Contributor Stories: Kristina Devochko
Congratulations and welcome to this month’s recognized contributor, Kristina Devochko – cloud guru, tech contributor, content creator, blogger, speaker, and mentor. Kristina resides in Norway and is currently employed at Amesto Fortytwo as a principal cloud engineer. She’s the owner of the kristhecodingunicorn.com tech blog, a CNCF ambassador, Microsoft Azure MVP, CNCF TAG Environmental Sustainability tech lead, Kubernetes Unpacked podcast co-host, and co-organizer of multiple meetup groups. Throughout her career, Kristina has primarily focused on all things cloud native, Kubernetes, cloud security, and green tech. She believes in helping to make the world a better place, is passionate about volunteering with non-profit organizations, and frequently provides guidance to tech communities on building sustainable, secure, and cloud native systems. Recently, Kristina also added “Microsoft Learn contributor” to her list of accomplishments.Contributor Stories: Samson Amaugo
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Samson Amaugo, a full stack Web Developer and Microsoft MVP. Samson is one of the top contributors for ASP.NET Core content, where he regularly contributes to by improving documentation, providing excellent code samples, and answering customer questions. Samson is also a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Lead and GitHub Campus Expert at Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Samson has deep passion for automation and building intelligent systems with the assistance of machine learning or AIContributor stories: Tomáš (Tom) Zíka
In this post, we’re interviewing Tomáš (Tom) Zíka from the Czech Republic. Tom is a Senior Database Engineer who specializes in performance tuning and SQL optimization, monitoring, and refactoring. The Database Docs team nominated Tom for his frequent, valuable contributions.Contributor Stories: Deepanshu Katara
If you’ve ever engaged with the content on the Microsoft Learn platform, the material you utilized was likely written or co-authored by dedicated contributors. These contributors, often volunteers, generously offer their time and expertise to fill knowledge gaps within our content portfolio by suggesting valuable updates to our material, sharing their knowledge within the Microsoft community, and/or answering questions on the Q&A area of the Microsoft Learn platform. In this interview series, we aim to acquaint ourselves with some of these valuable contributors. Through these conversations, we seek to understand their motivations for sharing their knowledge on Microsoft Learn and gain insights into their experiences. Welcome and congratulations on being our spotlighted contributor this month: Deepanshu Katara, a dedicated Lead Systems Engineer based in India. With around eight years of experience as a Cloud and DevOps Architect, Deepanshu has led high-impact projects for global clients in the retail, healthcare, and technology sectors. At EPAM Systems, Deepanshu spearheaded cloud migration and digital transformation initiatives using Azure DevOps, Terraform, and Bicep, ensuring seamless application deployment and operational excellence. Deepanshu is an active member of Microsoft Community Champions. This program identifies, engages, and rewards technology experts who frequently provide high-quality answers to customers' questions on Microsoft Learn Q&A. Deepanshu is an Azure technology subject matter expert (SME), specifically focuses on Azure Q&A. He has answered over 1,000+ questions - supporting thousands of Azure users on Microsoft Learn Q&A by unblocking them from technical roadblocks. Meet Deepanshu Deepanshu Katara, Lead Systems Engineer at Epam Systems and Microsoft MVP. Priyanka: Hi Deepanshu! It's great to have you with us today. Could you start by telling us a bit about your background and experience? Deepanshu: Absolutely, Priyanka! I’m happy to. I thrive in collaborative environments where I can mentor teams and drive innovation. My experience includes architecting Kubernetes infrastructure, implementing secure cloud solutions, and automating deployments. Additionally, I actively contribute to the Azure community by organizing and hosting the weekly Azure Tech Talk series, which fosters knowledge-sharing and collaboration within the organization. My dedication to excellence and innovation is evident in my commitment to mentoring, integrating Agile methodologies, and architecting secure, scalable cloud solutions. With years of experience as a Cloud and DevOps Architect, I bring a wealth of expertise in multi-cloud engineering, DevOps practices, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC). My journey has involved leading and contributing to high-impact projects for global clients across retail, healthcare, and technology sectors. Priyanka: That’s wonderful to hear! Thank you for sharing your impressive background, Deepanshu. Your extensive experience in multi-cloud engineering, DevOps practices, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is commendable. What inspired you to begin your journey with Microsoft Learn and the Microsoft Tech Community? Deepanshu: My journey as a top contributor