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 Foteini Savvidou who recently graduated with a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
When did you join the Student Ambassadors community?
August 2020
What was being a Student Ambassador like?
Being a Student Ambassador was a rewarding and exciting experience, and I can confidently say that this journey will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Over the span of 3 and a half years, I had the chance to gain hands-on experience with Azure, collaborate with fellow student ambassadors and Microsoft experts from around the world, and participate in various events. The Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors community is a welcoming environment that actively promotes continuous learning. It encourages every student to make meaningful contributions to the tech community through projects, articles, and events. It inspires us, the students, to publicly share our experiences and projects and transition from students into professionals.
Was there a specific experience you had while you were in the program that had a profound impact on you and why?
As a Student Ambassador, I had several remarkable experiences that significantly enriched both my personal and professional growth. These range from speaking at local and global technology events to writing technical articles for Microsoft Developer blogs and mentoring students in the Microsoft Imagine Cup.
If I had to choose a particular experience, it would be my involvement in co-authoring a course published on Microsoft Learn. Through my involvement in this project, I had the opportunity to engage closely with Microsoft Cloud Advocates and Microsoft Product Groups and interact with fellow Student Ambassadors in a multicultural, collaborative environment. It also provided valuable insight into the lifecycle of publishing a course and allowed me to enhance my technical writing skills. Our work was showcased at Microsoft Reactor, where I had the privilege of presenting a session on the modules I had authored. You can find the Microsoft Learn course here: https://learn.microsoft.com /training/paths/create-bots-azure-health-bot/
This experience not only shaped my personal and professional development but also left an indelible mark on my journey, inspiring me to make more meaningful contributions to our community of technology. In recognition of my contributions, I was honored to receive the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award in AI in October 2022.
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?
As a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, I had the opportunity to acquire practical experience on Microsoft technologies, with an emphasis on applied AI within Azure. To enhance my skills on Azure technologies, I utilized the Azure subscription provided by the program, successfully completed numerous courses on Microsoft Learn, and actively participated in internal training sessions.
I applied these skills by building projects with Azure services and obtained 13 technical certifications spanning various fields such as Azure, data, AI, Microsoft Office, and developer technologies using the certification vouchers from Microsoft.
Throughout my learning journey, I collaborated with Microsoft Cloud Advocates and showcased my projects at notable events like the Global AI Bootcamp and Microsoft Reactor. These experiences not only contributed to my professional growth but also helped me develop both technical and soft skills, providing a solid start to my post-university career.
What is something you want all students, globally, to know about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program?
The Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program offers students a platform to elevate their technical and professional skills, connect with like-minded peers, and collaborate with Microsoft experts. It encourages students to innovate and contribute to the technology community.
If you are passionate about technology and want to make a positive impact in the tech industry, seize the opportunity and apply to join our incredible community.
What advice would you give to new Student Ambassadors, who are just starting in the program?
- Embrace every opportunity for learning by participating in various inter-program activities, volunteering at events, and engaging with fellow students.
- Take advantage of the extensive technical resources and benefits (such as an Azure subscription and access to workshops and training sessions) provided within the program to enhance your technical skills.
- Recognize that everyone begins as a learner, not an expert.
- Contribute meaningfully to the community by helping other students and sharing your experience through events, videos, and blogs. The Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program is about more than just technical knowledge acquisition; it's about building a supportive and inclusive community.
- Enjoy the journey and discover your passion.
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?
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin. This quote resonates seamlessly with both the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program's philosophy and my personal outlook, emphasizing the significance of active involvement in the learning process.
Tell us something interesting about you, about your journey.
The most intriguing aspect of my journey so far has been that, despite my strong interest in mathematics and STEM, working in the technology sector was something I had never imagined. For several years, my desire was to study Architecture and pursue my passion for the Arts. Just a few months before taking the Panhellenic Exams, the university-entrance exams in my country, I decided to pursue a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
This shift not only marked a departure from my initial plans but also revealed unforeseen opportunities. I believe that this choice allows me to channel my creativity into building innovative solutions.
You can follow Foteini here:
Blog: https://sfoteini.github.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/foteini-savvidou
GitHub: https://github.com/sfoteini
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