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Hands up for our Microsoft awarded Most Valuable Professional!
This week, Hannes Lowette, .NET League Coach at Axxes IT Consultancy, was recognized as a genuine MVP. As a Most Valuable Professional, he receives an award from Microsoft for 'exceptional community leadership'. There are only about 50 of these in Belgium, so this recognition is a great honor.
For years, technical communities worldwide have benefited from Hannes's unique and innovative Microsoft knowledge. Colored by his inclusive and positive attitude, Hannes has made a difference in teaching, building with, and using .NET. It's only fitting that the most beautiful recognition this Microsoft influencer can receive is the MVP Award.
Q: Does the 'M' in MVP stand for your daughter Marit's name?
A: That could have been the case. As the youngest of three, she certainly holds her ground and often outsmarts the others. Sometimes she even preemptively gives me a hug before embarking on her mischief. So it could stand for "Marit Outsmarts Dad" or something like that. But this time, it has nothing to do with my offspring.
Q: What does MVP stand for then?
A: MVP stands for 'Most Valuable Professional'. It's an award Microsoft gives to individuals who actively share their knowledge about Microsoft-related technology with the community. This can be done in various ways: through blog posts, mentorship, conference talks, workshops, user groups, videos, or even live streaming.
Q: How do you share your knowledge?
A: I've always had a passion for sharing knowledge. As soon as I learn something, I like to pass it on to others. So I've been sharing my knowledge for years, both within and outside of Axxes. For example, I coach many people in their careers, I enjoy giving workshops on technical topics, and in recent years, I've been speaking more frequently at conferences and user groups. The latter has expanded the reach of the things I do.
Q: What topics do you cover?
A: When it comes to Microsoft technology, I typically focus on .NET, which falls under the category of 'Developer Technologies' for which I received my MVP award. With a background as a .NET programmer and coach, my expertise lies in those domains. On one hand, I address technical topics related to .NET, architecture, and scalability. On the other hand, I talk about coaching people, common mistakes, and so on. For example, a few years ago, I created a fake certification program (www.rad-cert.com) to underscore one of my talks about common mistakes in software development teams.
Q: What do you personally gain from this award?
A: Firstly, it's nice to receive recognition for your efforts. It's a stamp of approval that holds a certain value within the technology world. In Belgium, for example, we have just over 50 MVPs. And therein lies the biggest benefit for me. That title lends a bit more weight to the things I do, making it easier for me to reach my target audience. This allows me to have more impact with what I enjoy doing: sharing knowledge and coaching. Additionally, as support, you receive free licenses and subscriptions from Microsoft and a host of other companies such as Jetbrains, Pluralsight, LinkedIn, etc.
Q: Is the title yours for life?
A: No, you receive an MVP award for one year at a time. Every year, you have to list how you've reached certain target groups, and then a committee decides whether to renew your title. But since I enjoy doing those things, I think it'll work out fine.
