Disclaimer: This is a personal reflection on my experience at the Microsoft MVP Summit 2025. It is not an official account of the event, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am not disclosing any of the content or anything else that was shared under NDA.

What is the Microsoft MVP Summit?

Technically, it is a 3 days long event where Microsoft invites Microsoft MVPs to share information and ask for feedback. In my eyes, it is Christmas for Microsoft MVPs. A golden opportunity to meet the people who build the products one uses on a daily basis, learn, reflect and network.

The one of 2025 was the first (of many, hopefully) I got to attend as a fresh MVP (I got my award November 2024). I attended in person - in Redmond, Washington (USA), but it was a hybrid event, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. The core event stretches over 3 days, but there were additional days (pre and post) for specific product groups.

The trip to Redmond

I started my trip in Copenhagen, Denmark and I landed in Seattle, Washington (USA) with a connecting flight via Munich, Germany. The flight from Munich to Seattle was a long one, a really long one, around 11 hours. It took a toll on me, I won’t lie. I was exhausted when I arrived in Seattle, but the excitement of attending the MVP Summit kept me going.

Upon arrival, I took the light rail from the airport to downtown Seattle. It was a smooth ride, and I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the public transportation system. I checked into my hotel, and went straight to bed.

Monday (pre-day)

The core event takes place between Tuesday and Thursday but there were satellite events on Monday and Friday. First things first, I had to pick up my badge. The queue was really long but the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. I met a few fellow MVPs in line, and we exchanged stories about our experiences and expectations for the summit. I was particulary excited to meet some of the people I had only interacted with online.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (core days)

What happened during the core days? Well, I can’t share any details about the sessions or the content that was shared, as it was all under NDA. However, I can say that the sessions were incredibly informative and engaging. I learned a lot about the latest developments in Microsoft technologies, and I was able to provide feedback to the product teams.

What I can share is how the processes went. There were a lot of sessions, and they were all run in parallel. Microsoft had set up a system for managing the sessions and each attendee could create their own scehdule. Sadly, but inevatable, some sessions clashed with others. I had to make some tough choices about which sessions to attend, but I tried to prioritize the ones that were most relevant to my interests and expertise.

Between sessions, there were plenty of opportunities to network with other MVPs and Microsoft employees. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and I did feel that the product teams were genuinely interested in hearing our feedback. They answered honestly and shared as much information as they could. Obviously, there were some things they couldn’t share either because they didn’t know or because they were under NDA - even for them.

Apart from the sessions, there were also some fun activities organized by Microsoft. There is the Reactor, the library and the whole Microsoft campus which is a gigantic area with a lot of buildings. I had the chance to explore the campus and see some of the iconic buildings, such as the Microsoft Visitor Center and the Microsoft Store. The campus is beautiful, and it was great to see so many people working together in such a collaborative environment.

Friday (post-day) - flight home

My flight back was scheduled for the noon, which meant I had to leave the hotel early. I took the light rail back to the airport, and it was a smooth ride. I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare, and I was able to relax before my flight. The flight back was uneventful, and I arrived in Copenhagen feeling tired but happy.

Conclusion

Being a Microsoft MVP comes with important benefits, but if I have to pick one that trully makes the difference then the presence at the Microsoft MVP Summit would be the one. It was an unforgettable experience. I gained valuable insights into the latest developments in Microsoft technologies, and I had the opportunity to connect with some of the brightest minds in the industry. The event was perfectly-organized, and I appreciated the efforts made by Microsoft to create a collaborative and engaging environment. I left the summit feeling inspired and motivated to continue my journey as an MVP, and I look forward to applying again for next year’s summit.