-grimes/") and [Eleanor](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorbignell/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorbignell/") from [OK200](https://ok200.net/ "https://ok200.net/") unpacking: "What's the next step? Working out what your tech Startup's next move should be". Date: 10th March 2026 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Venue: The Commons QV, 3 Albert Coates Lane, Melbourne, 3000 What’s the next step? Turning early-stage tech ideas into a clear plan forward. For founders at the start of the journey: This Q&A is for those with an idea or very early concept for a tech startup who aren’t sure how to move from inspiration, into action. Perhaps you’re starting with a completely fresh idea, or you’ve already done some early validation. Either way, it's important to figure out what to build first and how to shape a clear roadmap before committing significant time and money. [Paul](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-grimes/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-grimes/") and [Eleanor](https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorbignell/ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorbignell/") will explore how a clear strategy and roadmap are important to uncovering your next logical step, whether that ends up being refining the concept, building an MVP, or validating and testing with potential users. Got a question? Send it in with your RSVP for a chance to have it unpacked on the night What to Expect: 🎤 Inspiring Speaker Session: Gain practical advice and insider knowledge from an experienced industry leader who will share insights to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey. 💬 Interactive Q&A Session: Bring your questions! Learn actionable tech strategies from our expert speakers, Eleanor & Paul from OK200. 🤝 Networking Opportunities: Build meaningful connections with fellow founders, entrepreneurs, and startup enthusiasts over food and drinks. 🍔🍷 Whether you’re growing your startup, brainstorming your next big idea, or simply exploring the ecosystem, Founder Connect is your chance to gain valuable insights, connect with like-minded individuals, and walk away with inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey Why Attend? Founder Connect is your opportunity to stay informed, network with a thriving community, and gain practical knowledge to strengthen your business. Together, we’ll explore ways to tackle common challenges and build a resilient, innovative future. 📅 Save the date and RSVP now to secure your spot! See you there! 🎉

Welcome back to an exciting year of .NET meetups. We are excited to host our first event of the year to dive into the Microsoft Agent Framework that has recently reached General Availability. Our friend Rakesh has a hands-on journey planned for us to make the most of the new framework and helping us build an agent powered app (it's not just a simple chatbot)! So feel free to bring your laptop and follow along. **Agenda:** * 5:30pm arrival - Food and drinks provided in-person * 6pm kickoff - Welcome & Introduction and few words from our Sponsors - 10 min * 6:10pm - Session 1 **Session 1: Practical introduction to the Microsoft Agent Framework** by [Rakesh Lakshminarayana](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rakeshl/) With the first Release Candidate of the Microsoft Agent Framework now available, this is an exciting time to start building AI agents using the framework. In this beginner-friendly session, we will explore the foundations of AI agents and the common challenges involved in moving beyond traditional chatbots. We’ll look at where the Microsoft Agent Framework fits in and how it enables you to design agents with structured memory, tool integration, and practical hosting patterns. Through live examples, we will build an agent step by step - giving you a clear understanding of how it works and how to apply these patterns in your own projects. **Hosts:** * [William Liebenberg](https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-liebenberg/) \- Microsoft \.NET MVP \| Consultant at Arinco * [Bron Thulke](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronthulke/) \- Microsoft \.NET MVP \| CTO / Co\-Founder at YouLi * [Tama Waddell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tama-waddell/) \- Consultant at Arinco **Sponsors:** We have some amazing sponsors that help make this event possible: * [Arinco](https://arinco.com.au/) \- Venue\, Food and Drinks **Location:** In-Person at Arinco Melbourne. Level 6 / 440 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD 🗣 Apply to speak now: [https://bit.ly/melb-dotnet-cfp](https://bit.ly/melb-dotnet-cfp)

**Important:** Register at the [external event website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026012623)[ ](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2025120823)is required for admission. **Description:** Welcome to the AI meetup in Melbourne, in collaboration with AI Innovation Centre. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agentic AI, hands-on experiences with code labs and workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow AI developers, builders, startup founders. **Agenda:** * 5:30pm\~6:00pm: Checkin and networking * 6:00pm\~7:30pm: Tech talks and Q&A * 7:30pm: Open discussion & Mixer **Topics/Speakers:** Check the [event website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026012623) for Speakers and Topics. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support our community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food/drink, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, and but also exposure to our extensive membership base of 5,000+ AI developers in Melbourne and 500K+ worldwide.

