May 21, 2025 • 25 mins
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FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/690
What does it take to rise from limited access to tech resources to becoming a globally recognized Microsoft MVP? In this episode, Pascal Burume shares his remarkable journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the global tech stage. With grit, community leadership, and a passion for Microsoft technologies, Pascal reveals how he overcame language barriers, built impactful solutions with Power Platform, and inspired a new generation of tech professionals. If you're looking for a roadmap to grow your skills and make a difference—no matter where you start—this episode is for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Persistence Pays Off: Pascal failed multiple times before becoming a Microsoft Student Ambassador—but each setback sharpened his strategy and resilience.
Power Platform in Action: He used Power Apps and Power BI to build real-world solutions that improved decision-making at the UNDP.
Community as a Catalyst: Building and leading tech communities helped Pascal grow his skills, visibility, and impact.
Learning Without Limits: Despite infrastructure challenges, Pascal leveraged blogs, Microsoft Learn, and open-source tools to stay ahead.
From Local to Global: His story proves that with the right mindset and tools, you can build a global tech career from anywhere.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
👉 Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors: https://studentambassadors.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com
👉 Power Platform: https://powerplatform.microsoft.com
OTHER RESOURCES
👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7
This year we're adding a new show to our line up - The AI Advantage. We'll discuss the skills you need to thrive in an AI-enabled world.
Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge
We’ve helped 1,300+ people across 70+ countries establish successful careers in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ecosystem.
Benefit from expert guidance, a supportive community, and a clear career roadmap. A lot can change in 90 days, get started today!
If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.
Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mark Smith (00:06):
Welcome to the MVP show.
My intention is that you listento the stories of these MVP
guests and are inspired tobecome an MVP and bring value to
the world through your skills.
If you have not checked it outalready, I do a YouTube series
called how to Become an MVP.
The link is in the show notes.
With that, let's get on withthe show.
(00:31):
Today's guest is from theDemocratic Republic of Congo.
He works as an urban of roadsand drainage.
As an IT and map designer, hewas first awarded as MVP in 2024
.
Roads and drainage.
As an IT and map designer, hewas first awarded as MVP in 2024
.
He is interested in dataanalysis, cloud computing and
administration.
He's passionate aboutleveraging IT tools to turn
(00:53):
ideas into innovative solutionsthat reshape the workplace.
You can find links to his bioand socials in the show notes
for this episode.
Welcome to the show, Pascal.
Pascal Burume (01:02):
Hi, thank you, Mark, thank you, ed.
It's honor here to be amongyour guest speaker.
You know, becoming an MVP, itwas, you know, something like I
couldn't imagine.
So I work hard and you know,I've started my journey as a
Microsoft student ambassador fortwo years and Once I was
(01:25):
student ambassador they helpedme to create communities where I
can share my knowledge andwhere I can talk to a different
student for internationalcountries.
During my journey as a studentambassador, I've been connected
with different people.
(01:45):
So each people give me, youknow, this passion to continue
learning and to continue toshare my knowledge.
And in December 2023, so Idecided to get my opportunity to
become a Microsoft MVP.
Opportunity to become aMicrosoft MVP.
And I couldn't imagine that inJanuary 2024, I get my
(02:08):
notifications that, hey,congratulations, now you are
Microsoft's MVP.
And as an MVP, you know, mark,it's like it's not like only a
reward, but it's like atestimony for your hard work,
for your, for your faith, foryour skills that you put in to
(02:29):
help social, to help people, tohelp organization, to achieve
more.
And you know, in my countryit's really challenging.
You know it's reallychallenging because so,
basically, the Democratic Partyof Congo is the French countries
.
So, you know, trying to mergeFrench and English, it's really
(02:52):
challenging.
So, you know, I push out myboundaries and I say, you know,
if someone can, I can succeed.
I can also succeed.
So, and you know, in September2024, I got my concert contract,
the UNDP, and once I was there,you know I've been facing
(03:19):
challenging.
You know, because when you'rean MVP, people thought that you
know, because when you're an MVP, people thought that you know
everything.
You know everything.
And sometimes, you know, I getstuck and I say, wow, so what
can I do here?
What can I do here?
Who can I ask a question?
But they say but you're an MVP,you're an MVP, you're supposed
(03:41):
to know the solutions.
And you know, because it's likemy idea, like when I have a
problem, you know, I say no, no,no, I can't give up.
I have to work very hard.
Like it was not the first time,you know I faced this problem.
Like I have to do when I face aproblem, I need to take a step
(04:02):
back, I have to figure out, takea moment for rest and figure
out what was the problem, howcan I solve it.
