Speaker 1: 0:08

Hello, welcome to Microsoft Community Cook podcast, where we share insights from community experts to stay up to date with Azure. My name is Nicholas and I'll be your host today. In this podcast we'll dive into Microsoft Learn Student Program. But before we get started, I want to remind you to follow us on social media so you never miss an episode, to help us meet more amazing people like yourself. So today we have a special guest called Rachel Apo sorry, I pronounced it wrong and John Aritz. Can you please start introduce yourself please?

Speaker 2: 0:41

Okay, I should go first. Okay, my name is yeah, thank you very much, Nicholas and John. My name is Rachel Abor. I'm a Microsoft MVP for business application, for Microsoft business application. I'm also a Power Platform and a Dynamics 365 CRM developer. Yeah, I think that's a brief summary about SWE.

Speaker 1: 1:07

Yeah, and robots we yeah, and you, john. Sorry, you want to do a brief introduction for the guests everyone.

Speaker 3: 1:12

Yeah sure, hello everyone, I'm John. I am from Egypt and I'm currently working as a software developer. I'm a Microsoft MDB, the AI category, and I have been a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador for the past. I guess it's more than three years I don't know if it's four or not yet.

Speaker 2: 1:32

That's cool.

Speaker 1: 1:33

Yeah, that's brilliant. So today's theme is like getting to know more about Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador. So I would like to learn more about your guys journey, so okay, so first to get started, what's Microsoft Student Ambassador program? Can you please explain?

Speaker 3: 1:55

go ahead. Rachel oh, rachel's not here, so okay, I guess, like the program is, uh, targeting students from all over the world. You can apply if you are a university student, if you're still studying, and you'll get to do five I guess most of the top personality building stuff. Like you will get to mentor others, you'll get to speak at events, create hackathons. Like you will get to mentor others, you will get to speak at events, create hackathons and, of course, like host your technical events, not just like organize the events. You can like speak yourself and educate people and share the knowledge that you learned from the program with them.

Speaker 1: 2:42

Yes, okay, that's cool. Yeah, it's amazing, like it's different for the MVP program, but that's cool, that's. Yeah, it's amazing, like it's different for the MVP program, but just for students, this. So I want to just dig into your journey and Rachel. So, rachel, you can go first. So how, what motivates you to become a student ambassador at Microsoft Learn?

Speaker 2: 3:01

Okay, my reason was when I started at this. When I started my journey into tech, I got to know about a Power Platform Bootcamp and the bootcamp was in Bini. So during the bootcamp, they discussed about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Program and there were a lot of student ambassadors there and they explained the benefits they are getting. And I was really mesmerized with the way they were speaking because they, most of them, taught us classes on power automates, power apps and everything else concerning power platform. So I was looking at them. I was like, okay, wow, these, these are students like me. I definitely want to be a part of this program. Yeah, so that's how I got to know about the program.

Speaker 1: 3:50

Yeah, how about yourself, john? How did you get started?

Speaker 3: 3:55

Well, I was looking for something that builds me technically. When I joined the program, I was in my second year and I was looking for a program that I can learn from it and like develop some technical skills, because I was like still getting started. I didn't know, um, what did I like, what didn't I like like I didn't know, like I was discovering myself at the beginning and I was searching for something that might help me do that. And I looked, looked around and then I applied and, to my luck, it was like the first time they started the Microsoft Learner Student Ambassador Program, because before that it was like named MSP Microsoft Student Partner, yeah, yeah. And then, like at the year that I applied, it was like the first cohort of people that got accepted into the program and since then, I I like learned a lot, the stuff that I hope that we get to share today.

Speaker 1: 5:02

Okay, so what sort of things you learn in the program Do?

Speaker 2: 5:04

you like people teach you in the program while in program? Okay, I think I can answer that too. Um, there are a lot of things that you can learn. That's what I love about the program. You can learn from your fellow student ambassadors, like john I've learned a lot from him because it's awesome, so you can learn a lot from your fellow student ambassadors you can. You get access to field free tools that you can learn from.

