What is the Microsoft MVP Award and its benefits?

The Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award is a prestigious, annual award that recognizes exceptional community leaders who passionately share their technical expertise with others. It’s not a job title or a certification, but a global recognition from Microsoft to thank and celebrate individuals who have made a significant, positive impact on the tech community. MVPs are experts in specific Microsoft product areas, from Azure and .NET to AI and Windows, who dedicate their time to helping others learn and grow.

How to Become a Microsoft MVP

Becoming a Microsoft MVP is a journey that requires consistent effort and a genuine passion for sharing knowledge. You cannot apply for the award yourself; you must be nominated by either a Microsoft Full-Time Employee (FTE) or a current Microsoft MVP. The selection criteria are not a checklist but rather a qualitative assessment of your community contributions over the past year.

To get noticed for a nomination, focus on these key activities:

Be a Knowledge Sharer: This is the most important aspect. MVPs are known for their willingness to help. You can do this by:
- Writing technical blog posts, articles, or books.
- Speaking at conferences, user groups, or meetups.
- Creating educational content like videos, podcasts, or online courses.
- Contributing to open-source projects on platforms like GitHub.
- Actively helping others on online forums, Q&A sites, or social media.
Be an Expert: You need to have deep technical knowledge in a specific Microsoft product or technology. This expertise is what allows you to provide valuable insights and solutions to the community.
Be Consistent: This isn’t a one-time effort. The most successful candidates are those who consistently contribute and engage with the community over a long period.

The Microsoft MVP Award recognizes expertise in a wide range of product and technology areas. The program’s categories are organized to align with Microsoft’s current portfolio, with a strong emphasis on cloud, data, and developer technologies.

Here is a list of the popular and most-recognized expertise areas:

Microsoft Azure: This is one of the largest and most popular categories. MVPs in this area are experts in all things cloud, including Azure infrastructure, DevOps, app services, containers, serverless computing, and more.
Business Applications: This category covers the Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI), Dynamics 365, and other business-focused solutions. MVPs in this space are often helping companies build custom business applications and automate processes.
Developer Technologies: This is a broad but highly active category for developers. It includes expertise in .NET, C#, Visual Studio, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and various other development tools.
Data Platform: MVPs in this area are masters of data. They specialize in technologies like SQL Server, Azure Data services (Azure Synapse, Azure Data Lake), data analytics, and business intelligence.
M365 Apps & Services: This category focuses on productivity and collaboration tools. Expertise includes SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Exchange, and the various Office applications (like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) within the Microsoft 365 suite.
AI (Artificial Intelligence): With the rise of AI, this category has grown significantly. It recognizes experts in machine learning, cognitive services, and building intelligent applications using Azure AI.
Security: This is an increasingly critical area. Security MVPs are recognized for their knowledge of cybersecurity, identity and access management (like Microsoft Entra ID), threat protection, and security best practices for Microsoft’s platforms.
Windows and Devices for IT: This category is for professionals who manage, deploy, and support Windows and other devices in enterprise environments. Expertise includes Windows 365, Microsoft Intune, and Endpoint Manager.

While these are some of the major categories, the MVP program is dynamic. As Microsoft’s technologies evolve, so do the award categories. The most important thing is not just being an expert in a popular technology but consistently sharing that expertise with the community.

GitHub Copilot is included as a benefit for Microsoft MVPs, and contributions related to it absolutely count towards eligibility for the award.

Copilot as a Benefit

Microsoft MVPs receive a comprehensive Visual Studio Enterprise subscription, which includes a free subscription to GitHub Copilot. This gives them unlimited access to Copilot’s code suggestions and chat features. This is a significant perk that allows MVPs to use and master the latest AI-assisted development tools without charge.

How Contributions Count

The Microsoft MVP award is not about using Microsoft’s products, but about sharing your expertise with them. Creating content and contributions about GitHub Copilot can be a powerful way to demonstrate that you are an impactful community leader.

Here’s how your contributions can be considered:

Educational Content: Writing blog posts, creating video tutorials, or giving talks about how to use GitHub Copilot to improve productivity, write better prompts, or apply it to specific programming languages.
Community Support: Actively answering questions about Copilot on forums, Q&A sites (like Microsoft Q&A), or social media.
Open-Source Contributions: Using Copilot to contribute to open-source projects, and perhaps even creating content on how it assisted in those contributions, can demonstrate expertise.

Your expertise in GitHub Copilot would most likely fall under the Developer Technologies or AI MVP categories. The MVP program values contributions that educate the community, so if you are helping others learn and get the most out of Copilot, you are on the right track for a nomination.

What are the benefits of the program?

The MVP award provides a host of exclusive benefits that can significantly boost your career and personal development.

Early Access and Direct Communication: MVPs receive early access to Microsoft products, allowing them to test new features and provide feedback to product teams. They also get exclusive communication channels to engage directly with Microsoft engineers and executives.
Networking Opportunities: One of the most valued benefits is the network. MVPs are connected to a global community of fellow experts and can collaborate with them on projects, share ideas, and build lasting professional relationships.
The Global MVP Summit: MVPs are invited to an exclusive annual summit at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This event is a unique opportunity for them to attend private technical sessions, give feedback, and network with other MVPs and Microsoft employees.
Free Software and Services: The program provides a range of free software subscriptions, developer tools, and cloud credits, including Azure credits, a Visual Studio Enterprise subscription, GitHub Copilot, and LinkedIn Learning.
Professional Recognition: The MVP award is a strong signal of credibility and expertise in the tech industry. It can open doors to new career opportunities, speaking engagements, and consulting gigs.