And you know this kind of ideait's helped me to solve
solutions.
And today I've finished mycontract and my employee was
really satisfied with my workbecause I've been, you know,
(04:25):
driving with power apps.
You know building solutions andworking with Power BI for
improved decision making.
And they conduct some trainingwith different suppliers and I
receive a very good feedback.
And you know, as MVP, you knowit gave me this opportunity to
(04:45):
be recognized and considered toUNDP.
It was really quite challenging, you know, because it's an
international organization, it'slike a United Nations program.
You know there is a lot ofpeople from around the world who
work there and each one has hisown mentality.
And you know, as MVP, you needto take all these things
(05:11):
together and to see how you canbalance and propose people
solutions.
Mark Smith (05:17):
How did you first get involved in the Student
Ambassador Program, because thatseems to be like the start of
your Microsoft journey.
Is that right?
Pascal Burume (05:24):
Yeah, yeah, you know, when I was 16, I was being
passionate about Microsofttechnologies, like the first
time when I see a computer withWindows, with Microsoft.
(05:44):
It was something you know,something that pushed me to know
more, to be skilled more aboutMicrosoft.
And I was asking myself, I waswondering, how can I be involved
in this program in thiscommunity?
Because in my country we don'thave enterprise, we don't have
an organization, especiallywhich is partnering with
(06:05):
Microsoft.
So, and one day in university Isaw on a WhatsApp group chat
someone post how to becomeMicrosoft Learn Student
Ambassadors.
Then I say, wow, it's quiteimpressive, let me try my luck.
So, and the first time I submitmy candidature, I fail.
(06:29):
The second time I fail and thethird time I say no, no, no, no,
no.
I I won't give up.
I want to know what's going on,why I every time I'm rejected
is it why I'm in congo,democratic public of congo?
Or maybe I don't respond verywell to the question then I take
(06:49):
a step back.
I figure I take the keyquestions.
I look on YouTube how can Ispeak?
How can I propose my ideas?
And all of this kind ofinformation helped me to prepare
well, my first candidature andthe first time I test
automatically, I think.
After three months I got mynotifications that I've been
(07:13):
recognized as student ambassador.
It was impressive.
It was like it is me or it'snot me, because how am I student
ambassador?
Then I say, okay, I've beenaccepted in the program, but
this is just a beginning.
(07:34):
I have to continue the road.
So after becoming a studentambassador, you know, once you
have been admitted to theprogram, there is four
milestones that you need toachieve.
The first time yeah, the firsttime you are like a new.
It's like.
The first milestone is like youare new.
(07:54):
This is the first milestone andyou need, for example, to
complete some challenging likereading, some Microsoft Learn
Path.
So once you are finished toread some path, it depends it
can be on Power Platforms, itcan be on C-Shop, it can be on
Pythons, but it needs to be onMicrosoft Learn Path.
So once you finish this path,after that you're going to
(08:21):
achieve this path.
That's becoming an alphamilestone.
As an alpha milestone, there isalso some prerequisites that
you need to achieve and it'samong like conduct, some
workshop conduct, some session,build something, participate in
community involving.
And after this, this milestone,you become now a beta milestone
(08:43):
.
So beta milestone, it's likeit's quite challenging because
to move to beta to goals, itreally, you know, it's like you
must demonstrate how you haveyour leadership, your community
involvement and how you areparticipating in the program.
So do you participate inmentorship program?
(09:08):
So I've made my best to become aGold Student Ambassador because
these all requirements I'veachieved, I've succeeded.
And once I've done it, Ireceived it was in July 20, I
think it was 2022, if I rememberI received my notifications
that I've been recognized as aGold Student Ambassador.
(09:30):
Then I say, wow, it's reallyquite impressive.
You know, and in my country weare free gold student
ambassadors.
It was like, you know, amovement that we came out and
this movement it's been likepushing, like we decide to
pushing out boundaries.
(09:50):
We need to demonstrate peoplelike, even if you are in French
countries where there is manychallenging, like democratic
fabric of congo, you can do bestyou can.
You can show people like, withmy skills, with technologies, it
can help.
It can help for you to opensome um, some frontiers where
you can share your knowledgewhen you, where you can connect
(10:13):
with different experts.
And becoming a gold, you know,it also helped me to open my
mind.
You know to say that anythingis impossible if you put your
skills, your devotion, yourmotivation in work to show
people.
That's who you really are, eventhough you are in GRC.
Who you really are even thoughyou are in GRC.
(10:34):
And in December 2023, I becamean MVP in Windows Insider
program.
