MVP, MCT Copilot

Note: MCT earns income by delivering official Microsoft courses. MVP is recognised for voluntary activities: speaking, writing and gets free water bottles, shirts, stickers, and also early access to product features under NDA!

I’m delighted and slightly stunned to have earned my Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) specialism. Combined with 11 years as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP).

For years I’ve described myself as “the commsiest person in tech and the techiest person in comms.”

Technology isn’t my specialist subject. My strength is making complex technology understandable, useful and human.

And perhaps that makes me a generalist specialist — something I increasingly believe is valuable in the AI era.

The journey to MCT

I started the MCT journey this time last year, when I completed Microsoft’s two-day instructor-led training in Tokyo.

It was an extraordinary experience. I also had the opportunity to introduce my Sensai (Sensei Master Teacher) approach to a Japanese audience for the first time combining responsible AI, common sense and empathy when coaching people to work with AI.

I also presented my Copilot ADKAR adoption framework, which has since evolved to include Agent Design Thinking.

But completing instructor training was only half the journey.

The next step was the technical exam.

That was the part I never imagined I would attempt — let alone pass.

Learning outside my comfort zone

Azure and Microsoft Foundry were weak areas for me, so I went back to basics and revised hard.

One of the tools I used was Copilot Chat itself. I created multiple-choice questions based on Microsoft Learn and, from my phone, tested myself repeatedly for a month. It was a very practical example of using AI as a learning partner.

And it worked!

I passed AB-731 exam: AI Transformation Leader.

Why this matters to me

For me, the MCT badge isn’t really about adding another credential to my profile. It represents something bigger. My work sits at the intersection of technology, people, communication, adoption and change.

This becomes increasingly important as organisations move from experimenting with Copilot to deploying AI agents and transforming how people work. I don’t believe we need everyone to become a deep technical specialist.

We need people who can connect the technical possibilities with human behaviour, business outcomes and responsible adoption.

That is where I intend to keep going.