I love how Microsoft reworked its certification efforts in 2018 to create the role-based certifications we know and love today. At that time I was giving more and more training targeted towards getting these certifications and was looking for ways to celebrate people achieving an Associate or Expert level.

In the past, Microsoft would send us lapel pins when we got Microsoft certified. I think these pins reminded us of our efforts to get certified and encouraged others to pursue certification themselves.

So I ordered a bunch of custom-made pins with the intent of handing them out at events and as an incentive to the trainees who passed the exam(s) after the certification training. Then COVID-19 happened and everything went virtual, so the pins ended up in a box on a shelf in my office.

Every now and again I thought I should do something with these beautiful pins and recently I finally got to posting something on LinkedIn and the rest is history.

I have now sent out hundreds of pins, to over 35 countries worldwide. For every request I check if the person is actually certified or are in the advanced stages of actively completing the required certification.


I really love hearing the stories behind the list of certifications and the people behind it, how hard they tried and succeeded, what certification they are currently pursuing, why LinkedIn crashes due to the sheer amount of certifications of some people, and so on.
I got so many positive reactions and messages and in the end it is all about spreading some certification joy, inspiring people and them inspiring others to #neverstoplearning.