That was my first time tobecome an MVP, so you know it
was like a partnership withMicrosoft as a student
ambassador, you know it helpedyou to know how Microsoft MVP
(11:00):
program works and you know I'vebeen.
You know, as you are, inWindows Insider program.
Sometimes we need to write someactivities, you know, like
testing some new features,proposing which features we
would like to see in the newupdates.
It was really impressive andbecause the Windows Insider
(11:23):
program was approaching to theend, then I decided to move
forward, to move up to businessapplications.
Then I said how can I do that?
Let me see.
Right now I'm a Go StudentAmbassador, I've been
experienced as an MVP IndividualInsider and I'm a content
writer.
I say, let me continue to pushout my boundaries.
(11:48):
So sometimes I purchase somebooks about what is new,
articles, what is new, findingwhat is new in technologies, and
I have a particular interestabout Microsoft technologies and
when I see a book, I purchaseit and I start reading.
I try to figure out some topicsand say, okay, okay, okay, it's
(12:10):
okay for me, let me write somearticles, some blogs, to help
people to know with thesetechnologies you can build this
kind of solution to help people.
And it was like for me a anopen space, because it's a word
I can explain myself.
It's where I can explain myknowledge.
You know, I can explain peoplehow you can build solutions
(12:33):
based on technologies, becausein my country it's really hard,
you know, organizing a sessionon YouTube because it's not
everyone who has access to theinternet, you know, because
there's a problem.
So, yeah, a good way for me toattempt many people is writing
blogs and in writing blogs, ithelped me, you know many people
(12:57):
to have access to my knowledge,to have access to some resources
, to have access to some ideashow Microsoft works, how, for
example, power Apps work, howyou can combine Power Apps with
Azure OpenAI services, how youcan combine Power BI with Fabric
(13:17):
and inside, adding PowerAutomate.
It's quite impressive becauseyou don't have limits.
I say you don't have limitsbecause you have a faith, you
have a devotion, you have thismotivation to prove people.
If you have a devotion, youhave this motivation to prove
people and you are also an MVPand all these kind of
(13:39):
responsibilities.
It gives you this strength.
You know this strength to sayno, let me go far.
Let me go far.
Today I do these things.
Tomorrow I'm going to dosomething big.
And all these achievements,mark, it helps you to approach
something that is new andsomething that is bigger.
Mark Smith (13:59):
Yeah, this is so inspiring your story.
Tell me how many other MVPs arein the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Pascal Burume (14:10):
Yeah, right now we are three.
Mark Smith (14:14):
Three across all categories.
Pascal Burume (14:17):
Yeah, we are three.
Wow, yeah.
Mark Smith (14:21):
That's amazing because I read I think there's
150 million people in yourcountry.
Does that sound right?
Pascal Burume (14:28):
Yeah.
Mark Smith (14:30):
It's a big country and there's only three MVPs.
Pascal Burume (14:33):
Yeah, that's what I was talking to you about.
Yeah, it's really amazing.
You know, it was like a periodwe said we need to go very far,
we need to help other people,other youth in my country, that
it doesn't require to be, forexample, in USA, in Australia,
(14:58):
in New Zealand, to become an MVP.
You can become an MVP eventhough you are in DRC to become
an MVP.
You can become an MVP eventhough you are in DRC.
You just know how to follow theskills, how to show people what
you are capable of doing things.
And you know, yeah, becomingMicrosoft Student Ambassadors is
(15:18):
like a nap on the door for me,because it helped me to know
some technologies and as Ilearned something I tried to
translate to other people.
I tried to motivate otherstudents and other professionals
who are really passionate aboutMicrosoft, because sometimes
people think it's something likea mystery.
(15:40):
They say how can I become anMVPp?
It sounds like a.
It's not.
It's not possible for mebecause, you know, I have a lot
of constraint.
I have a lot of constraint,yeah, but I I show them.
No, it's not about limit, it'sabout devotion, it's about
(16:01):
motivation, because if you havea dream about becoming something
big tomorrow.
You need to prepare it, youneed to work for it and if you
need my advice, I can share withyou my path.
I can share with you my path.
If you think it's really hardfor you, let it become low level
.
(16:21):
Try to know which technologiesare you feeling like you are
good with it and, based on thesetechnologies, I can help you
how you can dive in in Microsoftenvironment, because Microsoft
is very big.
There is a lot of things thatyou can find there.
There is different platformsand if you say I like
(16:46):
programming in C Sharp, I sayokay, it's okay, I can show you
you can use maybe Visual Studio.