Speaker 2: 5:26

Like for me, I learn on Educative. I have access to Microsoft Learn. Obviously, everybody has access to Microsoft Learn, but when you go to the student hub in Microsoft Learn, it's really awesome and I love how tailored it is to every career path. And also you get opportunities to work on projects. You also get opportunities to work on hackathons, like John has said, you also get opportunities to. I think one of the best way to learn is having the ability to learn and also teach others, and the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Program makes this possible, because they give you the ability to be able to learn and also teach other students like yourself how to work on that platform, and I think one of the amazing thing is that you don't have to know so much. You can just know about. Okay, what is power? I say power platform so you can just say, um, you can just explain the business value for power platform, just let people know and and it's an amazing experience. Yeah, there are lots of things, but yeah, it's an amazing experience.

Speaker 1: 6:31

Okay, so doing the program, what have you? Is there any? Does it help you learn more of a technical person, like for your? Enhance your technical skills to build up your career?

Speaker 2: 6:43

Yeah, definitely it does, it does, it does, and I think I should also let John speak, yeah.

Speaker 3: 6:49

Yeah, I do agree with you, rachel. It was like the opportunity for you to learn. So, whatever you like, you will get different sessions from Microsoft Cloud Advocates or Microsoft employees that come and teach us about like lots of, lots of the new stuff that are still getting out there. So, um, if they do release a new platform or release a new product, you will yeah, you will get like a session to um to teach you about these products and if you are interested, you can attend. It's not like mandatory for everyone to attend all everything and then you can share this knowledge, like Rachel said, with others at university, which makes you like understand it more, because it's teaching something to others?

Speaker 2: 7:47

I don't know, but it makes you learn more.

Speaker 1: 7:52

Yeah, definitely Okay, someone from LinkedIn saying can't wait for the verbal insights of this meeting. Everyone's students are more than hungry to learn, for sure. I'd like to give them a hand by sharing information. Okay, so let's dig into kind of like projects or tasks you've learned during the program. So what are the best projects you've done while doing the program and use it for real world experience currently?

Speaker 2: 8:21

Okay, so for me, I've worked mostly on personal projects. I've worked mostly on personal projects, which is concerning Power Platform, and then for the Microsoft Learning Student Advocacy Program. They have a lot of projects where they bring students together and then they work on projects concerning AI. They work on a lot of things and also another thing. Is that sorry? Can you ask a question again?

Speaker 1: 8:50

Yeah, so what are some of the one of the amazing projects that you've worked on that you use currently or like work or something that you can carry over?

Speaker 2: 9:01

OK, so for me I work on personal projects because even before I started working right now I had no previous experience like previous work experience and then being able to build personal projects actually helped me with getting my job. And also the tax, like the different volunteering activities I was doing in the um, I was doing in the program, stood as a work experience for me. Okay.

Speaker 1: 9:31

So I take it that most of those personal projects did you do that whilst in the program, or you just pick up skills while you just enhance your personal project.

Speaker 2: 9:43

Yeah, I picked up skills and also with the opportunity to teach others, so it was kind of awesome yeah okay, how about yourself, john?

Speaker 1: 9:52

so what are some of the best projects you've worked on? Doing a program for skills that you picked up?

Speaker 3: 9:58

um, I guess, like um, I guess, like I don't know, I can pick one If I were to say there was a hackathon last August and we worked with the JavaScript cloud advocates from Microsoft on the Contoso real estate app and they wanted us to create issues for people from all over the world to come and join the Hackathon to work on these issues. So we, as student ambassadors, were tasked with trying out the application and discovering the issues in there and, of course, trying out the application and discovering the issues in there. And, of course, and then Microsoft launched the JavaScript the hack, together on JavaScript the hackathon, and then people came and they picked up the issues that we created for them and then they started working on it. So, of course, I did work on some of the issues that I created myself and then I got the badge, but the idea is that, or what I'm trying to say, is that you get to contribute to stuff that are huge.

Speaker 3: 11:14

It's not like you're just doing a project for yourself. It's like something that will get visibility all over the world. It's the program, like. The main big thing about the program is that it gives you visibility. That is one thing that I wanted to say because, like um, I guess rachel does write blogs and I do write blogs and the combined views for my blogs is like 200k, that's amazing.

Speaker 3: 11:46

Yes, it's like I would have never imagined that I would have written some blogs that would reach that amount of people all over the world. So that's what I'm trying to say, that it gives you a platform for you to sort of speak, and, yeah, that's it okay, I take it.

Speaker 1: 12:09

You just you work together like in teams, like in hackathon, like whether it's online or in person, and then you do wheel work scenarios and then you just find solution to it and you can help, help get a career from it, which someone were to start out.

