One decade as a Sitecore MVP

What it really means to be part of this amazing community

This year I received my 10th consecutive Sitecore MVP award. I'm still filled with gratitude for the this recognition and the incredible journey it has been. Joining the ranks of a fantastic group of professionals who have achieved this milestone feels surreal, but it also triggered me to share my thoughts on what the "Sitecore Community" and it's MVPs truly represent and why it matters so much to the Sitecore ecosystem.

The Sitecore MVP Program

The Sitecore Most Valuable Professional (MVP) program started in 2008. Two community giants, Klaus Petersen and Mark Cassidy, from that year are still MVP now.  In 2026, just over 200 professionals were honored across three categories: as usual most in Technology and a bit less in Strategy and Ambassador.

A Sitecore MVP is an individual with expertise in Sitecore who actively participate in online and offline communities to share their knowledge and expertise with other Sitecore partners and customers.

But here's what many people don't understand: being an MVP isn't about being the best developer or the most skilled employee at your company. Although most MVPs are strong developers or architects, it's not those skill that get you the recognition. MVPs are community builders and passionate advocates, who share their knowledge and made themselves valuable to the broader Sitecore community through consistent contributions during the past year. The award recognizes actively sharing expertise, helping other community members solve problems, and by doing this contributing to the collective knowledge  base and strengthening the Sitecore community ecosystem.

The true meaning behind the award

Let me be clear about something important: you don't become an MVP for money, career advancement, or personal gain. Although some employers (and maybe even customers) like to see this on your resume and might reward you for the efforts. But if you are considering it, always remember that without a genuine desire to give back to the community it is not going to work. This is the way the community stays alive and that is where the recognition comes from. MVPs are evaluated based on the quality, quantity, and impact of their contributions, not their job title or technical skills.

The vibrant Sitecore community ecosystem

There are numerous blogs and videos related to Sitecore out there. But the community is richer than just blogs - next to some more official site at https://community.sitecore.com it has some (well known) online channels on Sitecore Slack for real-time discussions and problem-solving and Sitecore Stack Exhange as a dedicated Q&A hub with a vast number op people to help you solve your issues. Both are created and maintained by volunteers from the community and have helped lots of people with their Sitecore questions.

What makes the Sitecore community special is the rich ecosystem of resources and events that bring us together. Next to the online channels people are also organizing user groups. Although I do get the feeling the number of groups and sessions is declining (e.g. my local one stopped) there are still quite a few that do meet - in person or sometimes virtual, making them available to more people globally. Time zones are sometimes painful, but it can be fun to join them and meet new people. Due to several reasons it's been a while, but I know I enjoyed speaking at the user groups in Perth, Pakistan and Hungary. 

A very special "user group" is SUGCON. You can't call this a user group anymore, it's a full blown annual conference - but still organized by community members (with a little help from Sitecore, obviously). We just had this year's events in London (Europe) and Delhi (India). If you ever get the opportunity to join the conference, do not hesitate. Join, feel the vibe, learn, talk to people, make connections and experience the Sitecore community. They will welcome you with open arms and you'll end up with new or renewed connections all over the world.  

It's impossible to mention every initiative and I am sure there are plenty that I even don't know about. I do wan to mention the #SitecoreLunch gatherings. The timing of the informal gathering is difficult for me, but it does seem to be a cheerful and fun bunch of people so I can only encourage you to try it out. One more that cannot be forgotten is the annual Sitecore Hackathon.  Every year a number of teams from all around the world try to create something amazing in 24h. And every year some of those teams really succeed in delivering true added value - free to the community. On https://sitecorehackathon.org/ you can check the entries, view photos...  or subscribe for the next edition (subscription is usually in January).

How to become a Sitecore MVP

The path to MVP recognition is straightforward but requires dedication. The program is open to anyone working with the Sitecore platform who has a passion for sharing knowledge. This question was asked and answered on Sitecore StackExchange so I will not repeat everything mentioned there.

Practically, know that applications used to open in November, with reviews happening in December and announcements in late January. They changed the "open" window though so now you can create you application anytime and add data all year long up until the deadline. If you decide to apply, please do take it seriously. Yes, the community will welcome everyone and does like new MVPs - but we also need to review all the applications. So if your application is anything like "I want to be MVP so next year I will... " or "I worked hard on all my Sitecore projects but have actually not shared anything with the community" then I would advice you to stop already and try again and better next year.

