It’s our favorite time of year again! No, not the drizzle-fest that passes for a British summer. The time when we get to meet the fantastic winners of the Digital Revolution Awards and find out how they’re making a positive impact on our world through cloud technology.
In this Meet the Winners blog, we’re getting to know the joint winners of the Outstanding Contribution to the Microsoft Community award, the inimitable duo of Prathy Kamasani and James Dales.
Our Outstanding Contribution to the Microsoft Community award recognizes exceptional contributions to the industry by individuals going beyond. Our winners are trailblazing individuals whose achievements in the Microsoft space enable, inspire, and empower users and businesses of every shape and size to accomplish more.
This year’s award went to a fantastic duo who’ve worked to help Microsoft professionals stay connected in difficult times. Let’s find out what our winners have been up to.
In the heart of London in 2016, a data revolution began. A small group of passionate data enthusiasts, led by Solution Architect at Avanade Prathy Kamasani, came together to form the London Power BI User Group. Driven by a shared love for Microsoft Business Intelligence, the group quickly outgrew its humble beginnings, becoming a global phenomenon. With monthly attendances soaring past 100 (sometimes even reaching 300), it earned the title of the world’s largest and most popular Power BI user group.
As Microsoft’s CTO for Azure Data once tweeted: “The London Power BI User Group has more attendees than some conferences!”
The immense success of the group was a testament to Prathy’s dedication, but the weight of running such a thriving community began to take its toll. Recognizing the need for support, Prathy welcomed long-time member and CEO at Tekantis James Dales as co-leader in 2019. With a shared passion for data and a history of contributing to the group, James was a perfect fit.
Together, Prathy and James navigated challenges, including finding a new home for the group after their main sponsor went into administration. Their industry connections led them to Microsoft recruitment specialists Nigel Frank, who generously offered their London office as a new venue.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the pair swiftly adapted, transitioning the user group to an online format. This pivot not only allowed existing members to stay connected but also attracted a global audience, resulting in a remarkable 1,500 membership growth.
As restrictions eased, Prathy and James were eager to reintroduce in-person meetings and rebuild the strong sense of community that had thrived offline. With Nigel Frank’s continued support, the group returned to its original format, welcoming a new wave of members eager to connect and learn.
In May 2023, the goalposts moved again when Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Fabric, a comprehensive data and analytics platform encompassing Power BI. Prathy and James seized the opportunity to introduce Fabric to their community by hosting a simultaneous announcement and Q&A session with the Microsoft Product Group. To better reflect this expanded focus, the group was renamed the London Fabric User Group.
With a membership exceeding 5,500 and growing by 1,000 in just six months, the group’s influence continued to expand. The secret to their success lies in a unique combination of expert speakers and community engagement. While attracting renowned data professionals from around the world, Prathy and James have been instrumental in nurturing new talent. The Open Data Challenge, a regular feature of the group’s meetings, has empowered countless individuals to develop their skills and share their insights with the community.
Beyond their leadership of the London Fabric User Group, Prathy and James have both earned the prestigious title of Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and are sought-after speakers at conferences worldwide. Prathy’s expertise in visual design and data engineering is shared through her popular blog, while James has developed a widely used Power BI visual for advanced spatial analytics.
As they look to the future, Prathy and James remain passionate about sharing their knowledge and inspiring the next generation of data professionals—and The London Fabric User Group will no doubt continue to be a cornerstone of their mission, providing a platform for learning, collaboration, and growth.
“We really didn’t expect this,” said James of the pair’s win. “It’s an absolute honor to win it. It’s actually our eighth anniversary of running the community group this month, so it’s great timing.”
“When we started it, it was not with the expectation of getting recognition like this,” added Prathy. “It gives you that feeling that the hard work you put in gets seen. It encourages many more people to do similar things, so it’s definitely encouraging and opens up many doors.”
