Becoming a Microsoft MVP

This is a bit different from anything I’ve written and posted on here before, but it felt extremely important to acknowledge it properly.

I haven’t been very active on this blog for a while. Partly because I’ve been busy with work, community contributions, events and, well… life. But also because I went through something very traumatic back in December, just days before I was due to speak at the Workplace Ninjas US conference in Dallas. I needed time. Time to process what had happened. Time to steady myself. And time to fully realise and appreciate the fact that I am now a Microsoft MVP.

Even typing that still feels a bit surreal.

What is a Microsoft MVP, anyway?

For those who might not know, Microsoft MVP stands for Microsoft Most Valuable Professional. The Microsoft MVP Program recognises community leaders who passionately share their technical expertise, real-world knowledge and love for Microsoft technologies.

It’s not an exam. There’s no trophy you apply for and win on the spot. There’s no prize money. It’s about contribution.

There are three core pillars that MVPs are recognised for:

• Advocacy – building awareness and adoption of Microsoft products and services.

• Product feedback – sharing honest insights with Microsoft to help improve products.

• Community health – fostering inclusive, supportive and positive communities.

To even be considered, you have to be nominated by either a Microsoft full-time employee or an existing MVP. After that, you complete an application outlining your technical expertise and community contributions. Then you wait. And wait. And wait some more. Decisions can take up to 90 days, as multiple stakeholders review your application.

And if you’re awarded? It’s renewed yearly. Which means you don’t just “get it” and sit back. You keep showing up.

There’s no recipe for becoming an MVP. If you asked ten MVPs about their journeys, you’d hear ten completely different stories.

Here’s mine.

The long way round

I’ve always been very open about the fact that I haven’t been in IT as long as many others. My path into cybersecurity wasn’t linear. It wasn’t tidy. It wasn’t planned.

If you’d told me 6–8 years ago that I’d become a Microsoft MVP, I would have laughed in your face. Genuinely.

And yet… here we are.

The first time I was nominated, I didn’t get it. The rejection email came through on 1 April. Yes. April Fool’s Day. The irony was not lost on me - eventually. At the time, it was crushing.

I won’t pretend it didn’t hurt. What made it harder was that so many people around me believed I “should” already be one. “You’ll get it next time.” “You’re definitely next.” “I don’t understand how you’re not an MVP yet.”

All said with love. All meant kindly.

But somehow, it added pressure. And each comment chipped away at my confidence. I started questioning myself. Was I not doing enough? Was I not good enough? What was I doing wrong?

For a while, I quietly made peace with the idea that it might never happen for me. And oddly enough, that helped. Because being an MVP was never the reason I started contributing. I genuinely love sharing what I learn. I love writing. I love speaking. I love connecting with people who are figuring things out just like I am.

So I went back to what I enjoy most - blogging, speaking at more events, appearing in videos, supporting others.

Did I sometimes feel bitter seeing others become MVPs? Yes. I’m human. I had moments of “why not me?” But looking back now, I think I needed that rejection.

It freed me from the pressure. It humbled me. It reminded me not to compare my journey to anyone else’s.

And it forced me to confront my imposter syndrome head on.

Because while I was being invited to speak at conferences and guest on podcasts, while people were sending lovely messages and feedback, I was still battling that internal voice asking, “Why wasn’t I accepted?”

THE email

A few months later, I was nominated again.

I filled out the application. I tried not to overthink it. But while I was waiting, the doubts crept back in. Of course they did.

Then on 1 December 2025, I received an email from Microsoft confirming that I had been awarded MVP in the Security category, in the technological area of Microsoft Purview.

I just stared at the screen.

It didn’t feel real.

The response from the entire community was overwhelming. The messages, the comments, the support, it honestly brought me to tears. The same community that welcomed me a few years ago, when I was nobody, just writing overly detailed blog posts that sometimes read more like whitepapers than blog posts… they celebrated with me.

That meant more than the title itself.

The part people don’t always see

“MVP” sounds shiny. Prestigious. Fancy.

But what people don’t always see are the late nights writing blog posts. The flights spent polishing demos. The hotel rooms before conferences, running through slides one more time. The time away from family and friends. The constant internal push to be better.

This applies to so many people in so many fields. We rarely see what’s happening behind the scenes.

This experience strengthened one of my core beliefs:

"The grass isn’t greener on the other side.The grass is greener where you water it."

Are you watering your grass? Are you nurturing it? Are you planting flowers in it?

For me, “watering the grass” meant continuing to show up, even when I doubted myself. Even when I was tired. Even when it felt like everyone else was moving faster.

If you’re struggling right now

If you’re trying to break into IT or cybersecurity (or any other field)…If you’re battling imposter syndrome…If you feel behind…

Please don’t rush your journey. Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter ten. You will end up where you’re meant to be.

Sometimes rejection is redirection. Sometimes it’s growth. Sometimes it’s just life reminding you to slow down.

And if you’re struggling right now (whether that’s personally, professionally, or somewhere in between), please know you’re not alone. If you need a sounding board, a bit of career advice (I’m no expert, just someone who’s figured just a couple of things out the long way round), or you’re trying to land your first job in IT and don’t know where to start, my DMs are always open.

I can’t promise I’ll have all the answers. But I can promise I’ll listen. And I’ll always lend a helping hand where I can.

Thank you

To anyone who has ever read one of my posts, attended a session, sent me a message, given feedback, supported me, believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself - thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

I am incredibly proud. But more than that, I am grateful.

Be kind to one another.And please, look after number one - yourself.

More content coming soon. 💛