There is Copilot Studio.
There is different tools thatcan help you to improve your
programming language and as soonas you are starting, it will be
.
It will help you to dive inMicrosoft ecosystem.
And behind on that, you canhave access to some credits like
(17:10):
, for example, you can haveaccess to Azure.
You can have access to Azure AIFoundry.
You can also have access toMicrosoft Power Platform If you
are feeling like you want to trysomething new about low-code,
no-code, and today you see Markwith Power Platforms.
It's like a new technology thatsome enterprises here are
(17:32):
trying to embrace and you needto have some skills about Power
Platforms.
And sometimes I can see somepeople, some students, say how
can I be diving in proper form?
I say it's quite simple.
Let me show you somemicrosoft's learning path.
You know there is a somehackathons.
I know maybe it can be hard foryou to to watch via watch watch
(17:56):
course or maybe watch a lessonin english, but just try, just
try to push out your boundaries.
There is also a way for you tolearn in French and slowly you
can change French to English.
It's not directly but it takestime.
Mark Smith (18:13):
Yeah, Do you.
Where do you blog?
Where do you post your blogs?
Pascal Burume (18:21):
I post my blog in Microsoft Educator.
Mark Smith (18:26):
Do you have the URL to that?
I don't have the URL and I'dlike to put it in the show notes
for the episode so people cansee how they can get in touch
with you, because I think yourstory is absolutely amazing and
I think that in your countrythere's a massive opportunity
right for people to get skillsthat are useful everywhere
(18:48):
around the world.
You know, one thing I've seen inmy career is that people that
might not have any background onthe power platform and they get
it.
They learn how to build a powerapp and they use power automate
and they start using thesetools and it doesn't take long
for those tools to increase oneach other and then all of a
(19:10):
sudden, they've got a tool setthat people want to buy.
Right, they have skills thatpeople want to buy and you can
work all over the world and Ithink with a country your size,
there's potentially a lot ofpeople could develop the skills.
Learn from you, learn thepathways that you took, learn
how to get access to Azure andthe various tools that Microsoft
provide, get on Microsoft Learn, learn the training material
(19:35):
and yeah, but I assume thatthings, like you know, is it
easy to get computers andinternet connection and all that
type of thing for students.
How do they go about that sothey can have something that
they can actually use to work on?
Pascal Burume (19:53):
So before I think before, like for example, if we
can take, we can come back tofive years ago.
You know some resources wasquite expensive for students to
get it.
But you know, to this day, withevolution I can say, with new
(20:13):
customers, with new partners andhow technology has been
evolving, some resources are notvery let me say, very difficult
to have it, because before youcan buy, for example, a computer
, for example, for 1,000, buttoday you can have it for 200,
100.
So I think it depends on which.
(20:36):
It depends on with a student,with his motivations and how,
which kind of vision he wants tobecome tomorrow, which kind of
vision he wants to becometomorrow, which kind of person
he wants to become tomorrow,what is about his dream.
And because when you want toteach some students here, you
(20:57):
need to target, because it's noteveryone who is really, I think
it's really easy to deal withit, because some of them are
really, I think who is reallyeasy to deal with it?
Because some of them aretrained, for example, in English
.
If you say, okay, some kind oftechnologies require you to know
English, they say no, no, no,no, I don't feel comfortable
(21:17):
with English.
So you know this is the kind ofperson that you need to
eliminate for your targets andyou focus on people who are
passionate in English, forexample, and people who are
passionate in technologies,because I've seen many students,
really, who have been amazedwhat I've done.
You know, mark, I've been amazedand they say, wow, sometimes
(21:40):
they thought that I'm workingwith Microsoft.
Sometimes they thought that itlooked like you're working with
Microsoft.
I say no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
I'm not working with Microsoft,but I've been evolving with
Microsoft communities and I'vebeen connected to some Microsoft
employees, engineers.
It's like it's not mystery andI think, according to resource
(22:04):
finance, it depends on studentsand it depends on motivations.
But I'm doing my best to helpeach one, each one who is really
passionate about technologies,because sometimes I can help
students when I show them whatthey are capable of doing with
(22:25):
technologies.
It doesn't mean that if I'msitting here, I'm watching a
YouTube video, I say, wow, thisis really amazing, how can I do
this?
And I can tell him no, no.
I can tell him no, no, it's OK,you can do it, like, for
example look, there is, forexample, power Platform.
There is, for example, copilotStudio.
(22:46):
You can build your own agenteasily.
You don't even know like tryingto find a lot of lists and a
lot of calls on YouTube.
It's very, very easy.
