On-Ramp Program

New to PowerShell? Perfect. This program is designed just for you.

The On-Ramp program is our dedicated track for PowerShell beginners, career changers, students, and anyone new to automation and DevOps. We believe everyone deserves a chance to learn and grow in this amazing community.

What Makes On-Ramp Special?

Everything in General Admission PLUS:

🎯 Dedicated Beginner Track

• Sessions designed specifically for newcomers
• Step-by-step learning progression
• Practical, hands-on examples you can use immediately
• Less jargon, more clear explanations

👥 Personal Summit Buddy

• Experienced community member as your personal guide
• Someone to answer questions and help you navigate
• Networking assistance and introductions
• Ongoing mentorship opportunity

📚 Pre-Summit Preparation

• Access to preparatory materials before the event
• Recommended learning resources
• Pre-event virtual meetup with other On-Ramp participants
• Installation guides and setup assistance

🤝 Small Group Experience

• Limited to just 40 participants for personalized attention
• Smaller networking groups
• More intimate learning environment
• Easier to ask questions and participate

Who Should Join On-Ramp?

Perfect For:

• Complete PowerShell beginners - Never written a script? No problem!
• Career changers - Moving into IT or DevOps from another field
• Students - Learning automation and scripting
• Sys admins - Ready to move beyond basic commands
• Developers - Want to add PowerShell to your toolkit
• Anyone feeling overwhelmed - by the regular conference content

You Don’t Need:

• Prior PowerShell experience
• Programming background
• Deep technical knowledge
• Expensive tools or software

What You’ll Learn

Day 1: PowerShell Foundations

• What is PowerShell and why should I care?
• Getting started with the console
• Basic commands and syntax
• Finding help and documentation

Day 2: Practical Applications

• Writing your first scripts
• Working with files and folders
• Automating common tasks
• Introduction to modules

Day 3: Next Steps

• Best practices and coding standards
• Debugging and troubleshooting
• Community resources and learning paths
• Building your first real-world solution

On-Ramp Sessions

All On-Ramp sessions are:

• Beginner-friendly - No prior knowledge assumed
• Hands-on - You’ll be writing code, not just watching
• Practical - Learn things you can use immediately
• Supportive - Friendly environment for questions

Sample Session Topics:

• “PowerShell 101: Your First Hour”
• “Automating Your Daily Tasks”
• “Reading Error Messages Without Crying”
• “Where to Go When You’re Stuck”
• “Building Confidence with Code”

Your Summit Buddy

Every On-Ramp participant gets paired with an experienced community member who will:

• Meet you before the conference via video call
• Guide you through the venue and help you find sessions
• Introduce you to other community members
• Answer questions throughout the event
• Stay in touch after for ongoing mentorship

Our Summit Buddies are volunteers from the PowerShell community who remember what it was like to be new and want to help others succeed.

Success Stories

“I came to Summit knowing almost nothing about PowerShell. My Summit Buddy helped me feel welcome, and the On-Ramp sessions gave me the confidence to start automating tasks at work. Six months later, I’m the ‘PowerShell person’ on my team!”
— Sarah M., 2025 On-Ramp Graduate

“The On-Ramp program transformed my career. I went from manual server management to building automated deployment pipelines. The community support was incredible.”
— Marcus T., 2024 On-Ramp Graduate

After the Summit

Your On-Ramp experience doesn’t end when the conference does:

Continued Learning

• Access to beginner-focused online resources
• Recommended learning paths and next steps
• Monthly virtual check-ins with your cohort

Community Connection

• Private Slack channel for On-Ramp alumni
• Regional meetup connections
• Speaking opportunities at local user groups

Career Support

• Resume review assistance
• Interview preparation help
• Job opportunity sharing within the community

Pricing and Registration

On-Ramp Program: $1,599
(Same price as General Admission - the extra value is our investment in you!)

Limited to 40 participants to ensure personalized attention.

What’s Included:

• All On-Ramp specific content and activities
• Full access to all regular Summit sessions
• Summit Buddy pairing and support
• Pre-summit preparation materials
• All meals, networking events, and conference swag
• Post-summit community access

Prerequisites

None! Seriously, that’s the whole point.

Just bring:

• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• A laptop (any OS - Windows, Mac, or Linux)
• Enthusiasm for automation and community

We’ll help you with everything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be able to keep up with the technical content?

Absolutely! All On-Ramp sessions are designed for beginners. Your Summit Buddy will also help ensure you’re getting the most out of every session.

What if I have some PowerShell experience?

If you’ve dabbled with PowerShell but still feel like a beginner, On-Ramp is perfect for solidifying your foundation and filling knowledge gaps.

Can I attend regular Summit sessions too?

Yes! On-Ramp participants have full access to all Summit content. Your buddy can help you choose which sessions will be most valuable.

What if I’m the only woman/person of color/young person?

We’re committed to building an inclusive community. Your Summit Buddy will help you connect with others who share your background or interests.

Questions about On-Ramp? Email us at onramp@powershellsummit.org