Cloud Certification Spotlight #14

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👋 Hello to our Cloud Learners! It’s always a joy to connect with this incredible community of cloud enthusiasts and professionals. We hope this week’s newsletter brings you fresh inspiration and practical insights for your certification journey.

Today, we’re spotlighting Ryan T., an early-career professional from a large Midwest city in the U.S. who’s starting to think more intentionally about his future in tech. Without giving too much away, let’s hear from Ryan as he shares what pushed him toward cloud computing and why Azure feels like the right place to start.

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Personal Background 

Geographical Location: Living in a large Midwest city has always felt like the best of both worlds for me. Big-city energy, a passionate sports culture, and no shortage of things to do, from live games and concerts to weekend meetups with friends. What’s changed recently is realizing just how many opportunities are actually around me. In a city this size, doors are everywhere, especially in tech, but you have to be willing to buckle down, focus, and go looking for them.

Educational Background: I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, which gave me a solid foundation in how technology supports real business operations. Courses in databases, networking, and systems analysis helped me understand the “why” behind the technology, even if we didn’t go deep into cloud platforms at the time. Looking back, that degree made it easier to understand cloud concepts today because I already had context around infrastructure, data, and how companies actually use technology.

Family Life: Family has always played a big role in how I think about my future. I’m close with my parents and siblings, and career conversations come up more often than you’d expect (can you say AI), especially around stability, growth, and long-term opportunities. Seeing family members work hard in roles that didn’t always offer flexibility has motivated me to think differently about my own path. Those conversations have been a big reason I’ve started looking at careers, like cloud computing, that offer more upside and adaptability over time.

Professional Journey 

Current Role: I currently work in a technical role that touches systems and data, but it doesn’t go much deeper than the basics. It’s been a good starting point and has helped me understand how technology supports the business, but I’ve started to feel like I’m capable of more and ready for a bigger challenge.

Career Path: There wasn’t one single moment that pushed me toward cloud computing. Instead, it was a series of small signals. Job postings I kept seeing. Conversations with people working in tech. Articles about how companies are modernizing their infrastructure. Over time, it became clear that cloud skills weren’t just a “nice to have,” they were becoming foundational.

Professional Level: Being early in my career has its advantages. I’m still flexible, open to learning, and willing to put in the time to build new skills. Rather than feeling locked into one path, I see this stage as an opportunity to explore areas like cloud computing that can open doors for years to come.

Outside Interests 

Hobbies and Passions: I’m a big sports fan, and I love attending live games and events whenever I can. There’s something about the energy of being there in person that you don’t get anywhere else. Spending time with friends, staying active, and enjoying the city are all important parts of my life outside of work.

Interestingly, that sports mindset has started to influence how I think about my career. You don’t get better by sitting on the sidelines. You have to show up, put in the work, and be willing to improve season after season.

Community Involvement: While I’m still early in my cloud journey, I’ve started making an effort to connect with the broader tech community. That includes attending local tech meetups when possible, following cloud professionals online, and reading discussions in forums focused on Azure and cloud careers.

Being in a large city makes this easier, but what’s been most helpful is seeing others openly share their experiences. Hearing how people started, struggled, and eventually broke into cloud roles has made the process feel realistic and achievable.

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Learning and Development 

Learning Techniques: My learning approach is practical and manageable alongside a full-time job. I focus on short, consistent study sessions rather than cramming. Hands-on labs have been especially valuable, since they help connect concepts to real-world scenarios instead of just memorization.

Structured learning paths have made a big difference for me. Having a clear roadmap helps reduce the overwhelm that can come with starting something new like cloud computing.

Passion Projects: Right now, my main focus is building a strong foundation rather than launching big side projects. That said, I’ve started experimenting with small exercises and labs that reinforce what I’m learning. Even simple projects have helped boost my confidence and understanding.

Cloud Certification Pursuits 

Motivation for Certification: They’re about building confidence and credibility. I want to understand cloud concepts well enough to speak the language and feel comfortable applying for roles that might have felt out of reach before.

Certifications also give my learning structure and accountability, which is important when you’re balancing career exploration with a full-time job.

Specific Certifications: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is my starting point. It feels like the right introduction to cloud concepts, pricing, security, and core services without being overwhelming. As I look toward 2026, I see this as the first step in a longer certification path tied to real roles.

Study Resources: Having access to realistic practice questions and clear explanations has been critical. Platforms like LearnCloudAcademy.com have helped me connect theory to how concepts actually appear on exams and in real-world scenarios. That kind of practical reinforcement has made studying far more effective.

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Experiences and Insights 

Certification Journey: Even early in the process, my mindset has started to shift. I’m learning not just how cloud services work, but why organizations use them. That perspective has changed how I think about technology in general and has made me more engaged in my current role.

Helpful Strategies: Consistency has been key. Studying a little at a time, using practice exams to identify weak areas, and focusing on understanding rather than memorizing have all helped me stay on track.

Other Advice: If you’re early in your career and unsure about your next move, you don’t need to have everything figured out. Start small. Build momentum. Certifications can be a low-risk way to explore a new direction without making drastic changes overnight.

Future Aspirations 

Post-Certification Plans: After completing Azure Fundamentals, my goal is to continue building skills that align with real cloud roles. I want to be intentional about choosing certifications and learning paths that support long-term growth rather than chasing trends.

Long-Term Goals: Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, I want to position myself for roles that offer flexibility, growth, and meaningful work. Cloud feels like a space where those opportunities exist, and starting now gives me time to build the right foundation.

Additional Thoughts 

Community Impact: One of the biggest takeaways so far has been realizing how supportive the cloud community can be. Seeing people share their journeys openly has made a big difference in my confidence to start my own.

Feedback: For anyone getting started, practical, scenario-based learning makes all the difference. Resources that show how concepts apply in real situations are far more valuable than theory alone.

That was great, thanks Ryan!

If Ryan’s story resonated with you and you’ve been thinking about starting (or restarting) your own cloud journey, this might be a good moment to take that first step.

To help you get started, we’re extending our 25% off holiday promotion a little longer as we head into the new year. With LearnCloudAcademy.com, you get full access to all certification exams across cloud platforms, plus every future exam we release, all in one place.

If you’re ready to build momentum heading into 2026, you can use code WELCOME25 at checkout to save 25% on any plan (even Lifetime).

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t knowing what to learn — it’s deciding to start.

We’re looking for more inspiring journeys like Ryan’s to feature in our spotlight series in 2026! If you’d like to share your story and inspire our community, simply reply to this email. We’ll provide you with a simple template to guide you through the process. Your experiences make a huge difference, and the feedback from our readers has been incredibly positive!

Until next week, keep learning and building.

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