**Accessibility Allies monthly roundtable** 2nd Tuesday of each month Proudly supported by [Builure](https://www.linkedin.com/company/builure/posts/) **Meet accessibility professionals and advocates.** * No presentations * Open discussion * Exchange ideas * Genuine connections **Topic for March**: Turning vocal support into action. How do we make meaningful change? Share your wins and your frustrations. **Tuesday 10 March 2026** 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm **[Registration via Humanitix](https://events.humanitix.com/a11y-allies-2026-03) is essential** (for building access) **Free** Light refreshments provided (incl vegetarian and GF) **Location: WeWork** 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne * Quiet exclusive space * Wheelchair access * Accessible toilet Please contact us if you have any accessibility needs or questions about this event. **Building Entry** Enter via the entrance on Little Collins Street after 5pm. Meet in the lobby near the elevators. Post a message in this event if you're running late and need access to the event after 5:30pm.

Enjoy a proper brunch at Brunetti’s in Moonee Ponds (have cake afterwards lol).

**FromHereOn** is proud to sponsor this special event with **Women in Architecture Australia (WIA)** in Melbourne **Panel Guests & Networking Event** This event is open to everyone—women, men, and supporters of diversity. Connect with like-minded professionals, build meaningful relationships, and unlock new opportunities. Please make sure to **register on Humanitix** (RSVP on Meetup won’t secure your spot): [https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-architecture-networking-event-in-melbourne-xu49tqj2](https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-architecture-networking-event-in-melbourne-xu49tqj2) Join us for an inspiring evening of thought leadership and networking as we celebrate **International Women's Day** with some notable voices in **architecture, innovation, and leadership**. Enjoy food and drinks while connecting with peers and gaining insights from our panelists. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, expand your network, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of Women in Architecture. **Find out more details here: [https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-architecture-networking-event-in-melbourne-xu49tqj2](https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-architecture-networking-event-in-melbourne-xu49tqj2)**

**🔥L​assie & Edward Zia's Business Community is hosting a Business Networking Event @ Pullman Melbourne on the Park!🔥** Join like-minded people in Business for a fun and relaxing Networking Lunch and afternoon of Networking that you won't want to miss!​ Our Business Community includes a diverse range of friendly and supportive Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, CEOs, Managing Directors, Boss Ladies, Thought Leaders and Influencers, open and ready to meet like-minded individuals, to connect and grow their Networks! ​​Our events are all about fostering and empowering meaningful connections, getting everyone out of their homes and offices to build a stronger Network within our Communities. **​T​he Event:** ​Our gatherings are free to you and pretty casual, with minimum structure to allow natural flow of conversations. [Please make a donation, we really appreciate your support.](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ExcellenceAbove) Come along, grab lunch, ​introduce yourselves, make new friends, and connect with each other on your phones via Linkedin. Our leaders will give a brief introduction after lunch, feel free to move around and speak to everyone before and after, and enjoy a coffee and or beverages of your choice throughout​ the event too. **Before the event** ​Make sure that you have registered for this event, updated your professional profile and install the Linkedin app on your phone, our preferred social media platform for high quality professionals and Business Partners. **After the event​:** ​Touch base with those you have met and connect with any you may have missed on the day. Schedule a coffee meet and come along to our next event to meet and re-connect with others. **​P​arking:** Pullman Melbourne on the Park is located in East Melbourne, about a 10 minute walk East from Parliament Train Station. It's close to the MCG, and is also a popular venue for many concerts and sporting events. Wellington Parade also has many trams, with a tram spot just outside the Hotel. Parking includes a mixture of street parking and paid carparks including: \- Underneath the Pullman on the Park \- The Epworth Freemasons Carpark - Secure Parking, 12 - 20 Flinders Lane This part of town tends to be either empty or completely packed, based on what events are happening at the MCG and more (always great to leave earlier and allow more time when things are busy). **First time with Us?** You're in good hands! We've been running​ networking events in ​since 2015 and beyond **About Us** Our Meetup Business Community has over 16k members and has become one of Australia's largest Business Networking Meetup groups. We host regular Networking events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and zooms throughout the year, supporting a network of ever-growing businesses. With over 16,000 members in our Business Community, you have the best chance of meeting like-minded people to grow and scale your Network faster. **View all upcoming ​events [here](https://linktr.ee/LassieZia)** ### Frequently Asked Question​s **What is the dress code?** Smart Business casual and ​be photo ready. **Do many people attend by themselves?** Many of ​our attendees come by themselves​ and friends, colleagues and first timers are always welcomed. **How can I make contact with any questions?** ​Simply direct message [Edward Zia](https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardzia/) with any further questions. We aim to create High Value and the best Business Networking Events available out there! **Meet - Like - Know - Trust** **Your Network is your Networth!** 🌏🌏🌏💙💙💙🔥🔥🔥 If you love our High Quality Business Networking Events, please Sign up to become a Member of the **[Awesome Influencer Vault](https://edwardzia.teachable.com/p/theawesomemarketingvault)** and help us keep them Running! We really appreciate your ongoing support!