Speaker 3: 12:25

Yes, yes, people reached out to me from the blogs to ask me about I guess rachel too for power platform out to you. I'm asking you because someone, someone for about platform project to reach it out to me and they want, they wanted to like me to freelance a project for them. Another person reached out to me to write blogs and get paid for it.

Speaker 2: 12:51

Yeah, that happens a lot, yeah.

Speaker 3: 12:54

Yeah, so it gives you opportunities and it's like lots of stuff that are not direct. It's like you do this, you get that. It's like stuff that happens when you start contributing.

Speaker 2: 13:13

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 13:14

Okay, and you can take it. Anyone can start contributing once they're in the program and anyone can just use those skills to find a job if they want, or anything enhance their career.

Speaker 2: 13:26

Yeah, true, can just use those skills to find a job if they want, or anything, enhance their career. Yeah, true, and one thing that a lot of people miss is that after joining the program, you also need to be active and the program is really, really nice that you don't have to, because a lot of students they have this concern that, with me, being a student, will I be able to manage with the students program and my studies? The program is very relaxed that you can definitely manage it and it's yeah, it's amazing, like Jonah said, yeah, okay.

Speaker 1: 13:56

So for those who, those people who are looking to join the program, how do they get started? Is there any information and how can they learn more about the program?

Speaker 2: 14:09

Okay, you have to apply. You have to go to the Microsoft Student Ambassadors Program website and then apply. From there you progress to the Discord channel and then later join the program fully. But, yeah, when joining joining you just have to be active. We are talking about it right now. It sounds amazing and with every benefit you are getting from it. But the reason why it's like this for us is because we are active with the community.

Speaker 1: 14:37

Yeah, yeah, so what? What you know the benefit you mentioned, what are some of the benefits that that you got from the program that could encourage someone from like a student to apply for it? Is it like discount from certification through exams?

Speaker 2: 14:54

okay, I think I should say something before I'm transparent to john, but for yeah, so for the benefits I can say with me getting my job, that's a big, very big benefit for me because, like I said, I had no previous work experience concerning Power Platform. And then having the Microsoft Student Ambassadors program because, mostly concerning work experience, what do employers look at? They look at if you are able to collaborate with a team. They look at your skill set. They look at the things that you can do and also the things you can build, which I was able to achieve through the program, and then it stands for you as your CV and a lot of companies they respect when you tell them that you're a Microsoft Learn student ambassador, because they know that you are definitely learning something from there, from that particular program.

Speaker 2: 15:44

It's a global community that a lot of companies or employers they know about and then, when you talk about benefits, you get the Azure. You get Azure benefits. You get to connect with different people from different parts of the world and, being a student, I think nothing can compare to that particular benefit. When you see students like yourself, you're actually ready to learn, they are motivated to learn, they are ready to like okay, this is Because after school you have to think about the next thing, but with you being in the program you're already thinking of, you're already preparing for the next thing. So, yeah, it's amazing. I think I should leave it all to John to complete.

Speaker 3: 16:23

Yeah, how about yourself, john.

Speaker 3: 16:32

So what other benefits do you think come from the program?

Speaker 3: 16:39

Like, for me, it's a big, big thing on the platform thingy because, like, I got to speak at the global event where people from it was like a collab between our program and Microsoft University program and they got students from all over the world to hear about the program and to learn more about it. And another thing is that, other than these opportunities, you get to collaborate with the product groups, just like MVPs, and participate in surveys or like a study that they are conducting for something that they haven't released yet, and that sort of interaction is like something that you don't get anywhere, I guess, because, like, you are still a student, so you get to explore stuff that are not out in the market yet and you get to like interact with people who are currently developing the product. So I guess it's sort of the experience, like Rachel said too, because you definitely get that. But again, it's like totally bending on you and your activity and if you don't do anything it's going to be a very bad program for you.

Speaker 2: 17:57

But if you start, working and doing stuff.

Speaker 3: 18:00

You will get more from it.

Speaker 2: 18:03

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:03

Okay, um, doing stuff, you will get more from it. Yeah, okay.

