Reflections on a Third Sitecore MVP: A Community That Opens Doors

Matthew McQueeny is a North American Peer Group Leader for Boye & Company, Head of Relationships at Konabos, and a CMS Critic contributor. 

Last week, Sitecore unveiled its 2025 class of Most Valuable Professionals, known across the industry as “Sitecore MVPs.” This hallowed tradition, now in its nineteenth year, celebrates individuals who display outstanding engagement and support of the Sitecore community worldwide.

The latest cohort includes 241 Sitecore experts, featuring 61 Ambassadors, 34 Strategy members, 145 Technology members, and one Honorary member. Of these, 43 were welcomed as new Sitecore MVPs.

Earning my third Sitecore MVP is an honor that carries deep meaning for me. When I joined Konabos nearly four years ago, Sitecore was already a platform this team was renowned for. Led by several multi-time MVPs, the company had a strong reputation in the digital experience space. 

My own history with Sitecore had been more distant. I knew it as a powerful enterprise CMS (Content Management System) and DXP (Digital Experience Platform), but my previous agency primarily worked with WordPress and Kentico. While that agency’s own website was built on Sitecore, there was little exposure to its customer base or the broader Sitecore community. 

Konabos, however, provided a gateway into an ecosystem I hadn’t fully explored. It’s funny to think back to how it all started—through Konabos co-founder Akshay Sura, who I worked with at that previous agency many years ago when we originally launched that Sitecore site. 

It all makes sense now!

Starting my Sitecore MVP journey

In my first year at Konabos, I gained more hands-on experience with Sitecore as many of our customers were deeply embedded in the platform. I took a shot at earning my first MVP title but quickly realized I hadn’t yet contributed enough to the community to warrant the distinction. 

The following year, I made a deliberate shift—not just in learning the technology, but in engaging with the Sitecore community at a deeper level. Through Konabos’ Konaverse podcast, I interviewed executives, MVPs, and practitioners. I attended Sitecore events that felt as high-level and exclusive as major tech conferences. More importantly, I shared my insights through articles, webinars, social media posts, and podcasts, focusing on Sitecore’s value from a business perspective. 

That year, I earned my first MVP, and with it came access to an inner circle of thought leaders and innovators. Suddenly, I was having meaningful discussions—both recorded and unrecorded—with Sitecore leaders like CEO Dave O’Flanagan and Chief Product Officer Roger Connolly, as well as agency leaders like Suresh Devanan, Founder and CEO of Nishtech, and Roland Villemoes, CTO of Alpha Solutions, who, coincidentally, lives only 30 minutes away from me in New Jersey by way of Denmark.

Globetrotting with the MVP crew

It's crazy to think that the Sitecore MVP program has been an institution for almost two decades, celebrating the efforts of amazing builders, architects, strategists, and visionaries from around the world. In fact, six MVPs are celebrating their ten-year anniversaries in 2025, including Bas Lijten and Rob Habraken of the Netherlands, Jason Wilkerson of the USA, Mohammed Syam of Jordan, Rodrigo Peplau of Brazil, and Troy Outtram of Australia.

Becoming an MVP opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. It provided direct access to Sitecore’s roadmap through NDA-level discussions, private Slack channels, and MVP Summits. It also took me across the world—from reporting at SUGCON Europe 2023 from a rooftop overlooking the stunning Alboran Sea to pub-hopping along the River Thames with my newfound friend – and, of course, another Sitecore MVP—Peter Clisby. 

At SUGCON Europe 2023 on a rooftop in Malaga, Spain. Source: Matthew McQueeny

There were so many memorable moments, like experiencing the awe-inspiring Croke Park in Dublin for SUGCON Europe 2024, belting out songs at MVP karaoke nights, and collaborating from 4,000 miles away with Rodrigo Peplau on our own rendition of Pride (In The Name of Love) by U2, with me on guitar and bass and him on vocals. And, of course, all those nights along Broadway in Nashville and at Opryland for the impressive Sitecore Symposium 2024.

At SUGCON Europe 2024 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. Source: Matthew McQueeny

It wasn’t just the destinations that made the journey meaningful—it was the people. The MVP badge comes with pride, but it’s the relationships built within this community that are the real reward. Whether it was devouring a Juicy Lucy burger on a food tour organized by Sitecore MVP Chet Potvin during Sitecore’s North American 2023 event in Minneapolis, exploring the massive Mall of America, or working alongside an extraordinary group of Sitecore MVPs at Konabos—who have collectively amassed over 60 MVP awards—I’ve felt deeply embedded in this ecosystem. 

Sitecore North American event in Minneapolis, USA. Source: Matthew McQueeny

Special mention goes to Konabos founder Kamruz Jaman, who just notched his thirteenth MVP, and co-founder Akshay Sura, who has an incredible nine. Through their leadership and the camaraderie of this group, I’ve gained a global perspective on enterprise technology.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the man behind the Sitecore MVP curtain, Tamas Varga. He is a “lifer” who truly devotes himself to leading and advocating for this MVP community from within Sitecore. This program would not be what it is without him.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Even with three MVP titles to my name, I still sometimes feel like an impostor in a room full of brilliant technical minds. Yet, I remind myself that my value lies in my unique perspective—bringing visibility to the community and Sitecore’s positioning within the composable DXP landscape. 

As an Ambassador MVP, I use my strengths in storytelling, strategic insight, and relationship-building to highlight the platform’s evolution and foster connections within the industry. This program has given me opportunities beyond what I could have imagined—traveling, collaborating, and learning from some of the most talented professionals in the field. 

Through it all, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just about technology. It’s about community.

And I’m grateful to be a part of it.

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