began as a curious user seeking solutions to my Azure-related questions on a Q&A platform. Initially, I relied heavily on the community to resolve challenges, and this invaluable resource shaped my early understanding of Azure. Over time, as I gained knowledge and practical experience, I realized the power of shared expertise and decided to give back by contributing to the same platform that had once guided me. This transition from a learner to a contributor marked the beginning of a fulfilling journey. What keeps me motivated is the dual benefit of contributing: helping others while continuously growing myself. Sharing expertise not only allows me to support the community but also ensures I stay updated with the latest technologies and tools in Azure. Engaging with diverse questions and scenarios sharpens my problem-solving skills and deepens my technical knowledge. Additionally, it helps me refine my soft skills, such as communication and mentorship, enabling me to articulate complex concepts clearly and effectively. This mutual exchange of learning and giving back makes contributing a deeply rewarding experience, fueling my passion to remain an active participant in the community. Priyanka: It's truly inspiring to hear how you transitioned from a learner to a top contributor and how your dedication to helping others has fueled your own growth. Your commitment to fostering a knowledge-sharing culture and driving innovation within the Azure community is commendable. I’d love to know what led you to start contributing to Microsoft Learn. What inspired you to take that step and become an active participant in the community? Deepanshu: Contributing to the Microsoft Learn platform has been pivotal in advancing my career and enhancing my skill set. Engaging with the community has allowed me to explore a wide range of Azure technologies and scenarios beyond my daily responsibilities. This exposure has significantly broadened my technical expertise, keeping me up-to-date with the latest advancements in Azure and related tools. Additionally, crafting detailed and precise responses to complex queries has honed my problem-solving abilities and improved my capability to communicate technical concepts effectively. This experience has also boosted my confidence in sharing knowledge and mentoring others, positively impacting my leadership skills. It has strengthened my ability to think critically and adapt quickly to new challenges. By actively contributing, I have not only solidified my understanding of Azure technologies but also gained recognition within the community, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations in my professional journey. 🙂 Priyanka: That's fantastic! Having real-time visibility of potential problems on the Q&A site, along with exposure to diverse solutions, can significantly impact someone's technical growth. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it and making a difference by helping hundreds of users. Could you shed some light on your experience partnering with Microsoft as part of Microsoft Community Champions so far? Deepanshu: Partnering with Microsoft through the Azure Community Champions program has been an incredibly collaborative and empowering experience. One recent example that stands out is when I needed assistance in designing an audit framework for Azure resources at the management group level. The task was complex and required a thorough understanding of Azure's hierarchical resource organization, policies, and best practices. Reaching out to the community of fellow champions proved invaluable. I received exceptional support and insights from other champions who shared their expertise, tools, and real-world experiences, helping me craft a robust and scalable framework. This experience highlighted the strength of the Azure Community Champions program as not just a knowledge-sharing platform but a collaborative network where professionals support each other in solving advanced technical challenges. It reaffirmed the value of being part of such a passionate and knowledgeable group, fostering continuous learning and mutual growth while contributing to impactful Azure solutions. Priyanka: I’m glad you got that little nudge to join our Microsoft Q&A Community and to contribute to it – sounds like it was an excellent experience for you. What advice would you give to people who want to start contributing to technical community forums? Deepanshu: For those looking to start contributing to forums, my advice is to begin by identifying areas you are passionate about or technologies you frequently use. Start small—explore existing open-source projects, participate in discussions, or address issues flagged by the community. You don’t need to be an expert; even updating documentation, fixing minor bugs, or sharing feedback can make a significant impact. Platforms like MS Q&A and other community forums provide an excellent starting point for discovering projects and interacting with contributors. Consistency and collaboration are key to building your presence in the open-source community. Approach your contributions with a learning mindset and focus on adding value while honing your skills. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek guidance from experienced contributors; open source thrives on inclusivity and mentorship. Over time, contributing will enhance your technical expertise and improve your collaboration and problem-solving skills, creating opportunities for personal and professional growth. Priyanka: Awesome insight and advice, thanks! One final question for you. One purpose of this interview is to learn a little about the person behind the contributions. What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Deepanshu: Outside of work, I am an avid sports enthusiast and love engaging in physical activities. I frequently participate in corporate cricket tournaments and enjoy playing basketball. Athletics have always been a significant part of my life—I used to compete in the shot put, which instilled in me discipline and a love for competition. Staying active through sports not only keeps me physically fit but also enhances my teamwork and focus, qualities I bring into my professional life. In addition to sports, I enjoy spending my free time watching movies and relaxing with my son, who bring immense joy and relaxation to my routine. These activities provide a perfect balance to my tech-driven career, keeping me refreshed and inspired while offering opportunities for connection and leisure. Priyanka: That's wonderful to hear! Engaging in sports and physical activities is a fantastic way to stay fit and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Participating in corporate cricket tournaments and playing basketball must be a lot of fun. Well, it was wonderful meeting you today. Before we finish up, is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience contributing? Deepanshu: Thanks, Priyanka. It was nice to meet you, as well! I'd like to share that contributing to the community has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has allowed me to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded professionals continuously. The support and collaboration within the community have been invaluable, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others on their journey. Thank you for having me! Priyanka: It was great having you, Deepanshu. I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors. Kudos to you for all the great work you have been doing with the online communities and Microsoft Learn Q&A forum. Thank you. Keep up with Deepanshu: Personal website: https://dkatara.wordpress.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepanshu-katara-1ab365152 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/imkatara Credly: https://www.credly.com/users/deepanshu-katara Medium: https://medium.com/@dkatara.pandit Contribute at Microsoft: To Contribute to Microsoft Learn, visit Microsoft Learn Contributor Home. To be a part of Microsoft Community Champions Program and contribute to the Microsoft Learn Q&A for Azure sign up using this formContributor Stories: John Aziz
We’re excited to have John Aziz here with us today. John, a frequent and valued contributor to both the Microsoft Learn platform and Microsoft Tech Community site, is passionate about Cloud Computing and Machine Learning. Based in Egypt, he recently graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and is now employed as a Software Engineer. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering, listening to music, attending events, and sharing his love of Microsoft Learn with others. John was chosen for this month’s Contributor Stories article because of his strong dedication to sharing knowledge with others on Microsoft Learn and other Microsoft platforms.Contributor Stories: Emad Al-Mousa
Today, we’re pleased to introduce one of our recently recognized contributors, Emad Al-Mousa. Emad is based in Saudi Arabia and has 17+ years’ experience in the IT and Data Platform fields at the largest energy company in the world, Saudi Aramco. He has extensive experience in multiple domains such as Cloud Computing, Database Systems, and Cybersecurity and has been recognized by several tech companies for his security vulnerability findings that helped to improve the security of software products.Contributor Stories: John Downs
We’re excited to have John Downs here with us today. John, a Principal Program Manager on the Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) team, is a frequent and valued contributor to Microsoft Learn. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, his primary focus is on architecting solutions for Microsoft Azure. In doing so, he regularly works with customers in Asia and globally to help them be successful with many of our cloud products and services. John’s made many documentation and training contributions to Microsoft Learn – across many different areas. He’s also led teams that frequently publish content updates to Learn.Contributor Stories: Hisham Bin Ateya
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Hisham Bin Ateya, a Software Developer and a core member of Orchard team. Hisham is renowned as one of the top contributors for localized ASP.NET Core content, actively addressing reported issues and enhancing the localized content experience.