Just find the right path.
Copilot Studio, and if you wanta trial version, I can give you
access to my tenant and it'slike a start, like a start for
(23:06):
him to become passionate abouttechnology.
Mark Smith (23:11):
Pascal, it's been incredible hearing your story
and your passion.
Thank you so much for coming onthe show.
I can't wait to meet you inperson one day.
I'm sure it's going to happenand I look forward to when that
does happen.
Thank you again for coming onthe show.
Pascal Burume (23:28):
Thank you, mark.
Thank you, it's a pleasure forme.
Mark Smith (23:36):
Hey, thanks for listening.
I'm your host businessapplication MVP Mark Smith,
otherwise known as the NZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
Thanks again and see you nexttime.
Thank you.
Welcome to the MVP show.
My intention is that you listento the stories of these MVP
guests and are inspired tobecome an MVP and bring value to
the world through your skills.
If you have not checked it outalready, I do a YouTube series
called how to Become an MVP.
The link is in the show notes.
With that, let's get on withthe show.
(00:31):
Today's guest is from theDemocratic Republic of Congo.
He works as an urban of roadsand drainage.
As an IT and map designer, hewas first awarded as MVP in 2024
.
Roads and drainage.
As an IT and map designer, hewas first awarded as MVP in 2024
.
He is interested in dataanalysis, cloud computing and
administration.
He's passionate aboutleveraging IT tools to turn
(00:53):
ideas into innovative solutionsthat reshape the workplace.
You can find links to his bioand socials in the show notes
for this episode.
Welcome to the show, Pascal.
Pascal Burume (01:02):
Hi, thank you, Mark, thank you, ed.
It's honor here to be amongyour guest speaker.
You know, becoming an MVP, itwas, you know, something like I
couldn't imagine.
So I work hard and you know,I've started my journey as a
Microsoft student ambassador fortwo years and Once I was
(01:25):
student ambassador they helpedme to create communities where I
can share my knowledge andwhere I can talk to a different
student for internationalcountries.
During my journey as a studentambassador, I've been connected
with different people.
(01:45):
So each people give me, youknow, this passion to continue
learning and to continue toshare my knowledge.
And in December 2023, so Idecided to get my opportunity to
become a Microsoft MVP.
Opportunity to become aMicrosoft MVP.
And I couldn't imagine that inJanuary 2024, I get my
(02:08):
notifications that, hey,congratulations, now you are
Microsoft's MVP.
And as an MVP, you know, mark,it's like it's not like only a
reward, but it's like atestimony for your hard work,
for your, for your faith, foryour skills that you put in to
(02:29):
help social, to help people, tohelp organization, to achieve
more.
And you know, in my countryit's really challenging.
You know it's reallychallenging because so,
basically, the Democratic Partyof Congo is the French countries
.
So, you know, trying to mergeFrench and English, it's really
(02:52):
challenging.
So, you know, I push out myboundaries and I say, you know,
if someone can, I can succeed.
I can also succeed.
So, and you know, in September2024, I got my concert contract,
the UNDP, and once I was there,you know I've been facing
(03:19):
challenging.
You know, because when you'rean MVP, people thought that you
know, because when you're an MVP, people thought that you know
everything.
You know everything.
And sometimes, you know, I getstuck and I say, wow, so what
can I do here?
What can I do here?
Who can I ask a question?
But they say but you're an MVP,you're an MVP, you're supposed
(03:41):
to know the solutions.
And you know, because it's likemy idea, like when I have a
problem, you know, I say no, no,no, I can't give up.
I have to work very hard.
Like it was not the first time,you know I faced this problem.
Like I have to do when I face aproblem, I need to take a step
(04:02):
back, I have to figure out, takea moment for rest and figure
out what was the problem, howcan I solve it.
And you know this kind of ideait's helped me to solve
solutions.
And today I've finished mycontract and my employee was
really satisfied with my workbecause I've been, you know,
(04:25):
driving with power apps.
You know building solutions andworking with Power BI for
improved decision making.
And they conduct some trainingwith different suppliers and I
receive a very good feedback.
And you know, as MVP, you knowit gave me this opportunity to
(04:45):
be recognized and considered toUNDP.
It was really quite challenging, you know, because it's an
international organization, it'slike a United Nations program.
You know there is a lot ofpeople from around the world who
work there and each one has hisown mentality.
And you know, as MVP, you needto take all these things
(05:11):
together and to see how you canbalance and propose people
solutions.
Mark Smith (05:17):
How did you first get involved in the Student
Ambassador Program, because thatseems to be like the start of
your Microsoft journey.
