In this series, we talk with Microsoft Student Partners from all over the world so we can get to know this robust community of big thinkers and bold doers who are working to have a social impact through tech. Student Partners are a global group of on-campus ambassadors who are eager to help other students, lead in their local tech community, and develop technical and career skills for the future.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Today we’re talking with:
Olumide Ogundare
Lagos, Nigeria
Microsoft Student Partner since October 2018
What’s your favorite music to listen to while you’re coding?
If it’s a feature I’m familiar with, I get motivation from Nigerian street music like Bolanle by IVD & Zlatan.
If it’s a completely new feature to me, I get motivation from a cappella music. It has this way of connecting my heart, soul, mind, and brain together, and keeps me focused. If it’s a fix, I get motivation from Sauti Sol, Jonas Blue, and Kygo, just to mention a few.
What attracted you to the Microsoft Student Partner program?
I saw the opportunity to level up my skills and, most importantly, impact lives.
I could not get a personal computer until late in my second year in the university. I started actively coding in my third year, a few months before I joined the Student Partner program. I felt life should be easier for people coming after me, and they should be exposed to Microsoft technologies earlier than I was. I realized the Microsoft Student Partner program was an opportunity to achieve this goal—to introduce technology to others earlier and that was what attracted me to the program.
How did you hear about the Microsoft Student Partner program?
I stumbled onto the Student Partner website, and I was so moved by the Microsoft mission of empowering every person on the planet to achieve more that I decided to apply to the program.
What’s something you think other students should know about being a Student Partner?
A lot of students think you need to be an expert at Microsoft technologies to be accepted into the program. That is very wrong. The program is designed to expose students to Microsoft technologies and help them solve problems with it. Student Partners are exposed to these technologies via Microsoft Learn Paths, learning from other Student Partners and monthly Teams calls with Microsoft experts. After all that, they have the opportunity to share their knowledge with their peers via meetups and conferences.
The other thing students need to know is that the benefits are amazing! Meeting some of the best minds in the tech industry, getting event support, and having subscriptions like Microsoft Visual Studio Enterprise and LinkedIn Premium are all so helpful.
What do you get most out of the program?
I am able to play around with a lot of resources on Microsoft Azure, and have convinced a lot of students in my school to activate their student account. Some of my friends have given me the nickname “Azure.”
I was struggling a bit with presentation skills before I joined the program. I skilled up in this aspect with more than 15 talks (both in person and virtual) for the Student Partner program.
I’ve also gotten better at my leadership skill. I acted as the lead of Student Partners in Nigeria and helped a lot of other Student Partners get better in the program.
My highest point of the program was when I was honored with the Gold milestone. It feels great when you work hard and you’re recognized for your efforts.
What do you eat to celebrate when you’ve finished a great piece of work?
I request two standard plates of pounded yam and Afang Soup with roundabout fish soaked in pepper stew, and chicken at the nearest eatery.
Has the program helped you build community?
I was able to make an impact when I increased the number of Student Partners from 4 to about 60 currently in Nigeria. I started my community on campus in 2019. As the only Student Partner then, I organized a couple of events around Azure and dotnet. I mentored seven other Student Partners in my school into the program and it’s been an amazing experience.
One thing I’ve learned about community building is that it can be really difficult to build a community on campus or in your country. To make it easier, you need a team of like minds with whom you share the same vision. Together, you form a branched chain of great minds—formidable, agile, and ready to tackle any challenges that come your way.
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