At the end of May 2026, I was nominated for the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award in recognition of my community contributions through Microsoft Q&A, and my contributions as an Azure Champion. Because of this, I was invited to apply for the MVP Award and showcase the high impact contributions I have made both online and within my local community.
So, I applied to the MVP program and documented all my contributions I have made in both, the online and my local community. I then submitted my application on the 1st of June 2026.
I then had to wait while Microsoft reviewed my MVP application and evaluated my contributions. This can take up to 90 days to be reviewed. So, I waited for what felt like a long two months.
On the 1st of September 2026, I learnt that I was awarded the Microsoft MVP award for Microsoft Azure. My technology area is Azure Operations & Management. Receiving the news came as a complete surprise. While I was proud of the contributions I had made, I never expected to be selected for such a prestigious award. As soon as I found out, I completed the onboarding process and before I knew it, my crystal MVP trophy was on its way!
Once I had completed the onboarding, I posted an announcement on my LinkedIn profile. I then updated my LinkedIn profile and began exploring the MVP portal, learning more about the programme and the resources available to MVPs.
My MVP award was primarily based on the contributions I have made within the Microsoft Q&A community and the wider technology community. This involved me:
- Answering questions in Microsoft Azure forums.
- Contributing as an Azure Champion and reaching 13th place on the Azure Community Leaderboard.
- Moderating the wider Microsoft Q&A community as a Volunteer Moderator (VM).
- Contributing as a Microsoft Q&A Champion.
- Participating in Microsoft product feedback programmes and providing valuable feedback to Microsoft.
- Supporting people and organisations within my local community.
There are also many additional contributions that I cannot include in detail because they were not publicly visible activities. However, the contributions listed above demonstrate the impact of helping real-world users, organisations, and communities through Microsoft Azure and other Microsoft technologies.
You can view my MVP profile on the MVP communities site here: Nathan Roberts | Most Valuable Professionals
What is the Microsoft MVP Award?
The Microsoft MVP Award recognises exceptional community leaders who share their knowledge, expertise, and passion for Microsoft technologies with others. MVPs help people learn, solve problems, and grow through their contributions both online and within their local communities.
There are roughly 4,000 MVP’s globally (in 2026) located all around the world, who can all be found on the MVP community site here: Search | MVP Communities
Microsoft MVP’s make contributions both online and in their local communities, doing things like:
- Hosting meetups,
- Hosting workshops/events,
- Writing articles,
- Helping people in the Microsoft online communities,
- Helping people in other online communities,
- Writing books,
- Creating videos,
- Contributing to open-source software,
- Submitting feedback and participating in feedback sessions with Microsoft,
- And much more.
MVPs do not need to contribute in every one of these ways. What matters is making a positive impact, helping others, and demonstrating leadership within the community. Every MVP’s journey is unique, and that diversity is one of the things that makes the programme so special. 😊
One of the most exciting aspects of becoming an MVP is the opportunity to engage directly with Microsoft product teams, network with other MVPs from around the world, and attend the annual MVP Global Summit. MVPs may also have opportunities to speak at Microsoft events, participate in community activities, and support Microsoft initiatives in a variety of ways.
Being recognised as a Microsoft MVP is a significant milestone in my technology journey. From answering questions online to supporting my local community and working with Microsoft technologies, it has been incredibly rewarding to help others and learn along the way.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, worked with me, encouraged me, and helped me throughout this journey. Achieving the Microsoft MVP Award would not have been possible without the support of the wider community.
I look forward to continuing to contribute to Microsoft communities, helping others, sharing knowledge, and making an even greater impact during my MVP award year and beyond.