Cloud Certification Spotlight #8

In partnership with

👋 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, Emma is here to talk about her experience with cloud computing. She is the first person in our series who is trying to start a career in technology. Let's listen to Emma as she explains how she is going about getting her Azure certification.

If someone forwarded this email to you, please consider clicking the button below to join 100K+ other cloud professionals on their cloud certification journey!

Also check out our Learn Azure and Learn AWS apps to help pass those exams on the first try.

Personal Background 

Geographical Location: I live in a mid-sized city in the U.S. that has just the right balance of peaceful neighborhoods and a growing tech presence. One of my favorite routines is taking my dog for walks in the local parks—it gives me space to think and decompress after work.

Educational Background: I graduated from college a few years ago with a degree in marketing. While I didn’t originally see myself working in tech, I’ve always been curious about how systems and tools work behind the scenes. That curiosity has recently shifted into a deeper interest in cloud computing—especially Azure.

Family Life: My family lives a few hours away, and I visit them regularly. We’re very close, and our monthly get-togethers are something I really look forward to. I’m also lucky to have a great group of friends nearby, and they’ve been incredibly supportive as I start to explore new directions in my career.

Professional Journey 

Current Role: Right now, I’m in a marketing position at a company that partners closely with Microsoft. While I’ve learned a lot in this role, it’s become clear to me over time that marketing isn’t where I see myself long-term. I’ve been craving work that feels more technical, challenging, and aligned with how fast the world is changing.

Career Path: The turning point came when I started paying closer attention to how our internal teams work with Microsoft Azure. I found myself drawn to the problem-solving and innovation happening in those projects—and it sparked something in me. I began asking questions, reading more, and eventually discovered the AZ-900 exam as a possible entry point into cloud.

Professional Level: I’m still early in my professional journey, but I’m serious about making a transition. While I don’t have direct experience in tech (yet!), I’m taking the initiative to build that foundation, one certification and one learning session at a time.

Outside Interests 

Hobbies and Passions: Outside of work, walking my dog is one of my favorite ways to relax and reset. I also love catching up with friends over food, listening to career development podcasts, and reading personal growth books. I’m currently obsessed with stories of people who’ve reinvented themselves—because that’s exactly what I’m working on, too.

Community Involvement: While I’m new to the tech world, I’ve started following online communities that support newcomers to cloud computing. Hearing from others who’ve made similar transitions helps me stay motivated and reminds me I’m not alone in this journey.

Unlock the Ultimate ChatGPT Toolkit

Struggling to leverage AI for real productivity gains? Mindstream has created a comprehensive ChatGPT bundle specifically for busy professionals.

Inside you'll find 5 battle-tested resources: decision frameworks, advanced prompt templates, and our exclusive 2025 AI implementation guide. These are the exact tools our 180,000+ subscribers use to automate tasks and streamline workflows.

Subscribe to our free daily AI newsletter and get immediate access to this high-value bundle.

Click here to claim your free bundle

Learning and Development 

Learning Techniques: I’m a visual learner, so I tend to use videos and interactive courses to get started with new concepts. I’ve been using Microsoft Learn for structured guidance and supplementing it with YouTube tutorials. I also like to write things out by hand—notes, diagrams, or summaries—as a way to really process what I’m learning.

Passion Projects: While I don’t have a personal tech project yet, I’ve been thinking about building a basic website or small app hosted on Azure as a hands-on way to practice what I’m learning. The idea of creating something, even if it’s small, feels incredibly rewarding.

Cloud Certification Pursuits 

Motivation for Certification: AZ-900 felt like the right place to start because it doesn’t require a tech background, and it’s directly aligned with the work I’ve seen happening at my company. It’s also a way for me to explore whether this is a path I want to fully commit to—and so far, the answer is yes.

Specific Certifications: AZ-900 is the first certification I’m pursuing. If all goes well, I’d love to continue with more—possibly the Azure Administrator (AZ-104) or even something in AI fundamentals later on. For now, I’m focused on mastering the basics.

Study Resources: I’ve been using a mix of Microsoft Learn, LearnAzure.app for practice tests, and YouTube videos. I also like checking Reddit threads and Discord communities for real talk from people who’ve passed the exam—hearing how others study really helps.

Start learning AI in 2025

Keeping up with AI is hard – we get it!

That’s why over 1M professionals read Superhuman AI to stay ahead.

• Get daily AI news, tools, and tutorials

• Learn new AI skills you can use at work in 3 mins a day

• Become 10X more productive

Sign up and start mastering AI

Experiences and Insights 

Certification Journey: Even though I haven’t taken the exam yet, just preparing for AZ-900 has changed how I think. I’m starting to understand concepts like scalability, cloud regions, and security frameworks. These ideas felt intimidating at first, but breaking them down step-by-step has made them accessible.

Helpful Strategies: I try not to rush. I study 20–30 minutes each evening and focus on one topic at a time. If something doesn’t click, I revisit it the next day. Consistency has been more effective than long cram sessions for me.

Other Advice: Don’t psych yourself out by thinking you’re “not technical enough.” I used to believe that, too. But if you stay curious, keep showing up, and give yourself permission to learn at your own pace, you’ll be amazed at what you can absorb.

Future Aspirations 

Post-Certification Plans: Once I pass AZ-900, I want to see if there’s a way to move into a more technical role—whether it’s at my current company or somewhere new. I’d love to explore roles like cloud support, platform adoption, or even tech-facing customer success positions.

Long-Term Goals: Long-term, I see myself in a role that blends communication and technology—maybe cloud consulting or pre-sales engineering. I want to be the kind of person who can help others understand and get excited about tech solutions.

Additional Thoughts 

Community Impact: The tech learning community has been more welcoming than I expected. I hope to pay that forward one day—maybe by mentoring others who are starting from scratch like I am now.

Feedback: More beginner-friendly content that connects cloud concepts to real-world scenarios would be so helpful. Sometimes I read something and think, “That’s interesting… but when would I actually use this?” More context makes the learning stick.

That was great, thanks Emma! Jumping into something new like Azure is daunting but so worth it. Good luck on passing the AZ-900 exam!

We’re looking for more inspiring certification journeys like Emma’s to feature in our spotlight series this Summer! 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!

➡️ We are offering a free Azure or AWS app subscription if you volunteer for our spotlight series!

Until next week, keep learning and building.

Sponsor Us:

Want to reach 100,000+ cloud and data enthusiasts? Sponsor our newsletter and gain valuable exposure for your brand! Send us an email to learn more.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!