Category: Random words

MCT for 15 Years! WOW!!!

Tiago Costa / / MCT, Random words

Today, 15 years ago I got accepted has a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). It was a changing moment on my professional career. I started teaching more often, was able to use Microsoft Official curriculum materials and most important I got introduced to the MCT Community. A true global family! Being a global traveler, I always have the chance to meet my MCT sisters and brothers, share a drink a meal having great conversations!

I try my best to give back to the community and help other MCTs. I have been accepted has an MCT Regional Lead and provide feedback and help my local community, but the best award I got this past April when I receive an award voted by the MCT Community – The Enrique Lima award. It was a big emotional moment for me, for all that Enrique represents for the MCTs to get an award with his name. It’s in central display on my office! When working from the office I always start the day by looking at it, remember Enrique and try my best to help every individual to achieve more! I do this on my consulting role but also on when training others. We all have the power to change other professional lives.

I’m focus on Microsoft Azure both in training and consulting, but I started my teaching career with Microsoft SQL Server. Still remember the first MOC I taught. I think it was M2074: SQL Server 2000 or 7 Administration. It has been quite a ride from that to Microsoft Azure. If one thing working with Microsoft all these years taught me is that you need to constantly go out your comfort zone and adapt to the new realities. From teaching in-person only to teach virtual and hybrid classes, the need to use other tools, … Maybe this is a great topic for another post

What best way to celebrate my MCT anniversary than spend the day teach one of my favorite classes – AZ:104 – Azure Administrator. It’s a great class and I love to deliver my version of it!

It was time to order my 15-year gift! An amazing jacket. Looking forward to getting mine still on time for the winter!

To the next 15 and beyond!!!

Stay safe and hope to see you all in a nearby event / class!

Re-awarded as Microsoft Azure MVP

Tiago Costa / / Azure, Random words, Speaking

This past Thursday I received the notice that I was re-awarded as Microsoft MVP. This will be my year #6 has a Microsoft Azure MVP. I still remember the exact place I was when 6 years ago on an April 1st I got my first email saying I got awarded! I was working at a customer site in Cyprus. I just had finished to the day and had packed my laptop in the backpack. Then I got an email notification on my phone and then the phone died on me. No more battery… I was like, I must be dreaming, I turn the computer on and stay blocked looking at the computer screen for more than 10 minutes! I was speechless! This is still the feeling I get every single time I got re-awarded. Still surprised and still with imposter syndrome.

I would say it because it’s what, I fell: It’s and huge honor to be among such great minds of the industry!

To all my fellow MVP – You All ROCK! You are amazing and do loads for the #Community! I will not tag or mention anyone, I will for sure forget someone important for me and then I will be feeling bad! You all know who you are!

It has been a crazy year and I hope everything will start becoming normal very soon and that we can start do some in-person events! I’m ready for that!!! I reviewed what I wrote 1 year ago, about some plans for this past year. I felt pretty good… From 8 objectives I got 7 done and one more kid in between. Sounds pretty good for me. I didn’t publish “loads of videos” on my YouTube channel. This is the year!

A special thanks to Cristina Gonzalez Herrero and Irene Pires. They do an amazing work managing the program at my region. Sometimes it’s not easy to manage these strong opinion MVPs, but they do it amazingly well!

I would just like to end with a big thanks to the community and all the other MVP and non-MVP that do the Microsoft Communities a great place to be, learn and network!

Speaking at Global Azure 2021

Tiago Costa / / Random words

 

Global Azure is here, and we have an overload of amazing sessions!!!

Has previous years and toghether with 3 other Azure MVPs (Pedro Sousa, Virgilio Esteves and Sandro Pereira) I’m organizing the local Global Azure 2021 – Portugal.

This year I also decide to take advantage the virtual approach of most events and deliver sessions at 6 different events. Here is a small list:

  • 9:00AM to 9:15AM – Welcome at Global Azure Portugal
  • 9:15AM to 10:00 AM: I find your lack of Azure Governance disturbing! – Global Azure Portugal
  • 10:30AM – 11:00AM – India
  • 11:00 – 11:45 – I find your lack of Azure Governance disturbing! – Global Azure Greece (SLOT 2)
  • 11:45 to 12:00 – Supercharge you App Service to a Global Scale – Global Azure Nigeria (infra Track)
  • 11:45 to 12:45 – I find your lack of Azure Governance disturbing! – Global Azure Bulgaria (TRACK 3)

It’s going to be a crazy morning and then I will be monitoring the afternoon sessions at Global Azure Portugal. Will you join me at some of the events?

 

Getting back at publishing or not!

Tiago Costa / / Random words

It’s been a while since I have published on this blog. That happened for a series of reasons.

First of all, most of my articles got copied and pasted in other blogs where the owners of those blogs had the great idea of putting their names has the authors… Honestly got super bummed about it when someone in the community sent me the links… The other reason is a happy reason, we have a new family member, and I took some time to focus on the family. After reflecting if I would stop this project or keep it alive, I decided to re-start publishing articles here and even start to publish videos on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/tiagocostamct. If those “authors” want to copy-paste my articles be my guest, I write mainly for the pleasure of sharing my knowledge about Microsoft Azure with other members of the community. You can start and copy this one

Watch out this space and my YouTube channel, new content is getting ready!!! Microsoft Azure / Certifications / Tech gear / Training tips will be the topics.

Hope to see you on this space,
Tiago Costa

Get a FREE exam during Microsoft Ignite 2020

Tiago Costa / / Random words

Microsoft Ignite 2020 week it’s just around the corner! Are you excited to join? I’d like to share a great news about this year Microsoft Ignite: Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020: Free Certification Exam. You can read full details on the following Docs content: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/microsoft-ignite-cloud-skills-challenge-2020-free-certification-exam?WT.mc_id=AZ-MVP-5001832

The article says “All participants of Microsoft Ignite who complete at least one collection in the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge are eligible for a free certification exam,…”

If you’re looking to get certified, this is an awesome opportunity to get your cert for free! Check out my Study guides and get ready!

List of eligible exams: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/microsoft-ignite-cloud-skills-challenge-2020-free-certification-exam?WT.mc_id=AZ-MVP-5001832#eligible-exams

Also don’t forget to register for one of my four sessions. Looking forward to have you in the audience. You can check then out here.