Microsoft MVPs: Your Link to PowerPoint HQ

I woke up New Year’s Day to a nice surprise email from Microsoft informing me that I had been given a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Award for 2014. 

Each year Microsoft recognizes a select few and their contributions to their respective software and technological communities. I am one of only 11 PowerPoint MVPs in the U.S., and I’m happy to join the company of other long-time MVPs such as Echo Swinford, Julie Terberg, Ric Bretschneider, Dave Paradi, Geetesh Bajaj, Sandra Johnson, Glenna Shaw and Ellen Finkelstein.

A Link to PowerPoint Users

So, what does it all mean? Well, I’m sure I’ll be able to tell you more 12 months from now, but I can say now that Microsoft relies on their MVPs as a link to to its users. It should come as no shock that the people who create software are not the people using it day in and day out in real world environments. And so, the MVPs provide constant feedback and insight into feature requests, bugs, frustrations, solutions and general man on the ground reporting. The MVP group has a direct line to the people actually writing the code and working on new versions of the software. Often, new features come directly from MVP requests—and sometimes demands.

MVPs also are out and about on discussion boards, user groups and LinkedIn groups answering questions and helping others.

So, am I now a Microsoft shill?

Not in the least. Other than being given an MSDN developer subscription (and honestly, I’m not even sure what that is), I’m not paid a dime by Microsoft. Not even a t-shirt. Okay, they did give me that slick glass award up above, but seriously, I don’t even get a discount on software. Did you hear that? I still have to pay full price for software. 

And having seen MVPs and the Microsoft PowerPoint Dev team in the same room on a number of occasions at The Presentation Summit, I can tell you that the MVPs aren’t known for sugarcoating things. 

So all that being said, I cautiously offer myself up as your link to Microsoft. Seriously, I am always interested in how people are using PowerPoint (and other presentation software) and where things are falling short and what challenges people face. One of the things I often tell people in trainings is to just speak up if you find yourself doing something in PowerPoint that you feel shouldn’t be so difficult. 90% of the time, there is an easier way I can show you. And 10% of the time, my answer will be: “Sorry, that’s just Microsoft.” Hopefully, I can work on that 10% a little bit this year…

Macs too?

Yes, Dorothy, Macs too. Microsoft hasn’t traditionally given the Mac community the support it does its PC users, but there is a completely separate Mac PowerPoint development team (for better and worse), and as one of the few MPVs that does work primarily on a Mac, hopefully I’ll have a voice there.

So, let me know if you have any messages for the folks at Microsoft HQ.

Oh, and let me know if you have any software discounts for me…