Microsoft Philanthropies invites NGO’s to ‘achieve more’, at Dubai productivity workshops

Microsoft Gulf Philanthropies team today invited regional non-profit organisations to participate in a series of Dubai-based workshops that will impart valuable tips and tricks on how to get the best out of Microsoft solutions. It is hoped that new-found knowledge of Windows and Office 365 will free up non-profit volunteers and employees to take technology further, and achieve more.

Microsoft has collaborated with renowned technology mentor Vickie Sokol Evans, to create a programme that will enthral and inspire. The company is confident that trainees will depart with a greater understanding of the potential of technology. Each session will be held at Microsoft’s Dubai Internet City office (Building 8) and will also be simulcast via webinar. The first seminar will take place on 31 January, 2017, from 2.30pm to 5pm. Interested NGOs can register here. 

“Regional non-profits have done sterling work in tackling many societal issues; they face enough internal and external challenges without having to struggle with technology,” said Tanya Rudd, Philanthropy Lead, Microsoft Gulf. “Microsoft’s non-profit software donations programme can help connect NGOs with the cloud, Office, business intelligence tools and more. These workshops will equip them with the knowledge to take those technologies further, and achieve more.”

Microsoft Certified Trainer Vickie Sokol Evans is author of the bestselling “100 Tips” series, and CEO and Founder of Austin, Texas-based The Red Cape Company, which specialises in productivity training in technology products and solutions. Vickie’s courses are recommended by 99% of attendees and 100% of IT professionals. Her last online lesson is credited with generating greater than $1.3 million in productivity savings among its more than 600 attendees.

“Productivity is all about the reallocation of time from repetitive tasks to value-adding tasks. Vickie is admired throughout the industry for her ability to demystify technology and make it work, like never before, for thousands of people. She cuts to the chase with every product, showing users only the hyper-useful features they never knew existed. Those tips have translated into tangible, real-world gains for many organisations. After these sessions, Gulf-based non-profits will be masters of their technology, and will be better able to get back to what they do best – making lives better.” Added Rudd.

At the Dubai sessions, the Microsoft Philanthropies team will brief participants on the company’s software donation programmes and how they can be leveraged to enhance day-to-day operations for non-profits. Vickie will then introduce some illuminating and timesaving productivity tips for Microsoft Windows, and Office products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Pointers will include one-click tricks that shave hours off repeated tasks; methodologies that ensure high-quality, error-free deliverables in less time; and advice on how to avoid unnecessary labour, so that users can focus on doing great work.

Lessons are based on Vickie’s bestselling “100 Tips” series, which adopts the “there’s got to be an easier way” philosophy when formulating tips and tricks for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other tools.

Non-profit employees and volunteers will learn how generate all sorts of documents in Word; manage different kinds of data in Excel; automate document creation using Word Styles, Style Sets and Themes; master the immense power of Excel Tables; and quickly create and format PowerPoint presentations all with just a few clicks of a mouse. Vickie’s Dubai masterclasses will centre on scenarios specific to non-profits, such as project proposals, contact and volunteer data, and project-status presentations.