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How WE empowers the next generation of changemakers with Surface

Focus on: Empower Employees, Engage Customers

Be the change you wish to see in the world—one of the most well-known advocacy mantras of our time, has been driving nonprofit and humanitarian work all over the world for decades.

A dynamic, young girl named Belén organizes and teaches her own technology robotics camp in Chile. A driven college student named Genevieve works to close the computer science learning gap and provide more opportunities for women in STEM. A young teacher named Devin leads free technology workshops for kids in Colorado, giving them digital skills to explore filmmaking, photography and more. A determined and inventive 11-year-old girl named Mikaila is the founder and CEO of her own business, using the latest technology to grow her company while promoting a social mission to save honey bees.

Bit by bit, the youngest and brightest of our generation are putting their energy behind solving challenges in the fields, industries, and causes that inspire them the most.

 

Exploring the power of technology for good with WE

The motivation to positively transform our own communities is driven by a common desire — to create a brighter future. From every corner of the globe, young people have picked up that mission and embarked on their own projects to impact the world around them. Although this dream is not a new one, advances in digital innovation are further empowering young people to collaborate and turn their inventive, creative and resourceful ideas into fuel for the future. Social good organizations see the potential as well, and are exploring the ways technology can enhance their work.

WE, the non-profit organization behind WE Day, is devoted to empowering people to change the world, whether that be through service-learning projects, pursuit of their own entrepreneurial endeavors, or in partnership with community organizations or causes. Microsoft, the technology partner of WE, is invested in developing digital solutions that make each young person’s journey as enriching and successful as possible.

 

Enhancing WE’s global impact with Microsoft Surface

WE is the force behind a number of programs aimed at empowering people around the world. One of their most popular events, WE Day, is an inspiring event that gathers a stadium full of young changemakers for an exceptionally memorable experience. With their list of award-winning performers, celebrated speakers, and well-known presenters, the event organizers have the added challenge of managing all the logistics of a major event, including seamlessly coordinating registration, schedules and last-minute tweaks. In any given year, WE Day’s production team coordinates as many as 15 WE Day events around the world.

To ensure the event’s efficiency and success, Microsoft partnered with WE to provide Surface devices to staff members to use during the events, empowering employees to improve operations with increased agility and efficiency. Facilitating a massive daylong event for any group requires staff members to move from place to place quickly—but designing a flawless stadium-sized experience for young people pretty much guarantees WE employees will be on their feet nearly all of the time.

 

Surface’s portability and mobile accessibility makes the device ideal for the organizing staff, hosting easily-updatable documents, talent and guest list details and more with a quick swipe of the screen. “Working at WE Day means always being on the go, and having the Surface keeps me prepared no matter where I’m standing,” explains Sasha, a Junior Producer at WE Day. “I can’t imagine doing my job without it. With one scroll, I know what I’m doing next.”

The dynamic energy of WE Day also requires the organizing team to be flexible, facilitating multiple sessions and performances that use different kinds of technology to engage the young attendees. Microsoft’s Surface matches that flexibility standard, seamlessly transitioning from app to app and providing key features that simplify technology set-up for each team member. “My favorite part of the Surface is how adaptable it is. I can use it for taking notes at a meeting, I can bring it into the testimonial room and run scripts as a teleprompter,” says Jamie, a Video Producer at WE Day.

Technology partnerships that power global change

The world-changing vision of WE ignites the passions of young people in Canada, the US, and the UK. With Surface devices, the WE Day production team can make sure all of the attendees have successful, inspiring, life-changing experiences that motivate them to continue their work.

“Everything is consolidated and organized a lot better than when we didn’t have Surface[s]. It’s simple to communicate to everyone on my team,” says Jake, part of the Talent Team at WE Day. Microsoft Surface enhances the powerful work at WE Day, ensuring that communications and logistics challenges don’t detract from the real focus of the event—inspiring young people to be the change they want to see in the world.


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