Why I’m Giving Up My Microsoft MVP Award

In July of 2020 I was awarded Microsoft MVP in the Data Platform category for my community contributions on SQL Server Big Data Clusters. This was a huge accomplishment for me and I am truly honored. The rest of 2020 was spent studying and passing Kubernetes certifications and dedicating time for introspection. I dug a little deep and tackled the good’ol question, “where do I see myself in 5-10 years?” After some time pondering certain paths and outcomes, I came to a pretty solid answer which involved giving up my MVP award.

Why I’m Giving Up My Microsoft MVP Award

There is a rule that Microsoft employees cannot be an MVP. You might have already guessed by now (or if you follow me on Twitter) that as of Jan 11th, 2021, I became a full time Microsoft employee as a Data & AI Consultant.

I’m super excited to be joining @Microsoft! Thank you everyone for the kind words!

— Mohammad Darab (@mwdarab) January 15, 2021

One reason I absolutely admire about Microsoft is their succinct and yet extremely powerful mission statement:

“Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

Introspection

There are some key values that hit home with me and Microsoft checked the box on all of them. To be part of a company that values diversity, inclusivity and a growth mindset is paramount. The opportunity to learn about Microsoft’s Data and AI technologies firsthand while at the same time being part of a company with a great mission was a no brainer for me.

What Does This Mean For You

In case you were wondering, no, I will not stop producing content on Big Data Clusters. My content will, however, come at a slower rate as I take the time to ramp up on technologies related to my role at Microsoft. But worry not! As I get a better understanding of these new technologies, I will share them here (and via my newsletter). My new role will provide an opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in the business and I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn with you! – (non-NDA of course) :) If you have any BDC related questions, please contact me and I will help the best I can!

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