**Register now to attend! =>** [https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-03-12](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-03-12) **<=** **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * Missed **75%** off [LF / CNCF](https://lf.ksug.ai/)? [Get Notified](https://ksug.ai/?notify&ref=meetup) for next BIG drop! * **20%** off [KubeCon Europe](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) 2026 using code **KSAI20** * Up to **30%** off popular [Books](https://ksug.ai/books/?ref=meet) and [Events](https://ksug.ai/events/?ref=meet) We're excited to welcome you to the upcoming Hands-on workshop — happening in-person at at Amazon ! 🎉 We're actively seeking more awesome AI topic speakers! 👉 [https://speaker.ksug.ai](https://speaker.ksug.ai) **About the event** Learn how to deploy and scale AI applications using Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service). This hands-on workshop demonstrates how to build a complete generative AI platform with automated cluster management, hybrid infrastructure, and enterprise-grade observability. **What You'll Learn:** * Leverage EKS Auto Mode for automated Kubernetes cluster management * Architect hybrid node pools for optimal performance and cost efficiency * Implement end-to-end observability and LLM serving with vLLM **Hands-on Lab Experience:** Learn directly from AWS experts who have helped organizations successfully deploy and manage large-scale GenAI infrastructure. Through hands-on labs and real-world examples, you'll learn to master: * EKS cluster setup optimized for NVIDIA GPU workloads * Efficient model serving and scaling using vLLM * Distributed inference architecture implementation with Ray * Comprehensive monitoring and observability using Prometheus and Grafana * Best practices for production GenAI deployments on Kubernetes. **Who Should Attend:** Whether you're looking to deploy your first language model or scale existing GenAI workloads, this workshop will provide you with best practices and hands-on experience using industry-leading tools and frameworks. **Requirements:** * Bring your laptop and power adapter * AWS account access will be provided * Basic familiarity with cloud infrastructure concepts * Basic Kubernetes concepts Through guided exercises, you'll gain practical experience deploying and managing enterprise AI applications on AWS infrastructure. **Full Agenda** **Introduction - AI Platform on Kubernetes** 09:30 - 09:45 GMT+11 Nikola Cuca & Hantzley Tauckoor Explore the fundamentals of running AI/ML workloads on Kubernetes and understand why container orchestration is crucial for GenAI deployments. Learn key concepts and benefits of running AI platforms on Amazon EKS. **Hosting inference workloads on Amazon EKS** 09:45 - 10:30 GMT+11 Frank Fan Deep dive into designing scalable AI architectures that combine cloud and on-premises resources using Amazon EKS, focusing on inferencing. **Hands-on: Explore environment, vLLM model loading, scaling vLLM** 10:30 - 12:00 GMT+11 Frank, Don & Parikshit Hand-on labs on inferencing on EKS using vLLM **Lunch Break** 12:00 - 13:00 GMT+11 **Voice of customers & panel discussion** 13:00 - 14:00 GMT+11 Panel Hear from existing customers who implemented similar architectures in their production environment. **Introduction to monitoring and observability** 14:00 - 14:15 GMT+11 Melchi & Parikshit Explore observsability stack for AI on EKS **Hands-on: Observing LLM Inference workloads** 14:15 - 15:45 GMT+11 Don, Frank & Melchi Hand-on labs on observsability stack for AI on EKS **Quiz & Wrap-up** 15:45 - 16:00 GMT+11 Nikola & Hantzley Interactive knowledge check covering key concepts learned throughout the workshop. Review of best practices, Q&A session, and discussion of next steps for implementing GenAI workloads on EKS. **[Register here](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-03-12) to secure your spot!** See you all there! **Location:** Amazon MEL12, Level 13.304 [555 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kbi13GZqj2zDqDz2A) 👉 Join our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua) and [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D9a9IDiCS7U4cqQ0Sh60cz?mode=gi_t) for latest update! 🔖 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: ☸ 30% OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** Certs - Code: **30K8SUG** ☸ 37% OFF **[KodeKloud](https://ksug.ai/kk/?ref=meet)** Plans - Code: **K8SUGKK** 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬: ✅ Learn 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⚡ ✅ Certify 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 💰 ✅ Grow 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 💪 𝟐𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ follow **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** 🔥 [linktr.ee/ksug.ai](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) *By registering, you consent to the management of your personal information in accordance with KSUG.AI Meetup's [Privacy Policy](https://k8sug.ai/privacy). Additionally, you agree that our sponsors may contact you.* **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** is an independent community and not affiliated with or endorsed by CNCF. Kubernetes, K8s, Kubestronaut are registered trademarks of The Linux Foundation.

