Becoming an MVP was a surprise
- I heard from my MVP Lead some 5 years ago who asked
if I would be interested in becoming an MVP. For me, it
was a mail that changed the course of my life. If there
is one thing that becoming an MVP heralds, it has to be
the opening up of horizons on all levels.
Since then, I have been
active on the newsgroups, written many articles in magazines
and websites all over the world and trained many users
into the finer nuances of PowerPoint creation and delivery.
The best thing to happen is that I am part of an amazing
community. It was an awesome opportunity to be in touch
with my senior MVPs who almost parented me to the level
I am today. There's no equal
of that mentorship - add to that, the wonderful support
from MVP Leads. I do believe that being an MVP provided
me with an advantage - it helped me do much more than
what I could have attained without that title.
However, becoming an MVP
is no year long party - it brings along its shares of
responsibilities and expectations. Although Microsoft
does not ask you to follow a certain style of involvement,
just being an MVP means that you have to go out of your
way to help people in the community and work more closely
with other MVPs. Everything is optional, but it is certainly
worthwhile. And did I tell you about all the fun stuff?
Let's leave that for some other time....
Sarang
Datye, Developer and works for a software company
The fact that whatever you
give out to the world comes back to you (sometimes in
multifold) is very true. For me, being an MVP doesn't
mean one is at the topmost level of technology, but yes,
if it comes to community spirit and facilitating knowledge
sharing, one is certainly at the top or near about there.
Also being an MVP works positively for me in two ways
- Giving and Gaining. There is always a quest for knowing
more in the community (it can be technology or otherwise)
and every person looks up to a person or a group of people
who can be trusted as a source of correct information.
e.g. a student looks up to a professor, a team member
looks up to a team leader and so forth. Similarly, the
Microsoft community looks up to an MVP as a source for
correct and reliable information. So, being an MVP, I
feel like going that extra step, to provide more information
/ help to the community. So it is about GIVING.
Secondly, the more you give
- the more you get back in terms of trust and faith and
not just that, but one automatically tends to acquire
more technical knowledge in this process. So, now it is
also about GAINING. Also, this kind of give and gain is
a never ending process, because for me, once the world
knows you as an MVP, and once they trust you and rely
on you for cutting edge information, you have to stand
up to their trust to prove them right, and so one tends
to learn even more. I remember a famous dialog from the
movie SpiderMan: "With Great Power, comes Great Responsibility"
and this is very true for us MVPs.
It is a wonderful and a
great learning experience when I go to engineering colleges
or educational institutions or on a corporate campus,
to conduct a session or a workshop on Microsoft technology.
It feels great when people applaud and appreciate your
efforts and want to have many more such sessions. And
that is what gives more confidence and boosts the spirit
to do all the more for the community. That is why community
events like DevCon are so successful, because they are
not only driven by community enthusiasm and community’s
quest for knowledge, but also by people whom the community
trusts as sources of reliable, correct and valuable information.
Microsoft calls them MVPs.
Srinivas
Sampath, SQL Administrator and Architect
For the past 3 years, my
role has been to chart out the technology adoption path
for our organization and at the same time ensure that
existing technology platform solutions work in the best
possible way. Although there are many resources that can
help you stay in touch, an association at a deeper level
with the biggest software company that produces these
solutions was something that I was looking for. That's
when I came across the MVP program.
At first sight, becoming
an MVP can be daunting, but deep down, it's all about
sharing your knowledge and working with the community.
Thus started my ambition on becoming an MVP. Working with
the community is very easy these days. There are dozens
of newsgroups and usergroups where you can make yourself
heard and be visible and the opportunities are plenty.
Following this lifestyle for a year was good fun and a
year later I was announced as an MVP for SQL Server! From
then on, life has taken a totally different turn. The
MVP title gives you access to unprecedented amount of
information and interaction opportunities with other MVPs
worldwide and also with Microsoft Product Groups. The
impact you get (and can make) in such an environment is
tremendous.
From my work point of view,
being an MVP has helped me work on technologies far before
their actual release thus enabling my organization to
understand the implications of new technologies better
and plan for their adoption. It's my third year as an
MVP for SQL Server and it feels really good to part of
this group. With regular contributions to the community
and writing about SQL Server and working with it's new
avatars, at the end of day, I feel glad that I opted to
become an MVP! So what are you waiting for? Become an
MVP today!
Dr.
UB Pavanaja, Localisation Expert and Consultant
My title as MVP is an indicator
of the pride that I have as someone who is involved in
developing solutions that makes possible computing to
be within the reach of common man, in their own language.
Being an MVP also serves to increase the level of confidence
that my customers have in me and my ability to assist
them. It acknowledges that my activities in the
communities are recognized as helpful to the people who
are involved in Microsoft products and technologies.
I have been a MVP for the
fourth term now. Being a MVP has
given me more exposure, to the latest Microsoft products,
which allows me to experience the most advanced technology
one step ahead of anyone else. I have access to important
Microsoft news, software prereleases, and the technical
Knowledge Base with a chance to meet people in Microsoft
who can help me with my work.
