Shadrack Kiprotich is the 2022 recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for actively sharing high-quality expertise with other technology professionals.

With just over 3,000 awardees worldwide, the Microsoft MVPs are an elite group of experts who share a passion for technology, a willingness to help others, and a commitment to their communities, making them exceptional leaders who contribute to the industry's success through knowledge sharing to solve problems.

Kiprotich, who was nominated in the Business Applications category, will continue to hold the title and deliver amazing work in the community.

He hopes to open up more opportunities for others to do the same.

“The MVP award program will play a huge role in my journey since this is something I love; advocating for tech for all and making contributions to the community," said Kiprotich.

"As the only Kenyan MVP at the moment, I am looking forward to more people joining the program and we will be able to grow the MVP community in Kenya and get to empower more people."

A former MVP or a full-time Microsoft employee selects new MVPs following nomination, after which a panel considers whether the nominee displays passion, community spirit, leadership, and positive impact within the technical community.

Kiprotich holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree but picked up his programming skills by learning from a friend and honed them in the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program.

He then went on to be a team lead in Season 2 of the Microsoft Game of Learners hackathon in 2021.

Ruth Ferland, the Microsoft Africa Development CenterSenior Program Manager for Ecosystem Engagements, noted that Shadrack’s journey to the award indicated the importance of introducing technical skills early, and maintaining a strong talent development pipeline for the technology industry.

“As we congratulate Shadrack Kiprotich for his unwavering efforts to becoming one of the elite global technology professionals, we must consider the value of providing technical skills early on in people’s lives," said Ferland.

"With significant investment into the talent development pipeline, the possibilities of preparing people of all ages to make the greatest impact within their spheres of influence and beyond through technology is limitless.” 

The ADC runs several initiatives from primary school to higher education and professional level to provide technical skills as part of the contribution to Africa’s digital transformation journey.