Is that right?
Pascal Burume (05:24):
Yeah, yeah, you know, when I was 16, I was being
passionate about Microsofttechnologies, like the first
time when I see a computer withWindows, with Microsoft.
(05:44):
It was something you know,something that pushed me to know
more, to be skilled more aboutMicrosoft.
And I was asking myself, I waswondering, how can I be involved
in this program in thiscommunity?
Because in my country we don'thave enterprise, we don't have
an organization, especiallywhich is partnering with
(06:05):
Microsoft.
So, and one day in university Isaw on a WhatsApp group chat
someone post how to becomeMicrosoft Learn Student
Ambassadors.
Then I say, wow, it's quiteimpressive, let me try my luck.
So, and the first time I submitmy candidature, I fail.
(06:29):
The second time I fail and thethird time I say no, no, no, no,
no.
I I won't give up.
I want to know what's going on,why I every time I'm rejected
is it why I'm in congo,democratic public of congo?
Or maybe I don't respond verywell to the question then I take
(06:49):
a step back.
I figure I take the keyquestions.
I look on YouTube how can Ispeak?
How can I propose my ideas?
And all of this kind ofinformation helped me to prepare
well, my first candidature andthe first time I test
automatically, I think.
After three months I got mynotifications that I've been
(07:13):
recognized as student ambassador.
It was impressive.
It was like it is me or it'snot me, because how am I student
ambassador?
Then I say, okay, I've beenaccepted in the program, but
this is just a beginning.
(07:34):
I have to continue the road.
So after becoming a studentambassador, you know, once you
have been admitted to theprogram, there is four
milestones that you need toachieve.
The first time yeah, the firsttime you are like a new.
It's like.
The first milestone is like youare new.
(07:54):
This is the first milestone andyou need, for example, to
complete some challenging likereading, some Microsoft Learn
Path.
So once you are finished toread some path, it depends it
can be on Power Platforms, itcan be on C-Shop, it can be on
Pythons, but it needs to be onMicrosoft Learn Path.
So once you finish this path,after that you're going to
(08:21):
achieve this path.
That's becoming an alphamilestone.
As an alpha milestone, there isalso some prerequisites that
you need to achieve and it'samong like conduct, some
workshop conduct, some session,build something, participate in
community involving.
And after this, this milestone,you become now a beta milestone
(08:43):
.
So beta milestone, it's likeit's quite challenging because
to move to beta to goals, itreally, you know, it's like you
must demonstrate how you haveyour leadership, your community
involvement and how you areparticipating in the program.
So do you participate inmentorship program?
(09:08):
So I've made my best to become aGold Student Ambassador because
these all requirements I'veachieved, I've succeeded.
And once I've done it, Ireceived it was in July 20, I
think it was 2022, if I rememberI received my notifications
that I've been recognized as aGold Student Ambassador.
(09:30):
Then I say, wow, it's reallyquite impressive.
You know, and in my country weare free gold student
ambassadors.
It was like, you know, amovement that we came out and
this movement it's been likepushing, like we decide to
pushing out boundaries.
(09:50):
We need to demonstrate peoplelike, even if you are in French
countries where there is manychallenging, like democratic
fabric of congo, you can do bestyou can.
You can show people like, withmy skills, with technologies, it
can help.
It can help for you to opensome um, some frontiers where
you can share your knowledgewhen you, where you can connect
(10:13):
with different experts.
And becoming a gold, you know,it also helped me to open my
mind.
You know to say that anythingis impossible if you put your
skills, your devotion, yourmotivation in work to show
people.
That's who you really are, eventhough you are in GRC.
Who you really are even thoughyou are in GRC.
(10:34):
And in December 2023, I becamean MVP in Windows Insider
program.
That was my first time tobecome an MVP, so you know it
was like a partnership withMicrosoft as a student
ambassador, you know it helpedyou to know how Microsoft MVP
(11:00):
program works and you know I'vebeen.
You know, as you are, inWindows Insider program.
Sometimes we need to write someactivities, you know, like
testing some new features,proposing which features we
would like to see in the newupdates.
It was really impressive andbecause the Windows Insider
(11:23):
program was approaching to theend, then I decided to move
forward, to move up to businessapplications.
Then I said how can I do that?
Let me see.
Right now I'm a Go StudentAmbassador, I've been
experienced as an MVP IndividualInsider and I'm a content
writer.
I say, let me continue to pushout my boundaries.
(11:48):
So sometimes I purchase somebooks about what is new,
articles, what is new, findingwhat is new in technologies, and
I have a particular interestabout Microsoft technologies and
when I see a book, I purchaseit and I start reading.
