This is the next segment of our blog series highlighting Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors who achieved the Gold milestone, the highest level attainable, and have recently graduated from university. Each blog in the series features a different student and highlights their accomplishments, their experience with the Student Ambassador community, and what they’re up to now.
Today we meet Aniket Kumar Sinha, who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from BK Birla Institute of Engineering in India.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
When did you join the Student Ambassadors community?
2020
What was being a Student Ambassador like?
Being selected as a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador was an extraordinary opportunity that greatly contributed to my personal and professional development. In 2020 I achieved this milestone, becoming the first Student Ambassador and later the first Gold Student Ambassador from my college.
Coming from a tier-3 college in India, I had concerns about acquiring new skills and expanding my professional network. However, this community provided me with an ideal platform for both. While I had some experience as a public speaker, I had never conducted technical sessions as an instructor before. Through this program, I was able to lead my first technical session during my early second year of college.
I fully leveraged the resources and support offered by the community, which enabled me to organize various technical events, including a comprehensive technical fest with a hackathon within my college. Subsequently, I was honored with the role of Gold Ambassador, a position I had only dreamed of attaining.
As a Gold Ambassador, I had the privilege of engaging with an international audience, presenting at renowned technical events such as Microsoft Reactor events and the Microsoft Student Summit, among many others. This was just the beginning of my journey.
Through my Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors network, I received the opportunity to work full-time as a Cloud Consultant starting in my third year, at my current organization Rapid Circle. Throughout this journey, I never regarded the MLSA program as just a community; it has always felt like a second family to me.
Aniket with fellow student ambassadors during a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Meetup in Delhi, India.
Was there a specific experience you had while you were in the program that had a profound impact on you and why?
Throughout my four-year journey within this program, I have been privileged to encounter numerous transformative opportunities that have profoundly impacted my life. Through this community, I have facilitated valuable connections with outstanding individuals such as Harsh Vardhan Goel, Prajesh Srivastava, Tauqeer Ahmad, Akansha Jain, Tina Popli, Aditya Oberai, Siddharth Dayalwal, Namrata Agrawal, Aindrila Das, Aadyaa Srivastava, Anika Tibrewala, Bhavuk Kalra, Aadya Singh, Prnika Bakshi, Jasleen Kaur Sondhi, Aastha Sarkar, and many more exceptional fellow Ambassadors.
Furthermore, I've had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed professionals from Microsoft, including Vivek Sridhar, Parth Varu, Pablo Veramendi, Olanrewaju Oyinbooke, and Rashmita Bhowmick, which has proven to be a profoundly impactful experience.
In this capacity, I've had the opportunity to deliver presentations at Microsoft Reactor events and the Microsoft Student Summit, as well as successfully organizing two in-person Student Ambassador meetups in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR. The depth of knowledge, support, and inspiration I've gained from this community and the remarkable individuals within it is beyond what I can adequately express in words.
Aniket presenting with a fellow student during a Microsoft Reactor workshop about Microsoft Power Platform.
Tell us about a technology you had the chance to gain a skillset as a Student Ambassador. How has this skill you acquired helped you in your post-university journey?
My introduction to Microsoft Azure was made possible through this community, and I am now engaged in full-time work involving Azure. Initially, we were provided with MTC exam vouchers, which I seized as an opportunity to take the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals - AZ 900 certification exam. Preparing for this certification deepened my understanding of Azure.
As my journey progressed, I successfully obtained four Microsoft Certifications, namely: Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700), Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), and Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900).
What is something you want all students, globally, to know about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program?
The Student Ambassador program offers a valuable opportunity, particularly for students in technical colleges. This program presents a wealth of opportunities for learning and establishing a strong professional network. I strongly encourage individuals to become part of this program and make the most of the opportunities it offers.
What advice would you give to new Student Ambassadors, who are just starting in the program?
- The paramount advice is to refrain from joining this community solely for the allure of promotional items or accolades. Instead, embrace this community for the remarkable learning and growth opportunities it presents.
- Adopt a proactive approach within the community; seize every opportunity to expand your knowledge, engage with others, and foster personal development.
- Cultivate meaningful interactions with fellow Ambassadors. This community is a gathering of like-minded individuals; take the initiative to initiate conversations and forge new connections.
- Prioritize learning — absorb knowledge from the Microsoft Learn website, gain insights from your fellow Ambassadors, and tap into the expertise of Cloud Advocates.
- Establish a robust professional network and extend respect to every member of the community.
- Leverage the community as a platform for enhancing your personal brand and visibility.
- General advice: Be open to learning and accept new concepts.
Aniket with fellow Student Ambassadors during a Meetup at the Microsoft Reactor Bangalore office.
Share a favorite quote with us! It can be from a movie, a song, a book, or someone you know personally. Tell us why you chose this. What does it mean for you?
"Every End is a new Beginning" Quote by V.E. Schwab. This is my favorite quote. Don't get upset because something is ending, be happy and excited about the new journey you're stepping into.
Tell us something interesting about you, about your journey.
My academic path has been marked by numerous challenges and moments of self-doubt. However, this program played a pivotal role in instilling the confidence I needed to attain significant accomplishments. I now stand as a self-assured individual and a proficient public speaker.
You can follow Aniket here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniketkumarsinha/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AniketKSinha
GitHub: https://github.com/aniketkumarsinha
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aniketksinha/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AniketKumarSinha
Website: https://aniketkumarsinha.tech/