I am writing this on a plane to Minneapolis, on my way to present a session at M365 Twin Cities alongside my friend Pete Simpkins – ON MY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY – about what else, but SharePoint and Copilot. It feels like the perfect time to finally share what has been going on since September 1st, the day I was awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for what else, but SharePoint and M365 Copilot (duh!).

If you have noticed I have been a little quiet online, it is because I have been drinking from the firehose. I already recorded an interview with Christian Buckley, presented at the UX/UI A11ys User Group, and somehow still managed to work Eight. Hours. Every. Day. Still had to keep up with some of M365’s endless updates, plot some shenanigans for the upcoming events, and still have a social life as the Ambassador of Miami Beach. There is still so much more to learn about the program, countless things to configure in my new tenant, and doors suddenly opening everywhere. Most of all, there has been an overwhelming amount of new information to take in. It has been a whirlwind.

Faith in others, faith in yourself

The mere application process was terrifying, and those forms still pop out in my dreams like Clippy used to do in my computer during college years. I had a lot of anxiety and I know I put a few friendships through the wringer (sorry, Cole!). But besides my chosen family’s support, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for my MVP Mom, Cat Schneider, who believed in me when I did not believe in myself. In her own words: “Omg… you are going to be fine”. Here is the exact moment when that happened:

Everyone needs someone like Cat. Managers especially should pay attention: you can either lift your team up or run them straight into the ground. I’ve seen both ends and know how both feel. To me, the difference between success and failure, is choosing to believe in people before they believe in themselves, and still believing in them when they finally say they do.

The biggest night of my career

For the little boy who grew up in a small town in Brazil, who was bullied in school and dealt with all sorts of abuse in life (a story for later), this is like reaching a level that was once unimaginable.

It is, without question, the biggest accomplishment of my career.

But the weirdest coincidence is that, just like when my husband passed away, I found out about it in the early hours of a Monday morning with no one to call. Just me, staring at my phone’s screen, realizing my life had changed again. But this time I got up, put back on my clothes from the previous evening and went outside to celebrate it. Still alone. But this time I felt unstoppable. Reality check: what did that really look like? Well, I woke up around 3:01am, saw the email, went out for a 3:30am beer (Miami Beach perks), instantly felt way too old for that, and went home. The next morning I checked my inbox and thought “Yup. Still here.” Time to onboard this thing!

So what does it change?

At this point, if you are unfamiliar with the whole MVP thing you must be asking, so what does this “little trophy you got from your hobby”, as some may call it, actually change?

Nothing.

And everything.

The award itself is just that: an award. A recognition. Of course I am happy to get it but it does not change who I am. On the other hand receiving it gives me a voice I never thought would be heard. It empowers me to push for the changes I have always wanted to see. It gives me a seat at the big table, and the freedom to tinker with whatever I want in my own personal space, and then report back to the mothership on the results. Not everyone understands the multitude of benefits that come with this program, not just for the professional but for their entire organization, but they are real and they are powerful. It also allows me into the most renowned community in tech worldwide, a place filled with people who inspire, challenge, and support each other. These connections make me better at my work, and they help me have an impact on the things I believe can be improved. It gives me direct access to ideas, and who knows, maybe I can even have a positive impact in shaping some of them.

Be the chaos!

This experience confirms what I have learned again and again from Cat: we need to be the chaos. My own spin on that is simple: if we do not bang on the table once in a while, if we do not make people uncomfortable by being too loud or talking too much about what we believe in, if we do not trigger the kind of meetings leadership would rather avoid by daring to question the way things are, nothing will ever change. Sitting quietly and just filling out timesheets keep broken processes alive way for too long. Chaos brings change. And staying true to yourself in the middle of that chaos is what turns you into the kickass person you are meant to be.

The community that lets me be me

This community once again gave me the space to be who I am. Not the polished version, not the watered down version, but the real one — loud, different, unscripted, and sometimes a little chaotic.

It is the place where I can say the things that do not always fit inside corporate boxes. It is where I can test ideas that might sound wild at first but end up changing how someone works. It is where I can share a failure and not be judged, but instead be met with “I have been there too.” And more recently, it has been where people say things like, “Your session today helped me decide I want to be part of this community in my career,” or, “You convinced me to change careers.”

More than anything, it is a reminder that I am not doing this alone. The same people who once inspired me are now colleagues, friends, mentors, and family. They challenge me, they cheer for me, they remind me that it is okay to take up space, and they help me overcome impostor syndrome and build confidence that my ideas are appreciated because they are my own.

The MVP award may have my name on it, but in truth it belongs to this community. It was here that I learned my voice mattered, and it is here that I finally found the courage to use it.

The ride ahead

This is only the beginning of what I know will be a very fun ride. I cannot wait to share all I learn with you. In person, of course.

And last thing… MVP Summit, here I come!