I try to figure out some topicsand say, okay, okay, okay, it's
(12:10):
okay for me, let me write somearticles, some blogs, to help
people to know with thesetechnologies you can build this
kind of solution to help people.
And it was like for me a anopen space, because it's a word
I can explain myself.
It's where I can explain myknowledge.
You know, I can explain peoplehow you can build solutions
(12:33):
based on technologies, becausein my country it's really hard,
you know, organizing a sessionon YouTube because it's not
everyone who has access to theinternet, you know, because
there's a problem.
So, yeah, a good way for me toattempt many people is writing
blogs and in writing blogs, ithelped me, you know many people
(12:57):
to have access to my knowledge,to have access to some resources
, to have access to some ideashow Microsoft works, how, for
example, power Apps work, howyou can combine Power Apps with
Azure OpenAI services, how youcan combine Power BI with Fabric
(13:17):
and inside, adding PowerAutomate.
It's quite impressive becauseyou don't have limits.
I say you don't have limitsbecause you have a faith, you
have a devotion, you have thismotivation to prove people.
If you have a devotion, youhave this motivation to prove
people and you are also an MVPand all these kind of
(13:39):
responsibilities.
It gives you this strength.
You know this strength to sayno, let me go far.
Let me go far.
Today I do these things.
Tomorrow I'm going to dosomething big.
And all these achievements,mark, it helps you to approach
something that is new andsomething that is bigger.
Mark Smith (13:59):
Yeah, this is so inspiring your story.
Tell me how many other MVPs arein the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Pascal Burume (14:10):
Yeah, right now we are three.
Mark Smith (14:14):
Three across all categories.
Pascal Burume (14:17):
Yeah, we are three.
Wow, yeah.
Mark Smith (14:21):
That's amazing because I read I think there's
150 million people in yourcountry.
Does that sound right?
Pascal Burume (14:28):
Yeah.
Mark Smith (14:30):
It's a big country and there's only three MVPs.
Pascal Burume (14:33):
Yeah, that's what I was talking to you about.
Yeah, it's really amazing.
You know, it was like a periodwe said we need to go very far,
we need to help other people,other youth in my country, that
it doesn't require to be, forexample, in USA, in Australia,
(14:58):
in New Zealand, to become an MVP.
You can become an MVP eventhough you are in DRC to become
an MVP.
You can become an MVP eventhough you are in DRC.
You just know how to follow theskills, how to show people what
you are capable of doing things.
And you know, yeah, becomingMicrosoft Student Ambassadors is
(15:18):
like a nap on the door for me,because it helped me to know
some technologies and as Ilearned something I tried to
translate to other people.
I tried to motivate otherstudents and other professionals
who are really passionate aboutMicrosoft, because sometimes
people think it's something likea mystery.
(15:40):
They say how can I become anMVPp?
It sounds like a.
It's not.
It's not possible for mebecause, you know, I have a lot
of constraint.
I have a lot of constraint,yeah, but I I show them.
No, it's not about limit, it'sabout devotion, it's about
(16:01):
motivation, because if you havea dream about becoming something
big tomorrow.
You need to prepare it, youneed to work for it and if you
need my advice, I can share withyou my path.
I can share with you my path.
If you think it's really hardfor you, let it become low level
.
(16:21):
Try to know which technologiesare you feeling like you are
good with it and, based on thesetechnologies, I can help you
how you can dive in in Microsoftenvironment, because Microsoft
is very big.
There is a lot of things thatyou can find there.
There is different platformsand if you say I like
(16:46):
programming in C Sharp, I sayokay, it's okay, I can show you
you can use maybe Visual Studio.
There is Copilot Studio.
There is different tools thatcan help you to improve your
programming language and as soonas you are starting, it will be
.
It will help you to dive inMicrosoft ecosystem.
And behind on that, you canhave access to some credits like
(17:10):
, for example, you can haveaccess to Azure.
You can have access to Azure AIFoundry.
You can also have access toMicrosoft Power Platform If you
are feeling like you want to trysomething new about low-code,
no-code, and today you see Markwith Power Platforms.
It's like a new technology thatsome enterprises here are
(17:32):
trying to embrace and you needto have some skills about Power
Platforms.
And sometimes I can see somepeople, some students, say how
can I be diving in proper form?
I say it's quite simple.
Let me show you somemicrosoft's learning path.
You know there is a somehackathons.
I know maybe it can be hard foryou to to watch via watch watch
(17:56):
course or maybe watch a lessonin english, but just try, just
try to push out your boundaries.