We work with driven business owners, emerging founders, professionals refining what they've built, and individuals rewriting their narrative - choosing growth, ownership, and aligned action over staying comfortable. You are the average of 5 people you surround yourself with - for this reason, our mission is to create a space where ambitious people connect genuinely, learn, and expand alongside other driven individuals. * **What We’re About** You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so join us — and be part of a community that rises above circumstances and creates opportunities. Inspire and be inspired by those who make things happen. It's a relaxed, organic space to connect with like-minded people and network—genuinely talking, learning from each other, and connecting over shared interests. * **What to Expect** Casual Meetups☕: We gather semi-regularly at a local café to chat about everything from stepping outside your comfort zone to business ideas, creative projects, and building a life aligned with your purpose. It’s relaxed, easy, and welcoming—no need to have anything “figured out.” An Easy-Going Space: We keep things simple and low-pressure. Once everyone arrives, we ease in with some light conversation and naturally break into smaller groups. Networking: Feel free to introduce yourself or let people know what you're working on if you feel like it. And if anyone wants to quickly shout out what they’re working on or looking for before we settle in, go for it—it’s a great way to spark new conversations. * **Host Support** If you’d like a one-on-one chat with me about your business, just tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be floating around and happy to make time for you. **Quick note for the day:** Depending on the weather, we might go for a walk around Wattle Park. Just remember to wear comfy shoes :)

2026 is here and we are excited to announce Nosh Darbari, Human Centred Service Designer giving our first talk on "Hidden drivers behind good Design work." This talk will explore how Cognitive Load is a precursor to mental health and well-being. Nosh leads with his heart. Innovates with Purpose and Consciousness. He's an internationally experienced product and service designer working at the intersection of technology and human centred experience. Most recently he has worked within the vast and often tangled landscape of a federal government organisation. He thrives in complexity, despite the frustrations. Every challenge is a chance to design better systems or services with more human experiences. Beyond the 9-to-5, Nosh is a seeker of stillness. He chases sunrises and sunsets, not just for their beauty, but for the quiet lessons they offer — presence, perspective, and peace. Nosh also helps people recognise the early signals of stress before burnout takes hold. He helps them to rediscover their point of stability and offers simple, practical tools to navigate the noise of modern life with clarity and care. Event will start at 5:30pm with Pizza, Drinks and networking with the talk starting at 6pm. We are in the Jenny Florence Room on Level 3 at The Ross House Association. **Please enter code #219851 and come up to level 3 where you will need to enter the code again to gain access.** This event is sponsored by [askable](https://www.askable.com/) ([https://www.askable.com/](https://www.askable.com/)) and Experience Design "UX" Agency [blueegg](http://www.blueegg.com.au/) ([http://www.blueegg.com.au/](http://www.blueegg.com.au/))

