1. Open Panel: IT Communities
and personal development
Alessandro Teglia – CEE Community Program Manager MS
@alead
Cristian Lefter – Microsoft MVP SQL Server
@xmldeveloper
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

2. ITCAMP 2012 SPONSORS
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

3. The WHAT The WHO
Today’s Agenda
What is a
What is the
MVP Award
The CPM
The
“Influencer”
Community Program
What they Becoming The WHERE
do? an MVP
Where to Where to
The HOW
find them be active
MVP
Nomination MVP Tips &
Cycles Tricks Going Social
Some Data
Convention- New web
MVP MVP Quick al IT online 2.0
Population Facts places Presence
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

4. Community Overview
What is a community? • A group that shares a commonality either through experience, point-of-
view, communication, location or a topic of interest
• Ability to influence
• Efficient source of information and insights
Why are communities • Ability to reach masses
important to Microsoft? • Perceived as unbiased third-party
• Provide excellent external customer and partner experience (CPE)
• Peer networking
Why do influencers • Business development and competitive business advantage
participate in Microsoft • Credibility, recognition, prestige
• Early access to product roadmaps and bits/technical curiosity
Programs? • Access to Microsoft personnel
• Ability to influence Microsoft product direction
What’s in it for them? • Free stuff (e.g. MSDN subscriptions)
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies 4

5. Influencer Communities
(based on program’s primary purpose)
Microsoft
Microsoft Partner Sparks
Student Network • Website Individual
• Dream User Group
Partners (MPN) MS Tier 1 Commun-
• Biz Support
Outbound (MSP) &
Tech Clubs
• VSIP
• SPI
Services
Events ities
(UGSS)
Activities Microsoft
Certified
Trainers
Faculty MSDN
Connection
User
Microsoft Groups
Most Community
Regional Contributor
Valuable
Directors Metro Analyst Award
Professiona
(RDs) & Press
ls (MVP)
Relations
Tech
Adoption
Program
Inbound (TAP)
Microsoft
Connect
• Customer
Activities Profile
Program
Insiders &
Advisors Customer
Partner Technical
Advisory Support
Council (Dev
(PAC) Cluster)
Managed Unmanaged
Product Input Product Adoption Reach Community
Community Community
Placement logic: Driven by the primary purpose of the community on the y axis (inbound vs. outbound influence) and by the
degree to which they are managed vs. unmanaged by Microsoft on the X axis.
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies 5

6. The Microsoft MVP Award Program
- The Microsoft MVP Award is a THANK YOU (for their past
community contributions)
- MVPs are independent experts
- The Microsoft MVP award recognizes exceptional technology
community leaders who foster free exchange of knowledge by
actively sharing their real world expertise with users and
Microsoft
- It’s an year-over-year Award and it’s based on a single
expertise
- Microsoft has no expectations towards MVPs (courtesy,
professionalism, and adherence to generic Code of conduct:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/conduct/default.mspx
- The MVP is not a MS Certification 
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

7. What they do (some examples)
Community Content Ask The Expert
Delivery Business Engagements
Book Writing
KB Articles Creation
Forum Support
Blogging/Micro-Blogging
Social Media Presence Technical Support
Product Feedback Issues’ Escalation
Content Localization
Technical Speeches Microsoft Community
Microsoft Properties
Contributor Award
Enrichment
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

8. What I do…
CPE M&O EDU C&O
OEM
DPE
CPM
PR
BG Leads
Social
CEE HQ Engagements
SMB Product Teams
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

9. MVP Fast Facts
The MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award Program recognises
influential independent experts for their great communities contributions
Reviewed &
awarded
annually
MVP QUICK FACTS
MVPs can be
found:
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

10. EMEA MVP Population
UK 193 CEE
14% 333
24%
WE, 1,446 Total France
463, 179 13%
33%
MEA 150
Germany
Total 1,421 10%
133 9%
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

11. MVP Nomination Cycles
The Microsoft MVP award lasts 12 months which means that every MVP has to demonstrate the value he/she
delivered to the Communities and to Microsoft, both from a quality and a quantity perspective
Community Program
BG Lead Tie Break
Manager
• Info from the Sub • Approves • Agree
• Info from the MVP • Push back
• Info from the field • Declines
• Info from the Product • Disagree
Group
1° January 1° April 1° July 1° October
• Nomination • Nomination • Nomination • Nomination
deadline deadline deadline deadline
• Lead Review • Lead Review • Lead Review • Lead Review
deadline deadline deadline deadline
• BG Lead • BG Lead • BG Lead • BG Lead
deadline deadline deadline deadline
• Award Date • Award Date • Award Date • Award Date
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

12. MVP Candidates’ Examples
John Smith Dean Fargo Andreas Valin Sergejus Boban
• 15 technical • 1200 technical • 12 webcasts • 7 technical
speeches during replies on a 3° delivered articles published
MS/non MS party forum • 50 submitted on TechNet
events • Forum moderator bugs • 30 technical blog
• 1 book • 80 technical blog • 7 technical posts
• 12 magazine posts speeches • Community
articles • 300 technical website owner
• UG President replies in and maintainer
TechNet/MSDN • 3 MS events as an
Forums ATE
Other useful info could be:
Reach: blog, webcasts, speeches, articles, etc..
Very well recognized as a good technical guru on a specific expertise and
with a strong Passion
Friendly, willingness to collaborate, good online manners and tones
Other community involvements like Culminis/INETA/UGSS, Insider (ASP,
C#, ), UG Lead, MSP...
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

13. How to (some tips…)
- Be Available:
- In the forums, during Microsoft events, during User Groups
meetings, after your technical presentations, etc…
- Be Visible:
- With your blog posts, your webcasts and screencasts, your
technical articles, your tweets, etc…
- Be Focused:
- Try to focus your energy on a specific Microsoft
Product/Technologies. See the full list of MVP expertise here:
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
- Be Recognized (by your peers):
- Become a forum moderator/leader/top poster, have a good
network of blog readers, being mentioned in the online
communities, being invite by other User Groups to be a speaker,
etc…
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

14. MVPs can be found…
MVPs Can Be Found…
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

15. Social Media
The MVP Award Program engages in three social media activities to:
Engage with the MVP and technical community
Host an environment that generates buzz and excitement around Microsoft
technology and community
Raise awareness of the value added by MVPs, by showcasing their community
contributions and content.
- Our blog showcases some of the MVP amazing contributions made supporting technical communities
http://blogs.msdn.com/MVPAwardProgram
- My blog: http://belead.me
- Our Facebook Fan Page offers MVPs a unique opportunity to have fun, share memories and connect with
other MVPs and the wider community http://www.facebook.com/MVPAwardProgram
- Regional CEE & Italy FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/ceeitmvp
- Our Twitter site offers MVPs an opportunity to join in the latest buzz in the Community! We re-tweet a
range of great content from MVPs around the world. @MVPAward
- Mine: @alead 
- Follow #mvpbuzz !
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies

16. Q&A
@ itcampro # itcamp12 Premium conference on Microsoft technologies