What matters is consistent and meaningful contributions to the community. Not your projects. Not your ambitions. But if you are really willing to do this, we will be very happy to have you on board. And do not give up - it took me a few years as well to get my first MVP title and look at me now...  The path to becoming an MVP starts with a single contribution.

The benefits of being an MVP

While the intrinsic reward of helping others is the primary motivation, the MVP program does offer some tangible benefits.

As mentioned before, you will not see it directly on your bank account. Although you do get discounts on certain events like Sugcon, an invitation to the Sitecore MVP Summit (usually in the US though - which might make it difficult for people nowadays) and if you do attend in-person events you will probably notice some people wearing an MVP t-shirt and/or sweater. 

There is the global recognition and the inclusion in the public MVP directory, and it does feel nice to be amongst that group of inspiring professionals. 

But in my opinion, the biggest advantage is the exclusive access to early product information and releases and especially the direct communication with Sitecore teams. Becoming an MVP opened many doors for me. I remember jumping on the SXA train and having very frequent calls with Adam Najmanowicz and his team. Many more very interesting and meaningful encounters with various people within Sitecore followed. By attending MVP webinars you connect with the right people. And if you do have questions, remarks, feedback or suggestions you do know who to talk to. And even though they might listen anyhow, that MVP tag on your name does make the Sitecorians listen even better. 

One decade  

An now I can look back at my 10-year journey as an MVP. It has brought to many people and places. I am still honored, not only to be MVP but also to be speaker on lots of Sitecore events like Sugcon and the Sitecore Symposium. I have seen Sitecore evolve from a solid Danish CMS (I started on v5 by the way) to a full blown worldly DXP to a headless CMS with a bunch of additional services. The products have changed, the organization behind it as well. The community also changed - I've seen it grow and shrink back a bit. But it still feel very good when I see many familiar faces again at a Sitecore event.  The relationships I've built, the knowledge I've gained, and the satisfaction of helping others have been immeasurable.

Joining the group of professionals who have achieved 10 (consecutive) MVP awards feels like joining an exclusive club of individuals who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to our community's success.

All those years in the community have brought me a lot - professionally of course, but I was also able to meet people from all around the world. Close to home in Europe, in both North and South America but also in Africa, Asia and even Australia. Connecting with people from all those different background and cultures makes you grow as a person - and is fun too. Attending the Sitecore events also brought me to several wonderful places. And even though it actually is working - especially when you're speaker - it also is a tremendous experience. I still remember (ok, vaguely) the party in Vegas, strolling through New Orleans, Harry Potter in Orlando but even eating kebab at 3AM at the beach in Malaga or guiding fellow community members through my (almost-home) town Ghent. And the week after the event, we are back solving each other problems again...

Changing of the guard

As we look toward the future, it's important to acknowledge the leader/mentor that has guided our community. Tamas Varga, who has served as Director of Community Programs at Sitecore and led the MVP program since joining the company in 2016, will be stepping away from the program later in 2026 to finally fulfill his sailing dream. Tamas himself was an MVP, and his leadership has been instrumental in shaping the program we know today. During Sugcon Europe 2026 he was awarded the Honorary Sitecore MVP title. Well deserved!

Sebastian Winter is expected to take over this important role, ensuring continuity in the program's excellence and community focus. Knowing Sebastian I am quite confident he will do an excellent job as he, as a former MVP as well, understands the value and true power of our community. 

The real value of community

At its core, the Sitecore MVP program represents something beautiful: a group of professionals who believe that sharing knowledge makes everyone stronger. We're not competing against each other; we're collaborating to push the entire ecosystem forward. But remember it's not all about the MVPs. It's about all of you, all community members - and all Sitecorians that engage with us.

This community is here for you, whether you're just starting your Sitecore journey or you're a seasoned professional. Engage online. Attend meetings and events. Share your experiences, thoughts, remarks or anything that you feel might be useful to others. And don't be afraid to ask questions. 

The Sitecore community has given me more than I could have ever imagined when I started this journey more than 10 years ago. So I'm not stopping here. And I hope you are not either. 

The community is waiting to welcome you.