Speaker 2: 18:09

So, apart from the benefit, is there any challenges from the program that you think people would encounter while in a program, whether it's like time management, or that you think you face, you guys face okay, I think for me from the beginning, before I joined the program, I already already before then I was already speaking already, like I was speaking already at events and stuff like that, because I was already part of the community. So I think one of the challenges I faced was not being able to manage my time, because I mentioned earlier that the program is very flexible, that you can easily manage it with your studies earlier, that the program is very flexible, that you can easily manage it with your studies. For me, when I joined the program, I was writing my exams then and I was able to join the program and also be active in the program. So I think what happened then was that being silent, like not trying to hide one of the challenges faces when you're trying to hide, like you don't want I don't want anybody to notice me, stuff like that. Or you're scared to hide, like I don't want anybody to notice me, stuff like that. Or you're scared to ask questions.

Speaker 2: 19:07

Maybe there are some things that you do not understand. There are some handbooks that you have, like you have read it but you don't understand. Maybe you are stuck on a particular path and you don't know what to do, or maybe you are not very technical, you're not a technical person, you're trying to go through the technical onboarding and you don't know what to do. So that's where that comes in, where you don't want to ask questions. You don't ask questions, you are scared to ask questions. And then I think another issue that happens is that because when you join the program, you get the opportunity to host events like you can host events, you can teach from it. So people have this mindset where they think about okay, I don't really know much, so what am I teaching others? Yeah, so I think these are the challenges. Yeah, for me. Yeah, I think these are the challenges.

Speaker 1: 20:01

Yeah, because you get lots of technical skills as well as soft skills, because when you organise events, you learn about leadership, those things, and organisation skills. So everyone needs to think of that as well. How about yourself, john? What are some of the challenges you face personally while in the programme?

Speaker 3: 20:21

I don't know.

Speaker 1: 20:23

If you don't have any, it's okay, you can say you don't have any. It's okay, you can say you don't have any.

Speaker 3: 20:27

I guess the only challenge is I guess it's like not related to the program itself, because sometimes they are doing stuff that are that you need GPU to do with. I don't know, but it's sort of a very specific challenge that is related to testing stuff with machine learning, and two years ago we had access to GPUs, actually on our subscription, so now we don't get to test stuff that need GPU to train a machine learning model and stuff like that. That is the only challenge. I guess that I remember.

Speaker 1: 21:18

Yeah, so it's like being more clearly on the requirements when you do like hack-a-thron and stuff with those resources. Yeah, okay, that's great. So do you think when someone's like someone that's new to speaking, how would they like challenge tackle it? So, because rachel has already got like experience speaking before, how would you think people will like tackle that if they're in a program that's new to speaking?

Speaker 2: 21:48

okay, um, for someone into speaking, I think speaking and organizing an event at two different things, because I think that was one of the issues that I faced. I was speaking at events, I was speaking visually speaking, but I had no idea how the process was like, like how these people organizing these events, even though it was visually so being able to navigate it at the same time. So, yeah, I think for speaking, you just have to take courses like the Microsoft Learning Student Ambassadors Program. They give you access to linkedin linkedin learning and they have appointed courses that will help you with your journey. So you can take courses on speaking, take courses on listening, and then you can progress. From there you can start communicating with people, because even before I joined the program, I had issues with speaking, and how did I, how was I able to face those issues? Was communicating with people, being able to communicate with people asking questions and yeah, stuff like that, yeah, Okay.

Speaker 3: 22:54

Yeah, I do agree with Rachel on speaking, because, like, up until a very recent time, I did have like a bit of stage and even if, even though, if I acted cool, like deep inside of me it's like very yes, I don't know, but like it's, it's like something that you get used to over time but it like it never disappears.

Speaker 1: 23:21

so, yeah, so just contribute and be engaging to one another in stock.

Speaker 3: 23:32

Yeah, and try to experience it more than one time and then, like I said, you always still get the fear of, like, public speaking and fear of talking in front of lots of people, and that's for me. I don't know about Rachel. How about you, rachel? Are you still afraid?

Speaker 2: 24:07

yeah, speaking is not easy, but I think having a mentor can also help, because for me, I have a lot of mentors when it comes to public speaking. Because I think when I started my journey, my speaking journey, if you mention my name, like being able to speak to you right now on this podcast would have been an issue. Yeah, when you are speaking and you call my name and be like Rachel, answer these questions, I'll be like, okay, I'll start thinking through it, trying to think about what I'm supposed to say, stuff like that. Or maybe when I start speaking, I'll start stammering, like because I'm kind of scared. So I think getting a mentor helps and also continue speaking. It also helps. You can start to do visually.

