How One Question Sparked a Lifetime of Sharing

Jess Stratton’s MVP journey is rooted in a simple idea: share what you know. Long before she was recognized as a Microsoft MVP in July 2026, Jess was asking questions, solving problems, and helping others learn in technology communities. Over time, those contributions grew into articles, conference demonstrations, training videos, courses, a book, and a TEDx talk. Becoming an MVP brought that story full circle - and opened the door to a global network of people who share her curiosity, generosity, and belief that technology becomes more approachable when we learn together.

In her LinkedIn Learning course, "Learning Microsoft 365 Copilot for Work", MVP Jess Stratton shares practical guidance for using Microsoft 365 Copilot in everyday work.

The Moment the Questions Turned into Answers

Jess’s community story began in the Lotus Notes world in the 1990s, where she worked as an administrator and developer. Like many people entering a new technical space, she relied on forums to ask questions and learn from others. Then, almost without noticing, the balance shifted: she was answering more questions than she was asking.

A turning point came when Jess created a solution to a problem no one else had addressed and made it available online. That contribution led to a how-to article, then a conference demonstration, and eventually a much larger network of peers. Connections from that community helped launch the training-video work she continues today. The path was not a carefully plotted career ladder; it was a series of opportunities created by generosity, curiosity, and a willingness to share.

It all started with that very root principle of just sharing what you know. - Jess Stratton

That same spirit lives in “Nerd Girl Jess,” the identity she carried forward from a group of women in the Lotus Notes community who hosted conference panels and proudly wore Nerd Girls pins and shirts. When Jess later started working independently, keeping the name became a way to honor those relationships and the community that helped shape her.

Her first MVP nomination brought another unexpected milestone. After the long wait, the award email arrived as a joyful surprise. Excitement quickly mixed with nerves: there was much to learn and a desire not to miss anything. More than recognition, however, the award meant belonging.

Now there’s this whole network of brilliant people that’s just opened up to me. - Jess Stratton

After years of creating and teaching from a home office, Jess is especially energized by the chance to connect with other MVPs, exchange ideas, and spend time together in person. That network, she says, makes the work feel less solitary - and makes the next chapter feel full of possibility.

A TEDx Detour: Humanizing History Through Story

When TEDxURI invited speakers to propose unusual viewpoints for its “Now That’s Funny” program, Jess submitted an audition that took her beyond the familiar rhythm of technical instruction. Her idea began during a walk in the pandemic, when a podcast about the mysterious Voynich manuscript prompted an unexpected, funny question: what if its childlike drawings and undeciphered writing came from a child helping a deadline-driven medieval parent? That playful theory became the starting point for her TEDxURI talk, “Humanizing history, one mysterious book at a time.”

While Jess is an experienced speaker, preparing for TEDxURI pushed her outside her comfort zone in new ways. TEDx events often pair speakers with speaker coaches because developing a TEDx talk is different from preparing a typical lecture or conference session. Working alongside a TEDx speaker coach, she spent weeks refining her story, rehearsing her delivery, and focusing on the single idea she wanted the audience to remember. The experience helped her approach speaking from a more personal and story-driven perspective than a traditional conference presentation. Learn more in TED’s rehearsal guidance.

Within that collaborative process, Jess’s coach helped her see that the talk’s most personal details could also make its central idea more vivid and relatable. The coach encouraged Jess to include photographs from her own life - images of bringing her daughter to Lotus Notes conferences - and place them alongside the imagined medieval parent in her story. Those photographs connected past and present, turning an unusual theory about an old manuscript into a deeply human reflection on working parenthood, technology, and the families whose lives unfold around our work. They also helped the talk come full circle: history was no longer an abstract mystery, but a story about real people balancing deadlines, creativity, and care.

I feel like we should always be learning new things. I’m going to try this new skill and see if I can take people on a journey with me. - Jess Stratton

The experience changed how Jess thinks about technical communication. Storytelling invited her to bring more of her personality into the room, connect ideas to real human experiences, and make learning feel less dry. In her reflection on the talk, she emphasized that history involved real people with their own challenges and experiences - a perspective that also makes technical teaching more relatable.

Watch Microsoft MVP Jess Stratton's TEDxURI talk, where she shares insights from her personal and professional experiences.

What Happens When Learning Feels Possible

Jess has taught through more than 50 published courses, and learners have shown her what happens when knowledge is made practical and welcoming. People have approached her at conferences to share projects they created using lessons from her courses. Some of those courses even became in-flight learning, giving passengers the chance to build skills while traveling. For Jess, the most meaningful measure of impact is not how much content she produces, but what learners feel empowered to do next.

Technology becomes less intimidating when you have somebody show you what it can really do. - Jess Stratton

That practical mindset also shapes her approach to Microsoft Copilot. Jess prefers to start with the work she enjoys and does well, then use AI for areas where she needs support - such as design, organizing tasks, or follow-up - instead of “fixing things that aren’t broken.” As she works on the second edition of her Copilot for Microsoft 365 book and uses Copilot to grow her business, she continues to bring learners along for the journey.

Community remains central. Jess values virtual connection, but she is especially looking forward to the face-to-face conversations that can solve a problem in minutes and spark new ideas. For a new MVP who has learned from other MVPs for years, the award feels both exciting and humbling.

Being an MVP is very humbling. I’ve got very big shoes to fill - and I have to keep that helping going. - Jess Stratton

Keep Sharing What You Know

Every MVP journey begins with a question, a solution, or a moment when someone chooses to share what they have learned. Jess’s story shows how those moments can grow into articles, talks, courses, friendships, and new communities. Whether you are answering a forum question, demonstrating a useful technique, telling a more human technical story, or learning a skill outside your comfort zone, your contribution can help someone else move forward. What person, community, or unexpected opportunity helped shape your journey? Share your story - and keep the ripple of learning going.

Connect with Jess

Learn more about Jess Stratton on her Microsoft MVP profile, explore her extensive library of more than 35 LinkedIn Learning courses covering AI, Microsoft technologies, cybersecurity, and professional development, watch her TEDxURI talk on YouTube, and read her LinkedIn reflection on the experience.

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