Since 2024 is coming to an end I want to do a personal reflection of my 2024 in this post. Because it has been an amazing year for me. Plus, it gives me a chance to say thanks to some people and share some recommended links.
Before I go any further, I must make one thing absolutely clear.
Most of what you read in this post is only possible thanks to colleagues, event organizers and members of various technical communities. Without all of whom none of this would have been possible. Even though I mention some of you there are too many to name in one post, so you can consider this a personal thank you.
In the past I have focused on both personal events and significant technology announcements as my final post of the year.
However, it has been a busy year for me and there has been many technology announcements this year. So, I decided to go for a personal reflection of my 2024 instead. I will share a piece of advice about announcements though.
Because I think it is great that so many announcements are taking place. However, I feel there are so many that some people must be selective about which ones they focus on. Something that I think a lot of people should keep in mind as we head towards 2025.
To clarify, I am not saying to stick to one specific area. All I am suggesting is that you may want to be selective what you focus on.
Personally, I have focused more on Microsoft Fabric. Which was reflected in my MVP renewal this year.
Three main Microsoft Fabric areas that kept me busy in 2024
In fact, there are three main topics relating to Microsoft Fabric that kept me busy this year.
Certifications
First area are the Microsoft Fabric certifications. This year I created and delivered custom training material for both the DP-600 and DP-700 Microsoft Fabric exams for my current employer.
Doing this led me to some interesting places. Including the opportunity to present to those in the North American time zone the week in-between MVP Summit and the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference.
To date, my current employer has just over a thousand people who gained the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certification. I am extremely proud to have contributed towards this figure.
I must stress that this was by no means a solo effort. Pragati Jain helped with some of the material and co-presented some of the sessions with me.
In addition to what I did for my employer, I also delivered numerous posts and sessions relating to certifications for the community as well. Including both a DP-600 exam checklist and a DP-700 beta exam checklist.
Sustainability
Second area relates to the Sustainability data solutions in Fabric.
This year I successfully delivered what some people are alleging is the first successful pilot worldwide of the ESG data estate capability in Microsoft Fabric. Which is very handy for companies that need to deliver ESG metrics as part of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) by the EU over the next couple of years.
I also published numerous posts relating to the Sustainability Data Solutions for Fabric as well. Including a post reviewing the ESG metrics capability.
Working in a DevOps related way
Third area relates to working in a DevOps related way with Microsoft Fabric items. Different terms can apply when working with Microsoft Fabric depending on the focus area. Including CI/CD, the analytics development lifecycle and lifecycle management.
In reality, it is linked to the other areas that is mentioned which is why I left it to last. I think my numerous blog posts and sessions relating to this topic shows just how much it keeps me busy.
With this in mind, I want to say a personal thanks to all of my colleagues I worked with this year. Plus, multiple individuals within Microsoft that I had dealings with over the year.
Personal involvement in community activities in 2024
As some of you noticed, this year I did a fair bit for the community. Something that is reflected in my various blog posts both on my website and the Fabric community blogs, plus my public GitHub repositories. I also did various other things online as well.
For example, after seeing that multiple posts were been shared on there I decided to join the Microsoft Fabric subreddit. Where I have been helping others ever since.
Earlier in the year, myself, Marc Lelijveld and Erwin de Kreuk started the Dutch Fabric User Group here in the Netherlands. Providing in-person meetups for the Dutch Fabric community. Which is proving to be a success so a big thanks to all our supporters.
In addition, I presented multiple sessions online and in-person. Which included the opportunity to speak in Poland again. Presenting twice at the SQLDay conference and then again to a full room at SQLDay Lite.
I want to say a personal thanks to all involved with the Data Community Poland for this opportunity.
Plus, due to various reasons I delivered my first ever Microsoft Fabric workshop at Data Céilí. Which I got great feedback for. Again, a big thanks to Mark Hayes, Bob Duffy and Andrew Pruski for the opportunity.
Something that gave me a lot of energy this year was taking part in the community and ask the expert booths for the first Microsoft Fabric Community Conference, as well as the European Microsoft Fabric Community Conference.
A big thanks to all involved in enabling me to do this.
One of the last things in 2024
One of the last things I did this year was to host the first ever T-SQL Tuesday and Festive Tech Calendar crossover. Which was an amazing thing to be able to do for the community.
I am extremely grateful to Gregor Suttie, Richard Hooper and Steve Jones for allowing me to do this.
Personal growth during 2024
As far as personal growth is concerned, I learned a lot over the year. Plus, I did well on the certification front as well.
I finally got around to curing a certification itch by regaining the Azure Administrator Associate certification. After regaining that certification I went on to gain the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification as well.
Plus, I gained three of the four Microsoft Fabric Applied Skills. Including how to implement a Real-Time Intelligence solution with Microsoft Fabric.
Final words about my personal reflection
I hope that my personal reflection on 2024 has been insightful. I must admit it has been a very productive year for me and I am truly in awe of the six-figure viewing stats for my posts this year. However, I am looking forward to 2025 for numerous reasons.
For instance, Frank Geisler and myself will be presenting a workshop at the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference in Las Vegas. Which I am really looking forward to. Plus, some other things that will be happening.
All that is left for me to say is Happy New Year all.
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