* Join us for an evening of professional networking and valuable insights at our Entrepreneur & **Small Business Networking Mixer**. Connect with fellow small business owners, entrepreneurs, and like-minded professionals to share business strategies and exchange ideas for startup success with a drink. * * We have carved a deal with the restaurant of 10% Discount of all Menu items & drinks if you mention the staff "**Friday Business Meetup Deal**" * * We will delve into the power of integrating feminine wisdom with masculine energy for enhanced business strategies and entrepreneurial success. Discover the importance of positive human collisions in fostering innovation and growth, while expanding your network in a dynamic and supportive environment. * * Don't miss this opportunity to meet new contacts, exchange knowledge, and take yourself to the next level! * * **About Host:** Host of the event Sash (Sachin) is qualified accountant in practice. Mostly he is present in the event but it is subject to his prior commitment. However everybody is still invited to chat & socialise whether he is present or not. The place is a platform for everyone to gather,meet & help each other. * * **Address & Timings :** from **6-8 PM** at **500 Victoria Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 (This event will be on every Friday same time same day unless otherwise advised)** * * Join us to meet new friends, hang out and have some laughs. New people are always welcome 😊🍺🍺 * * Come along to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. * * **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being.

Join us on Friday, March 13th, 2026, for Workplace Ninja User Group Australia in Melbourne. As a standout conference on endpoint management, Workplace Ninja provides the stage for workplace management and security professionals to share insights on their journey towards modern management and cloud native. Agenda: 09:00 - 09:15 - Welcome with **Jose Schenardie** 09:15-10:05 - **Cut the Sneaky DNS: Zero Trust DNS on Windows 11 - Steve Mercer** 10:05-10:30 - Short break 10:30-11:20 - **What's new (and next) in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop - Matt Shadbolt** 11:20-11:40 - Sponsored Session 11:40-12:30 - Lunch break 12:30-13:20 - **App Control for Business Deep Dive - Nathan Atkins** 13:20-13:35 - Short break 13:35-14:25 - **Remote Help for Intune - Is this the cloud native support saviour we have been waiting for? - Sean Ollerton** 14:25-14:40 - Short break 14:40-15:30 - **Vibe Coding: Infra as Code for Windows Management with Intune - Steven Hosking** 15:30-15:45 - Short break 15:45-17:00 - **AMA with Speakers** 17:00-18:00 - **Networking and Refreshments** We look forward to seeing you there.

Join us for a healing circle where women can come together in a safe and supportive environment to share their experiences of narcissistic abuse and work towards recovery. We will discuss social issues related to abuse, build connections with other survivors, and empower each other to heal and thrive. This event is a continuation of our welcome dinner, and we aim to provide a space where women can find solace and strength in their journey towards recovery. Come and be part of a community that understands and supports you on your path towards healing from narcissistic abuse.

Network with an average of 60+ business professionals, all attendees get an opportunity to give a 30 second elevator pitch, enjoy a light breakfast, 10 minute educational presentation on topics that change weekly, and enjoy networking before and after the meet up.

## **1 Million Cups Loudoun – Resource Presentation** **Why Not Today? Build Systems That Support Your Growth** **Presented by Leslie Kane, Founder of Why Not Today?** **Wednesday March 25th \| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM** **Venture X Loudoun** Join us for a powerful resource presentation designed to help entrepreneurs move from scattered effort to sustainable momentum. *** ## **About the Session** Entrepreneurs rarely struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because everything lives in their head. In this session, **Leslie Kane**, founder of **Why Not Today?**, will explore how developing intentional systems creates clarity, focus, and forward progress in business. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, Leslie shares how structure reduces overwhelm, simplifies decision-making, and transforms inconsistent action into repeatable success. If you’re building a business and constantly feeling stretched thin, this conversation will challenge you to ask a powerful question: **Why not today?** *** ## **What You’ll Gain** * Insight into why systems are critical for growth * Practical perspective on turning ideas into structured action * A framework for reducing overwhelm * A mindset shift from reactive to intentional leadership This is not about adding more to your plate — it’s about building the foundation that allows your business to grow without burning you out. *** ## **About 1 Million Cups** 1 Million Cups is a national program that brings entrepreneurs and communities together to learn, connect, and grow through conversation and collaboration. Loudoun’s chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month. Join us for coffee, connection, and a conversation that may completely change how you approach your business growth.