Speaker 3: 24:50

When you continue, it's definitely going to get better yeah, yeah, especially because we uh, we were in the time of the covid and lots of stuff were online, so we did not get to experience the lines as much as we would have like.

Speaker 1: 25:10

Yeah, because before the comments by ahmed, he said when you go to like meet up or or events, you just put your voice up saying that you need to probably speak in and how you can, how you can help me and stuff. So so is there any steps? So I'm sure there's lots of people that are willing to help in a way, when people, when students, say they're new to speaking.

Speaker 3: 25:34

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:35

Yeah, yeah, sorry.

Speaker 3: 25:39

No, no, go ahead.

Speaker 2: 25:40

Okay, and we also have Toastmaster. If you are a public speaker, you can attend Toastmaster. They have visual meetups and they also have physical meetups, so you can learn.

Speaker 1: 25:52

So what's Toastmaster? Sorry, is it someone that's expert in public speaking, like do you like sessions and stuff? Teach you how to.

Speaker 2: 26:03

Yeah, it's a user group that they are known, all about what somebody tagged me to it on twitter and they have, like, different communities in different countries. So they actually have one game also and I'm planning to attend this month. But they teach you public speaking. They teach you how to speak. They let you speak for a certain amount. They try to help you with time management, so when you are speaking, maybe they'll give you a time, like you have to speak within 10 minutes. They help you with time management. They help you with speaking, like when you are speaking, they try and notice the mistakes that you are making, whether you are repeating a word very often, whether you're repeating just a word. And also they help you with your grammar. Maybe there's something you made a mistake or stuff like that. So they'll help you with your speaking, help you with your time management, help you with your grammar and also try and build confidence. Yeah, try and build your confidence.

Speaker 1: 27:12

Okay, yeah, so that's. It's similar to like PowerPoint presentation coach. Yeah, just like a real world, like person. Just tell you, give you some advice and tips.

Speaker 3: 27:17

Yeah, I have a question for Rachel, Like yeah, but it's off topic. Is it morning at your place right now? Is that is it morning or like?

Speaker 2: 27:31

no, it's evening oh, but it's very light yeah, actually almost 8 30 pm, but we're in summer pm, but we're in summer, oh yeah, it's still very bright uh because of summer.

Speaker 1: 27:57

It's 30 already. Yeah, okay. So to get started, I want to find out what are both of you guys highlights that's in the from the program. Is there any best moments in, like whether it's an event or teaching someone to speak, or?

Speaker 2: 28:08

okay, I'll let john go first.

Speaker 3: 28:10

Hi, john yeah, sure, um, I guess, um, the the big highlight that I'm still experiencing up until now is traveling all over Egypt and educating people about the program. Office from Microsoft Egypt reached out to me and they take me with them at like local events that the government organizes at colleges and then we get to speak to students about the program and how they can join and all of that stuff. But it's like I guess I'm enjoying the journey because I'm like traveling everywhere.

Speaker 1: 29:15

And, at the same time, I'm enjoying speaking to students from all over the country.

Speaker 2: 29:18

Is that same for you, rachel? Yeah, I think mine is a little bit different. Through the Microsoft Student Ambassadors program, I've been able to get opportunities of being able to I moderated a session, I think that was last year or last two years. I think that was last year Microsoft Ignite I moderated a session, visual as you do, but being able to have that kind of opportunity. And then also I think I've gotten a lot of opportunities through the microsoft playing strength ambassadors program, but I've forgotten most. So but yeah, I have. I've seen a lot of wow moments in the program, like if I was not here, this would not have been possible.

Speaker 1: 30:04

So, yeah, so it's cool okay, yeah, because when you're in a program, you can always make impact and then you can enhance your career. In a way, it's like what you, when you said you need moderate ignite and stuff. It's one of your best moments. Yeah, and you haven't even done it before.

Speaker 2: 30:24

Yeah, it's good yeah.

Speaker 1: 30:27

Yeah, so it's. What are some of the advice you recommend? Like new students wait to want to join the programme. I've not heard about it before. Is there any tips that you would provide them? Okay?

Speaker 3: 30:43

I guess I going to go ahead. So just find someone to mentor you. I guess that is a big thing for you. It's going to get you started faster. Just reach out to any student ambassador that is from your country or whatever, and whoever is willing to help you, and reach out to them and ask them and they will surely try to help you, because that's the spirit of the program and that will get you started very, I guess, faster and easier and you won't miss out on anything. But the whole point is that you won't be lost for a while until you you get how the program works and how everything is supposed to be.