There is also a way for you tolearn in French and slowly you
can change French to English.
It's not directly but it takestime.
Mark Smith (18:13):
Yeah, Do you.
Where do you blog?
Where do you post your blogs?
Pascal Burume (18:21):
I post my blog in Microsoft Educator.
Mark Smith (18:26):
Do you have the URL to that?
I don't have the URL and I'dlike to put it in the show notes
for the episode so people cansee how they can get in touch
with you, because I think yourstory is absolutely amazing and
I think that in your countrythere's a massive opportunity
right for people to get skillsthat are useful everywhere
(18:48):
around the world.
You know, one thing I've seen inmy career is that people that
might not have any background onthe power platform and they get
it.
They learn how to build a powerapp and they use power automate
and they start using thesetools and it doesn't take long
for those tools to increase oneach other and then all of a
(19:10):
sudden, they've got a tool setthat people want to buy.
Right, they have skills thatpeople want to buy and you can
work all over the world and Ithink with a country your size,
there's potentially a lot ofpeople could develop the skills.
Learn from you, learn thepathways that you took, learn
how to get access to Azure andthe various tools that Microsoft
provide, get on Microsoft Learn, learn the training material
(19:35):
and yeah, but I assume thatthings, like you know, is it
easy to get computers andinternet connection and all that
type of thing for students.
How do they go about that sothey can have something that
they can actually use to work on?
Pascal Burume (19:53):
So before I think before, like for example, if we
can take, we can come back tofive years ago.
You know some resources wasquite expensive for students to
get it.
But you know, to this day, withevolution I can say, with new
(20:13):
customers, with new partners andhow technology has been
evolving, some resources are notvery let me say, very difficult
to have it, because before youcan buy, for example, a computer
, for example, for 1,000, buttoday you can have it for 200,
100.
So I think it depends on which.
(20:36):
It depends on with a student,with his motivations and how,
which kind of vision he wants tobecome tomorrow, which kind of
vision he wants to becometomorrow, which kind of person
he wants to become tomorrow,what is about his dream.
And because when you want toteach some students here, you
(20:57):
need to target, because it's noteveryone who is really, I think
it's really easy to deal withit, because some of them are
really, I think who is reallyeasy to deal with it?
Because some of them aretrained, for example, in English
.
If you say, okay, some kind oftechnologies require you to know
English, they say no, no, no,no, I don't feel comfortable
(21:17):
with English.
So you know this is the kind ofperson that you need to
eliminate for your targets andyou focus on people who are
passionate in English, forexample, and people who are
passionate in technologies,because I've seen many students,
really, who have been amazedwhat I've done.
You know, mark, I've been amazedand they say, wow, sometimes
(21:40):
they thought that I'm workingwith Microsoft.
Sometimes they thought that itlooked like you're working with
Microsoft.
I say no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
I'm not working with Microsoft,but I've been evolving with
Microsoft communities and I'vebeen connected to some Microsoft
employees, engineers.
It's like it's not mystery andI think, according to resource
(22:04):
finance, it depends on studentsand it depends on motivations.
But I'm doing my best to helpeach one, each one who is really
passionate about technologies,because sometimes I can help
students when I show them whatthey are capable of doing with
(22:25):
technologies.
It doesn't mean that if I'msitting here, I'm watching a
YouTube video, I say, wow, thisis really amazing, how can I do
this?
And I can tell him no, no.
I can tell him no, no, it's OK,you can do it, like, for
example look, there is, forexample, power Platform.
There is, for example, copilotStudio.
(22:46):
You can build your own agenteasily.
You don't even know like tryingto find a lot of lists and a
lot of calls on YouTube.
It's very, very easy.
Just find the right path.
Copilot Studio, and if you wanta trial version, I can give you
access to my tenant and it'slike a start, like a start for
(23:06):
him to become passionate abouttechnology.
Mark Smith (23:11):
Pascal, it's been incredible hearing your story
and your passion.
Thank you so much for coming onthe show.
I can't wait to meet you inperson one day.
I'm sure it's going to happenand I look forward to when that
does happen.
Thank you again for coming onthe show.
Pascal Burume (23:28):
Thank you, mark.
Thank you, it's a pleasure forme.
Mark Smith (23:36):
Hey, thanks for listening.
I'm your host businessapplication MVP Mark Smith,
otherwise known as the NZ365 guy.
If you like the show and wantto be a supporter, check out
buymeacoffeecom forward slashNZ365 guy.
Thanks again and see you nexttime.
Thank you.
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