Please join us every week for power networking! Our Chapter Passed $1,666,736 USD in the past 12 months! BNI members, on average, increase their business 20% the first year. Our chapter is a dynamic, committed group of business people who know how to refer business to each other. Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!! We have open categories for individuals who will bring enthusiasm and integrity to our meeting. Just one person per professional specialty is allowed in each chapter. Visit a meeting to find out more and lock out your competition! Register Here: https://bninovanorth.com/va-nova-north-bni-mclean-business-connection--n136/en-US/visitorregistration?chapterId=16988

**DC Service Jam is back.** This March, SD:DC is hosting the DC edition of Global Service Jam 2026 week. We are part of a worldwide movement of designers, strategists, and curious minds who come together to build real service concepts from scratch. From **Saturday March 14 to Sunday March 15**, you'll work in a small team around a secret theme revealed at kick-off. No briefs, no client. Just hands-on design, rapid prototyping, and plenty of Post-its. This year we're bringing AI into the mix. Throughout the weekend we'll look at how AI tools can support service design work, as a sensemaking tool, to build artifacts faster, and to push prototypes further. **WHAT TO EXPECT** **Saturday March 14th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast (theme reveal + team formation) * **10am - 6pm:** full day of research, ideation, and prototyping (meals provided) * **6:30pm (optional):** social / happy hour (nearby bar) **Sunday March 15th** * **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast * **10am - 12pm:** finalize prototyping & storytelling * **12pm - 2pm:** present your work and share what DC made with the world **WHO SHOULD COME** You don't need to be a service designer. If you're a UX or product designer, strategist, public servant, researcher, or just someone curious about how services actually work, you're welcome here. **LOGISTICS** * **Dates:** Saturday March 14th & Sunday 15th (ending at 2pm) * **Venue:** SteamPunk, McLean, VA * **Capacity:** 50 spots only (first come, first served) * **Attendee fee:** $60\* (covers meals, materials, and space) *\* If the fee is a barrier for you, we have a limited number of discounted tickets available, just reach out to Sergio Venegas directly for a code.* **WHAT TO BRING** ✔️ An open mind and a willingness to make things ✔️ Laptop and charger ✔️ Curiosity about Service Design (no experience needed) **Follow SD:DC on LinkedIn and @DCServiceJam on Instagram for updates!** \*\*\* Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **SteamPunk** *Design. Disrupt, Repeat. Steampunk is anchored by a startup culture with a customer-centered delivery approach. We put our Federal government clients in the center of everything we design, develop, and deliver to drive high quality mission impacts and user experiences at speed.*

**Agenda :** * 4.45 to 5.00 PM ET: Food and Networking * 5.00 to 5.50 PM ET: "Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our March 12th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided. You will need a government-issued ID to enter the facility.** **Title:** Data Science & Machine Learning with Microsoft Fabric **Description:** Explore Microsoft Fabric’s integrated Data Science experience across ideation, preprocessing, modeling, & deployment. Learn how to ingest and prepare data via OneLake and Lakehouse, leverage Notebooks, Data Wrangler, Spark, SynapseML, MLflow for experimentation, & operationalize predictions with batch scoring and Power BI direct integration. Also, learn to build generative AI Q&A systems using Fabric Data Agents. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

Small business Owners who do business through referrals and community. Come visit our chapter to see how help each other expand our business and maximize our time. Our group has over 30 members from different backgrounds! We meet every Wednesday morning, network, and share great ideas! We are looking for a few more like-minded business professionals to grow our group! Come visit our chapter and see if we are fit! Breakfast and drinks are provided at $30. Location: Seva Spaces Tysons 1604 Spring Hill Rd 2nd floor, Vienna, VA 22182