Speaker 2: 31:33

Like John said, mentorship is very good and being able to ask your fellow student ambassadors questions, and I think one of the great things about the program is that you have easy access to Microsoft employees, that you can reach out to them, especially the ones in the program. You can reach out to them, you can ask them questions and you can also give a feedback or any concerns that you have. So I think one of the things, too, is that you have. So I think one other thing, too is that I have a lot. Okay, let me start from there, then go up.

Speaker 2: 32:02

So I think advice is that try not to try to ask questions, try not to stay hidden like when you're trying to do it in a way that I don't want people to notice that I'm here. Try and and make yourself more open. Take it as an opportunity of a lifetime, because the program is definitely an opportunity of a lifetime. Take it as like I'm here. I'm here to learn something. I'm here to benefit from this program. I'm not just here to be a number, but I'm here to learn from this program. So try and be more. Try and be active. Try and bring yourself yourself out like let everybody know that you're there. If possible, let people know that you're there. And then, yeah, be kind, because you're definitely going to also get other students, ambassadors who have questions that will also reach out to you. Do try and answer their questions. If you don't understand, either refer them to somebody else or you guys can figure it out together.

Speaker 1: 32:57

Yeah, so I want to dig into the knowledge sharing stuff. When you say you can share knowledge between like tech communities and stuff, because I saw like you guys recently have wrote some like even John, like tech in microsoft and stuff blogs in there and it's been published. So how, how do you share information so and impact everyone else?

Speaker 3: 33:29

okay, hi john hi, yes, how do I share information? I'm just like yeah, so how do you like? Is there any?

Speaker 1: 33:39

other platform you use to share information because I saw you frequently, like on microsoft, learn tech community and stuff yeah, I see him everywhere on github too yes, yes, I am in github.

Speaker 3: 33:54

I'm very active on gith, only on GitHub. That is like a secondary thing, the community platform. But the whole point is that, or like, why? Because I'm so lazy to create my own blog. I tried, I tried lots of times. I do open up a new blog and then I start up typing and then I just get tired or like get bored of moving stuff over to another platform.

Speaker 1: 34:25

So I just I blogged there a lot and I kept blogging there because, like I don't have another place to do it, so it's there so would you so, based on that, would you recommend someone to stick to one platform or just yes, do a lot of platform, like whether it's linking twitter, slack, discord and tech community?

Speaker 3: 34:51

yeah, I mean I got a question and I do agree with it, which is, yes, it's. That's why that's, that is the main reason for me I'm not moving over to another place because, like I said, it's really boring to move over the stuff, the old stuff that I already did, because I can't, like um, start from scratch somewhere else and I need to have, like um, some old blogs or something that people can read, and it's not like a one-time thing for me. So moving over all of the stuff is taking lots of time and lots of effort for me. I don't know if I will ever do it. I will surely do it.

Speaker 1: 35:36

I'm trying.

Speaker 2: 35:39

Yeah, okay For me. I think mine is different a bit because I'm kind of everywhere.

Speaker 3: 35:44

I'm sure you are. Rachel is like a medium and she has a lot of work to do.

Speaker 2: 35:49

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 35:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 35:52

Yeah, so I'm kind of everywhere. I have a LinkedIn newsletter where I write things like an issue I faced or an issue somebody asked me about on how to solve, so I just write a short blog on it and then I distribute that blog on my Medium account too. And then for knowledge sharing, I also share on. We both share on Microsoft, microsoft tech community the right blog post there. So as a student ambassador or an mvp, you have access to rights on that particular platform and it gives us visibility. Apart from being able to share our knowledge and then having you can also share your knowledge on youtube. You don't have to have like be an expert or professional to share on youtube, you can share it on youtube. And I also have a podcast, have a podcast like this where I invite people. I also do Twitter spaces where me and John we talked about Azure. So, yeah, it's awesome. So you can do anything like anything that works for you is amazing.

Speaker 1: 36:51

Okay, so would you advise someone to start blogging first or just do a bit of everything like yourself, Rachel?

Speaker 2: 37:00

Anything at all. Anything that works for you, like with John. He's everywhere too. He uses GitHub, he's on Microsoft Learn, he's on Microsoft Tech Community. So just anything that works for you is fine. If you want to use Medium, it's fine. If you want to use LinkedIn newsletter, if you want to use your own blog, if you want to use WordPress anything you use as far as you are comfortable with it, that's all right, yeah.