All of the benefits that
the MVP Program provides are really great and that not
only includes information about new and yet to be released
software but also the chance to meet engineering teams
who work at Microsoft headquarters. You get much of the
latest information to keep you busy, as well as getting
to meet top people in Microsoft and many other cool benefits.
Also, a lot of recognition comes with the Microsoft MVP
brand.
Being an expert in any technology
does not mean that you can become a MVP. To be a MVP you
should be ready to share your knowledge with people. To
be a MVP you should have a zeal for technology, not look
for monetary gratification. This is an important distinction.
A MVP can contribute to the community and help other people
with the IT problems that they may face.
Such people can create something
that makes a difference. A lot of people in the development
area for localization are from government sector but they
are inactive online. So a big source of knowledge remains
untapped for other users.
The Most Valuable
Professional Program offers MVPs the opportunity
to Learn, Access, Share and Connect
with of the most significant technical resources
in the industry. Microsoft is honored to offer these
resources to our current MVPs who everyday promote
the spirit of community by helping other people
realize their potential.
MVPs gain privileged
access to the following technical resources through
the MVP Member’s Web site which is the premier
destination for connecting to a wealth of custom
content and opportunities for our MVPs.
•
MVP
Source Licensing Program enables
eligible MVPs to gain access to Microsoft
source code.
•
MVP
Academy virtual learning center delivers
timely instructor-led online courses that
help Microsoft MVPs realize their full potential.
•
Downloads
host key documents and files on the MVP Member’s
Web site so Microsoft can securely distribute
information to MVPs on the MVP Members (Web)
Site.
•
Microsoft
Learning Opportunities offers resources,
skills assessments, books, online reference
materials, course, workshops and certification
programs.
•
Knowledge
Base Resources give MVPs opportunities
to get articles published, view articles on
pre-release products and issues, and rights
to republish KB articles to the web.
•
MVP
Private Newsgroups provide forums
for MVPs from around the world to share ideas
on Microsoft products and technologies with
Microsoft employees.
•
MVP
Product Feedback allows MVPs a direct
channel to submit comments, suggestions, and
reports of abnormal behavior or potential
viruses related to Microsoft products and
technologies through the MVP Member’s
Web site.
•
Technical
Support includes 3 free technical
support incidents per MVP for use during their
award year.
•
MVP
Webcast offers eligible MVPs the
opportunity to deliver web-based sessions
on relevant topics for the Microsoft community.
•
MSDN
or TechNet subscriptions
provide MVPs with one-year online priority
access to products and expert advice.
Relationship
Services
Relationship
Resources
The Microsoft MVP
Lead
The primary benefit offered
by the Microsoft MVP Program is the Microsoft MVP Lead.
This dedicated relationship owner has been assigned to
support the MVP's overall program experience while improving
their connection with Microsoft. The MVP Lead is the primary
point of contact with the MVP Program as well as acting
as the MVP's Microsoft advocate, keeping them informed
of news, events, and opportunities within the MVP Program
and Microsoft, both locally and around the world. MVPs
should always contact their MVP Lead first with questions
or program feedback.
Online Resources
In addition to the MVP award
package and gift, there are a variety of other MVP benefits
that can be activated online.
The MVP Award site enables
MVPs to review the program's policy and non-disclosure
agreement (NDA). To rapidly improve fulfillment of additional
benefits, an online acceptance of program terms will temporarily
activate additional MVP benefits for 60 days, including:
•
A choice of MSDN Universal
or TechNet Plus subscription
•
Access to NDA resources
like Private Newsgroups and Partner Knowledge base
•
And much more…
Events
and Activities
Global Events
The annual Microsoft MVP
Global Summit provides Microsoft MVPs and Microsoft employees
the opportunity to engage and learn from each other. The
event includes executive keynotes, various product group
activities, and technical and Q&A sessions, as well
as several social activities.
All Microsoft MVPs receive
invitations to the MVP Summit that include accommodations
and meals for Microsoft MVPs who are able to attend.
Regional Events
The MVP Program also sponsors
events that occur in different regions around the world.
There are four primary regions we divide the MVP Program
into:
•
Americas (United States,
Canada, Mexico, and South America)
•
EMEA (Europe, Middle
East, and Africa)
•
Asia Pacific (China,
India, Australia, etc.)
•
Japan
These events provide Microsoft
MVPs and local Microsoft employees the opportunity to
engage and learn from each other. These events may include
an executive guest keynote (in person or virtually) and
technical and Q&A sessions, as well as several social
activities.
Local Events
MVPs may also have the opportunity
to meet with Microsoft's local field offices as well.
Here MVPs might attend a local "round table"
discussion, or user groups that discuss various technical
topics. Holding local events affords the ability to offer
content localized by geography, increasing attendance
and opportunities for local connection.
Virtual Events
MVPs will receive several
invitations during a year to attend a virtual meeting.
These meetings might be in the format of a chat or a Webcast,
or might utilize Office Server System's new conferencing
technology, Live Meeting.
