How Teaching Prepared Me for the Microsoft MVP Award

Peter PetersenPower Platform3 months ago5 Views

This summer I was honored to be named a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). It’s a milestone that carries deep meaning for me. Not only as a technology leader, but also as someone who began my career in public education.

When people ask me what it took to become an MVP, I can’t help but think back to the years I spent in classrooms, and computer labs. Teaching taught me more about leadership, communication, and patience than any certification ever could. And in many ways, being an MVP feels like a natural extension of those same lessons.

The Classroom as a Foundation

In public education, every day is about unlocking potential. You don’t just deliver information. You tailor it, you adapt it, and you find ways to connect with students who all learn differently.

That’s not so different from what we do in the Microsoft community. Whether I’m coaching a client through Microsoft Teams adoption, running a session on Copilot governance, or recording a tutorial on YouTube, the goal is the same: meet people where they are, and give them the confidence to go further.

The classroom also instilled a discipline of preparation. Teachers know the lesson plan matters, but the magic happens when you can pivot in the moment, address questions you didn’t anticipate, and turn challenges into teachable moments. That mindset has carried directly into my consulting work and community speaking.

Teaching and the MVP Spirit

The Microsoft MVP award isn’t about being the smartest person in the room (although I’m pretty damn smart). It’s about giving back, consistently and authentically. Teachers do this every day, often without recognition. The MVP program simply shines a light on that same instinct in the technology world.

Speaking at the Minnesota Microsoft 365 Admin Workshop Day, Spring 2024

Here’s where the overlap is strongest:

Curiosity: Good teachers and MVPs both stay curious and push others to explore new ways of thinking.
Communication: Breaking down complex topics, like AI copilots for executives is an art.
Community: A classroom is its own micro-community, just as the Microsoft ecosystem thrives on collaboration, sharing, and peer learning.

Carrying Education Forward

Ever since I left public education 14 years ago, I still see myself as a teacher, just with a different audience. Instead of students, I now work with IT leaders, business users, and community peers. Instead of lesson plans, I build adoption frameworks, governance models, and training roadmaps.

But the heart of it hasn’t changed, I help people learn, grow, and succeed.

The MVP award is an incredible honor, but for me, it’s also a reminder that the skills I built in education remain the most valuable part of my toolkit.

From chalkboards to cloud platforms, the environments may look different, but the mission is the same: empower others.

Speaking at the Comms vNext Conference in Denver, April 2024

Receiving the MVP award isn’t the end of that journey. It’s the next chapter that opens the door to new opportunities and challenges. This recognition serves as a valuable milestone, inspiring continued growth, dedication, and passion in our endeavors. It signifies not only past accomplishments but also sets.

Pat Petersen | Most Valuable Professionals