Speaker 1: 37:25

Yeah. So one thing I want to say if you're new to speaking, so find a role model. So it could be Rachel and John. So you give them a message and then they will, can help you. So, like they, like they could be your like role model to look up for and stuff, and they will just give you advice. So, as this episode is coming to an end, I would just always like to find out more about the speakers. So are you guys going to any tech events in the future, whether it's online or in person?

Speaker 2: 38:00

Okay.

Speaker 3: 38:01

Hi Rachel.

Speaker 3: 38:03

Yeah, we are organizing something that will come out in September. I'm not sure if it's confirmed or not yet I'm not sure if I'm supposed to talk about it. It's like something that is cool about Python and building stuff with Lanckchain and MongoDB or CosmosDB for MongoDB, vcore, and it is the same old drag that has been around for the past year. But the same old drag that has been around for the past year. But the idea is that it's just I don't know, it's just another thing out there. I don't know. I don't know if there is something that makes it unique, but it's like chain with Cosmos DB for MongoDB Vue code. So if you are interested, come and join me in September.

Speaker 2: 38:57

Yeah, that's good.

Speaker 1: 38:58

Where would that be? Is that like a user group or conference or any event?

Speaker 3: 39:02

John, I'm not sure. Keep up with me and I will.

Speaker 1: 39:09

Yeah, just follow John for more information, and then he will just Keeping up with John. So how about yourself, rachel? Are you going to any tech events, like whether it's Ignite later in November or any like Power Platform event?

Speaker 2: 39:26

Yeah, I'm speaking at an event this month and that is for Dynamics Con Visual Conference. And then I'm planning to attend Power Platform Conference, but I'm not sure that yet. That will be in september, and also microsoft ignites. And then I'm planning to go for nordic summit, scottish summit, and I think I'm forgetting one. But yeah, that's yeah he's everywhere.

Speaker 1: 39:54

Okay, no worries. So one last bit of information how can other people get in touch with yourself and for any questions regarding this episode or anything regarding Microsoft Student Learning Ambassador Program?

Speaker 3: 40:11

I guess we can. For me, you can reach out to me on LinkedIn. I'm not as active as I used to, but I will try to get. I will always respond, but I don't know. Last advice, I guess is I don't know. I guess you can because, like we are student ambassadors, we will say some cool stuff about the program. But I promise you, if you did go to and join the program, you won't regret it, I can add. But it's not really. It's a really good program and you wouldn't regret it.

Speaker 1: 40:59

This is a question for myself. Do you need to get nominated to be in the program, like MVP? No, to be a student.

Speaker 2: 41:06

Just apply.

Speaker 1: 41:07

Oh, just put your application in. Okay, yeah, just apply.

Speaker 3: 41:11

You can be nominated too, but it's like not prerequisite and it won't affect your application. So I don't know. I guess it just makes you consider more for the student ambassador. But the program team will still review your application and will decide whether you get to become a student ambassador.

Speaker 1: 41:30

So it's just like a reference, anyway, like a personal reference, yeah. So how about yourself, rachel? How can people get in touch with you if you want to be a mentor? If you, what do students want to give you advice? Okay?

Speaker 2: 41:45

I think, for mentorship. I will not be able to have time for mentorship, but I'm definitely cool with asking questions. So you can reach out to me on LinkedIn. It's also taking time, but you can reach out to me on LinkedIn. My name's also taking me time, but you can reach out to me on LinkedIn.

Speaker 2: 41:56

My name is Rachel Rabeau. You can see it on the screen so you can just look for me, and when you see my LinkedIn, you see me. I'm wearing a black shirt, so just a guess, so you can look for me on LinkedIn. I'm also on Twitter. My name is Richie for Love, so you can also connect with me on Twitter. I think it would be easier to connect with me on LinkedIn than Twitter. It would be hard for me to get your message, and I also have a series I'm working on right now. I've published three episodes where I get to ask different students, ambassadors from different countries, about their personal experience in the program, so that you can also listen to other students and ambassadors on what they are experiencing and also what they have done.

Speaker 1: 42:42

Yeah, Okay, that's brilliant. Thanks for joining this episode, john and Rachel. It's amazing to hear your guys' journey in the programme. So thanks, bye.

Speaker 2: 42:56

Yeah, thank you, bye.